Skip the Classroom: Rethinking Education and How Videos & Skills May Turn into College Credit

What if all that time you spent learning Python on YouTube or mastering Photoshop through online tutorials could actually count toward formal education credits?

For this episode, we’re at the U.S. Distance Learning Association’s (USDLA) latest conference, to talk with Dr. Joe Sallustio, veteran higher ed expert and Co-Founder and Host of The EdUp Experience podcast. We chat about how learning has fundamentally changed and why it may be time for higher education to wise up to the trend of video-based learning.  

After all, YouTube, TikTok, and Reddit are the go-to places for millions of people to get answers or to learn new skills. So if you pour hours and hours into learning a topic, shouldn’t that count for something?

Joe explains how ‘Credit for Prior Learning’ (CPL) could help to bridge the gap between how people actually learn today and higher education by awarding credits for lived experience and skills. Joe also shares his advice for anyone new to making videos, and explains how AI can knock down the barriers to entry if you’re ready to start making training videos.

Learning points from the episode include:

• 00:00 – 02:13 Introduction to Joe and his background in higher ed
• 02:13 – Joe’s biggest tip for using images and video in learning content
• 03:05 – 04:55 How teachers can start to use images and videos as part of training
• 04:55 – 06:30 How new video creators can get past the barriers to entry
• 06:30 – 07:47 How to create viewer-friendly content based around their expectations
• 07:47 – 08:16 Why video subject and viewer intention determine the ideal length
• 08:16 – 10:28 How ‘credit for prior learning’ could bridge the gap between traditional education and online learning
• 10:28 -13:03 Should higher ed offer ways to prove knowledge outside the norm?
• 13:03 – 13:15 How to connect with Joe
• 13:15 – 14:08 Joe’s final take
• 14:08 – 14:27 Outro 

Important links and mentions:

• Connect with Joe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joesallustio/