The New Web-Based NEDP: What Will the New Online System Mean for My Clients and My Program

1. The New Web-Based NEDP: What Will the New Online System Mean for My Clients and My Program National External Diploma Program Council Conference October 15-16, 2012

2. Contents • New Online System • Redesign Goals • Emphasis on Higher Order Thinking Skills • Benefits for Clients • Key System Components • NEDP Diagnostic Process • Written Prompt • Some Components to Be Automated in 2014 • Generalized Assessment • Competency Area Sequence

3. Contents….continued • PTA Flexibility • NEDP Online Interface • Soft Launch Process • Full Launch Process Tools to Assist Clients and Assessors • Training Plans • Costs of New Online NEDP

4. NEDP Redesign Goals • Create a seamless transition to post-secondary education and careers (major thrust of WIA reauthorization) • Integrate technology into all aspects of NEDP program design and delivery • Increase rigor of program through alignment with CCSSO/NGA Common Core (and College and Career Readiness) State Standards and other national standards initiatives • Update and refine high quality performance assessments • Expand access to new and existing markets and client populations

5. Higher Order Thinking Skills • Redesigned program expands critical thinking skills • Assessments aligned with Webb Depth of Knowledge Levels • Level 1: Recall • Level 2: Skill/Concepts • Level 3: Strategic Thinking • Level 4: Extended Thinking • Redesign focuses on Levels 2 and 3

6. Enhanced Benefits for Clients • College/Career Readiness • To ensure readiness for college-level credit-bearing courses and for careers through increased program rigor • To align NEDP to CCSSO and NGA Common Core State Standards • Higher Order Thinking Skills • To ensure material is challenging and infused with higher order thinking skills demonstrated through practical, relevant venues • Technology Skills • To ensure mastery of essential technology tools that are indispensable to everyday life and workplace productivity in the 21st century • Relevancy • Uses standardized performance assessments to assess learners’ ability to function in a real life context

7. What Do Graduates Like about NEDP? • Hands-on” approach • Relevance to tasks in everyday life • Active participation and self directed learning • Advisor and Assessor relationships • Flexibility to work at own pace • Program structure of clear phases and weekly appointments • Multiple opportunities to demonstratecompetencies • Regular feedback and progress reports • Encouragement of self-confidence and self-worth • Clients still respond to these characteristics with the new online system

8. Key System Components (Unchanged) • Diagnostics – Math, reading, and writing assessments – Self-assessment of career interests and skills • Generalized Assessment – Competencies embedded in five applied performance task areas – Individualized Competency: Job Experience, Occupational Verification, Specialized Skill, Advanced Academic, Workforce Skills Certification • Post-Task Assessment • Opportunity to demonstrate items previously not demonstrated with 100% accuracy • Portfolio Review • Graduation

9. NEDP Staff Roles (Unchanged) • NEDP Advisor • Administers Diagnostics • Interprets Diagnostic results • Provides feedback and advises on self-directed learning plan • NEDP Assessor • Administers Generalized Assessment Tasks • Scores Tasks and provides client feedback • Conducts Post-Task Assessment • Portfolio Reviewer • Conducts independent review of completed portfolio, including Generalized Competencies and Individualized Competency

10. NEDP Diagnostics – Unchanged “Closed” Diagnostics “Open” Diagnostics • Self-Assessment Checklist • Individualized Competencies Diagnostic Instrument • O*NET Occupational Interest Profiler Home NEDP Site

11. Diagnostics and the Online System • Math and reading Diagnostics to be administered as agencies administer them currently • Writing Diagnostics will be administered as they are currently until your agency implements the CASAS Written Prompt • Most forms (SAC, ICDI, etc.) and letters will not be automated yet; they will be downloadable from the NEDP web site • A technology screening tool – similar to the SAC - is available to use in Diagnostics to help with client screening • Full automation is not anticipated until 2014

12. CASAS Written Prompt • January 2013 - June 2014 CASAS will phase in the CASAS Written Prompt to replace the current NEDP writing process for Diagnostics • January 2013 - June 2013 • Agencies may voluntarily transition to the CASAS Written Prompt • July 2013 – June 2014 • Agencies to be trained will be assigned timeframes for training • CASAS has developed a self-paced electronic training that will be available 24/7 • Additional implementation support will be scheduled periodically

