Prior Knowledge is a period mystery with religion, sex, and murder all in one volume. Master story teller James T. Baker here follows the wild excursion of the aging Benedictine monk Father Columba as he is called out of retirement to reform a troubled priory and ends up becoming a sleuth. Upon arriving at his new post, a priory commissioned to train "belated vocations" for the priesthood, he learns that his predecessor has mysteriously disappeared; and before he can solve that puzzle he finds himself in the middle of a bloody murder. Someone has killed a seminarian! Getting to the bottom of this crime will require all his theological training, some trial and error good luck, and of course prior knowledge. As he probes the varied and sundry secrets of his monks and seminarians, he discovers for the first time the many facets of love and hate. At age 65 he himself finds the kind of love he long ago promised never to experience: sex with a young Chinese American newspaper woman. Join Father Columba in his quest for truth--religious, legal, sexual--which just could all be cut from the same holy cloth.

Achievement assessment has undergone a major shift, from what some call a `culture of testing' to a `culture of assessment'. Nowadays, a strong emphasis is placed on the integration of assessment and instruction, on assessing processes rather than just products, and on evaluating individual progress relative to each student's starting point. This book addresses assessment issues in light of the present state of affairs. The first part discusses new alternatives in the assessment of achievement in various subject areas, focusing on agenda, practice, impact and evaluation of the assessment. The second part deals with issues related to assessment of the learning process, specifically: questions concerning the assessment of individual differences in prior knowledge, learning skills and strategies.

The rising cost of tuition, increasing competition, and mounting student loan debt has caused educational leaders to rethink degree programs and resources for learners. As such, open educational resources, prior learning assessment, open degree plans, and competency-based learning have gained popularity in the field of higher education. Enhancing Education Through Open Degree Programs and Prior Learning Assessment is a critical scholarly resource that examines teaching and learning materials that learners may freely use and reuse without charge. Featuring coverage on a broad range of topics such as open educational resources, prior learning assessment, and competency-based learning, this book is geared towards educations, professionals, school administrators, researchers, academicians, librarians, and students seeking current research on equity and access to higher education for all learners across the globe.

A guide for academics, planners, policy-makers and practitioners who deal with the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). It presents the theoretical perspectives developed to illuminate the complex relationships between context and RPL practice.

Recognition of prior learning (RPL) has emerged in recent decades as an important policy area and policy concept. It is a phenomenon with a certain variation in practices as well as contexts, concepts and conceptions. However, there is a basic idea about giving recognition to prior learning wherever and whenever learning has taken place. Such ideas can be ‘materialised’ in formal assessment systems providing the basis for recognition, as well as in informal processes where prior learning is made visible and gets recognition. This book provides a range of empirically and theoretically based contributions from different parts of the world where RPL, or an equivalent, is mobilised as part of educational practices for adults. Discussion in this area often takes place locally. This volume compiles different kinds of contributions to create a broader dialogue among scholars and practitioners, not only on the specific topic of RPL, but also on more general issues faced in educational research. It was originally published as a special issue of the International Journal of Lifelong Education.

Im Fokus des Sammelbandes stehen Untersuchungen zur Anerkennung von nonformalem und informellem Wissen. Durch eine Validierung sollen neue Zugänge zum Arbeitsmarkt eröffnet und die Zusammenarbeit und Mobilität innerhalb der EU gestärkt werden. Hier setzt das Erasmus+-Projekt EffectVPL ("Effectiveness of VPL Policies und Programmes for Labour Market Inclusion and Mobility - Individual and Employer Perspectives", 2017-2019) an, dessen Ergebnisse in diesem Band vorgestellt werden. Ausgangspunkt des Projekts zum lebenslangen Lernen war die mangelhafte Anerkennung von Lernerfahrungen, die außerhalb institutioneller Kontexte gewonnen wurden. Im ersten Teil des Bandes werden die theoretischen Grundlagen vorgestellt, bevor die Autor:innen im zweiten Teil empirische Ergebnisse zu Untersuchungen in Polen, Dänemark, der Türkei und Deutschland präsentieren. Abschließend wurde ein Trainingsmodul entwickelt, das die Projektergebnisse für Lehrende in Europa aufbereitet.

Until now assessors have not had the material they need to guide them through the process of assessing prior learning. Malcolm Day brings together the experience of specialists in this field from Canada, the US and South Africa where this has been a major part of education since the 1970s. This is an interactive text, which helps develop anyone undertaking Assessment of Prior Learning in nursing, allied health care and social care. A glossary of vocabulary associated with prior learning assessment is included.

