PLAR

1
PLAR A Journey in Learning Prior Learning
Assessment and Recognition

• Report prepared by
• Linda Ungarian, Project Administrator
• Pan-Canadian Gateways Project
• April 2005

2
What is PLAR?

• Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition!
• PLAR offers people an opportunity to create a
  portfolio of the learning they have achieved over
  their lifetime. Building a portfolio is a
  journey to discover the skills you have acquired
  and to create an awareness of the abilities you
  possess.
• PLAR is a life inventory of your learning.

3
PLAR - 50 Years in the Making

• PLAR is not a new idea!
• After World War II the American Council on
  Education (ACE) recommended college credit be
  awarded for learning done during military
  service.
• In 1974 the Council for Adult and Experiential
  Learning (CAEL) began to facilitate methods to
  guide educational institutions to conduct
  assessments of learning acquired outside of those
  institutions in a reliable manner.
• It is not uncommon for post-secondary
  institutions to test students in language,
  mathematics, or sciences.
• Once a student has been assessed on their
  knowledge of a particular subject the student may
  be placed in a more advanced class.
• PLAR offers a more methodical manner in which to
  evaluate the college or university level of
  skills and knowledge that a student may possess.

4
The Journey

• My personal journey with PLAR continues to be an
  interesting learning experience. I became aware
  of PLAR while working on the Pan-Canadian
  Pathways Project ( 2002-03) http//pathways.athaba
  scau.ca.
• Pathways was followed by a more intense study on
  PLAR with the Pan-Canadian Gateways Project
  (2003-2006). http//gateways.athabascau.ca.
• Gathering statistics on the use of PLAR in
  Canadian colleges and universities has been an
  ongoing activity with both projects. However,
  PLAR is the main focus of the Gateways Project
  which is where Ive had the opportunity to learn
  more about the importance of PLAR to colleges,
  universities, government and to the individual
  student.

5
CAPLA

• Another introduction to PLAR came while attending
  an annual meeting of the Canadian Association of
  Prior Learning Assessment (CAPLA).
• CAPLA has been operating since 1994 and was
  incorporated in 1997 as a non-profit
  organization. Its members are comprised of adult
  learners, PLA practitioners, unions, businesses,
  academic institutions, equity groups,
  occupational bodies, sectors and non-governmental
  organizations. CAPLA and First Nations Technical
  Institute have co-sponsored a yearly PLA
  conference in Belleville, Ontario since the
  mid-nineties, an event that focused on the
  development of local, provincial, national and
  international PLA strategies and programs. A
  great deal of information was delivered from
  experienced instructors of post-secondary
  institutions from across Canada. (Taken directly
  from the CAPLA site at http//www.capla.ca/Backgro
  und.php)

6
PLAR Contributing to a Seamless Education

• Human Resources Skills Development Canada (HRSDC)
  announced that with a growing shortage of
  skilled, trained and educated people in Canada,
  it is anticipated that there will be a short fall
  of as many as 1,000,000 people that are needed in
  the work force by 2010.
• Having identified this need it is more important
  than ever that Prior Learning Assessment
  Recognition (PLAR) be utilized to its capacity.
  PLAR can aid in the creation of a seamless
  education process. Recognition for learning that
  was achieved over a persons life is valuable and
  should be assessed. This can encourage people to
  advance their education and improve their work
  position, and assist others to begin the
  upgrading process. The sooner a person can
  complete their education the sooner they will
  advance in the workplace and earn a higher wage.

7
Making a Difference

• The message throughout the CAPLA conference was
  unmistakably clear, PLAR is making a difference
  in peoples lives. This was demonstrated with
  information delivered about the history of the
  delivery, the current process, and most
  importantly, evident in the video of individuals
  who were successful in their portfolio
  development. Their success stories were moving,
  inspiring and life changing. Recognition for
  learning that was achieved over a persons life
  is valuable and should be assessed.

8
Developing and Reviewing the Portfolio

• This brings us to the evaluation process of the
  PLAR portfolio. It can take countless hours for
  a student to gather support materials for their
  portfolio, and to write their narratives and
  resumes.
• It also takes a great deal of time for the
  portfolio to be evaluated by accredited staff at
  post-secondary institutions. Often there is
  resistance to PLAR due to the amount of time it
  takes away from the full slate of activities
  staff are already involved with.

9
Challenges

• Many challenges to PLAR have been identified.
  One being resistance from some educational
  institutions for reasons including the following
• Ensuring that the credibility and integrity of
  the institution is upheld
• Lack of training to do assessments
• Additional time PLAR will add to their already
• heavy workloads
• Renumeration for the additional work associated
• with PLAR
• PLAR professional development, and
• Reviewing portfolios on course-by-course basis or
  having a program-based review. Each method has
  its merit leaving no one way as being ideal.

10
Solutions

• Some suggestions for getting faculty and staff
• to get on board include
• Have a clear policy that maintains the integrity
  and credibility of the institution
• Create opportunities for additional training to
  do assessments
• Ensure staff have additional time to manage
  portfolio review
• Offer reinumeration for the additional work
  associated with PLAR
• Direct staff to attend PLAR professional
  development seminars and conferences

11
The Journey Building the Portfolio

• Encouraged and excited by the value of building a
  portfolio I began the process. Athabasca
  University offers a course to assist with
  portfolio development. AUs Centre for Learning
  Accreditation also offers a handbook as a guide
  through the process. I chose both the course and
  the handbook with my focus on the BPA HS program.
  
• Building a portfolio will take all of the
  guidance a person can obtain. As I went back
  over 30 years of my life I was constantly
  challenged to recall situations that would
  demonstrate the learning that has occurred.

12
The Journey Continues

• There were many victories but these were
  interwoven with tears and frustration. 160
  examples of learning were required under five
  categories. The examples needed to flow from one
  subject to the other and in an order that would
  take the reader through the sequence of events
  where the learning occurred.
• In addition a Learning Narrative and Educational
  Narrative were prepared together with a resume
  outlining a detailed list of employment and extra
  curricular activities.
• Letters of attestation were also required from
  past employers and people who had witnessed my
  learning. This re-opened doors to relationships
  with people whom I had not talked with in years.
  It was a difficult request to make. Difficult for
  me but also for those to whom I made the request.
  Three of six responded to my request. The
  letters were worth the wait.

13
Keeping Records

• With the portfolio completed it was delivered to
  AUs Centre for Accreditation for review. To date
  I have not heard the results but eagerly await
  hearing what credit towards a degree in Human
  Services has been earned through my lifes
  learning.
• Even the portfolio has been a learning
  experience. The lesson I share with most people
  is that they should keep everything. All of the
  certificates and awards that I had earned over
  three decades had gone astray. Their significance
  held only a fleeting value for me and I never
  understood the importance of keeping a record of
  your lifes work, learning and experience.

14
Learning

• There is a great deal of information on Prior
  Learning and Assessment and Recognition and with
  that a world of opportunity for many.
• PLAR and building a portfolio can create a
  renewed confidence in a person and help them to
  recognize their value and potential. I witnessed
  this in others at conferences and read about it
  in books on PLAR. Now the experience is mine as
  well and the door of opportunity has widened for
  continued growth, development and learning.