Detail

Summary

How can institutions reduce barriers to prior learning assessment and recognition (PLAR) while supporting faculty, improving consistency and strengthening learner mobility?

In this Connect + Learn session, Christine Spicer, Manager, Quality Partnerships at Fanshawe College, shared lessons from the ONCAT-funded PLAR Toolkit project, which focused on building sustainable, institution wide capacity for PLAR through centralized resources, faculty training and improved data visibility. Guided by a comprehensive gap analysis informed by interviews with faculty, staff and academic leaders, the project addressed longstanding challenges related to fragmented processes, inconsistent documentation and limited awareness of PLAR across the institution.

The project resulted in a suite of practical, scalable tools, including accessible learner guides and templates, self-directed faculty training modules, a centralized PLAR hub and an interactive dashboard that supports real-time tracking of PLAR activity. Together, these resources make academic integrity, operational efficiency and the student experience stronger at Fanshawe, while positioning PLAR as a core component of learner access and mobility.

Find out how Fanshawe designed and implemented a comprehensive PLAR toolkit and how elements of this work can be adapted or replicated at other institutions.

What you will learn from this presentation:

• how a structured gap analysis can identify institutional barriers and priorities for PLAR improvement
• how centralized, AODA‑compliant resources support faculty confidence, consistency and engagement
• how learner guides, templates and rubrics can improve transparency and assessment quality
• how PLAR dashboards and data tools can support operational efficiency and evidence-based decision making

View the recording of this Connect + Learn. You can also view the presentation deck below.