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SkillsUSA recently released three new Skill Connect Assessments: Commercial Baking, Nail Care and Nurse Assisting. Each assessment is designed to last approximately one hour and can be used as a pre- and post-assessment or as an end-of-program assessment. The assessments test students’ technical hands-on skills, not written examination knowledge.

Industry leaders developed competencies for each assessment area. Prior to launch, each Skill Connect Assessment goes through a field-testing process and is reviewed again by our industry partners and psychometricians.

Skill Connect Assessments are priced with career and technical education budgets in mind. Each assessment is only $20, or $5 for SkillsUSA members. See what areas are available for purchase today!

Several assessments are currently in field test, and two are newly available: Mechatronics and Computer Programming. By field testing an assessment, you get a sneak peek at the type of questions and competencies tested in each technical area. Review the list below to see if your area is ready for field-testing, and then register online to be a field test site. Field testing is free to you and a great way for you to preview the Work Force Ready System and the Skill Connect Assessments.

Assessments Currently in Field Test:

  • Architectural Drafting
  • Aviation Maintenance Technology (2)
  • Computer Programming
  • Culinary Arts
  • Electronics Applications
  • Electronics Technology
  • Major Appliance Technology
  • Marine Service Technology
  • Mechatronics
  • Plumbing
  • Power Equipment Technology
  • Residential Wiring
  • Robotics and Automation Technology
  • Screen Printing Technology

Coming Soon to Field Test:

  • 3-D Visualization and Animation
  • Audio/Radio Production
  • Cabinetmaking
  • Carpentry
  • CNC Milling and Turning Technology
  • Criminal Justice / Crime Scene Investigation
  • Dental Assisting
  • Graphic Communications
  • HVAC and Refrigeration
  • Masonry
  • Medical Assisting
  • Motorcycle Service Technology
  • Practical Nursing
  • Precision Machining Technology
  • Technical Computer Applications
  • Technical Drafting
  • Telecommunications Cabling
  • Television (Video) Production

In the third year of the Skill Point Certificate, nearly 40 percent of the 5,346 competitors at the 2009 SkillsUSA Championships in Kansas City earned a certificate. A total of 2,103 competitors from all 50 states, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico earned certificates in 86 unique technical areas by achieving an industry-defined cut score, which varies by area from 60 to 80 percent of a perfect score. Click here to compare 2009 results to the two previous years.

The Skill Point Certificate recognizes SkillsUSA members achieving national industry-defined scores at the SkillsUSA Championships in Kansas City. The award is the pinnacle achievement in the Work Force Ready System for SkillsUSA students.

Nearly 15 Technical Advisory Committee members gathered during the recent SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference to provide guidance for the Work Force Ready System. This group of influential leaders meets three times each year to share ideas and feedback with the Work Force Ready System development team. Our next meeting will be this October in the Washington, D.C., area.

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Also, check out our online newsroom for the latest media releases.

  

"The visual graphics were really great within the questions, and wording of the questions was clear and concise. The answers were not obviously right or wrong, but close. This is good, because it challenges the student to know the answer instead of guessing."

-Mary Kauffman
Bayshore High School, Florida


Bruce Potter,
Program Specialist

As a new school year begins, anticipation grows for the opportunities to come. New lesson plans for the quarter, semester and school year are underway as dedicated instructors prepare students for successful careers. As you create these plans, are you certain your students are all on the same page? What competency areas will you need to focus on improving? Skill Connect Assessments from SkillsUSA can serve as a pre-test to identify areas of improvement and excellence. Dynamic reports instantly show performance by competency on an individual and program basis. The assessments are based on industry standards to prepare students for real-life application of their skills and test practical applications, not standardized test-taking skills.

This summer, more than 500 instructors, administrators and industry leaders visited the Work Force Ready System at the SkillsUSA TECHSPO, June 23-25, in Kansas City for a hands-on demonstration of 35 unique, online technical assessments. We heard overwhelmingly positive feedback that the assessments were easy to use, engaging for students and tested the right knowledge.

From our website, you can find all that you need to bring these assessments to your classroom. Review the list of assessments that are available for purchase and for field- testing. You can also purchase assessments, sign up as a field-test site or register as a proctor. We look forward to hearing from you. If you have additional feedback to share about how we can improve the assessments, or would like to share a testimonial for our marketing materials, please e-mail us.