RPL is an instrumental approach, and it's true it is mostly applicable for TVET. Meanwhile Teacher Training requires building very well-defined capacities, profound knowledge & skills, so approaching the process based on RPL principle could leave space for omissions / misinterpretations. Instead, RPL could be applied for the process of continuous formation, i.e. deepening / developing specific knowledge & skills to already formed professionals.

In this context, please check out my publication on "world view": "Роль Языковой Личности в межкультурной коммуникации".

The whole concept of prior learning is the center of the idea of Andragogy. Adults learn in many different ways. It is the centerpiece of most adult education classes taught at the university. Ironically, it is most opposed by the teacher education classes taught by the same universities. Nothing like a little turf protection.

Dear Richard

Different kinds of Schemata including  , social schemas, stereotypes, social roles, scripts, worldviews, ideologies  and archetypes provide you  with the necessary information .

Hello Richard,

RPL is about giving formal credit for knowledge & skills acquired informally through, for example life experience. An example would be a single parent successfully rearing their children. If that parent then wanted to qualify as a carer s/he could claim that experience entitled them to credit for an introductory course in caring in social work, for example. Assuming that RPL was a feature of the course the applicant would then have to undertake an assessment through which s/he demonstrated their knowledge & understanding of issues relevant to that aspect of caring. If s/he could do so their previous learning would be credited towards the qualification & they would not be required to take the course or its assessment, saving time & money.

The challenge for course providers is devising the RPL assessment system; for the applicant it is the time & effort required to prove possession of 'soft skills'.

RPL was recognised as an important features of pathways for mature entrants from vocational education to higher education at Victoria University Melbourne when I worked there in the 1990s.  I built it into the 'Applied Studies' of a Masters in Education & Training that I devised. Trained experienced teachers who had successfully supervised trainee teachers could apply for exemption from Level 1 of the Applied Study  'Developer of Trainees' for example. In fact few did! It was disappointing to find that few trained teachers wanted to upgrade their qualifications.

you are spot on on john!

Thanks a lot for your answers.. these are very helpful.... thanks to all, especially my dear friend Dr John Wilson.

Hello Richard:

I am responding to Dr. John's comment about the challenge of setting up a Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) system. Our system in Trinidad and Tobago involves four simple steps: apply, select a qualification plan, submit supporting evidence, and complete assessment as described in the following link from our National Training Agency:

http://ntatvetcentre.org/plar_overview.aspx

I hope this helps.

Best Regards,

Debra