Supporters

Many thanks to our project partners and funders: without you, RecognitionForLearning would not exist! If your organization would like to partner with us, please contact us.

Centre for the Study of Education and Work (CSEW), Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto

Project:
The Centre for the Study of Education and Work will provide a key advisory and research capacity to RFL

They will provide materials developed under the auspices of The Prior Learning Assessment Group of New Approaches to Lifelong Learning (NALL), including:

• Comprehensive bibliography for PLAR
• Research documenting PLAR in Canada and abroad.
• During this project, through funding from SSHRC, the Centre will make available to RFL on a regular basis, findings of their research on informal learning and its relationships to, and implications for, PLAR practices, benchmarks and the provision of service to learners, employers, community agencies and planners.

The Project Coordinator is Dr. David Livingstone, Head, Centre for the Study of Education and Work.

For further information, contact: Dr. David Livingstone at dlivingstone [at] oise [dot] utoronto [dot] ca.

Partner:

Conestoga College Institute Of Technology And Advanced Learning, Ontario

Project:
A Slice of the Iceberg: Cross Canada Study of Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition and Part II: Feedback from Learners: A Second Cross-Canada Study of Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition

The seven partners in the Cross-Canada Studies (Conestoga College, College Ahuntsic (cegep), Quebec; College of the North Atlantic, Newfoundland; Douglas College, British Columbia; Fanshawe College, Ontario; Mohawk College, Ontario; Red River College, Manitoba and Joy Van Kleef, (Independent PLAR consultant)) have made the Cross Canada Study on PLAR: A Slice of the Iceberg report available on the recognitionforlearning.ca website. In addition, they have donated use of the following tools developed for their research:

• A data collection tool designed to capture pertinent background data on PLAR learners.
• A Users Manual, in English and in French, for using the database collection tool.
• Two survey instruments, in English and in French, to facilitate study of the personal experiences of adult learners during the PLAR process.

The study partners are also contributing 15 hours of their time and expertise for on-line consulting with prospective PLAR learners and on-line training for any stakeholder groups wanting to use research data and tools and/or do further PLAR research.

Dr. Eleanor Conlin, as Chair, Academic Research and Educational Services of Conestoga College was Project Manager.

For further information, contact: Edith Torbay at etorbay [at] conestogac [dot] on [dot] ca

Partner:

Dr. Morris Keeton,
Senior Scholar, University of Maryland, University College

Project:
An internationally known scholar and PLAR expert, Dr. Keeton will make his PLAR-related research available on the recognitionforlearning.ca website. In addition, he will gather and forward other key PLAR research to help make recognitionforlearning.ca a comprehensive resource for PLAR practitioners and researchers.

For further information, contact: Dr. Morris Keeton at mkeeton [at] umuc [dot] edu.

Partner:

Mohawk College

Project:
PLAR Practitioners & their Competencies

In support of the Online Community of Practice (OCoP) for the advancement of PLAR in Canada, Mohawk College will provide leadership in engaging individuals to explore the roles and competencies of PLAR practitioners.

In Canada’s 20-year history of developing and implementing a wide range of Prior Learning Assessment and Qualifications Recognition services, the field of practice and the role of the practitioners have been evolving. Using web technologies, Mohawk College will develop an online resource for individuals currently applying PLAR knowledge and skills and for those interested in learning more. Information and links will be provided about PLAR practitioner competencies, self-assessment of practitioner competencies, stories about practice and lessons learned as well as opportunities for self-improvement and interaction among PLAR practitioners and proponents.

Project Coordinator for development of competency listings and self-assessment was Betty Chou, Manager, Recognition of Learning.

Partner:

Dr. Angie Wong, University of Saskatchewan, Extension Division

Project:
Learning Objects

This project will see the creation of learning objects on learning outcomes and reflective learning. A learning object on the theme of learning outcomes will enable instructors, PLAR practitioners, curriculum developers, career counsellors and others to use the content as they see fit to expand opportunities for students to develop and assess their learning in varied ways. The assessment of an individual’s ability to reflect-on-action and to reflect-in-action is a key component of the prior learning assessment and recognition process. A learning object on the theme of reflective learning will allow instructors, assessors, and curriculum developers to embed reflective learning strategies within the traditions of their various disciplines. This learning object could also be used by PLAR practitioners in advising students about the ways in which their experiential learning could be communicated to assessors.

The project coordinator is Dr. Angie Wong, Professor of Extension and Director, Centre for Distributed Learning. Angie's involvement in PLAR encompasses extensive research, project coordination and ongoing promotion of PLAR principles and practices through lectures and workshops, conference presentations, consultations and numerous publications.

For further information, contact: Dr. Angie Wong at angie [dot] wong [at] usask [dot] ca.

RFL Funders

Funding for the development of Recogntionforlearning,ca has been provided by:

• The Office of Learning Technologies
• Industry Canada (SchoolNet)