1. Transformation Agenda Discussion
Jennifer James
Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development
Mix of audience and their exposure to tools.
Early stages of discussion.
Looking for your thoughts on how this work fits into your experience on what MA needs to help low skills learners, job seekers, employers etc.
Transformation Agenda Discussion

2. Concept
Scalable, computer-based learning system to supplement basic skills for low-skilled individuals aligned with job competencies
Improve job matching
Shared tools across Adult Education, Career Centers, Community Colleges
Jobs For the Future Report: ACT System (5 Integrated Tools)

3. Components
Job Analysis & Profiler – Analyzes a job (at an employer) and identifies target scores for an occupation
Assessment. WorkKeys – This is a test.
Learning Tool (CareerReady101) – Self-paced, adaptive, on-line remediation system for unlimited # of users
Credential. National Career Readiness Certificate Plus –documents skill levels
Research and Diagnostics
2. Assessment. WorkKeys – This is a test. It is computer-based and identifies an individual’s score levels:
Applied Math
Reading for Information
Reading to Locate Information
NCRC – “Talent”: A personality index using 165 assessment items in a survey asking for a range of “agree” or “disagree” statements analyzed by an algorithm that ranks a person’s attributes against a normative sample.
Work Discipline – productivity, dependability
Teamwork – tolerance, communication, attitude
Customer Service Orientation – interpersonal skills, perseverance
Managerial Potential – persuasion, enthusiasm, problem solving
Learning Tool (CareerReady101) – Self-paced, adaptive, on-line remediation system for unlimited # of users
Lessons for Reading, Applied Math and Locating Information
Career Exploration Tool
Resume & Portfolio Tool
Financial Literacy Lesson
On-line or Instructor-lead (Best used as “blended learning” model)
Assigned Lessons (from “instructor”)
Lessons customized to career field to increase literacy and numeracy
Diagnostic Data – for student and teacher

4. 1. Job Analysis
Job Analysis & Profiler – Analyzes a job (at an employer) and identifies target scores for an occupation
Focus group process to gather job task and WorkKeys skill information from job incumbents
Provides a report with a customized task list and skill levels related to specific work examples
Occupational profile database – 19,000+ occupational titles
Week long training for Job Profiler

5. 2. Assessment
WorkKeys – This is a test. It is computer-based and identifies an individual’s score levels in:
Applied Math
Reading for Information
Reading to Locate Information
Talent: A personality index using 165 assessment items in a survey asking for a range of “agree” or “disagree” statements analyzed by an algorithm that ranks a person’s attributes against a normative sample.
Work Discipline – productivity, dependability
Teamwork – tolerance, communication, attitude
Customer Service Orientation – interpersonal skills, perseverance
Managerial Potential – persuasion, enthusiasm, problem solving
Other Foundational Skills Assessments
Applied Technology
Business Writing
Listening for Understanding
Teamwork
Workplace Observation

6. Assessment Samples: Level 4
Applied Mathematics
Over the last 5 days, you made the following numbers of sales calls: 8, 7, 9, 5, and 7. On the average, how many calls did you make each day?
  5.8
  7.0
  7.2
  9.0
36.0
Why this is a Level 4 item:
There is more than one step of logic and calculation.
Examinees must divide using positive numbers.
Examinees must figure out averages.

7. Assessment Samples: Level 4
Locating Information
You must sort clothes in a dry cleaning establishment according to the customer's instructions. According to the form shown, how should this customer's shirt be treated?
Dryclean it, add light starch, and fold it.
Dryclean it, add light starch, and place it on a hanger.
Launder it with no starch and place it on a hanger.
Launder it with light starch and place it on a hanger.
Launder it with medium starch and fold it.

