If you are new to prior learning asessment (PLA - also know as credit for prior learning - CPL), this workshop is designed to cover all the questions you have about PLA but were afraid to ask!
Designed as an introduction to PLA, the workshop will begin by laying a foundation by exploring the different opportunities students have to demonstrate their knowledge and learning and the impact PLA has on organizational practices and student success.
This will be followed with an interactive discussion about best practices in implementing an effective PLA program within your institution. Participants will engage in case studies that examine principles of organizational change and how a PLA program becomes integral to student learning and success. Using sample documents, scenarios, and institutional examples, participants will work collaboratively to create an action plan and design processes for introducing or expanding PLA options to gain support from key campus constituencies. As a result, participants will be able to build an action plan for executing a prior learning assessment program on their own campuses. However, this is just the beginning and is meant to cover a wide spectrum of PLA topics at an introductory level. CAEL offers many other, more advanced development opportunities that dive more deeply into different aspects of PLA, as well as more customized consulation on particular implementation topis.
This course will teach participants to:
Describe the various forms of PLA and utilize the steps, tools and procedures in the PLA process
Illustrate and apply the CAEL principles of best practice in PLA
Articulate the roles and responsibilities of those involved in the PLA process
Determine decision points for effective PLA implementation
Identify strategies for gaining buy-in from faculty, administrators, and students
Distinguish options for PLA-related organizational structures and action plans
Target Audience
The target audience for this course includes PLA owners, (such as coordinators, administrators and degree planners) who are implementing a new program or improving an existing one, but it can also include PLA supporters, those who play important roles or whose buy-in is needed such as university administration and administrative unit heads, registrars, and faculty members who advise course scheduling and degree plans. We strongly recommend that your institution have a cohort participate in this training, including both owners and supporters, as standing up a PLA program is not something that one person or a small group is going to be able to do on their own. It is a real cross-campus effort! Please note that this session would be redundant for anyone with a significant background in PLA.
Cohort Models
If you are interested in purchasing a cohort model for up to 25 individuals for your institution, please contact Scott Campbell, CAEL's VP, Partnership Development at scampbell@cael.org to discuss our synchronous, virtual delivery options.
2021 workshop start dates:
February 15
April 26
July 26
September 27