iGETT Summer Institute

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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
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Todays Presentation

• Overview of TSSB, Skill Standards, and Program
  Recognition
• Best Practice GIS Technician Skill Standards and
  Del Mar College Programs

Texas Skill Standards Board
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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
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DACUM vs. Skill Standards
Texas Skill Standards Board
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Overview TSSB Mission

• Mandated to develop statewide skill standards
  system for
• sub-baccalaureate occupations
• with strong employment and earnings
  opportunities.

Texas Skill Standards Board
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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 Colleges GIS
  curriculum across Texas.

Texas Skill Standards Board