13. NEDP Program Model: Generalized Assessment

14. NEDP Generalized Assessment Take-Home Activities via Internet (up to 2 weeks) Computer-Delivered In-Office Check (IOCs) Computerized CPRs 10 Competency Areas 10 Competency Areas 10 Competency Areas NEDP Site Home

15. Competency Area Assessment Sequence • Health Literacy • Civic Literacy and Community Participation • Consumer Economics • 21st Century Workplace • Financial Literacy • Geography and History • Science • Cultural Literacy – “unlocked” at beginning of GA

16. NEDP Post-Task Assessment (PTA) Computer-Delivered PTAs 100% Mastery 10 Competency Areas NEDP Site

17. A Note about PTA • The format for assessing the new competencies is by competency area rather than “umbrella” themes • Because all “health literacy” items, for example, are contained in one area, some agencies have expressed an interest in allowing the client to continue on to PTA upon submitting a competency area. • Pilot testing this approach • Either the traditional or pilot approach for PTA is acceptable until we can determine which is more educationally sound

18. Completing NEDP Requirements Computer-Delivered Portfolio Review Individualized Competency Demonstrated (Paper/Pencil)

19. Graduation

20. NEDP Online Interface • Client interface • Activities • Online resources • Assessor interface • Activate Competencies, In-Office Checks, PTAs • Score client responses • Provide feedback • NEDP Portfolio • Score and log client’s work • Monitor progress • Client feedback reports

21. Soft Launch Process • Soft launching by competency area – began in fall 2011 and will continue through late fall 2012 • Soft launching across NEDP sites • Each competency area to be tested at a limited number of sites • Sites will test just one competency area at a time • All sites will assist in soft launch activities • Soft launch requirements • Total “n” of 100 (eventually 300), across all sites, for each item • Site access to computers with Internet connection • Client demographics and diagnostic information collected through NEDP Online • Client and Assessor feedback, collected through NEDP Online

22. Roll Out of Soft Launch Competency Areas • Competency areas currently being soft launched • Health Literacy (Initial Group) • Civic Literacy and Community Participation • Consumer Awareness and Financial Literacy • 21st Century Workplace and Cultural Literacy (Literature) • Competency areas to be soft launched in October • Geography/History • Science and Cultural Literacy (Film) • Health Literacy (Group 2)

23. Full Launch – Focus on Flexibility • The full Launch will be divided into two phases: • January 2013 implementation or • July 2013 implementation • All sites new to NEDP will be trained in new online system • Existing NEDP sites can choose which phase they would prefer – Launch selection forms have been sent to agencies • July 2013 implementers will begin a “partial launch” phase through June 30.

24. Preparation for Full Launch • CASAS is reviewing all NEDP assessment items for validity and reliability • CASAS reviews all feedback from clients and staff which informs item modification • Many items that require modification are being refined for January release

25. Tools to Assist Clients • Technology “SAC” Screening Tool • Online Assessment Tips for Candidates • Using Browser Tabs to Navigate • Series of Tutorials (Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) • System design to assist visually impaired clients

26. Tools for Assessors • Performance Indicator list to assist in preparing remediation strategies/materials • NEDP Online Scoring & PTA Guidelines • NEDP Portfolio Review Guidelines • NEDP Online In-Office Check Chart • NEDP Online Step-by-Step Guide

27. Training • Face-to-Face Training – in past has been a big deterrent to program expansion • New Training Format – Inactive Webinars • New Programs - 6 3-hour sessions organized sequentially with downtime to do assignments and activities • Existing Programs a single 3 hour webinar style training. • Other trainings (e.g., evaluation workshops) will be developed over the next 6-8 months.

28. Costs • Assessment Costs - $100 for all assessments in Diagnostics and Generalized Assessment (will not cover WSCS) • Paper-and-Pencil costs for Generalized Assessment forms will increase modestly beginning December 1, 2012 through June 30, 2013 • Site fees will remain at $850 per year • All training costs for existing sites - no additional charge • Staff costs may increase temporarily due to the learning curve that learning a new system entails

29. NEDP Contact Information • Jim Harrison (jharrison@casas.org)Policy IssuesMelissa Dayton (mdayton@casas.org) Training and Online System Technical Support • Ginny Posey (gposey@casas.org) NEDP Test Development/Special Needs • Christine O’Hara (cohara@casas.org)NEDP Operations/Online System Technical Assistance • Celanire Flagg (cflagg@casas.org) NEDP Operations