Return-Path: <nifl-fobasics@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id j8EMhpG18055; Wed, 14 Sep 2005 18:43:56 -0400 (EDT) Date: Wed, 14 Sep 2005 18:43:56 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <2716C9F0CFC0A54C8D0E1F429681AE784CEB27@XNG.casas.org> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-fobasics@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-fobasics@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-fobasics@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: "Jane Eguez" <jeguez@casas.org> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-fobasics@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-FOBASICS:1493] RE: CASAS-based assessment efforts in CT X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Content-Type: text/plain; Status: O Content-Length: 3060 Lines: 68 Dear List Members, After reviewing this update on EFF, I thought states might be interested in learning about some activities that CT has been working on, in partnership with CASAS. Many states are involved in these discussions through CASAS and it would be great to have more states involved. For those who may not know, CASAS is a comprehensive system for adult student assessment that links curriculum, assessment and instruction. CASAS is also a vehicle for collaboration among states. Member states participate in prioritizing CASAS' activities, competency-validation, item writing, field-testing, standard setting, and research and development. Over the past two decades, these experiences have served as tremendous opportunities for practitioners to learn more about assessment development and assessment research. There are three particular projects I would like to mention here. Workforce Skills Certification: There is some interest in CT to pilot a skill-based certification system for youth in WIA programs. The CASAS Workforce Skills Certification System is one of the options we are considering. There are many aspects of this system that people seem to find attractive including the fact that it was driven during its creation by industry/employer standards and expectations of what workers need to know. It offers certification instruments in not just reading and math but includes tools to certify problem solving, critical thinking, and applied performance. There is also an elaborate portfolio assessment piece that can be used to certify customer service, team skills and such. In addition to these skill areas, we are also considering certification in technology literacy. Workplace Speaking Assessment: We will be piloting this CASAS performance-based assessment this fiscal year after having been involved closely in its development. It measures the speaking skills of ESL learners through oral interactions and is based in a workplace context. It targets ESL learners at the high beginning to advanced levels who are currently employed or have had work experience. We are looking to use this in our increasing workplace education efforts. CASAS Functional Writing Assessment: We have been implementing this writing assessment in adult education to inform instruction and report for accountability purposes for some years now. It utilizes picture prompts in varied contexts and offers an analytic rubric that informs instruction. Results from CASAS assessments are reported in scale scores that define the basic skills along a fixed continuum of difficulty. For a variety of reasons, I agree with many who wrote in an earlier discussion about the inappropriateness of using grade level equivalent scores with adult learners. With minimal familiarity, scale scores can be more effective, accurate, and relevant. Cheers, Ajit Ajit Gopalakrishnan Education Consultant Connecticut Department of Education 25 Industrial Park Road Middletown, CT 06457 Tel: (860) 807-2125 Fax: (860) 807-2062 ajit.gopalakrishnan@po.state.ct.us
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