Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) for ... Web viewWhat is Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition for Mature Students?AndHow Can I Benefit From It? The Ontario Association

What is Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition for Mature Students?

And

How Can I Benefit From It?

The Ontario Association of Adult and Continuing Education

School Board Administrators

www.cesba.com

© CESBA 2015

About CESBA

Who We Are The Ontario Association of Adult & Continuing Education School Board Administrators (CESBA) is the umbrella non-profit network for 56 publicly funded schools (French, English, Catholic and Public) that deliver adult, alternative and continuing education programs across Ontario. CESBA members provide adult programs to over 300,000 learners each year. Boards offer customized career pathway programs that include, but are not limited to, Ontario Secondary School Credit credit and non-credit courses, literacy, numeracy, ESL, FSL, LINC and CLIC (les Cours de langue pour les immigrants au Canada), International Languages, employment preparation and skills development. Various boards also provide certificate courses in child care assistant, health care such as the personal support worker program, chef training / food preparation, aesthetics, hair styling and massage therapy. Visit us online for additional PLAR resources– cesba.com Note – If you wish to borrow information from this resource please reference CESBA – Thank you!

CESBA PLAR for Mature Students 2015

Table of Contents

Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) for Mature Students...............1

Am I Eligible for this Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) for Mature Students Process?....................................................................................................2

Information about Step 1 of the Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) for Mature Students Process – 9/10 Assessment Step................................3

Information about Step 2 of the Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) for Mature Students Process – 11/12 Equivalency Step...............................6

The Graduation Requirements After Completing the Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) for Mature Students Steps...............................................10

Appendix................................................................................................................14

CESBA PLAR for Mature Students 2015

Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) for Mature Students

PLAR for Mature Students is a formal evaluation completed by a principal or guidance

counsellor at an adult high school. Through PLAR you may get credits towards your high school

diploma. PLAR looks at your life and work experiences since leaving high school and credits you

for that experience.

Prior Learning Credits Earned Towards a DiplomaKnowledge

Experience

Skills

Training

Up to 16 Grade 9/10 credits

Up to 10 grade 11/12 credits

Up to 26 credits may be granted towards an

OSSD

As a mature student you may get up to 26 equivalent credits and may only have to complete

your final 4 credits to graduate with an Ontario Secondary School Diploma.

This could take less than the time needed to study and complete the GED tests.

2 CESBA PLAR for Mature Students 2015

Am I Eligible for this Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) for Mature Students Process?

In order to be eligible to apply for PLAR you must :

be at least 18 years of age on or before December 31st of the school year in which you register at an adult credit granting site

be out of regular day school programming for at least 10 consecutive months before registering for credit courses at the adult credit granting facility

have less than 26 credits on your transcript

You are also eligible for the PLAR for Mature Students if you are from outside Ontario and wish to work towards your Ontario Secondary School Diploma.

3CESBA PLAR for Mature Students 2015

PLAR stands for Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition

There are 2 steps in the PLAR process.

Step 1

As a mature student you can increase your grade 9/10 credit count by

completing 5 assessments and if successful you could be granted up to 16 grade

9/10 credits.

Step 2

As a mature student you may also be granted up to 10 grade 11/12 credits for

recognition of your life and work experiences.

Recognition for work and volunteer experiences as well as life experiences, such as raising a family, can help increase your credit count towards an Ontario Secondary School Diploma.

+ =Up to 10

Grade 11/12

Credits


Information about Step 1 of the Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) for Mature Student Process – 9/10 Assessment Step

This is the step where a principal or guidance counsellor will review your last high school

transcript to determine which assessments you need to complete in order to bring your Grade

9/10 credit count to 16.

You can get up to 16 grade 9 and 10 equivalent credits.

You may be asked to complete assessments in the following subject areas

grade 9/10 Math

grade 9/10 English

grade 9/10 Science

grade 9 Canadian Geography

grade 10 Canadian History

When can I complete the assessment step?

After you register for a high school credit course, you will develop a plan with the guidance

counsellor to determine when you will complete the assessments.

There is no cost for you to go through PLAR for Mature Students.

