Register for CAPLA’s spring RPL event

CAPLA’s 2023 virtual professional development program focuses on the heart of PLAR/RPL practices: Assessment. The 3-webinar series follows the varying types of assessment practices that people go through as they complete the RPL process.

Webinar 1 focuses on the use of self-assessment at the start of the process.
Webinar 2 focuses on the importance of Credit Transfer, and the assessing of Non-Formal and Informal Learning.
Webinar 3 focuses on the use of Challenge Assessment/Evaluation Tools.

The webinars introduce a variety of perspectives including academic, accrediting board, career development, industry and sector councils who use RPL practices with their clients. The aim of the webinars is to give concrete takeaways for RPL practitioners to reflect on and hopefully enhance their practice. The webinars consist of 1 hour of presentations and then break-out rooms to dive deeper into the subject matter.

As in other years, you can register for one session or all three. And since all our sessions are on Zoom, video recordings can be sent to you if one of the dates becomes problematic.

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Webinar 1

Self Assessment in RPL

Wednesday, June 7, 2023 | 12:00 noon – 1:30 pm (Eastern)

1. Accrediting Board Self-Assessment

Presenter: Lindsay Guitard, Registrar and Certification Manager, Nova Scotia Career Development Association (NSCDA)

The Nova Scotia Career Development Association’s (NSCDA) Career Development Certification Program (CDCP) is a competency based RPL Assessment model towards obtaining a Provincially recognized CCDP™ designation. Throughout this panel discussion Lindsay will present the CDCP program’s Self-Assessment Tool for potential candidates. The Self-Assessment Tool provides the potential candidate an opportunity to explore and reflect upon their past and current work experience to determine if they meet the eligibility requirements for the Assessment program.

2. Portfolio/Career Development Self-Assessment

Presenter: Elizabeth Nicholas, CHRP, CHRL, CCDP/Virtual Employment & Education Specialist / HR Support

The Trenton Military Family Resource Centre (Trenton MFRC) and Military Family Services (MFS) have been working in partnership to provide Portfolio Development Courses to military and veteran spouses worldwide since the spring of 2020. Prior to this, Liz provided onsite sessions for both military and veteran spouses as well as military members who were transitioning to civilian life. Throughout this panel Liz will discuss her program and the self-assessment tools that have helped hundreds of clients unearth their prior learning to leverage towards their next great adventure.

3. Academic Self-Assessment

Presenter: Andy Brown, CAPLA Chair and RAC (RPL) Advisor, Champlain College-Saint Lambert

This presentation will focus on the use of a self-evaluation/validation tool and process, which has been designed and mandated by the Ministry of Education in Quebec to gain access to RPL (RAC) services towards a College-Level qualification (AEC or DEC). It will briefly explain the creation of the tool for each qualification’s competencies and specific learning objectives. Moreover, it will highlight the tool’s utility to help potential candidates decide if the qualification is a “right fit” towards their personal, professional development goals. In addition, it will explain the “Validation Interview” process with a subject matter expert to ensure that potential candidates will achieve success as they progress through the RPL process. In closing, it will review the self-assessment/validation process’ reporting procedure, which acts as a roadmap for candidates to navigate the RPL (RAC) process and determine their “best fit” evaluation method of their competencies.

About the speakers

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Webinar 2

Credit Transfer, and Assessing Non-Formal and Informal Learning

Wednesday, June 14, 2023 | 12:00 noon – 1:30 pm (Eastern)

1. Credit Transfer

Presenter: Ji Ae Rhee, Academic Pathways Coordinator, Centennial College

Centennial College’s transfer credit application and assessment process has been fully online since 2014. In this presentation, we’ll explore the process that students go through to apply for transfer credit, including how they are informed of the standards and how they can seek advising. We will also examine how faculty members are trained to assess transfer credit, which covers points such as access to the online system and learning outcome comparisons. Throughout the entire process, the College applies policies and procedures that support quality assurance to ensure that assessments are fair and consistent.

2. Assessing Non-Formal Learning

Presenter: Gary McNeely, PhD, Brandon University

In this segment of today’s webinar, we will examine one process for assessing non-formal learning. CAPLA defines this as “learning usually offered by a sector, professional group, or a company to deal with specific training needs. [A] formal assessment may or may not be included” {Quality Assurance for the Recognition of Prior Learning in Canada: The Manual, 2015, p. 49}. We will explore different dimensions of this definition by studying a range of examples. We will then follow the assessment process adopted at Brandon University to demonstrate how it addresses CAPLA’s 9 Quality Assurance Principles. The presentation will close with a review of challenges in this endeavor and suggestions for addressing these hurdles.

3. Assessing Informal Learning

Presenter: Anna McBeth, Employment and Bridging Supervisor, Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS)

ISANS has been an advocate in the assessment and recognition of international education and experience for over 40 years. In collaboration with all levels of governments, regulatory and education institutions, we developed effective solutions for immigrants to bridge into the workforce in regulated fields. This presentation will provide information on some of the programs and services and their impact on the labour market and community.

About the speakers

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Webinar 3

Challenge Assessment/Evaluation Tools in RPL

Wednesday, June 21, 2023 | 12:00 noon – 1:30 pm (Eastern)

1. RPL Assessment in Industry

Presenter: Jillian Borreson, Brandon Flight Centre

This segment aims to demystify the world of flight training by providing an overview of the training standards as set by Transport Canada as well as the training resources, assessment tools and continued professional development that pilots undergo to receive and maintain their licenses. Following that we will discuss how, despite a nationalize training standard, schools can and do vary in regard to their curriculum, and how those variations may impact your assessment as PLAR professionals. Finally, we will close by exploring the important role PLAR recognition will have moving forward in addressing the pilot shortage and in making flight training more accessible overall.

2. RPL Assessment in Sector Council

Presenter: Kelly Henderson, Executive Director, Trucking Human Resource Sector Council Atlantic

This discussion will showcase how we have been able to introduce RPL into the trucking sector in Atlantic Canada. The more in-depth example will focus on our dispatcher RPL process along with how we balance some of those gaps to achieving designation. What have we learned? What are our next steps?

3. RPL Assessment in Academic Context

Presenter: Clarence deSchiffart, Consultant, Trainer, and Counsellor

This presentation will give participants an overview of what you might see looking in your assessment toolbox: the types of assessment used in RPL, some considerations you need to think about when developing them, as well as what tool to choose to use in what context.

About the speakers

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