A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

Project Period:

1 November 1993-31 October 1996

Federal Funding Source:

Department of Education

Federal:

$889,582

Non-Federal:

1,056,091

Total:

$1,945,673

Occupational Area(s):

Technical Workers

Status:

First draft of the standards was published in December 1994. Next draft of the standards was published in April 1995. The final version of the standards will be available in October 1996.

Description of standards document:

This document provides an overview and vision for the project as well as the methodology and basis for the research. It focuses on the first phase identification and validation of the skills that are important to advanced manufacturers with high performance workplaces. The standards fall under the headings of: communication and teamwork; math and measurement; workplace safety and health; problem solving; quality assurance; blueprint reading; manufacturing fundamentals; business planning and operation; computer use; product and process control; workforce issues; workplace skills; and learning skills. The standards contain the following five elements: what the action (skill) is; what the conditions are under which the action is performed; how good is good enough (criteria/measure); how the action will be measured (portfolio/test/observation); and why the action must be performed.

Description of companion document:

In September of 1996, the second phase report will be available. This information will build on the findings of the first phase and provide the conditions, criteria and benchmarks for the skills. The conditions will indicate information such as whether the skill should be performed alone or as part of a group, whether computers or calculators should be used, or the context in which the skill should be demonstrated. Also included will be the measurement or documentation methods and benchmark performance levels. The means of documentation will include a sign-off by previous employers, teachers, or community leaders as well as other assessment methods.

Excerpt(s) of a standard:

Working alone with a calculator, (condition) add 10 two or three digit numbers (action) five times in three minutes with 100 percent accuracy (good enough), in order to perform necessary calculations for Statistical Process Control during the manufacturing process (why). This will be documented by third party or performance assessment (measurement).

Partners:

American Association of Community Colleges, AC Delco Systems, Aerospace Industries Association, American Society for Engineering Education, Association for Manufacturing Technology, American Society for Training and Development, AT&T, Autodesk, Inc., BGSI, CAMP, Caterpillar Foundation, Center on Education for Employment, Central Florida Community College, Charmilles Technologies Corporation, Community College of Philadelphia, Cybernet Systems Corporation, Delaware Valley Industrial Resource Center, Donsco Inc., Educational Development Center, Electronics Manufacturing Productivity Facility, Fashion Institute of Technology, GE Superabrasives, Grand Rapids Community College, Hughes Aircraft, Johnson Controls, Light Machines Corporation, Lockheed Martin, Lorain County Community College, Macomb Community College, Michigan Technological University, Milwaukee Area Technical College, National Alliance of Business, National Association of Manufacturers, National Center for Manufacturing Sciences, National Vocational Technical Education Foundation, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Northwestern Michigan College, Osram Sylvania, Philip Morris USA, Production Technology, Inc., Rochester Institute of Technology, Science Applications International Corporation, Siemens, Strategic Education Services Inc., Trident Technical College, UAW Chrysler National Training Center, UAW/Chrysler, University of New Orleans Business Higher Education Council, University of Wisconsin-Extension, VICA, Waukesha County Technical College, Wisconsin Instruction Development System, Winterton Associates, Work and Technology Institute, Wyoming Public Schools, Xerox.

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[Introduction]

[Agricultural Biotechnology]