If you do not have a transcript, you will need to do all 5 assessments.


To prepare for the assessment:

review the list of skills necessary to be successful on the English and math assessments in

the Appendix of this document

ask the principal or guidance counsellor at the adult credit granting site for information

about how to prepare for the history, geography and science assessments

What will appear on my Ontario Secondary School Transcript?

Entries on the student’s Ontario Student Transcript will appear as one line of PLE credits (Prior

Learning Equivalent credits). No marks will be assigned for these credits (see the sample

transcript on page 8).


Information about Step 2 of the Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) for Mature Student Process – Grade 11/12 Equivalency Step

This is the step where a principal or guidance counsellor will review how your life and work

experience aligns with current high school courses. Your experience as a parent or construction

worker may give evidence of learning that relates directly to the Ontario curriculum

expectations for parenting and construction technology credits. In these cases you may be

granted several grade 11/12 credits towards your Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD).

You can get up to 10 grade 11/12 equivalency credits at this step.

There is no cost for you to go through PLAR for Mature Students.

To prepare for this assessment,

create a portfolio to show your work

experience, learning, training and

accomplishments.

a. Use a sturdy binder

b.Put pages and certificates into

clear plastic covers to protect

them

c. Ensure there are no spelling or

grammatical errors


Your portfolio can contain the following information:

a. Any transcripts from high school, or post secondary institutions such as

colleges/universities

b. A resume

c. Training Certificates for short courses or apprenticeship training

d. Letters of appraisal or recommendation from your employers including:

name of the company

duration of employment

type of work done – a list of duties

accomplishments, skills developed and training received

signature of your work supervisor

Record of Employment may be included to prove period of employment

e. Letter indicating volunteer experiences, including number of hours completed

f. Newspaper articles highlighting your achievements

g. Copies of birth certificates of your children

h. A document indicating languages spoken and written

The equivalency step involves:

1. Getting an application from the counsellor at the adult credit high school.

2. Completing the application form.

3. Submitting the application form to the adult credit high school.

4. Meeting with the principal or counsellor to discuss what credits you will be granted and

what your next steps are.


What will appear on my Ontario Secondary School transcript?

Entries on the student’s Ontario Student Transcript will show the course codes for each

equivalent credit granted for all grade 11/12 courses. No marks will be assigned for these

credits but EQV will appear under the Percentage Grade column (see the sample transcript

below).

Grade 9/10 credits granted

Total credit count after the PLAR for Mature Students Process


The sample student transcript on the previous page shows

16 grade 9/10 equivalency credits granted for successful completion of the 5

assessments including 14 compulsory credits.

all 16 credits in one line on the transcript as a block of PLE credits (Prior

Learning Equivalency Credits)

10 equivalent credits granted for life and work experiences - note that

o specific courses are mentioned which indicates the areas of prior learning

o no marks are noted on the transcript

In this example, the student was granted a total of 26 equivalent credits which is the

maximum number allowed through the PLAR process. One of the equivalent

technology credits counted as a senior compulsory credit which brought the total

compulsory credit count to 15.

Now the student must complete at least 4 high school credits including grade 11 and

12 English, a grade 11 math credit and one other non-compulsory credit.

The student will have to fulfill the Ontario Literacy Requirement but this can be done

through the Ontario Literacy Course which can also count as one of the final 2

compulsory English courses required.

The principal will determine the number of community involvement hours required

by the student to fulfill this graduation requirement.


The Graduation Requirements After Completing the Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) Steps

30 credits are required for an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD)

Through PLAR you may get up to:

o 16 grade 9/10 credits through Step 1 of PLAR

o 10 grade 11/12 credits through Step 2 of PLAR

You may complete the remaining credits through day school, self-study

(correspondence), e-learning, night school, or summer school

18 compulsory credits (18 core courses) are required for an OSSD.

You may be granted 14 compulsory credits as part of the grade 9/10 assessment step 1.

