Open-Source Education – The Key to Meritocracy in America
Part 3 of 3: Proof of Knowledge
Not every college is going to give credit for learning to draw and animate (although mine did so it’s not unheard of). I advocate that where the credetial isn't required, evidence of expertise is all that is needed. Still, one may argue that the main benefit of college IS the credential. Even if it is true in some instances, one might ask why the teaching institution and the credentialing institution have to be the same institution? I don’t think they do, and there is already a model for this kind of learning using tests. Most colleges will give credit for College Level Examination Program (CLEP) exams. There are other programs too, like the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) exams, and General Record Exams (GREs). Most colleges will accept these exams and award credit for them in lieu of taking the course. Separating the acquiring of knowledge from the verification of knowledge is a critical innovation in making the pursuit of a degree open to everybody.
A friend of mine, Tony Haynes, used test outs and credits awarded for military experience extensively in pursuit of his degree. He even used the local library so he didn’t even have to buy books. Since taking CLEPs, DANTES, and GREs are free for those in the military, Tony had no out of pocket expenses. By using test-outs, Tony was able to stretch his GI Bill beyond a four-year degree. Because he tested out of all of his undergraduate work, he is now applying his GI Bill to his MBA classes at the University of Phoenix where he is currently enrolled. I suspect that the only reason Tony did not test out of an MBA program is because no institution offers tests for it yet. Perhaps this is a market opportunity that some organization will fill in the future, but I digress.
There is no reason why Tony’s method needs to be rare. People just need to be shown how to do it. Following Tony’s example, I used a hybrid of test-outs and attending classes to get my Associates degree in thirteen months. Others can do it too. Here is a small contribution to help the cause:
Passing the History of the United States I CLEP Exam
Whether studying for testing out for a degree, or studying to gain expertise, open source education makes effort — not money — the primary determinant of success. It is the key to universal education, lifelong learning, and has the power to make our democracy stronger by creating a more educated society. It can strengthen our public education system by giving hope back to those excluded by our current system — a system that at its heart has an exclusionary economic buffer that has led to stillborn potential among the poor. Access to knowledge is now abundant, and with that abundance we can march into tomorrow with the promise of education for all.