Presentations on best practices in RPL, partnerships with employers, and institution wide RPL innovation in some of Canada’s colleges and institutes will be showcased throughout the day. Take the opportunity to dialogue with RPL practitioners presenting from a variety of regions and explore some of the challenging issues in RPL practice. Learn about what is happening in Canada’s colleges in RPL. This workshop is of importance for post secondary educators searching for quality approaches to RPL implementation in their institutions.

The pre conference day is planned and hosted by the Coordinating Committee of the ACCC Recognition of Learning (ROL) Affinity Group comprised of representatives from across Canada.

Following a presentation on the ACCC Transfer, Articulation and Pathways initiative, there will be 6 presentations that will showcase some of the RPL practices and innovation in Canadian colleges and institutes. The presentations are outlined below.

Powerful Partnerships: Uniting Forces to Better Serve the Needs of PLAR Clienteles
Geneviève Rock, PLAR Coordinator, Champlain College, Saint-Lambert, Quebec

Introducing British Columbia’s Prior Learning Action Network (BCPLAN)
Jan Carrie, Director on BCPLAN and Vice President - Education at North Island College, British Columbia

Curriculum Tailored to the Needs of New Brunswick PLAR Practice
Nicole Drapeau, Responsible reconnaissance des acquis at Collège communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick, New Brunswick

RPL Services and Resources – Supporting Faculty and Staff
Deb Blower, RPL Facilitator, Red River College of Applied Arts, Science and Technology, Winnipeg, Manitoba

Alberta Action
Greg Sowak, Associate Registrar, Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), Edmonton, Alberta

Alternative Strategies for Recognizing the Skills of Trades Professionals Prior to Immigration
Grant MacTavish, Coordinator RPL, SIAST Woodland Campus, Prince Albert, Saskatchewan

• the philosophical framework of RPL
• key terms and concepts
• assessment tools and models
• approaches and applications for portfolio development and portfolio assessment
• principles of best practice and an introduction to emerging benchmarks for PLAR practitioners
• snapshot of current PLAR initiatives
• learner & practitioner resources

This definition emphasizes the importance of evaluating all learning, regardless of how and where it was acquired. Yet many organizations rely on academic credentials alone, as the primary tool for determining competence in the field of practice.

There are many regulatory bodies, certification organizations and universities who are exploring and in some cases implementing, a range of processes to evaluate immigrant learning from all sources — formal, informal and non-formal. In addition to determining the similarities between formal educational programs, stakeholders are using prior learning assessment and recognition (PLAR) tools such as simulations, demonstrations, challenge exams, case studies, structured interviews and/or self-assessment processes to evaluate competencies, skills and abilities. Determining what a person already knows and can do helps establish a more accurate picture of the need for additional training and for the upgrading of existing skills.

Pre-conference participants will hear about effective recognition of prior learning (RPL) systems in other jurisdictions, along with promising practices in Canada. Specific PLAR tools (in italics above) that are currently used by regulators and sector councils will be examined, along with ideas and challenges associated with their implementation.

Although open to any interested participants, this pre-conference session will contribute to the FLMM’s vision of “a fair and competitive market environment where immigrants have the opportunity to fully use their education, skills and work experience for their benefit and for Canada’s collective prosperity.” (2009)

With the help of Jan Robinson (College of Physiotherapists of Ontario) and Christine Nielsen (Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science), an exciting program is being planned that will appeal to members of the Canadian Network of National Associations of Regulators (CNNAR), the Ontario Regulators of Ontario (ORAC), New Brunswick International Credential and Competency Assessment and Recognition (ICCAR) office and the Alliance of Sector Councils.

Join us for a discussion on RPL Practitioner competencies and related training and recognition, with a view of CAPLA’s work to date (in partnership with CAPLA’s RPL Standards Working Group), and glimpses of some competency listings and training packages from other countries.

1. Skills Development and Recognition
   With respect to skills recognition, many older workers indicated that they were interested in trying new and different kinds of work but were not sure what types of employment their existing skills and knowledge would allow them to pursue.
2. The Employability and Marketability of Older Workers
   Older workers on the other hand, expressed much less confidence in their employment prospects. While they recognized the inherent value of their skills and experience, they were extremely concerned about their attractiveness to potential employers.

