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Training & Events
CAEL's events and professional development opportunities offer a transformative experience for individuals and organizations alike. Through an array of conferences, workshops, and training sessions, CAEL brings together experts and practitioners in the fields of education, workforce development, and lifelong learning, providing a platform for networking, knowledge sharing, and skill enhancement. Whether you're an educator, employer, or lifelong learner, CAEL's events and professional development opportunities empower you to stay at the forefront of your field and drive meaningful change in the world of learning and work.
Nov 11-14, 2025
CAEL Annual Conference
Where leaders from across the work-learn-earn spectrum come together to connect and generate ideas for promoting education and career success that benefits entire communities.
From the Ground Up: Building the Foundations of a CPL Program
All the questions you have about credit for prior learning but were afraid to ask! The workshop begins by laying a foundation by exploring the different opportunities students have to demonstrate their knowledge and learning, and the impact CPL has on organizational practices and student success. An interactive discussion about best practices in implementing an effective CPL program within your institution will follow. Participants engage in case studies that examine principles of organizational change and how a CPL program becomes integral to student learning and success. Using sample documents, scenarios, and institutional examples, participants work collaboratively to create an action plan and design processes for introducing or expanding CPL options to gain support from key campus constituencies. As a result, participants will be able to build an action plan for executing a credit for prior learning program on their own campuses.
Career and Education Advising
Designed for those who provide career and education advice to adults, this 12-week course helps participants apply career development theory to their work and assess the value of education and training related to career choices. Topics explored include:
- Apply career development theory to your work
- Advising Adults: Approaches and Competencies
- Exploring Career and Education Options
- Advising Diverse Populations: understanding social, cultural and economic contexts
- Advise a diverse workforce
- The Career Planning Process: assessment; data-gathering; goal-setting; action plan
- Ethics in Advising
- Capstone: You will be required to exhibit understanding of the skills necessary for providing successful career and education advising
Assessing Prior Learning
Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) is of increasing interest to institutions seeking ways to attract and retain the growing audience of adult learners. This workshop provides an overview of all forms of institutional-based prior learning assessment and discusses approaches to awarding college credit for learning that occurs from previous life/work experiences — in lieu of taking certain courses. Emphasis is placed on the four primary types of institutional-based 'challenge' assessments: written exams, written portfolios, skills demonstrations, oral interviews, and discussion on how to build combination-style assessments. Participants compare the four types of institutional assessments and recognize the value and challenges of each. This asynchronous course provides an opportunity to review and analyze sample portfolios, assessment rubrics, and writing exam questions. Participants leave the workshop with the rationale and tools to assist their institutions in customizing an approach to CPL that meets the needs of their students. Topics covered include:
- CPL Principles of good practice in action
- The differences between assessing portfolios and classroom assignments
- Recognizing multiple pathways to achieving course learning outcomes
- Providing clear and supportive feedback to students
The Work-Learn-Earn Ecosystem: Building Partnerships for Community Growth
Designed for those who provide career and education advice to adults, this 12-week course helps participants apply career development theory to their work and assess the value of education and training related to career choices. Topics explored include:
- Apply career development theory to your work
- Advising Adults: Approaches and Competencies
- Exploring Career and Education Options
- Advising Diverse Populations: understanding social, cultural and economic contexts
- Advise a diverse workforce
- The Career Planning Process: assessment; data-gathering; goal-setting; action plan
- Ethics in Advising
- Capstone: You will be required to exhibit understanding of the skills necessary for providing successful career and education advising
Adult Learners are not Unicorns! Create a Disciplined and Successful Adult Learner Recruitment Strategy
- Full understanding of the current landscape of adult learner needs with a focus on those who have intent to enroll
- Understanding of the evolving media/advertising platform capabilities and best practices
- Tips on how to manage your agency partners to execute affordable and successful adult learner recruitment campaigns
- Develop an understanding of the differences between descriptive and predictive models and the best practices to maximize success with both
Questions about CAEL's training & events?
Want to learn more? Let's talk!
If your institution or organization is seeking guidance, solutions, or support from CAEL, or if you have an idea for a future collaboration initiative with us, please reach out. We'd love to connect.