PLA and Transformational Potential: Reflections Through the Prism of Appreciative Inquiry

Authors

  • David Starr-Glass International Programs (Prague) Empire State College

Abstract

Prior learning assessment has provided significant advantages for all educational stakeholders. It normally focuses on end-products, such as academic equivalents, which accelerate degree completion and allow for more effective use of institutional. Assessment of prior experience produces useful instrumental products; however, these are only part of a greater potential that is untapped when candidates reflect on prior experience. Critical reflection empowers the candidate by legitimizing past performance, provides a base for current learning, and facilitates personal transformation. This transformative potential is not only restricted to the candidate but is more widely available. While end-products are valuable, approaching the PLA process through Appreciate Inquiry suggests other significant and presently under-utilized potentials. Suggestions are presented for tapping into this potential by resituating, re-scripting, and recruiting PLA in the broader institutional community of knowledge.

Key words: assessment, learning, potential, prior experience, reflection, transformation

Author Biography

  • David Starr-Glass, International Programs (Prague) Empire State College
    David Starr-Glass is a mentor with the Prague Unit of the International Program of Empire State College (State University of New York). He teaches management and organizational behaviour, usually at a distance. He is especially interested in the challenges and opportunities of distant learning. In 2010 he received Empire State College’s excellence in mentoring award and also served as scholar across the college. David has master’s degrees in business administration, organizational psychology, and online instruction and lives in Jerusalem
David Starr-Glass

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Published

2012-02-16

Issue

No. 1 (2012): The Legacy of PLA: 40 Years of Practice

Section

Inquiry (Peer-Reviewed)

License

Authors retain copyright of their work, and readers are free to print, share and distribute materials from PLA Inside-Out as long as they respect the rights of the author.  Materials included in PLA Inside-Out cannot be published without an author’s permission.

How to Cite

PLA and Transformational Potential: Reflections Through the Prism of Appreciative Inquiry. (2012). PLA Inside Out: An International Journal on Theory, Research and Practice in Prior Learning Assessment, 1(1). https://plaio.org/index.php/home/article/view/2