I N T R O D U C T I ON T O P R I O R
L E A R N I N G A S S E S S M E NT
Winnipeg Technical
College
RPL IS ABOUT
GOOD BUSINESS
 Thank you to the conference
organizers who gave me this spot.
 Google search returns 119,000
hits for “post-lunch dip”
(many related to beans)
The "post-lunch dip" is a period of decreased
alertness that strikes between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.
•Work performance suffers
•People in dimly lit meeting rooms are apt to nod off
•The likelihood of getting into a car accident increases.
•Daily body temperature, hormone levels and other
physiological cycles place us at a low ebb in the early
afternoon, in contrast to periods of peak alertness we
experience in the morning and early evening.
Post-lunch Dip Effect
The post-lunch dip occurs whether you eat lunch or not,
but, a large, heavy lunch can exacerbate the effect.
Strategies for coping with the post-lunch dip:
•a brief power nap (no longer than 10-15 minutes)
•a brisk walk outside
• drinking tea, coffee or ice-cold juice
• doing work that requires moderate physical exertion.
•If possible, the most mentally demanding work should
be done in the morning or evening, depending on a
person's rhythm.
AT WTC WE BELIEVE…
Significant learning takes place outside of
our educational institution
This learning can and should be evaluated
for credit
To repeat learning already mastered is
inefficient, costly, and unnecessary
RECOGNIZING PRIOR LEARNING
If you are not thinking about ways to
assess and capitalize on what people
already know and can do…you
should be.
For Winnipeg Technical College
(WTC), it is the way we do business.
And it is good business for us, our
students, employers and funders…
E.g. Students saved in the last year in:
Pharmacy Technician: 9 students 35
courses @ $350= $12,250 savings and @3
months /course =105 months or 8.75 years
saved.
Technical Drafting: 7 Students 20
courses@$350=$7,000 savings and
@3month/course=60 months or 5 years
saved.
Who is WTC?
Small Campuses - relaxed atmosphere student/teacher ratio of 18/1.
Multiple start dates - depending on the
program area - students can advance through
the program at a pace that is appropriate for
them under the direction of their instructor.
Extensive hands-on experience along with
theory that is based on relevant skills and
competencies used in industry .
About WTC
•Publicly funded college through
the Government of Manitoba
•Unique to Manitoba
•One year certificate granting
College
•Students of all ages and
educational backgrounds
Student Population
Total
3, 848
Regular Programming
828
Secondary
225
Adult Learning Centres
(6)
1,396
Post-Secondary
603
Enterprise Services
Apprenticeship Training
120
English as an Additional
Language
676
PROGRAM AREAS
•Health Care and Human
Services
•Trades and Technical
•Information and Business
Technology
Health Care
 Medical
Administrative
Assistant
 Pharmacy
Technician
 Rehabilitation
Assistant
Human Services
 Culinary Arts &
Design
 Hairstyling
Industrial Programs
Auto Mechanics
Carpentry
Electrical
Applications
Industrial Welding
Industrial
Mechanic/Millwright
Motosport
Technician
Industrial Electronics
Information and Business Technology






Business Administrative
Assistant
Microcomputer Systems
Technician
Network Systems
Administration
Production Art
Technical Drafting
Network Security Diploma
Program (with U of W)
CONNECTION TO APPRENTICESHIP
Students who successfully complete a pre employment accredited program with 70% or higher
will be granted their Level One Theory standing
through the Apprenticeship Branch of Manitoba.
Prepatory courses in Millwright and Electrical
leading to Trade Qualification Exams.
Millwright Apprenticeship training Levels 1& 2.
- in cooperation with UCN
PARTNERSHIPS
.Apprenticeship Branch
Adult Learning Centres
Department of Labour & Immigration - EAL
Neeginan Institute of Applied Technology
Osborne Village Resource Centre
Red River College
University College of the North
University of Winnipeg
Corrections Canada
Pembina Trails and Louis Riel School Divisions
ASSESSING PRIOR LEARNING
Recognizing previously acquired
knowledge and skills increases
learner confidence and educational
efficiency and is consistent with
good adult education practice.
Benefits of RPL for Learners
•Recognize knowledge and skills
•Clarify skills for life long learning
•Help to identify areas that require
further study
•Gain work or academic credit for
what they already know and can do
WTC BELIEVES…
RPL should be done in a timely,
cost and time-efficient manner
that serves the interests of the
learner first.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
Fees
It means our learners only pay for costs
directly related to the assessment.
WTC does not charge tuition for courses
for which the students receive credit.
We provide targeted gap training.
MEANINGFUL TARGETED ASSESSMENT
•Demonstration
•Standardized tests
•Comprehensive challenge exam
(Pharmacy Technician, Rehabilitation
Assistant)
•As many more as there are
learners!
HOW LEARNING IS ASSESSED AT WTC
•Some assessments are done upfront
with comprehensive challenge tests,
existing module tests or demonstration.
•Some assessments are done in the
day to day classroom and learners
move through the curriculum at their
own pace.
RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING
IS …
recognition and credit
for learning gained
experientially and
measured against
established criteria
IS NOT …
credit for experience
alone
Recognition of Prior Learning
sufficiency
validity
experiential
rubric
informal
verification
reliability
interview
portfolio authenticity
chocolate
transparency
currency
rigor
Recognition of Prior Learning
IMGP
PLAR
ALFI
WEM
IEEQ
ICES
QR
OSCES
CEGEP’s
WEST
CAEL
CLB‘s
IQAS
COPSE
SME’s
Recognition of Prior Learning
Where we
have been
Where we have been
Recognition of Prior Learning
Where we
are now
Where we are now
Recognition of Prior Learning
Where we
are going
Where we are going
Recognition of Prior Learning
Sherry Sullivan
Recognition of Prior
Learning and Essential
Skills Coordinator
989-6575
shesul@wtc.mb.ca
Thank You
Kinanâskomitinawaw
Dankie
Vandane
Zikomo
Go raibh maith agaibh
Qujanaq
Domo arigato
Saeamat kimo
Mamnuun
Kiitti
Takk fyrir
Moran taing
Maraba
Kha
Merbani
Meegwetch
http://users.elite.net/runner/jennifers/thankyou.htm
Ashi