Workkeys: A better test than PACT?
In serving on the regional Workforce Investment Board, I get exposed to a lot of things in the arena of workforce development, including standardized testing.
Last week, I talked about the growing questions surrounding the PACT test, and promised further discussion, so I wanted to introduce my readers who are interested in education policy to WorkKeys.
WorkKeys is becoming a major tool for assessing workplace related skills, especially when it comes to selecting new employees and eligibility for promotions in technical and manufacturing jobs, which are in short supply in this state. This is the inevitable outcome of a process in which a high school diploma has become an ineffective measure of ones abilities and potential - employers are forced to find a better way to find out what someone is really capable of.
My board, which operates the main One Stop career center in the Charleston area, offers WorkKeys testing to help adults make themselves more marketable to potential employers.
WorkKeys was created by the folks at ACT, the college exam people. The test assesses test-takers on a wide range of skills:
Last week, I talked about the growing questions surrounding the PACT test, and promised further discussion, so I wanted to introduce my readers who are interested in education policy to WorkKeys.
WorkKeys is becoming a major tool for assessing workplace related skills, especially when it comes to selecting new employees and eligibility for promotions in technical and manufacturing jobs, which are in short supply in this state. This is the inevitable outcome of a process in which a high school diploma has become an ineffective measure of ones abilities and potential - employers are forced to find a better way to find out what someone is really capable of.
My board, which operates the main One Stop career center in the Charleston area, offers WorkKeys testing to help adults make themselves more marketable to potential employers.
WorkKeys was created by the folks at ACT, the college exam people. The test assesses test-takers on a wide range of skills:
- Applied Mathematics (uses calculator/45 minutes)
- Applied Technology (45 minutes)
- Listening (audiotape presentation/ 40 minutes)
- Locating Information (45 minutes)
- Observation (videotape presentation/ Part 1: 30 minutes/ Part 2: 30 minutes)
- Reading for Information (45 minutes
- Teamwork (videotape presentation/ Part 1: 40 minutes/ Part 2: 40 minutes)
- Writing (audiotape presentation/ 40 minutes)
But unlike the all-important PACT test, where our lives must be on hold and revolve around the testing and release of scores in a slow, annual cycle like the sun, WorkKeys scores are returned in days, and they are even posted in individual accounts online for test-takers and potential employers to review. Some states are even turning to WorkKeys as part of their high school exit exam criteria, or pushing for broad WorkKeys testing of high school students, to help assess career directions.
A test that is used nationwide, is respected by employers, can be graded in days, and could easily be implemented on a wide scale without mega-million dollar consulting fees ... that's exactly the kind of dangerous and subversive talk that would never see the light of day in South Carolina education policy.
A test that is used nationwide, is respected by employers, can be graded in days, and could easily be implemented on a wide scale without mega-million dollar consulting fees ... that's exactly the kind of dangerous and subversive talk that would never see the light of day in South Carolina education policy.
they're willing to sacrifice the children of this state for their fancy homes on lake murray - a place most of the students will never see, much less afford to live alongside.
just like the head queen herself.
I hate it when our education system is compared to other states. We need national standards and a national test, if comparisons are going to continue to be made. I doubt we would remain as the 48th state in education should this happen....but it won't. Basing comparisons on SAT scores (which is the test MOST students take here, while many ostudents in other states take other tests not included in the comparison, is ridiculous.