Return-Path: <nifl-workplace@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id e9GDla922157; Mon, 16 Oct 2000 09:47:36 -0400 (EDT) Date: Mon, 16 Oct 2000 09:47:36 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <2B972331928CD311A76300A0C9D335B736F912@exchmail.crec.org> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-workplace@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-workplace@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-workplace@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: Ajit Gopalakrishnan <agopalak@crec.org> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-workplace@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-WORKPLACE:3811] RE: Evaluation and Standardized testing X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-Type: text/plain X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.2448.0) Status: O Content-Length: 3738 Lines: 82 Hi Kathleen, Depending on the size of the company, I don't believe that a full-scale literacy audit needs to take six months to a year. I believe that, if scheduled and planned in advance with the company, an effective audit can be done within say a month or two of your first contact with the company (presuming of course that the company wishes to go ahead with the contract). True... that is not responding to the company's "felt" needs for a class "today" or "tomorrow". In our experience in Connecticut, companies are typically willing to work with the timelines proposed by adult ed when AE shares it rationale and reasoning. However, despite explaining to the company, if they are absolutely insistent on adult ed starting ASAP, I believe that it becomes even more critical that one renegotiate mutual expectations with them. If not, the partnership between adult education and the workplace may become one of lose-lose. If renegotiation of expectations does not happen, it may be better to NOT enter into that relationship with the company. After all, at the end of the program, the company will compare adult ed's performance to their own unrealistic expectations and think that adult ed failed in its job. As regards your comment about GED and probing, I would say that whatever the expressed need by the employer or the main company contact, one should try to probe more ... i.e. by asking for concrete data to support inference and by talking to many people including employees, union, supervisors, etc. You seem to imply that the GED request is different from other requests you have received. If so, can you please elaborate? In Connecticut, programs mostly offer ESL or ABE. There are a few instances when not only GED services but also the External Diploma Program (EDP) is offered in workplaces. Best, Ajit Ajit Gopalakrishnan Capitol Region Education Council 111 Charter Oak Avenue Hartford, CT 06106 Phone: (860) 524-4036 Fax: (860) 246-3304 Email: agopalak@crec.org Web Site: http://www.crec.org/atdn/ > -----Original Message----- > From: KathleenBombach@aol.com [SMTP:KathleenBombach@aol.com] > Sent: Saturday, October 14, 2000 11:33 PM > To: Multiple recipients of list > Subject: [NIFL-WORKPLACE:3805] RE: Evaluation and Standardized > testing > > I am finding this discussion of GED in a workplace context fascinating. My > > experience with employers is that they ask for GED instruction, but a > little > probing will reveal that what they mean is they want their employees to > read > and apply procedures and safety requirements, write better work reports > and > fill out forms accurately, advance to higher levels of technical skills > (and > need reading and math skills to facilitate technical training), improve > intracompany communications. > When employers ask for GED, are people probing to find out what employers > really mean by it. > Kay Taggart and I once did a presentation at Network on developing > workplace > ESL/literacy programs for employers. Usually, the employer asks for a > program > that begins today, not tomorrow. Therefore, we used shorthand methods of > doing a literacy audit, based on our extensive experience with the worker > population and the local employer base. Someone in the audience objected, > > and said that a full scale literacy audit must take place, which we > estimated > would take six months to a year for development from the first visit to > the > business site to a final curriculum. > Of course, no employer with an immediate problem (too many injuries, > incorrectly filled forms and reports, new technology needs) would wait for > > all that, especially if he/she was paying the bill. > What do you think? > Kathleen Bombach
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