KEY TRAIN and WORK KEYS
Arlin Melgaard, A.M. Consulting, Inc.
Bemidji, Minnesota 56601
Topics to Discuss
 KEYTRAIN CURRICULUM
 WORKKEYS ASSESSMENTS
 CAREER SKILLS LESSONS
 CAREER CLUSTERS
 CAREER READY 101
 NATIONAL CREDENTIAL (NCRC)
 OTHERS ??
KeyTrain: The Complete System
KeyTrain™ is a comprehensive,
yet easy-to-use web-based
curriculum for improving basic
foundational and soft skills
measured by the WorkKeys®
Assessment System.
KeyTrain: The Complete
System
WorkKeys
Assessments
Career
Skills Lessons
Pre & Post Tests
National
Credential
Career
Pathways
Learning
Management
System
Work Keys skill assessments
measure different applied job skills
Communication
Business Writing, Listening,
Reading for Information, Writing
Problem Solving
Applied Technology, Applied Mathematics,
Locating Information, Observation
Interpersonal
Teamwork
Work Keys Assessments
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Used for Career Ready Certifications

Technical Skill Attainment
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Applied Math
Reading
Locating Informatiion
Applied Technology
Health Care
Business Writing
Multiple Delivery
Formats
CD-ROM
Web-Based
Spanish
Language
ACT Centers
Workbooks
Stand Alone
Courses
KeyTrain
Curriculum System
The system includes:
Self-paced instruction
Pre-and post-assessments
Complete learning system
using web based lessons
including…text, graphics,
audio, and animation
Classroom Management Features

Allows instructor to assign lessons to
both individuals and classes

Can create assignment list directly
from career cluster or based upon a
National Credential

Can specify allowed number of test
attempts by system or by lesson

Multiple levels of administrator access
(web version)
KEYTRAIN login page
Student Tracking System
KeyTrain Curriculum
Each lesson includes a) A review of the skill
b) Opportunities to practice the skill
c) Exercises that apply to the realworld
d) Prep for the Work Keys assessments
KEYTRAIN CURRICULUM
Communication
Business Writing, Listening,
Reading for Information, Writing
Problem Solving
Applied Technology, Applied Mathematics,
Locating Information, Observation
Interpersonal
Teamwork
KeyTrain® Lesson Samples
APPLIED MATH*
Provides mathematical reasoning
and problem-solving skills. The
KeyTrain lessons teach you how to
apply these skills to real-world
situations
*Skills needed to obtain a NCRC
KeyTrain® Lesson Samples
READING FOR INFORMATION*
Helps you read and understand common
workplace documents, and these include
letters, technical manuals, procedures
and memos
.
*Skills needed to obtain a NCRC
KeyTrain® Lesson Samples
LOCATING INFORMATION*
Involves finding, extracting, using
and understanding information not
in text form. Examples include…
Charts, graphs, tables, maps, and drawings
*Skills needed to obtain a NCRC
Skill Areas for Career Readiness Certificates
Reading for Information
Applied Mathematics
Locating Information
Bronze – Minimum of Level 3 in all Skill Areas
Qualified for 30% of Jobs
Silver – Minimum of Level 4 in all Skill Areas
Qualified for 65% of Jobs
Gold – Minimum of Level 5 in all Skill Areas
Qualified for 90% of Jobs
HS Populations that Benefit
➧ Students needing lost credit
➧ Special Education students
➧ WB Learning students
➧ Career Tech Education students
➧ At Risk / ALC students
➧ Students who failed state tests
Special Education
1) Beginning Skills
2) Reading / Math / Locating
Info to achieve a NCRC
3) Student’s IEP
4) Individualized goal setting and
gap skills training
Career Technical Education
1) CTE Foundational Skills
2) Career Skills lessons Teamwork,
Communication, Applied Technology
3) Assign lessons by Career Pathways
At Risk & Alternative
Education
1) Targeted Remediation
2) Gap Skills Training
3) Credit Recovery
4) Test Prep
5) Stand Alone Courses
Lost Credit Recovery
Allows students to work independently
to recover a credit from a previously
failed course
Can be offered within the regular school
day in a computer lab or assigned for
independent study outside of school
Preparation for State Tests
a) Can be used as a stand alone study
skills course or independent study
before/after school or at home
b) Has been shown to improve graduation
test scores (MCA’s)
c) Improves student achievement on
Math, English, Science, and writing
tests used for state graduation
tests/exit exams
How Does KeyTrain fit in?
CTE teachers find KeyTrain
helpful in enhancing the
relevant, rigorous,and applied
academic content required by
Perkins IV including both
foundation skills and career
skills
Scheduling Options
 Could be embedded in other courses
 Need sufficient computer access for
KeyTrain® use
 Test prep courses, stand alone courses,
credit recovery courses, electives,
imbedded curriculum, before/after
school use, at home use
Stand Alone Courses
a) Used as a course for high school
credit
b) Computer based instruction for
Math, English, Technology, or
Business
c) Correlations between KeyTrain and
State curriculum standards
KeyTrain Career Skills
Career Skills is an interactive set of 200 lessons
 Skills identified by employers as those most
needed by employees to be successful
 Short true/false quiz at the end of each
lesson
 Major topic areas:
Work Habits, Communication Skills, Problem
Solving, Resume writing, The Job Search
KeyTrain Career Skills
Sample Page
KeyTrain Career Clusters
 A separate introductory module for
each career cluster
 Provides examples of common jobs in
that cluster
 Discusses basic workplace skills
typically required in that cluster
 Lists examples of situations where
these skills are applied in these jobs
Career Clusters
Career Clusters
Career Clusters
Career Clusters
STEM Career Cluster
Career Ready 101
Provides all aspects of career
readiness in one complete system…
 Foundational skills using the WorkKeys® system
[Applied Math, Reading, Writing]
 Vital life-skills such as financial literacy, career
exploration, resume writing and interviewing skills

Soft skills such as teamwork, customer service
and work habits
KeyTrain is used in 50 states
KeyTrain is being used by…
Career One-Stops / Workforce Centers
Non-Profits
Secondary Schools
Community Colleges
Industry
Perkins Consortiums
KeyTrain Users in
Northwest Minnesota
• High Schools -North Country Perkins Consortium
• High Schools -Pine to Prairie Perkins Consortium
• WIA Youth – Rural Minnesota CEP – Bemidji
• Community Colleges – Northwest Tech College
• Non Profits – Bemidji & Cass Lake Youth Build
• Corrections - NWJTC
KEY TRAIN – WORK KEYS
http://www.act.org/workkeys/index.html
http://www.keytrain.com/KeyTrain_Solutions.
htm
http://www.careerready101.com/
*KeyTrain® is a registered trademark of ACT. Inc.
*WorkKeys® is a registered trademark of ACT, Inc.