8. 3. Learning Tool
CareerReady101 – Self-paced, adaptive, on-line remediation system for unlimited # of users
Pre-tests for Reading, Applied Math and Locating Information
Lessons for Reading, Applied Math and Locating Information
Career Exploration Tool
Resume & Portfolio Tool
Financial Literacy Lesson
On-line or Instructor-lead (Best used as “blended learning” model)
Assigned Lessons (from “instructor” or learning coach)
Lessons customized to career field to increase literacy and numeracy
Diagnostic Data – for student and teacher

11. 4. Credential
National Career Readiness Certificate Plus – credential to document skill levels
Proctored test, timed
Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum Levels
Star rating on “Talent”
Employer recognition is critical – build “brand” overtime

12. 5. Research and Analytics
Career Ready 101 – data tracking system, diagnostics, at individual or “administrator” levels to analyze learning progress
National Career Readiness Certificate – credentialing patterns (NCRC data system)
Job Profiles – national and local

13. Examples Integrated Career Pathways, Basic Skills (and ESOL):
Align with Industry Skills – Develop industry “on ramps” or incumbent worker skills to meet baseline criteria for industry training (Sector Grants)
Integrate with ESOL (Rosetta Stone)
Accelerate Learning
Reinforce Classroom Work (Blended Learning)
Outside Online Homework
Career Goals
Job seekers assess basic skills for job openings or career goals – Career Ready 101 to reach goals
Training Program or Community College Pre-Enrollment
At a OSCC, ABE Organization or Community College
New Bedford Career Center triages job seekers with tool to prepare for training
Job Placement
Match job seeker competencies with required occupational competencies
Encourage job seekers to see full range of potential
Employer Matching
Address employer demand for basic skills (NH)
One Stop Career Center can articulate a candidates skill set by occupational profile for an employer

14. Current Practice and Use
Nationally:
About 40 States / major regions within these states, use the NCRC
About 3,000,000 NCRCs have been issued nationally
In New England:
CT, VT and NH college systems use WorkKeys/NCRC. In VT ABE is also involved
RI is gearing up
In Massachusetts:
Berkshire, Holyoke, Middlesex Community College
Greater New Bedford & North Shore Career Center-Lynn & Salem
Community Organizations
IMPACT Employment Services for Homeless (Pine Street)
Notre Dame Adult Education Center
Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts
South Middlesex Opportunity Council
Berkshire County Sheriff's Office

15. National Career Readiness Certificate Plus
Massachusetts Model
80 Learning Labs
Assess and Remediate
Improve individual’s skill
Career Ready 101
Career Center NCRC+ Testing Sites
Test Literacy, Numeracy, Work Behavior
Credential
National Career Readiness Certificate Plus
Job Analysis
16 Staff
Analyze competencies of real job openings (MA and nationwide)
Job Match
LEARNING LABS
OSCC – workshops using Career Ready 101 to improve job placement matches, get someone into post-secondary with less remedial needs, reduce testing to refer to adult education etc.
Community College – reduce time in remediation paid by financial aid, student tutoring and retention, job placement.
Adult Ed – supplement learning and accelerate progress, hit accuplacer targets to transition to post-secondary, etc.

16. GROUND WORK
Research on tools and potential model for MA - DONE
Commitment of resources from state partners ($600K) for technology tools and licensing - DONE
IN PROGRESS: Memorandum of Understanding with funding partners to buy tools.
Application for new resources (TBF) to support implementation and cross-system capacity - DONE
Early stages of field engagement across systems and state (outreach to field organizations more broadly). MORE TO DO!
Operational Rollout - Formation of a new Career Readiness Committee of MWIB
Guide implementation across Career Centers, Community Colleges, ABE system (builds customer flows and system connections)
Employer Outreach
“Stand up” new tools at partner organization, build “learning labs”

17. This workforce solution is 100% funded by a grant awarded by the U. S
This workforce solution is 100% funded by a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, TAACCCT grant agreement # TC A-25.The solution was created by the grantee and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Labor. The Department of Labor makes no guarantees, warranties, or assurances of any kind, express or implied, with respect to such information, including any information on linked sites and including, but not limited to, accuracy of the information or its completeness, timeliness, usefulness, adequacy, continued availability, or ownership. Massachusetts Community Colleges are equal opportunity employers. Adaptive equipment available upon request for persons with disabilities. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License CCBY3.0