We would be interested in seeing your curriculum as we are also looking
at implementing a career credential for both our adult ed and community
education programs.  Any websites or access points would be helpful as
we continue to evaluate the different opportunities.  

Suzette Fox
Adult Basic Literacy Education
Computer and Business Instructor
(406) 247-3714
 

-----Original Message-----
From: workplace-bounces at nifl.gov [mailto:workplace-bounces at nifl.gov] On
Behalf Of jenifer.vanek at spps.org
Sent: Friday, January 04, 2008 10:53 AM
To: workplace at nifl.gov
Subject: [Workplace 1106] National Work Readiness C redential


Barbara Tondre asked about my work developing a test prep class for the
National Work Readiness Credential test.

The state of MN decided to support the National Work Readiness
Credential
about a year ago.  My Adult Basic Ed program, St. Paul Adult Literacy,
was
one of 7 pilot sites around the state that was funded to provide a test
prep course and referral system to prepare candidates who wish to earn
the
credential.

I took the NWRC test, read the research and, together with St. Paul
Adult
Literacy colleagues, put together an online test prep course.  Our
course
is not a skills building class, but rather one that allows the candidate
an
opportunity to use basic skills in the way they are tested on the NWRC
test.  As much as we could, we replicated the format of the actual NWRC
test demos published by the test vendor. I felt this was necessary
because
a major hurdle for our earliest candidates was the fact that the NWRC
test
is an online test.  Computer skills, like mousing, scrolling and using
an
online calculator were  big problems.

During class time students work independently, but are supported by a
teacher as they work through the test prep material.  Students who are
not
ready for the course (need too much skills development) are referred
back
to ABE programs (preGED,ESL, etc.)  I think students need to be reading
at
about a 6th grade level to do well on the NWRC exam.  I created short
pretest for each unit to confirm that candidates are ready for the test
prep course.  Most students have finished all of the material in about
12
hours.

We are still in the early stages of the pilot.  Our biggest problem so
far
has been getting students to take the class.  Referral agencies are not
really pushing it (something to do with the fact that course hours can't
yet satisfy public assistance/job training requirements).  Similarly,
many
students are very focused on GED and see it as a task that would divert
them from that goal. (BTW - I see it as a sort of bridging credential.
It's
different, testing employability, not academic skills.)

What we need is a big business here to embrace the credential & favor
applicants who have it.  We're plugging away.  I think it's worth the
effort.
For more info on the test and the research behind the credential, go to

www.castleworldwide/nwrc   or workreadiness.org


Happy New Year.

Jen Vanek
St. Paul Adult Literacy


----------------------------------------------------
National Institute for Literacy
Workplace Literacy mailing list
Workplace at nifl.gov
To unsubscribe or change your subscription settings, please go to
http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/workplace
Email delivered to foxs at billings.k12.mt.us