1. W o r k i n g f o r S c o t l a n d ’ s C o l l e g e s Core Skills Diagnostic Testing Joe Wilson

2. W o r k i n g f o r S c o t l a n d ’ s C o l l e g e s The context Scotland Devolved Parliament from1st July 1999 Always had own legal and education system. Administered through The Scottish Executive (government)

3. W o r k i n g f o r S c o t l a n d ’ s C o l l e g e s 2001-2002 Number of colleges: 41 (46) Number of students: 440,447 Total staff : 12,691 The infrastructure FE

4. W o r k i n g f o r S c o t l a n d ’ s C o l l e g e s What is Further Education Funded by Students Units of Measurement (SUMS) Curriculum generally follow National Qualification Framework from Scottish Qualifications Authority ( Schools and Further Education)

5. W o r k i n g f o r S c o t l a n d ’ s C o l l e g e s The Scottish further education colleges Students registered in FE colleges by level and mode, 1999 - 00

6. W o r k i n g f o r S c o t l a n d ’ s C o l l e g e s What are Core Skills National Target that everyone leaving School, Further Education or Higher Education will have a core skills profile Core Skills are built into the Scottish National Qualifications Framework

7. W o r k i n g f o r S c o t l a n d ’ s C o l l e g e s Scottish Credit & Qualifications Framework

8. W o r k i n g f o r S c o t l a n d ’ s C o l l e g e s The Core Skills Communication Numeracy Information Technology Problem Solving Working with others

9. W o r k i n g f o r S c o t l a n d ’ s C o l l e g e s The Challenge Make sure students get on the course that meets their needs Find a way of doing this that is accessible, supports learners and the institutions

10. W o r k i n g f o r S c o t l a n d ’ s C o l l e g e s Project Objectives To develop an innovative web-based or intranet based online diagnostic tool which will enable the identification of individual strengths and weaknesses in three core skills, namely: -Communication -Numeracy -Information Technology To lead good practice through the creation of high quality, robust assessment instruments which provide valid and reliable measures and will encourage consistency of standards across the sector and beyond To encourage collaboration and sharing of skill sets between the partner institutions and the private sector partner, with dissemination across the F.E. Sector

11. W o r k i n g f o r S c o t l a n d ’ s C o l l e g e s Benefits of project outputs To promote and facilitate access to provision, thereby increasing student participation in F.E. To ensure that student programme selection is appropriate, thus increasing retention and simplifying progression To prepare potential students for further study, including fast tracking To enhance guidance provision for all groups, including the excluded To support guidance and information provision for both college and community based students

12. W o r k i n g f o r S c o t l a n d ’ s C o l l e g e s Benefits of project outputs cont… To provide a “real time” tracking mechanism for core skills within the National Qualifications framework To provide a “real time” tracking mechanism for core skills within the National Qualifications framework To assist articulation between a wide range of qualifications To assist articulation between a wide range of qualifications To rationalise assessment procedures, while allowing for a client centred service To rationalise assessment procedures, while allowing for a client centred service To clarify the structure and options for Core Skills To clarify the structure and options for Core Skills To foster individual learning plans To foster individual learning plans

13. W o r k i n g f o r S c o t l a n d ’ s C o l l e g e s Project Partners Clackmannan College (Lead College) Cumbernauld College Edinburgh’s Telford College Falkirk College Stevenson College West Lothian College PLATO Learning

14. W o r k i n g f o r S c o t l a n d ’ s C o l l e g e s Project Funding and Management Funded by Scottish Further Education Funding Council (£165,000) Managed by Scottish Further Education Unit Materials created through a partnership between the public and private sectors Plato (£61,000) contribution in kind

15. W o r k i n g f o r S c o t l a n d ’ s C o l l e g e s The PLATO Partnership PLATO (UK), Ltd. The PLATO Web Learning Network (PWLN)  2,000 hours of courseware in core skills & work skills  Adult/young adult focus  Powerful assessment & prescription  Aligned to standards  Supporting Consultation

16. W o r k i n g f o r S c o t l a n d ’ s C o l l e g e s Logic of the test Bob Foshay: Vice President PLATO –Tailored testing 7 questions covering all sub skills PONR (Point of no return) Further 3 questions if required Up,down or stay at level.

17. W o r k i n g f o r S c o t l a n d ’ s C o l l e g e s Feedback from Pilot Numeracy, Communication met with a positive response on the whole. Logic change Minor question changes Wording, skim reading etc IT changed – too long not online

18. W o r k i n g f o r S c o t l a n d ’ s C o l l e g e s SFEU-PLATO Partnership: | a “win-win-win-win” Goal: a complete solution for FE colleges & their clients Fully integrated program plan, curriculum structure, assessment, administration & finance plan

19. W o r k i n g f o r S c o t l a n d ’ s C o l l e g e s SFEU-PLATO Partnership National service to FE Colleges –SFEU-PLATO co- development Facilitates implementation of standards throughout FE Colleges & workforce

20. W o r k i n g f o r S c o t l a n d ’ s C o l l e g e s A win-win-win-win Helps FE colleges tailor personal solutions for FE learners –Any time –Anywhere –Anyhow –“Just in time,” not “just in case” learning Goal: technology transparency

21. W o r k i n g f o r S c o t l a n d ’ s C o l l e g e s Joe Wilson Tel: 01786 892000 Fax: 01786 892001 e-mail: Joe.Wilson@sfeu.ac.uk www.sfeu.ac.uk Contact details