Slide deck from Amanda Payne, Canadian Association for Prior Learning Assessment (CAPLA)'s Ignite Session A presentation at the Ontario Open Badge Forum.

1. Canadian Association for Prior Learning
Assessment
(CAPLA’s Open Badges)

2. Canadian Association for Prior
Learning Assessment (CAPLA)
• Began in 1994
• Canada’s only national RPL membership organization
• Advocates for formal recognition of knowledge, skills and
abilities acquired through work and life experience
• Supports efforts to improve access for recognition of:
• Indigenous peoples
• Veterans
• Disadvantaged groups
• Immigrants
• People without formal credentials

3. Canadian Association for Prior
Learning Assessment (CAPLA)
• Provides professional development opportunities:
• Webinars
• Conferences
• Tailored training
• Open badges
• Website
• Community of practice: Hub, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter
• Creates working groups
• Contributes to Strategic Advisory Panel for the Recognition
of Prior Learning
• Partners with a range of stakeholders, nationally and
internationally, to bring about change and aid RPL development

4. Definition of RPL (PLA, PLAR, RCC, RAC)
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is a set of processes that
allow individuals to identify, document, be assessed, and gain
recognition for their prior learning. The focus is on the learning,
rather than context of the learning. Knowledge, skills, and
abilities gained from life experiences may be formal, informal, or
non-formal. RPL processes may serve several purposes, including:
licensure, credit or advanced standing at an academic
institution, employment, career planning, recruitment or self-
knowledge.
Quality Assurance for the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) in Canada: THE
MANUAL (2015) pg. 1

5. Some Thoughts About RPL
• RPL is a ‘movement’ in Canada
• All learning must be valued, respected and recognized at
appropriate levels
• RPL is a labour force development strategy; a bridging tool into
education/training programs/employment/professions
• Concern about the rigour and validity of RPL can be addressed
through quality assurance practices

6. Who is involved in RPL?
• Adults (students, employees, professionals…)
• Advisors, assessors, trainers and educators
• Professional organizations
• Employers
• Career/employment counsellors
• Sector councils and industry organizations
• Regulatory bodies
• Labour groups
• Military
• Governments
• Educational institutions
• Immigrant serving agencies and community organizations

7. 5 Key areas of RPL

8. By earning a CAPLA badge and sharing it online,
participants demonstrate:
• Knowledge and application of RPL by achieving the
learning outcomes of our professional development
opportunities.
• The application of the Canadian Guiding Principles
for Quality RPL Practice in CAPLA’s RPL Quality
Assurance Manual (2015).
• Public support for CAPLA and its mission as an
organization.
Earning a CAPLA badge

9. Future Considerations
• Uptake
• Time
• Cost
• Sourcing and qualifications of assessors

10. Ignitor Question
• How can badges in RPL help practitioners and the
adults they serve?
• How can we facilitate the uptake and recognition of
Open Badges? How do we get buy-in?

11. #CAPLA
Thank you
Amanda Payne
Co-Executive Director
amandapayne.capla@outlook.com
www.capla.ca