These podcasts were created from materials presented at the 2019 PLAR for Mature Students Assessor Workshop led by Brenda Steffler (WCDSB) and Andrea Murphy (Limestone DSB).
Podcast Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION AND ELIGIBILITY
- 10:22 minutes
- Overview of 4 stages of PLAR (intake, assessment, recording, and reporting)
- Brief review of changes to PLAR credit granting (pre- and post-1999)
- Brief review of who is eligible for PLAR
- Brief review of how those born after 1985 receive equivalent credits compared to those born after 1985
PLAR VS. MATURITY CREDITS
- 12:40 minutes
- 4 scenarios to help illustrate how eligibility is determined
- The different credits possible via MSA compared to PLAR
- The options for students that were in high schools pre-1999 compared to those post-1999
GRADE 9-10 EQUIVALENCY PROCESS
- 21:43 minutes
- Scenarios walking through the assessment process (follow along here)
- Covers scenarios 1, 2, and 5
- Emphasis on proper assessing in order to capture PLAR funding
- Information on co-op credits
GRADE 9-10 ASSESSMENTS
- 8:01 minutes
- Samples of assessments in 5 areas: history, geography, math, science, and English
- Follow along with assessment samples found here
- YouTube video providing information on the assessment process
- Emphasis on goals of students driving assessment (ie, post-secondary plans vs. workforce)
GRADE 11-12 EQUIVALENCY PROCESS AND CASE STUDIES
- 21:47 minutes
- Information on PLAR Mature Student Equivalencies links to specific credits (sample PDF found here)
- Information on how grade 9/10 assessments works compared to 11/12 (provide 3rd party documentation to support i.e. ROE, pay stub, letter from supervisor, etc.)
- Follow along with case study 1 here
GRADE 11-12 CHALLENGE PROCESS
- 7:51 minutes
- Flowchart for challenge process
- Information on when students can challenge and how many credits
DOCUMENTATION AND RECORDING
- 28:35 minutes
- Information on what does and does not need to be included in a student’s file
- Ministry guidelines for applications
- Information on PLAR funding
OUT OF PROVINCE CANDIDATES
- 5:24 minutes
- Resources for obtaining transcripts for new Canadians (resource page found here)
PATHWAYS PLANNING
- 22:44 minutes
- Case study working through 4 pathways (follow along starting on page 50 here)
- 4 pathways include:
- Maturity-workplace
- PLAR-workplace
- PLAR-college
- PLAR-university
- Information on importance of communication and planning with students
QUALITIES OF A HIGH-FUNCTIONING PROGRAM
- 13:17 minutes
- Description and overview of 8 key characteristics for a successful PLAR for mature student program (follow along on page 82 here)