1. www.nedp.orgwww.nedp.org 1 The New Web-Based NEDP: What Will the New Online System Mean for My Clients and My Program National External Diploma Program Council Conference October 15-16, 2012

2. www.nedp.orgwww.nedp.org 2 Contents New Online System –Redesign Goals –Emphasis on Higher Order Thinking Skills –Benefits for Clients –Key System Components NEDP Diagnostic Process –Written Prompt –Some Components to Be Automated in 2014 Generalized Assessment –Competency Area Sequence

3. www.nedp.orgwww.nedp.org 3 Contents…. continued PTA Flexibility NEDP Online Interface Soft Launch Process Full Launch Process Tools to Assist Clients and Assessors Training Plans Costs of New Online NEDP

4. www.nedp.orgwww.nedp.org 4 NEDP Redesign Goals Create a seamless transition to post-secondary education and careers (major thrust of WIA reauthorization) Integrate technology into all aspects of NEDP program design and delivery Increase rigor of program through alignment with CCSSO/NGA Common Core (and College and Career Readiness) State Standards and other national standards initiatives Update and refine high quality performance assessments Expand access to new and existing markets and client populations

5. www.nedp.orgwww.nedp.org 5 Higher Order Thinking Skills Redesigned program expands critical thinking skills Assessments aligned with Webb Depth of Knowledge Levels –Level 1: Recall –Level 2: Skill/Concepts –Level 3: Strategic Thinking –Level 4: Extended Thinking Redesign focuses on Levels 2 and 3

6. www.nedp.orgwww.nedp.org 6 Enhanced Benefits for Clients College/Career Readiness –To ensure readiness for college-level credit-bearing courses and for careers through increased program rigor –To align NEDP to CCSSO and NGA Common Core State Standards Higher Order Thinking Skills –To ensure material is challenging and infused with higher order thinking skills demonstrated through practical, relevant venues Technology Skills –To ensure mastery of essential technology tools that are indispensable to everyday life and workplace productivity in the 21 st century Relevancy –Uses standardized performance assessments to assess learners’ ability to function in a real life context

7. www.nedp.orgwww.nedp.org 7 What Do Graduates Like about NEDP? Hands-on” approach Relevance to tasks in everyday life Active participation and self directed learning Advisor and Assessor relationships Flexibility to work at own pace Program structure of clear phases and weekly appointments Multiple opportunities to demonstrate competencies Regular feedback and progress reports Encouragement of self-confidence and self-worth Clients still respond to these characteristics with the new online system

8. www.nedp.orgwww.nedp.org 8 Key System Components (Unchanged) Diagnostics – Math, reading, and writing assessments – Self-assessment of career interests and skills Generalized Assessment –Competencies embedded in five applied performance task areas –Individualized Competency: Job Experience, Occupational Verification, Specialized Skill, Advanced Academic, Workforce Skills Certification Post-Task Assessment –Opportunity to demonstrate items previously not demonstrated with 100% accuracy Portfolio Review Graduation

9. www.nedp.orgwww.nedp.org 9 NEDP Staff Roles (Unchanged) NEDP Advisor –Administers Diagnostics –Interprets Diagnostic results –Provides feedback and advises on self-directed learning plan NEDP Assessor –Administers Generalized Assessment Tasks –Scores Tasks and provides client feedback –Conducts Post-Task Assessment Portfolio Reviewer –Conducts independent review of completed portfolio, including Generalized Competencies and Individualized Competency

10. www.nedp.orgwww.nedp.org 10 NEDP Diagnostics – Unchanged NEDP Site Home Self-Assessment Checklist Individualized Competencies Diagnostic Instrument O*NET Occupational Interest Profiler “Closed” Diagnostics “Open” Diagnostics

11. www.nedp.orgwww.nedp.org 11 Diagnostics and the Online System Math and reading Diagnostics to be administered as agencies administer them currently Writing Diagnostics will be administered as they are currently until your agency implements the CASAS Written Prompt Most forms (SAC, ICDI, etc.) and letters will not be automated yet; they will be downloadable from the NEDP web site A technology screening tool – similar to the SAC - is available to use in Diagnostics to help with client screening Full automation is not anticipated until 2014

12. www.nedp.orgwww.nedp.org 12 CASAS Written Prompt January 2013 - June 2014 CASAS will phase in the CASAS Written Prompt to replace the current NEDP writing process for Diagnostics January 2013 - June 2013 –Agencies may voluntarily transition to the CASAS Written Prompt July 2013 – June 2014 –Agencies to be trained will be assigned timeframes for training CASAS has developed a self-paced electronic training that will be available 24/7 Additional implementation support will be scheduled periodically

13. www.nedp.orgwww.nedp.org 13 NEDP Program Model: Generalized Assessment

14. www.nedp.orgwww.nedp.org 14 NEDP Generalized Assessment Home NEDP Site 10 Competency Areas Computerized CPRs Computer-Delivered In-Office Check (IOCs) Take-Home Activities via Internet (up to 2 weeks)

