Development of Rigorous, Academically Aligned Standards and Authentic Assessments Through the Work F

1
Development of Rigorous, Academically Aligned
Standards and Authentic Assessments Through the
Work Force Ready System

• Seth Derner
• SkillsUSA Kellogg Project Implementation Team
• Career Clusters Institute
• June 13, 2007

2
(No Transcript)
3
Expertise through Experience

• Since 1965, SkillsUSA has engaged industry
  professionals in partnership with education
  leaders to help young people succeed
• State and national competitions with rigorous
  standards defined by industry
• SkillsUSA chapter model has proven track record
  of developing technical skills through
  educationally sound programs
• Champions for Change enables expansion of these
  efforts

4
Champions for Change

• W.K. Kellogg Foundation awarded a grant to
  SkillsUSA for several reasons, including
• Alignment with SkillsUSA mission to empower
  Champions at Work
• Unique connectivity to industry and education
• Expertise in nearly 50 occupational areas

5
Work Force Ready System

• Serves anyone in career and technical skill
  development
• Assesses and documents the technical proficiency
  of candidates
• Can be used to improve instruction
• Connects students to additional training,
  certification or entry-level work

6
Components of the System
Industry Identified Competencies
Skill Connect Assessments
Skill Connect Excelerator
7
Components of the System
Industry Identified Competencies

• Standards and competencies identified for every
  event
• Written for performance measurement
• Validated by technical committees (SMEs)
• Aligned to industry standards
• Shows connections to academic skills and
  standards

Skill Connect Assessments
Skill Connect Excelerator
8
Components of the System
Industry Identified Competencies

• Designed to embed hands-on philosophy of
  SkillsUSA
• Available online
• Those achieving proficiency level receive a
  certificate
• By 2010, 46 occupationally related technical
  assessments and two employability skill
  assessments
• The 46 areas relate to 14 of the 16 Career
  Clusters

Skill Connect Assessments
Skill Connect Excelerator
9
Components of the System
Industry Identified Competencies

• An online portal that provides instructors access
  to a centralized resource that will
• House standards
• Provide technical support
• Allow instructors to view student scores and
  progress
• Authenticate and certify selves as proctors
• Print documents earned from Skill Connect
  Assessment
• Offer feedback to improve the assessments and
  Work Force Ready System

Skill Connect Assessments
Skill Connect Excelerator
10
SkillsUSA Programs Gain Access to Additional
Features of System
Industry Identified Competencies
Skill Point Certificate
Skill Connect Assessments
Skill Connect Portfolio
Skill Connect Excelerator
11
SkillsUSA Programs Gain Access to Additional
Features of System
Industry Identified Competencies
Only awarded at the National Championships in
Kansas City as the pinnacle achievement for
SkillsUSA students in the Work Force Ready System
Skill Point Certificate
Skill Connect Assessments
Skill Connect Portfolio
Skill Connect Excelerator
12
SkillsUSA Programs Gain Access to Additional
Features of System
Industry Identified Competencies
Online documentation tool managed by local
advisors to enable their students to show their
comprehensive educational experiences,
achievements and leadership
Skill Point Certificate
Skill Connect Assessments
Skill Connect Portfolio
Skill Connect Excelerator
13
Developing the System
14
Experts have guided the process

• Nearly 2,000 people have influenced the
  initiative
• Market research with state supervisors, teachers
  and local administrators
• Technical Advisory Committee of national
  industry, education and federal policy leaders
• Industry and education experts who developed the
  content standards

15
What Weve Learned

• Many students do not currently take assessments,
  but would if they perceived more value
• Several trade industry areas do not currently
  have sufficient assessment tools
• State CTE Directors and local districts shared
  responsibility of choosing assessments
• Teachers often made the purchase decisions
• Industry validation was the main value driver for
  choosing assessment tools
• Even tests currently aligned with industry
  standards were often not perceived to be updated
  regularly enough
• A majority of teachers and state supervisors had
  difficulty perceiving a test that could provide
  an authentic assessment without a hands-on
  component
• With fewer administrative headaches, more value
  was perceived

16
What Weve Learned, continued

• Strengths and weaknesses were described in
  existing tools
• Provider A offered helpful feedback and easy
  online testing for basic academic knowledge
• Industry alignment would add value
• Provider B was well connected to the industry and
  offered a balance of skill and knowledge
• More diverse technical areas and quicker, more
  comprehensive feedback would add value
• Trade associations were perceived to accurately
  target industry needs for each trade
• Having greater variety of trades and easier test
  administration would improve trade association
  evaluations
• Teachers wanted an assessment that would line up
  with industry and education standards
• Across the board, teachers said assessment tools
  could be improved by offering classroom and
  preparation support

17
Current Status

• First six Skill Point Certificates awarded at
  2007 SkillsUSA National Championships
• First Skill Connect Assessments available in
  early 2008

18
Thanks!

• Thank you for your time. Any questions?
• Please complete and return the feedback card to
  receive updates.

19
Appendix
20
46 Technical Assessments (tentative)

• 3D Visualization and Animation
• Advertising Design
• Architectural Drafting
• Automated Manufacturing Technology
• Automotive Service Technology
• Aviation Maintenance Technology
• Building Maintenance
• Cabinetmaking
• Carpentry
• CNC Milling Technology
• Collision Repair Technology
• Commercial Baking
• Computer Maintenance Technology
• Cosmetology
• Criminal Justice
• Culinary Arts
• Diesel Equipment Technology
• Electronics Applications
• Electronics Technology

• Industrial Motor Control
• Internetworking
• Major Appliance Technology
• Marine Service Technology
• Masonry
• Mechatronics
• Motorcycle Service Technology
• Nail Care
• Photography
• Plumbing
• Power Equipment Technology
• Precision Machining Technology
• Preschool Teaching Assistant
• Residential Wiring
• Robotics and Automation Technology
• Sheet Metal
• TeamWorks
• Technical Computer Applications
• Technical Drafting