iGETT Summer Institute June 16, 2008 Best Practices: Industry-Defined Skills Integrated into College Curriculum Presented by Anne Dorsey, Texas Skill Standards Board John J. Nelson, Del Mar College

Today’s Presentation:  Overview of TSSB, Skill Standards, and Program Recognition  Best Practice: GIS Technician Skill Standards and Del Mar College Programs Texas Skill Standards Board

What are Skill Standards?  Like a DACUM or other job profile, skill standards are a blueprint of detailed work specifications for an occupational area. Texas Skill Standards Board

DACUM vs. Skill Standards Texas Skill Standards Board DACUM ElementSkill Standards Element Information about the Work DutyCritical Work Function TaskKey Activity NonePerformance Criteria Information about the Worker General KnowledgeOccupational Skills and Knowledge Tools, Equipment, Supplies, and Materials Occupational Conditions SkillsAcademic & Employability Knowledge & Skills NoneStatements of Assessment

Overview: TSSB Mission  Mandated to develop statewide skill standards system for:  sub-baccalaureate occupations  with strong employment and earnings opportunities. Texas Skill Standards Board

Overview: TSSB Goals  Validate existing standards to guide curriculum development.  Convene industry groups to develop skill standards where none exist.  Facilitate mutual recognition of standards across states & nations.  Promote the use of standards & credentials among employers. Texas Skill Standards Board

Overview: TSSB Functions  Facilitator: Convenes industry groups to develop or validate skill standards.  Quality Assurance: Recognizes valid and reliable skill standards.  Liaison: Encourages & assists with skill standards use by education and training providers. Texas Skill Standards Board

TSSB Program Recognition  Granted to college programs that are integrated with skill standards.  Skill standards provide competencies and performance criteria to assess students’ attainment of industry requirements.  Signals to employers that program is teaching to industry standards. Texas Skill Standards Board

Best Practice: Del Mar College Incentive Award Deliverables:  Convert DACUM to skill standards and get standards recognized by TSSB.  Integrate skill standards into curriculum and receive TSSB program recognition. Texas Skill Standards Board

Del Mar College Incentive Award PHASE I: GIS Technician Skill Standards  Assemble Industry Technical Advisory Committee (ITAC)  Convert DACUM data into equivalent skill standards (SS) elements.  Format SS elements and submit for TSSB Recognition Texas Skill Standards Board

Convened ITAC, composed of subject matter experts, including: STEP 1: Recruit ITAC  Miguel Pavon, Texas Water Development Board, Austin, TX (Chair)  Ann Johnson, ESRI, Inc., Redlands, CA  Scott Sires, Ellison Miles Geospatial Institute, Dallas, TX Texas Skill Standards Board

 Validate Critical Work Functions  Validate DACUM tasks and convert to Key Activities  Develop Performance Criteria  Develop Statements of Assessment STEP 2A: Facilitate SME Session Texas Skill Standards Board

STEP 2B: On-Line Survey  Choose DACUM Skills, Knowledge and Tools that are required for each Key Activity.  Identify and rate Academic and Employability Knowledge and Skills for each Critical Work Function. Texas Skill Standards Board

STEP 3: Finalize Skill Standards  Format skill standards elements  Submit for TSSB Recognition  See Handout 2 for GIS Technician skill standards Texas Skill Standards Board

Del Mar College Incentive Award  Integrate GIS Technician skill standards into curriculum.  Document skill standards integration.  Submit application to TSSB for Program Recognition. Texas Skill Standards Board Phase II: Program Recognition

STEP 1: Integrate SS into Curriculum  Match Key Activities to Course Learning Outcomes.  Enhance, add or create courses to address key activities.  Use Performance Criteria and Related Skills and Knowledge to Develop Assessments.  Sequence skills & knowledge relative to learning outcomes. Texas Skill Standards Board

STEP 2: Document SS Integration  Develop Key Activities to Courses Matrix.  List Key Activities as Learning Outcomes on Course Syllabi.  Provide college and industry advisory committee signatures committing to teaching & assessing skill standards. Texas Skill Standards Board

STEP 3: Program Recognition  Del Mar College submitted TSSB application for GIS Level 2 Certificate & AAS Degree.  TSSB granted Program Recognition in August  Del Mar College received $15,000 Perkins Incentive Award. Texas Skill Standards Board

Program Recognition Renewal  Program recognition is valid for three years.  Renewal requires colleges to provide sample assessments.  Colleges must attest by signature to assessing all skill standards competencies in curriculum. Texas Skill Standards Board

Program Recognition Replication  Colleges may adopt curriculum of existing recognized programs.  Enables abbreviated application process.  Goal: Statewide skill standards- based curriculum in program area. Texas Skill Standards Board

In Conclusion  TSSB-recognized skill standards and Program Recognition provide way for colleges to ensure their programs teach to industry skill and knowledge requirements.  Hope to replicate Del Mar College’s GIS curriculum across Texas. Texas Skill Standards Board