Metropolis 2006 Immigration and Canada ’ s Place in a Changing World

1. “e-Portfolios for Skilled Immigrants to Canada” Metropolis 2006 Immigration and Canada’s Place in a Changing World Presenter: Emilie Coyle-Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers

2. Surprise! • Open • Throw away directions • Use every method you can think of to put the toy together accurately

3. Hidden Skills • Most of us seriously underestimate what we know and can do. • So deeply entrenched and internalized has the definition of “learning” become that even people with advanced credentials tend to ignore and undervalue their experiential learning

4. Immigration Statistics • By 2011 or 2012 Immigration will account for 100% of the net gain in the Canadian labour market • Employers face shortages of skilled workers • The Canadian economy loses $6-12 billion annually because immigrant skills are unrecognized or underutilized • 60% of the approximately 230,000 immigrants arriving each year have post-secondary education.

5. Employment realities “The findings suggest that the integration of immigrants into the labour force cannot be viewed in isolation from immigrants’ integration into Canadian society and culture” “It is important for government to engage businesses in developing policies and outreach materialsthat will assist both the employer and the immigrant and ensure that immigrants can reach their full potential in their adoptive country.”

6. Possible Solutions • To Underutilization, Lack of recognition of skills & Credentialist Barriers: • Immigrants need access to good information about credentialing and the labour market • Enhanced language training is essential • The education and experience of immigrants must be made more transparent to employers • Credentialist barriers must be reduced or eliminated.

7. Possible Solutions To Underutilization, Lack of recognition of skills & Credentialist Barriers: An e-portfolio process that enables immigrants to construct an e-portfolio tool that makes their education and experience transparent to Canadian employers

8. Metanoia The word metanoia means: a fundamental shift (or change) in thinking; a mind-shift. In systems thinking, a mind-shift or metanoia precedes a paradigm shift – a movement from an “old” way of doing or seeing things to a new way. Where are we going with this?

9. Current Employment Counseling Model • Information– both for the client and the agency • Assessment– of the client’s credentials, experience, language proficiency (IQAS, PLAR, CLB) • Bridging – filling the gaps • Facilitated Job Search

10. The Proposed Model or System • Information – for the client and the agency • Assessment/Self-assessment & Reflection– client’s credentials, experience, language proficiency and interactions with licensing /regulatory bodies (PLAR, CLB, IQAS -results) will become “artifacts” in the client’s portfolio. Reflection on past learning and determination of relevance to practice of the immigrant’s profession in Canada. • Bridging – filling the gaps and taking new career directions. Being in control of one’s own career. • Facilitated Job Search – e-portfolio or skillsinternational.ca

11. Assessment and Reflection The counselor/facilitator and the client engage in a career development process (constructivist approach). • Portfolio Learning - Reflection (deep learning). • Assessment: translation of credentials, proof of experience - PLAR or CBA, Language proficiency, IQAS, Examinations required by reg./licensing bodies, artifacts from ‘other’ learning (formal, informal, and non-formal) situations. • career planning • development of an “action plan”

12. Prior Learning Assessment Methods • Competency Based Assessment • standardized tests • review of transcripts • licences and certificates • challenge exams • oral examination • performance observation • skill demonstration/ product assessment • program review • Portfolio Review

13. Partnership Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers PLA Centre Halifax

14. Portfolio Learning Broad Reflection - Chronological Record, Reflection on Life More Focused - Life History Very Focused - Goal Setting, Learning Narratives The Portfolio Product

15. Pilot Projects • Halifax – 11 participants • Edmonton – 4 participants • Li Jin • Nicholas Echeverry

16. Purpose and Goals of E-portfolio Multiple purposes of an e-portfolio: –Learning/Process –Assessment (PLAR) –Marketing/Showcase (Tool)

17. Prior Learning Assessment and Canada Many initiatives and little cohesion. Why the PLAR process? CAPLA, FNTI, PLA Centre Manitoba, PLA Centre Halifax, Lifia, among others

18. Implications for the Future • Limitless • Hopeful • Exciting • Inclusive • Welcoming

19. PLA “Fundamentally, PLAR is a means of providing for the individual’s power over his or her own learning, which is the ultimate power of all” Alan. M. Thomas

20. Thank you Discussion and Questions