– Jaqueline Yalda, a long-term campus police officer, aims for a promotion
– Required to complete a college-level course in criminal justice
– Community colleges offer flexible self-paced learning
– Students can demonstrate prior knowledge to avoid repetitions
A New Wave in Learning: Setting Your Pace in Community Colleges
In the quest for professional advancement, Jaqueline Yalda, a diligent campus police officer at El Paso Community College in Texas, found herself faced with the necessity of completing a college-level course in criminal justice. Having not attended a college class in years, Yalda, now 38, might have felt daunted by the demand. However, the emerging rise of self-paced learning in community colleges comes to her aid.
Breaking Barriers with Self-Paced Learning
Rather than being restricted by semesters and schedules, this innovative approach lets students progress at their own pace. College seems less intimidating for adult learners and those juggling multiple responsibilities. In such a system, prior knowledge is not wasted, with students having the ability to “test out” of certain sections or subjects they’re already well-versed in. This significantly eliminates unnecessary repetitions, enhancing both the efficiency and applicability of learning.
A Win-Win Strategy
Both students and educational institutions stand to gain from this method. Universities can reach more students and retain them better, due to the flexibility offered. Meanwhile, students can leverage the convenience of balancing their learning with other life demands. Thus, this model could be a game-changer in education platforms.
The Breezy Take
In an era where time is of the essence, demanding rigid schedules and ignoring prior knowledge seems archaic. The wave of self-paced learning, spearheaded by some community colleges, is a refreshing change, one that respects the learners’ backgrounds and life commitments. It shows academic progress need not be a race against the clock. For Yalda and many others, it means opportunities are not missed due to life’s many responsibilities and time constraints. The flexibility and respect for prior learning embodied in self-paced education could make it the future of adult education.
Original article: https://missouriindependent.com/2023/10/31/no-more-attending-classes-these-community-colleges-let-students-learn-at-their-own-pace/