iGETT Summer Institute June 16, 2008

1. 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

2. Today’s Presentation: • Overview of TSSB, Skill Standards, and Program Recognition • Best Practice: GIS Technician Skill Standards and Del Mar CollegePrograms Texas Skill Standards Board

3. 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

4. DACUM vs. Skill Standards Texas Skill Standards Board

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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. STEP 1: Recruit ITAC Convened ITAC, composed of subject matter experts, including: • 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

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

13. 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

14. 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

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

16. 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

17. 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

18. STEP 3: Program Recognition • Del Mar College submitted TSSB application for GIS Level 2 Certificate & AAS Degree. • TSSB granted Program Recognition in August 2007. • Del Mar College received $15,000 Perkins Incentive Award. Texas Skill Standards Board

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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