Key factors:
As an educator, I’m repeatedly looking for methods to offer my college students a leg up. Once I found Fashionable States, a philanthropic group providing free on-line programs that give any pupil the prospect to study college-level content material, I knew it may very well be transformative for my college students.
There are many completely different ways in which highschool college students earn school credit score, however one of the vital highly effective can be one of many least recognized. I first realized of the Faculty Stage Examination Program, a set of standardized assessments created and administered by the Faculty Board because the Nineteen Sixties, once I was in school myself. CLEPs assess college-level data and passing scores on the exams are accepted as credit score at greater than 2,900 schools and universities. I took two CLEP exams, and the credit I earned saved me money and time as I labored towards my diploma.
At present, working in each a state and a college dedicated to serving to college students earn school credit score earlier than commencement, I noticed a world of alternative in Fashionable States, which debuted in 2017. The group created a library of 32 on-line programs, taught by school professors and designed particularly to arrange learners for CLEP exams. Learners can take courses after which use the CLEP exams to display their studying and finally obtain credit score. Right here’s how I’ve integrated its programs into my classroom, together with some suggestions for educators trying to develop alternatives for his or her college students:
Begin small and map it out
Once I first realized about Fashionable States, I used to be excited but in addition overwhelmed. My fellow lecturers can attest to how a lot all of us have on our plates, so including new materials is daunting. It took me wading in and actually inspecting how the course modules aligned with my very own Social Research curriculum to determine the right way to incorporate it greatest. After immersing myself, I simply developed a plan that introduced collectively the Fashionable States course materials with every of my courses. This allowed me to seamlessly combine preparation for the U.S. Historical past I CLEP examination into my present courses, as a substitute of treating it as a separate activity.
I additionally make Fashionable States (and taking the CLEP take a look at) non-compulsory for my college students–however I do give additional credit score for passing the examination. I take grades on module completion, however I exempt college students who select to not take part.
My recommendation? Begin with one topic, join the Fashionable States content material to your instructing objectives and your pupil’s studying objectives, after which develop when you all can see the worth.
Construct buy-in by tales and expectations
Once we first focus on Fashionable States and CLEP, I hear from lots of my college students that they don’t perceive what the exams are or why they need to take them. I share my very own story: How I found CLEP in school and wished I’d recognized about it sooner. Framing it as a chance to save lots of money and time helps college students see the worth.
Encourage confidence by preparation
I set excessive expectations in my classroom, making a tradition the place college students rise to the problem. Ardour and perception of their potential go a good distance. One of the rewarding elements of utilizing Fashionable States is seeing college students develop in confidence.
Make CLEP testing obtainable at your faculty
Once I first took this on and it was time for my college students to take a seat for his or her exams, they needed to journey to native CLEP testing facilities. Whereas that sounds easy, it creates another alternative for college students to opt-out, be late, or miss their alternative. After we realized the worth of CLEP and Fashionable States, I labored with my assistant principal on opening a CLEP take a look at heart at our college to make it easy and acquainted for college students to check. It was surprisingly straightforward to arrange and now college students can take their exams through the faculty day with out having to rearrange transportation to a take a look at heart.
This accessibility removes vital obstacles and it’s one of many causes so lots of my college students are succeeding. In case your faculty isn’t a CLEP testing heart but, I encourage you to discover the method. It’s less complicated than you may suppose and may make a world of distinction.
I couldn’t be prouder about what my college students are attaining. On the finish of final semester, one hundred pc of my college students who took the U.S. Historical past I CLEP handed, and 92 % handed U.S. Historical past II–that’s 30 of my college students incomes school credit score at no cost. Thus far, almost 700,000 learners have taken Fashionable States programs, with 150,000 CLEP exams tried for an estimated tuition and payment financial savings of almost $200 million. Realizing my college students are a part of these outstanding achievements makes their success much more significant.
Fashionable States has been an important software in my classroom. It’s given college students an inexpensive, accessible pathway to increased schooling. By opening doorways to varsity credit whereas nonetheless in highschool, college students achieve a strong head begin on their journey to increased schooling and future success.