You will need to complete 4 additional compulsory grade 11/12 credit courses including:

o grade 11 and 12 English

o grade 11 math

o one additional compulsory credit as agreed upon with the principal or

guidance counsellor

o Ontario Literacy Requirements - successful completion of the Ontario Literacy

Test or Course

o Community Involvement Activities

Completion of the Ontario Literacy Course may count as 1 of the final 4 credits required for graduation.

Number of hours to be completed by a mature student is determined by the principal.


Where can I do this?Most adult credit granting facilities in Ontario offer the opportunity to apply for Prior Learning

Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) for Mature Students.

Check with an adult credit granting facility in your area.

Ask your Literacy and Basic Skills (LBS) instructor to help you find an adult credit facility in your

area. Contact the facility to set up an appointment to speak with a guidance counsellor.

Or

Contact The Independent Learning Centre (ILC) to get information about their PLAR process.

Ask to speak with a Learner Services Officer.

Learner Services Officers are available between 11:00 a.m. ET and 4:00 p.m. ET, Monday to

Friday

416-484-2704 (service in English only)

416-484-2722 (service in French only)

To call toll-free from outside the local Toronto dialling area:

1-800-387-5512 (service in English only)

1-800-265-0454 (service in French only)

When do I do this?Call your nearest adult credit facility or contact the Independent Learning Centre (ilc.org) to find

out when and how to complete this process.

Make an appointment at an adult credit facility to discuss PLAR and completion of your Ontario

Secondary High School Diploma.


Ask the following questions:

Do you offer PLAR for Mature Students?

Am I eligible for PLAR for Mature Students?

If you offer PLAR and I am eligible, can you explain the steps in completing this process at

your facility?

When are the assessments completed?

Are there any deadlines I should be aware of for submitting documents?

How many credits will I need to complete my OSSD?

What specific credits will I need to complete my OSSD?

How will I meet the Ontario Literacy Requirement?

What must I do to fulfill the Community Involvement requirement as it relates to

completing my OSSD? Remember to take a list of community activities that you have

been involved in so far.

How long might it take me to complete my OSSD?

If eligible for PLAR, how do I prepare for the tests and what documentation does the

school require from me for the 11/12 Equivalency process?


Why would I do this?

Through the PLAR for Mature Students you:

get recognition for your many and varied life and work experiences

learn what you need to get your Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) - you may only

need to earn as few as 4 credits

complete your Ontario Secondary School Diploma possibly faster than completion of a

GED

get a high school diploma which is seen as a better foundation for employment readiness

than an ACE certificate or GED

learn if your final credits can be taken through correspondence (ilc.org), so you can work

and complete your diploma at the same time (you do not need to attend a school full-

time in order to complete your OSSD)


Appendix


Math Checklist to ensure readiness for Grade 11 math and to prepare for PLAR for mature student math assessment.

Math Skills for the Workforce and Grade 11 Math (MEL3E)

*indicates recommendation for workforce math (not required for MEL3E)

Review Measurement

read, write numbers one to tenuse measuring tools; rulers, scales, thermometers

count by 2’s, 5’s, 10,s to 100 measure distance, length, width, height

read signs, one digit calculations using +, -, x, ÷ measure weight, volume, angles, temperature *

read signs, two digit calculations using +, -, x, ÷calculate, converts within/between metric and imperial*

read an analog, digital and 24 hour clock calculate area, perimeter for variety of shapes*

convert time between time zones calculate radius, diameter of circle*

identifies and performs required operation (+, -, x, ÷) in simple word problems

use applications in measurement word problems

Decimals (includes Managing Money) Statistics/Data

understand place value, money place value integrate, analyze, identify trends in data*

+, -, x, ÷ decimals and money conceptsunderstand and use percentages in a circle graph*

round to nearest whole number or $ organize data into tables, charts, graphs

convert decimals to fractions and percents read simple maps including legends

use application of decimals in word problems integrate, analyze, identify trends in data*

understand and use percentages in a circle graph*

Fractions use application of data analysis in word


problems

recognize types of fractions (proper, improper, mixed)

reduce fractions to lowest terms Integers (Includes Managing Money)

