Exploring WorkKeys
CESA 4 SIS
January 15, 2015
State HS assessments in March, 2015:
 ACT – March 3 for all juniors in WI
 WorkKeys – March 4 for all juniors in WI
-Applied Mathematics
-Locating Information
-Reading for Information
 Paper and pencil
 45 minutes per assessment (total 165
w/directions)
Benefits to our students:
 Students can earn a National Career
Readiness Certificate (NCRC) -an industryrecognized, portable, research-based
credential that certifies essential skills needed
for workplace success.
 Test questions are based on situations in the
everyday work world.
WorkKeys measures:
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Problem solving
Critical thinking
Reading and using work-related text
Applying information from workplace documents to solve
problems
Applying mathematical reasoning to work-related problems
Setting up and performing work-related mathematical
calculations
Locating, synthesizing, and applying information that is
presented graphically
Comparing, summarizing, and analyzing information
presented in multiple related graphics
WorkKeys – the career readiness
portion of “college and career
readiness”
 Over 20,000 jobs are profiled – can compare student’s results with the profile
for the job and help him/her identify gaps and what courses, etc. will help
him/her grow
 WorkKeys results will be saved in a database that students that can access.
Students can retake WK later in life if desired to improve score.
 DPI and WK will make a pdf available to each district to award the certificates
to students who earn them.
 There are no plans for WK to be part of the school report card (accountability
system) at this time.
WorkKeys scores will determine what
level of certificate students are eligible
to earn.
±2%
Assessment: WorkKeys
 Yes, it’s required, but…
 Students can earn a nationally recognized Certificate
 How can we make this work for us?
-show the value to our local employers
-demonstrate the value to our students of
focusing on the test
Helpful places:
 Video from PBS –
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/education-janjune14-skillsgap-01-22/
 http://www.workreadycommunities.org
 http://www.act.org/products/workforce-actworkkeys/ and click on the “Educator” Tab
WorkKeys Prep Materials
 Technical Manual
 Targets for Instruction Resource
 Prep Package
 Practice Test
Technical Manual
 System Overview
 Construct Definition
 Assessment Development
 Scaling and Equating
 Reliability
 Validity
 Appendices for Assessment Formats,
Administration Times, Accommodations, etc.
Targets for Instruction
 Targeted Skills
 Strategies for Teaching
 Skill Scales and Assessments
 Format and Construction of the Assessment
 Skill Level Expectations and Moving to the
next level
Prep Package
 Test Taking Tips
 Practice Test Answer Sheet
 Practice Test Questions
 Correct Answers Sheet
 Level Estimates Chart
 Answer Justifications
Practice Test
 Practice Test Questions
Exploring the 3 Assessments
Applied Mathematics
Applied Mathematics is the skill
people use when they apply
mathematical reasoning and
problem solving techniques to
work-related problems.
Levels of Proficiency
● Five levels (3-7)
● Criteria for developing levels:
o types of operations employees perform
o form and order employees receive
information (the presentation of the
information)
Skills Assessed Are Based
on Applications of:
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Quantity
Money
Time
Measurement
Proportions & Percentages
Averages
Reading for Information
Reading for Information is the skill
people use when they read and use
written text in order to do a job.
Written materials include memos,
letters, directions, signs, notices,
bulletins, policies and regulations.
Levels of Proficiency
● Five levels (3/least complex to 7/most complex)
● Criteria for developing levels:
-Difficulty of the reading material
-Difficulty of the tasks the reader must carry out
Based on a combination of factors: length, difficult
or unfamiliar vocabulary, number of confusing
details, clarity of the writing, and number and type
of conditional statements.
Skills assessed
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Choosing main ideas or details
Understanding work meanings
Applying instructions
Applying information and reasoning
Locating Information
Locating Information is the skill
people use when they work with
workplace graphics such as charts,
graphs, tables, forms, flowcharts,
diagrams, floor plans, maps, and
instructional gauges.
Levels of Proficiency
● 5 Levels (3 to 7)
● Criteria for developing levels:
-Locating and using information
Skills assessed:
 Definitions and attributes of graphics
(comparison, change, arrangement,
procedures, quantity,
attributes/characteristics of a person or
thing)
 Interpreting and evaluating graphs
Time for some Team Work
 Find 2 friends to work with as a team of 3
 Each person takes the Targets for Instruction
and Prep Package for one of the Assessments
Use the directions in the Thoughts and
Ideas document to review your
materials..
Sharing your thoughts
Share your Thoughts and Ideas with the
rest of your team
Large Group Discussion
Final Thoughts…