In Manitoba, PLAR is being successfully applied to benefit individuals and change how organizations serve a variety of learners. This section features stories of individuals who have benefited from PLAR and overviews of how organizations are applying PLAR.

Tom        Susan         Tyler         Erin         John         Nasir        Eric

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Brandon University          Urban Circle         University of Winnipeg

Urban Circle

The formal tools and philosophy of recognizing prior learning are helping a Winnipeg Aboriginal training centre put theory and techniques around their holistic practice.

Urban Circle Training has always emphasized helping learners recognize their gifts and skills in all aspects of their lives. Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) has provided Urban Circle with the tools, techniques and a catalyst to further develop their unique PLAR approach.

Recognizing prior learning is consistent with traditional Aboriginal teachings and was part of the centre's approach long before staff knew about PLAR. In all aspects of the centre's programming - education, training, employment, cultural studies - one of the first steps is recognizing the learner's gifts and skills.

Exposure to formal PLAR training and tools has sparked different ways of getting at and documenting prior learning. This is critical to their students who often enter their program with a desire to learn, but with little confidence and limited knowledge of their skills and abilities and how they can translate to the classroom and the workplace.

Urban Circle applies PLAR to granting credit towards the mature student diploma, to identifying and pursuing training and employment goals and most importantly, as a basis for helping students understand and articulate their gifts and skills.

Urban Circle staff are now integrating PLAR-based theory with their traditions to develop more culturally appropriate ways of assessing Aboriginal learners.

The use of PLAR has also pointed to other opportunities. For example, Urban Circle is now exploring ways to articulate the learning from a health care training program towards a mature student program.

Recognizing prior learning is key to Urban Circle - not only in assisting their learners, but as a strategy in reaching their goal of more relevant, appropriate and effective services within the Aboriginal community.