   In particular, concerns centred on the belief that employers’ preference was to hire younger workers (i.e. due to their lower salary cost/perceived higher energy levels) and employers’ reluctance (or inability) to recognize older workers’ experience in lieu of formal education (i.e. they have a “dated diploma”).

This double workshop (2 hours) will explore how the recognition of prior learning (RPL) can help both the employer and older worker overcome barriers to employment.

When academic institutions start assessing and granting credit for experiential learning, they will be supporting the participation of many non-credentialed Canadians and newcomers who are facing significant barriers in the labour force. Pressure for PLAR services is coming from a number of sources:

• highly skilled immigrants with experience in their home countries

• working Canadians with extensive knowledge and skills from years in the labour force

• mature learners wanting to pursue higher education after they retire and/or if they return to work.

A panel of experts will share their perspectives on some of the incremental changes and challenges within the university sector, from new research activities, policy development and student advising, to administrative challenges and PLAR at the program level.

During this project a Pan-Canadian Quality Assurance Framework for the Assessment of International Academic Credentials, a competency profile for academic credential assessors and English and French Terminology Guides for Academic Credential Evaluation in Canada were developed. Also of interest are the feasibility studies regarding the development of an online postsecondary university program for assessors and the preparation of country profiles to help academic assessors.

The results of the project will be presented during this workshop. The goal of the project was improve the consistency and the portability of academic and vocational assessments across Canada, in both regulated and unregulated professions, as well as the assessment of academic credentials for the admission to Canadian colleges and universities.

CAPLA subsequently hosted a pre-conference session on November 13 to expand and build upon the ideas expressed during the October webinar.

This workshop will reflect on ‘what we heard’ at both sessions and will give participants the opportunity for input. An outcomes paper and PLAR tools manual will be produced as a result of all consultations, through funding from the Foreign Credential Recognition Program at HRSDC.

This workshop will allow participants to hear from community members, employment counsellors and literacy practitioners on the application of PLAR within their practice, with a focus on how RPL and competency portfolios could assist older clients to get recognition for their learning in the workforce, in academic institutions, or within other certification programs.

The main goal of the WAC is to assess skilled but uncertified individuals within the workforce in Trinidad and Tobago, leading to the award of the Trinidad and Tobago National Vocational Qualification (TTNVQ) or the Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ).

The presentation will focus on the following:

• Workforce Assessment Centre Operational Flow

• WAC Roles And Responsibilities

• Quality Assurance

• Lessons Learnt

• Challenges

• Successes

One of the recommendations of the audit report was the development of a screening tool

• Give potential PLA candidates a clearer idea of the competencies expected during the CSMLS credentialing process and in the Canadian healthcare setting

• Between April 2007 and September 2010 CSMLS developed, piloted and implemented an online assessment tool for use by would-be applicants to the CSMLS PLA process with the intention to:

  • Provide would-be applicants with a realistic, constructive and accessible tool for assessing their own readiness to enter the medical laboratory credentialing process

  • Provide information about the expectations of the Canadian healthcare workplace

  • Encourage advance preparation and ‘informed self-selection’ by potential PLA candidates, ideally before they arrive in Canada

The project was funded by the Government of Canada’s Foreign Credential Recognition Program.

This session will focus on the Participant and Presenter roles within Adobe Connect meetings to enable those new to Adobe Connect or those with minimal experience to:

• Join a meeting

• Optimize their viewing and listening experience during a presentation

• Interact with the Host, Presenter or other Participants in a meeting using tools such as chat, whiteboard, quizzes and voting

• View and respond to PowerPoint Presentations, Application Sharing, Web Pages and audio/video presentations

• Respond to questions and feedback from Participants

• Share content such as PowerPoint slides, Web Pages, Applications on the Presenter’s computer and audio and video files

• Using and modifying the various layouts and breakout rooms

• Understand the benefits preloading and recording presentations

• End a meeting

The session will also discuss resources for additional learning and opportunities to practice with Adobe Connect. Persons attending the session should feel comfortable with a computer and with using the Internet.

• Showcase labour market integration projects and achievements;

• Learn about other initiatives happening across Canada and internationally;

• Forge new partnerships for on-going or future initiatives;

• Save time and effort by adapting and tailoring existing initiatives to your specific needs; and

• Network with other professionals working in the field of assessment and recognition of prior learning, credentials and qualifications.

Come and get a sneak peek at the International Qualifications Network Web site to learn, share and collaborate on PLA/RPL-related issues and topics.