15. www.nedp.orgwww.nedp.org 15 Competency Area Assessment Sequence Health Literacy Civic Literacy and Community Participation Consumer Economics 21 st Century Workplace Financial Literacy Geography and History Science Cultural Literacy – “unlocked” at beginning of GA

16. www.nedp.orgwww.nedp.org 16 NEDP Post-Task Assessment (PTA) NEDP Site 100% Mastery 10 Competency Areas Computer- Delivered PTAs

17. www.nedp.orgwww.nedp.org 17 A Note about PTA The format for assessing the new competencies is by competency area rather than “umbrella” themes Because all “health literacy” items, for example, are contained in one area, some agencies have expressed an interest in allowing the client to continue on to PTA upon submitting a competency area. Pilot testing this approach Either the traditional or pilot approach for PTA is acceptable until we can determine which is more educationally sound

18. www.nedp.orgwww.nedp.org 18 Completing NEDP Requirements Computer-Delivered Portfolio Review Individualized Competency Demonstrated (Paper/Pencil)

19. www.nedp.orgwww.nedp.org 19 Graduation

20. www.nedp.orgwww.nedp.org 20 NEDP Online Interface Client interface –Activities –Online resources Assessor interface –Activate Competencies, In-Office Checks, PTAs –Score client responses –Provide feedback NEDP Portfolio –Score and log client’s work –Monitor progress –Client feedback reports

21. www.nedp.orgwww.nedp.org 21 Soft Launch Process Soft launching by competency area – began in fall 2011 and will continue through late fall 2012 Soft launching across NEDP sites –Each competency area to be tested at a limited number of sites –Sites will test just one competency area at a time –All sites will assist in soft launch activities Soft launch requirements –Total “n” of 100 (eventually 300), across all sites, for each item –Site access to computers with Internet connection –Client demographics and diagnostic information collected through NEDP Online –Client and Assessor feedback, collected through NEDP Online

22. www.nedp.orgwww.nedp.org 22 Roll Out of Soft Launch Competency Areas Competency areas currently being soft launched –Health Literacy (Initial Group) –Civic Literacy and Community Participation –Consumer Awareness and Financial Literacy –21 st Century Workplace and Cultural Literacy (Literature) Competency areas to be soft launched in October –Geography/History –Science and Cultural Literacy (Film) –Health Literacy (Group 2)

23. www.nedp.orgwww.nedp.org 23 Full Launch – Focus on Flexibility The full Launch will be divided into two phases: –January 2013 implementation or –July 2013 implementation All sites new to NEDP will be trained in new online system Existing NEDP sites can choose which phase they would prefer – Launch selection forms have been sent to agencies July 2013 implementers will begin a “partial launch” phase through June 30.

24. www.nedp.orgwww.nedp.org 24 Preparation for Full Launch CASAS is reviewing all NEDP assessment items for validity and reliability CASAS reviews all feedback from clients and staff which informs item modification Many items that require modification are being refined for January release

25. www.nedp.orgwww.nedp.org 25 Tools to Assist Clients Technology “SAC” Screening Tool Online Assessment Tips for Candidates Using Browser Tabs to Navigate Series of Tutorials (Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) System design to assist visually impaired clients

26. www.nedp.orgwww.nedp.org 26 Tools for Assessors Performance Indicator list to assist in preparing remediation strategies/materials NEDP Online Scoring & PTA Guidelines NEDP Portfolio Review Guidelines NEDP Online In-Office Check Chart NEDP Online Step-by-Step Guide

27. www.nedp.orgwww.nedp.org 27 Training Face-to-Face Training – in past has been a big deterrent to program expansion New Training Format – Inactive Webinars New Programs - 6 3-hour sessions organized sequentially with downtime to do assignments and activities Existing Programs a single 3 hour webinar style training. Other trainings (e.g., evaluation workshops) will be developed over the next 6-8 months.

28. www.nedp.orgwww.nedp.org 28 Costs Assessment Costs - $100 for all assessments in Diagnostics and Generalized Assessment (will not cover WSCS) Paper-and-Pencil costs for Generalized Assessment forms will increase modestly beginning December 1, 2012 through June 30, 2013 Site fees will remain at $850 per year All training costs for existing sites - no additional charge Staff costs may increase temporarily due to the learning curve that learning a new system entails

29. www.nedp.orgwww.nedp.org 29 NEDP Contact Information Jim Harrison (jharrison@casas.org) Policy Issues Melissa Dayton (mdayton@casas.org) Training and Online System Technical Support Ginny Posey (gposey@casas.org)gposey@casas.org NEDP Test Development/Special Needs Christine O’Hara (cohara@casas.org) NEDP Operations/Online System Technical Assistance Celanire Flagg (cflagg@casas.org)cflagg@casas.org NEDP Operations