Prior Learning (PLAR)

20th Annual PLA Conference
"UNITY, COMMITMENT, VISION - CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF PRACTICE"

May 26 - May 29, 2009

SUMMARY
CONFERENCE EVALUATION FORM

Please reply candidly to the following questions. It is not necessary for you to identify yourself.
RATING SCALE: 5 - Excellent 4 - Very Good 3 - Good 2 - Fair 1 - Poor

1. Were the registration procedures

17 efficient 0 adequate 0 unsatisfactory?

2. Comments on the registration procedure:

Wonderful support from Lynn - as ever!
Very well organized (x2)
Pleasant, kind & facilitative. Smiling, welcome.
Some confusion with my organization registering for me but, very welcoming and helpful upon my arrival
Easy, efficient, everyone was pleasant & helpful
Excellent people & friendly
This is an environment where individuals can interact freely. The participants are so open and accepting, just a great thing.
Excellent, my worse challenge was getting from the airport in Toronto. I did get a good chance however to see the area from the vantage point of a high bus!
The desk team has displayed complete enthusiasm in assisting the participants, I thank them for their patience and willingness to help.

3. How would you rate the pre-conference session you attended?

TUESDAY, MAY 26: 1:00 pm - 4:30 pm and WEDNESDAY, MAY 27: 9:00 am - 12:00 noon

Introduction to Prior Learning Assessment and Portfolio Development (Rating 2=1)
Becoming an Adult Learner Friendly Institution: How to Get Started (Rating 4=2)
The FNTI Model: Portfolio Development as a Tool for Transformative Learning (Rating 5=8)

4. How would you rate the session(s) you attended?

WEDNESDAY, MAY 27: 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm
PLENARY SESSION: "An International Indigenous PLAR Collective - Update and Next Steps" (Rating 5=7, 4=4)

WEDNESDAY, MAY 27: 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm

PLAR and Indigenous People
Rating 5=2, 4=1

Teaching Workplace Essential Skills Through Industrial Arts
Rating

Manitoba Adult Learning Centers: Moving ALFI Forward
Rating 5=2

A Cross-Sectional Study of Indigenous Knowledge Systems: Implications For
Transforming Institutional Practice and Engaging With Community
Rating 4=5, 3=1

WEDNESDAY, MAY 27: 7:00 pm
OPENING CEREMONIES
Rating 5-10, 4=1

THURSDAY, MAY 28: 8:45 am - 10:15 am
PLAR: Reflections on FNTI and The Canadian Experience
Rating 5=3, 4=2

Curriculum Theory And Prior Learning Assessment: Is It A Natural Fit?
Rating 4=3, 2=1, 1=1

Recognizing and Making Use of Informal Community-Based Education
Rating 4=2, 3=1

Portfolio Development With Foreign Trained Professionals
Rating 5=1, 4=1, 3=1

THURSDAY, MAY 28: 10:30 am - 12:00 noon
Synthesis of Worldview (CCL - PLAR in Canada)
Rating 5=1

Unity Through Integration At Athabasca University
Rating 5=1, 4=1

RPL at Red River College - 20+ Years And Still Going Strong!
Rating 5=1, 4=1, 3=1

The Orality-Literacy Interface and the Transmission of (Indigenous) Knowledge:
Perspectives, Perceptions and Lenses for Equitable Prior Learning Assessment
Rating 10=1, 5=1, 4=1

THURSDAY, MAY 28: 1:30 pm - 2:45 pm
PLENARY SESSION: "Celebrating 20 Years Of PLAR Practice -
Where Have We Been? Where Are We Going?"
Rating 5=10, 4=4

THURSDAY, MAY 28: 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Igniting The Power Within: An Update
Rating 5=4

From A Grassroots Community Organization to an Educational Institution:
El Instituto Taiñ Adkimn
Rating 5=2, 4=2

On Your Marks, Get Set, Go: Career Planning For Internationally
Educated Professionals
Rating 3=2

Assessing Services To Adult Learners At Workers' College In Durban, South Africa
Using The ALFI Self-Evaluation Tool: Outcomes and Recommendations
Rating 4=1, 3=1

THURSDAY, MAY 28: 7:00 pm
Dinner and Entertainment
Rating 5=8, 4=2, 3=1

FRIDAY, MAY 29: 8:45 am - 10:15 am
PLENARY SESSION: "PLAR Practice Across Cultures: Sharing The Experience
At Nunavut Arctic College"
Rating 5=8, 4=3