This book addresses a critical gap in the effective implementation of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) in post-apartheid South Africa. This book responds to a critical problem whereby a critical mass of historically disadvantaged persons continues to face exclusion by entrenched systems of professional education and training. Focusing on case studies from higher education and build environment studies, it defines the rationale and fundamental principles of an innovative model for the evaluation of RPL which can be adapted and applied across disciplines and professions while promoting high quality standards. RPL is considered as a transformative strategy to oppose the injustices of pedagogic exclusion and upskill a historically disadvantaged population. The book makes a strong case for an alternate system based on the potentiality of transformed legislation and frameworks in post-apartheid South Africa. The book will be of interest to researchers in alternative pedagogies, scholars engaged with epistemologies of the South and alternative knowledge systems, legislative bodies, policy makers and facilitators of professional education.

"Recognizing Prior Learning: Unlocking Skills and Opportunities" by I myself Ras Banamungu is an insightful and practical guide that explores the concept of recognizing and utilizing prior learning experiences to unlock new skills and opportunities for personal and professional development. With a focus on personalized pathways to success, the book provides a comprehensive framework for individuals to harness their existing knowledge and competencies, enabling them to embark on new career paths or advance in their current fields. I begin by explaining the importance of recognizing prior learning and how it can serve as a valuable asset in today's rapidly changing job market. Drawing from extensive research and real-life examples, I demonstrate how individuals can identify, assess, and validate their existing skills and knowledge acquired through various informal and non-traditional learning experiences. My book offers practical strategies and step-by-step guidance on how to document and present prior learning to employers, educational institutions, and certification bodies. I explore different assessment methods, such as portfolio development, competency-based evaluations, and recognition frameworks, providing readers with the tools to effectively communicate their skills and credentials. Moreover, "Recognizing Prior Learning" delves into the potential barriers and challenges faced by individuals seeking to validate their prior learning. I also address issues of bias, discrimination, and the need for inclusive recognition processes, emphasizing the importance of equity and fairness in assessing skills and qualifications. Throughout the book, I emphasize the transformative power of recognizing prior learning and its potential to open doors to new career opportunities. I highlight success stories of individuals who have used their prior learning to secure promotions, transition to new industries, or gain admission to higher education programs. By sharing these inspiring narratives, I encourage readers to embrace their own learning journeys and to have confidence in the value of their past experiences. "Recognizing Prior Learning: Unlocking Skills and Opportunities" is a thought-provoking and practical resource for individuals seeking to enhance their career prospects and personal growth. It empowers readers to leverage their prior learning experiences, regardless of their formal educational background, and offers guidance on navigating the complex landscape of skills recognition. This book is a valuable tool for anyone interested in embracing personalized pathways to success and maximizing their potential in an evolving professional landscape.

For over thirty years, portfolios have been used to help adult learners gain recognition for their prior learning and take greater control of their educational experiences. The portfolio has become a distinctive means of assessing such learning, serving as a meaningful alternative to conventional papers and standardized testing. Portfolio Development and the Assessment of Prior Learning: Perspectives, Models, and Practices provides a primer of flexible approaches to shaping and conducting portfolio-development courses. It offers practitioners in the field an extensive range of model assignments, readings, and classroom activities, each organized around a specific theme: Academic Orientation, The Meaning of Education, Personal Exploration, Learning from the Outsider Within, The World of Work and Careers, and Dimensions of Expertise. Twelve case studies by practitioners in the field then show how academics in the US and around the English-speaking world have adapted the portfolio to changing circumstances in order to deliver academically rich educational services for adults. These case studies highlight portfolio development in the context of web-based instruction, changing institutional imperatives, service to historically disenfranchised groups, partnerships with industry, and cross-institutional cooperation.In addition to serving as a valuable hands-on resource for practitioners, Portfolio Development and the Assessment of Prior Learning locates portfolios and assessment in a broad social and intellectual context. Thus, the authors also offer an historical overview of the usefulness of portfolios in the assessment of prior learning and then consider their use in the future, given current trends in higher education for adults. The book explores the implications of a changing educational landscape, in which new student populations, budgetary pressures, and understandings of knowledge both enrich and challenge student-centered approaches such as portfolios.The approaches and case studies are not only valuable to adult educators but, equally, to faculty in higher education concerned with the development of competency- and outcomes-based assessment.