About this Guide

AI Integration Guide for Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition is a guide designed to help post-secondary educators understand how generative AI can be responsibly and effectively integrated into Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) design and delivery processes. It offers practical strategies, examples, and considerations to help educators use AI tools to streamline assessment creation, enhance clarity, and maintain academic standards—while reinforcing the importance of human oversight and professional judgment.

Who Is this Guide for?

This guide is for faculty members who design or support Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR). It will also be helpful for academic advisors, program coordinators, and other staff who guide learners through PLAR. Whether you are new to using Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) or looking for ways to use it more effectively and ethically, this guide offers practical examples and ideas you can apply in your work.

What is Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR)?

Prior Learning Assessment Recognition, or PLAR, is the processes that allow individuals to identify, document, have assessed, and gain recognition for, their prior learning. The learning may be formal, informal, non-formal, or experiential. For example, a student may come to Humber with volunteer experience in a community mental health organization and have completed extensive, related training workshops. Through the PLAR process, this student could request to challenge a discipline-related course in their Humber program and demonstrate the knowledge, skills and abilities they acquired in their volunteer position in relation to the course learning outcomes to earn the course credit.

Why Use AI in PLAR?

  • Enhance assessment design: Use GenAI to help create, refine, and personalize assessments that recognize diverse forms of prior learning.
  • Work more efficiently: Treat GenAI as a co-creator to reduce time spent on drafting materials while maintaining academic quality.
  • Promote accessibility: Generate varied assessment options that align with course outcomes and meet different learner needs.
  • Strengthen feedback: Use AI tools to produce clear, goal-focused, and timely feedback that supports learner growth.
  • Encourage reflection: Apply GenAI to help learners articulate and connect their prior experiences to learning outcomes.
  • Use AI responsibly: Always verify AI-generated content, protect learner information, and ensure that final judgments remain human-led.

Explore the Guide

This guide is provided as an interactive online resource, organized into the following lessons:

  • Getting Started with Generative AI (GenAI): Learn practical prompting techniques to build confidence and use GenAI effectively in your work.
  • The 4-Step PLAR Design Process (GenAI-Integrated): Discover how GenAI can support each stage of PLAR design through clear examples and a short knowledge check.
  • Assessing Learner Performance using GenAI: Explore responsible ways to use GenAI in PLAR assessment while ensuring fairness and human oversight.
  • Maintaining Ethical AI Use in Higher Education: Review key principles and recommendations to help educators apply GenAI ethically in PLAR practice.
Access the AI Integration Guide for Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition

How to Use the Guide

  • If you’re new to AI, start with Getting Started with Generative AI (GenAI) to learn the basics and build confidence.
  • If you already understand AI basics, skip ahead to the 4-Step PLAR Design Process (GenAI-Integrated) for practical examples you can apply to your work.
  • If you design or review PLAR assessments, focus on Assessing Learner Performance Using GenAI to explore responsible assessment strategies.
  • If your role involves advising or supporting learners, look for examples throughout the guide that show how AI can improve communication and reflection.
  • If you lead academic teams or programs, review Maintaining Ethical AI Use in Higher Education to guide policy and practice discussions.
  • If you prefer to learn by doing, move through the guide in order, completing the short knowledge checks and applying examples as you go.