5. How well did the workshops meet your needs and expectations?
14= Very Well 3= Partially • Not At All

Comments:
Presenter very knowledgeable, I am taking home tools to use with learners
Already see where in my practice the vast knowledge gained will fit
A valuable tool (portfolio development) not only for Indigenous practice, but in academia as well!!!
Great variety, wanted to attend more of them
Lots of information to be learned, unfortunately one may not attend them all
I really enjoyed the presenters, they are very knowledgeable and a positive addition to the conference. The beauty of our cultures shines!
I came to PLAR through ALFI, so for me the ALFI principles are foremost for me, and PLAR is only a piece of that.
Peaked interest in further learning

Unexpected part - the inspiration and energy throughout: Thank you!
The ones that met my needs were "right on the money"
These were informative and well organized
Most of these workshops were not what i expected, however, they all gave me insight and information which will be very useful to me

4. (A) Strengths:
Willingness of the participants to share their experiences, information and tools - amazing!!
First hand experiences and knowledge and skill. The open willingness to share and the multi-cultural presence
Sharing happened, connections made, spirits lifted. The theme of the conference -Unity, Commitment and vision were embodied by the presenters & participants & organizers. Thank you
The informal way of presentations - leaving lots of space for conversation/comments/questions
Practicing professionals sharing - so important
Very focused presenters, delivered the information they stated they would deliver. Presenters showed the heart they have for PLA
Very powerful
Broad cross-cultural representation
Lots of enthusiasm for PLAR
Prompted ideas for practical applications
Diane Hill & Banakonda - superb session leaders
The presenters were real, informed, approachable, and knowledgeable
I need to add here - Diane Hills Social Service worker program is of great interest to me and I was fascinated by the model she is using!

(B) Weaknesses:
Not enough focus on problem solving when difficulties were encountered. This would have been helpful to those of us who are new to the process.
I need a better foundation in PLAR
Can't get to all the sessions due to timing conflicts
Too Short!! How do you design workshops so that people can attend as many workshops as possible?
That this isn't everywhere
In one case there was misinformation indicating inadequate preparation for the pre-conference

6. (A) Delivery: 9 excellent 6 above average • average • poor

(B) Information: 11 excellent 3 above average 1 average • poor

(C) Response to Participants: 11 excellent 4 above average • average • poor

7. Additional Comments:
This is my first attendance at this conference - simply - I loved it! I can see so many ways in which this process of PLAR and portfolio can transform lives - I need to do mine! Thank you to everyone who organized, presented, shared and facilitated this event. Thanks especially to Paul Zakos who encouraged us to come - you were right, I was meant to be here! The Nunavut experience was inspiring! I wish I had heard it earlier so that I could have had opportunity to explore this with the Nunavut team. Well done. Laura Sherret.
Terrific setting for the conference. Park Room is sooo cold. Could not absorb much from sessions as I would have liked because of the chilly temperatures. Fabulous tone of the conference allows us to leave motivated and re-connected to the purpose of our work. Continue providing us the opportunity to come together in this manner. Thank you!
I'll be back. P.S. would PowerPoint presentations be available on FNTI website? e.g. Nunavut & all other presenters?
Loved it!
FNTI (organizing team) should think of including all meals in the package for ease of access for participants. Adequate provision is needed for people with different dietary requirements!!!!
Great experience/learning both academically and culturally
I am so thankful and blessed to have been part of this conference. Celebration, affirmation and motivation were probably the most important gifts received and the more practical tools of application of course!
It would have been nice if on all the breaks there was a light snack such as muffins, cookies or fruit.
Excellent job!
This was for me an invaluable experience. I am deeply grateful for all the learning and wish the FNTI great success. I will carry forward much of what I've learned; my life has been truly blessed and enriched. I trust that I will be back again next year to share in this rich experience.
It would be great if all the sessions would have available to all participants' information from their sessions. The sharing of information would be 100% for all participants even though individuals may only attend one session at a time.
Dr. Joan Connelly's session on Orality/literacy could be a 2 part pre-conference session. That would allow enough time to see, discuss, reflect, etc. A fascinating session but simply not long enough, must have more time to do it justice.

Thank you to everyone who provided us with feedback!
The winner of the gift basket was Phil McBurney from Winnipeg. Congratulations!