+, -, x, ÷ fractions using calculatorunderstand the idea of integers and negative numbers

convert fractions to decimal and percent understand negative bank balance

use application in fraction word problems +, -, x, ÷ integers

solve simple equations

Percents/Ratios (includes Managing Money) solve multi-step equations

calculate tax, tips, discountsuse application of +ve & -ve numbers in word problems

calculate unit prices using percent, ratio

compare using percents & ratios by cross multiplying Order of Operations

change percents to decimals, decimals to percents use BEDMAS to solve expressions

determine tax using percents +, -, x, ÷ simple one step calculations

use application in percent/ratio word problems +, -, x, ÷ multi-step with integers calculations

use application in fraction word problems

After completing this page of the checklist you will be ready for Grade 11 Workplace Math (MEL3E) or the Workforce

College Preparation Math Skills

Fractions Pythagorean Theorem

convert between mixed and improper fractionsunderstand where/how to use the Pythagorean Theorem


+, -, x, ÷ with same denominatorscalculate side lengths using Pythagorean Theorem

+, -, x, ÷, finding common denominatorsuse application of the theorem in word problems

use application in complex fraction word problems

Algebra Geometry

understand what variables, terms and coefficients arecalculate area regular, irregular two dimensional shapes

understand differences of expression and equationlocate points on a grid using a coordinate system

understand how polynomials can represent real life understand what a ‘degree’ means

solve simple equations with binomialsrecognize different angles (acute, right,obtuse, reflex)

simplify polynomials by collecting like termscalculate area of compound shapes (more than one)

( +, -, x, ÷) polynomials, expanding as needed calculate the area of a circle

use application of solving for variables in word problems

calculate unknown angles using other known angles

understand what parallel and perpendicular lines are

Linear Relations/Graphingcalculate angles, parallel lines using Z, C and F patterns

draw and label a grid using a coordinate system calculate interior angles of a triangle

understand what an ordered pair is (X, Y) use application of formulas word problems

plot an ordered pair on the Plane

label the Origin on the Plane


understand what a linear relationship is

describe a linear relationship with an equation

graph a line (relationship) using an equation and table of values

understand what slope means (positive/negative)

calculate slope of a line (2 ways)

use application of linear relations in word problems

After completing all sections of both pages you will be ready for Grade 11 College Preparation Math (MBF3C)

English Checklist to ensure readiness for Grade 11 English and to prepare for PLAR for mature student English assessment.


Fill this out with your instructor. See how much you’ve accomplished!

If you can check these all off, you should be ready to write your PLAR English Assessment and move on to

a Grade 11 English credit.


Reading WritingLevel 1

recognizes common symbols

recognizes sight words

decodes common words using phonics

scans simple text for familiar words

reads 2-3 sentences

retells story

Level 1

copies from text

uses capital letters

uses basic phonetic spelling

uses ‘ed’, ‘ing’, ‘s’ endings

simple sentences

uses basic punctuation

Level 2

uses phonics and word parts to decode

reads a short text (2-3 paragraphs) to find simple

information

identifies main idea

makes inferences, expresses opinion

follows simple written instructions

Level 2

writes on topic

capitalizes proper nouns

uses paragraph form

self corrects

good basic grasp of punctuation, spelling, grammar,

(correct verb tense, subject verb agreement)

Level 3

reads short essay to identify topic and purpose

identifies writer’s point of view

makes predictions

draws conclusions

Level 3

compound sentences

uses linking words

uses descriptive language

well organized paragraphs with details

Level 4

makes difficult inferences

develops and clarifies own point of view

derives meaning from uncommon vocabulary and

sentence structure

Level 4

very few spelling errors

wide variety of sentence type, structure

well linked, developed paragraphs

uses expressive language

Level 5

demonstrates critical thinking skills (analysis,

Level 5

sophisticated and effective command of vocabulary


comparison, evaluation)

demonstrates knowledge of literary devices (simile,

metaphor)

creative, persuasive written material

logical development of topic



Documents

Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) for ... Web viewWhat is Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition for Mature Students?AndHow Can I Benefit From It? The Ontario Association