Lowell Community Technology Consortium - Educational Standards
8/15/01 @ RRC Mercier CTC (21 Salem Street)
12:30 Pm
Host: Ed West and RRC Staff
Present: Angie Aldebol (LCCS), Fred Arden (Caleb Group),
Carl Chan-Aldebol (RRC), Sr. Janet Deaett (St. Julie Asian Center),
Carol Langevin (MRC), Chris McClure (Pathfinders), Kevin Mullen
(New Beginnings), Mickey Sin (RRC), Felicia Sullivan (LTC), Sothyra
Suy (RRC), Denise Tellier (RRC), Virac Tep (RRC)
I. Overview of Progress
to Date
Update on where the previous educational group had come in terms
of its thinking on educational program. Need for a core set of
standards and curriculum models that can give Consortium members
some sort of common understanding and foundation to work from.
Model should be flexible enough to accommodate diverse populations
and programs. Should also recognize that each organization specializes
or has expertise in certain areas beyond core / basic skills.
Idea of creating a set of standards that we all agree on, codifying
them into levels so we all agree upon what we mean, and then mapping
existing curriculum within our centers against these standards.
Standards would also provide all Consortium members with some
sort of guidance
II.
Possible Steps
Groups is working on the following rough outline of a process:
- Create / agree upon Core Values
- Create / agree upon Standards
- Map existing curriculum against standards
- Gather sample lessons from various folks & publish
- Create / agree upon performance / evaluation methods
- Determine certification process
III. Core Educational
Values / Commitment
There was a long discussion around methodology and how different
populations have different needs in terms of how programs using
technology are delivered. It was agreed that this variety of approaches
is valuable and that while some core examples of curriculum are
needed, that individual center approaches is perhaps best. The group
proposes the following as guidelines (or core values) in delivering
community technology programs:
- All centers should are committed to building core skills (however
those may be defined) and / or assisting users in identifying
organizations that can provide them with such skills.
- All training should be driven by the needs and interests of
the learner which will be different for different populations.
For example, youth my be driven to build technology skills through
game playing and exploration while adults need a specific end
product in mind.
- All training should have concrete rewards and provide the learner
with a sense of accomplishment. This could be done through winning
a game, completing a project, receiving a certificate, etc.
- All training should have concrete assessment and evaluation
processes in place to ensure that skills are being learned and
that the educational program is providing them with the skills
they want and need.
The group is open to other suggestions, inputs and additions to
these.
IV. Standards / Techologically Literate
The group began a discussion about the various levels that standards
could be explored at (i.e., basic skills / operations, critical
/ evaluative competencies, construction / production). It was
a consensus that perhaps the best approach was to begin with the
very first level, basic skills, and work from there. There was
a long discussion about what possible basic skills were and what
it meant to be Tech literate. There was discussion on the sorts
of advanced competencies that were required to easily make transitions
from various computing environments.
Main action item was to take outline of standards present at
meeting along with assessment tool on the web and come up with
a formal set of standards for this level.
Skills Inventory / Assessment: http://www.lctc.org/go/class/assess/skill_inventory.doc
Proficiency Questions: http://www.lctc.org/go/class/assess/proficiency_questions.doc
V. Other items during
discussion
Group also discussed a range of other issues including:
- A recognized certification process stamped by the Consortium
would give more weight to learning that users in our centers are
involved in and could aid those seeking jobs as well as those
at other centers trying to assess where a person is at. An interim
solution might be to install testing software at various centers
and have participants who pass the test receive a basic certification
- It is important to keep in mind that rote skills which could
be gauged by such a test might not really indicate how successful
a person would be in a more dynamic use environment
- Need to understand that different populations (i.e. youth, non-English
speakers) might need different evaluation and assessment tools
as well as different methodologies
- Important that the Consortium provide a venue for its members
to aggregate its information (i.e., online database where class
offerings could be posted, sample lessons and scenarios for training
in skill standards, sample methods for working with certain populations)
and to have a way to share how each center may be specializing
in certain training or serving specific populations.
- Need to develop a standard or several standard evaluation /
assessment methods that assure the individual has gained the skills
indicated.
VI. Action Items
- Additions, comments and sign off on Educational Core Values
/ Guidelines (from all)
- Draft set of Basic Skills standards at beginner, intermediate
and advanced competency levels (Felicia will work up a method
to do this)
VII. Other Business
- St. Julie Asian Center is expanding public access hours to M/W
evenings 6:30-8:30pm
- Charter School is celebrating 1st anniversary on
8/30 from 6-9pm
- New Beginnings has acquired a color printer that makes high
quality prints - Consortium partners are encourage to come and
print their
- Carl has been working with the kids at the Flanagan Ctr to produce
a kid friendly webpage with useful links and resources
- Consortium web site will soon have profiles of members online
as well as printed resource guide - look for draft soon
- RRC will soon be expanding into LHA complexes to serve the Senior
population at these housing developments, expanding space at MRC
to accommodate more computers and to have them accessible, will
be integrating a couple of accessible workstations into the Mercier
Center lab as a model of how others might do this
- Overview of RRC services and programs - tour of computer lab
- see Ed West for copies of this handout.
VIII. Adjourn
Next Meetings
- Consortium day-long retreat - September 7th - Location
and time TBA.
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