We hope this newsletter finds you healthy and happy. In keeping with the holiday spirit, VTECS is pleased to share the latest news in our periodic newsletter, VTECS Vision.

Front Features

From the Desk of our Beloved Executive Director, Dr. Ronald D. McCage

Ron's Reason

Since our last board meeting, staff has been very busy solidifying VTECS’ future while improving our relationships with member states. Using a couple of important staff meetings, we have become committed to the concept of working together to improve our organization. This commitment can be summarized in three core initiatives: 1-Sharing database skill standards and assessment resources across state lines; 2-Starting the full incorporation process which has included entertaining some possible name changes to our organization; 3-Securing and augmenting substantial projects in member states based on customized needs and with other potential partners and national organization leaders.

There are two other important updates that should also be mentioned. First, the audit process for FY 07-08 fiscal year is complete. It went much smoother than the previous fiscal year so we should all make a toast to this year’s relatively painless process. Second, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools is in the process of implementing a new telephone system since our old one was so outdated that it could no longer be updated to keep pace with current technological trends. The new system uses IP technology and while you will still dial the same number to our offices, you will need to insert a “3” in front of our long time three digit extensions to reach our desks. So that you know, you will be able to reach Ron at extension 3544, Dana at 3543, Brenda at 3540, Robyn at 3539, Tim at 3542, and Ken at 3579.

Finally, please remember that we work for you so if you need assistance in any way please call. Furthermore, if you have a concern please call me directly at 1-800-248-7701 EXT 3544 or via email at rmccage@vtecs.org.

Also, as you read this newsletter, let us hear from you. Your valued feedback and contributions can only improve VTECS. If you have any ideas or suggestions for the next newsletter, please contact Ken Potthoff at kpotthoff@vtecs.org.

Thanks for your support.

Welcoming Maine and Kentucky to our Family

While it has been some time since Maine joined VTECS, we want to take a moment to formally welcome them to the VTECS family and introduce Ms. Wanda Monthey as the VTECS Board Member. We also had the pleasure of meeting Nigel Norton at the VTECS Technical Coordinator Insevice held this past September in San Antonio. Nigel is currently serving as the Technical Coordinator for Maine.

Kentucky, on the other hand, is literally a brand new member of VTECS and we formally welcome them aboard. Ms. Deborah Anderson is the VTECS Board Member. Pamela Moore is the VTECS Technical Coordinator and was elected as the representative of the technical coordinators to the Executive Committee at the Technical Coordinator’s Meeting in San Antonio.

Get your Technical Assessment Hats On

Using the outcomes of our last Board of Directors` Meeting in June of 2008, we have made the purposeful effort to focus more on technical assessment. Since State Plans are now complete, there has been an increasing level of inquiry on what VTECS can do to aid state, regional, and local leadership in filling gaps or improving state standards around their programs of study that test for end of program and end of course skills attainment as required in the Perkins IV legislation. It would behoove us to look more closely at how we can fulfill these needs. Hence, VTECS has worked more emphatically on skills standards development and modifications and technical assessment. As a prime example, Ron McCage and Ken Potthoff traveled to Kentucky’s State ACTE conference and shared with Debbie Anderson, Director of CTE in Kentucky, Pam Moore and others from Kentucky’s Division of CTE, what we were doing in Arizona with their skills standards and assessment system. They immediately told us we could help fill some of the gaps they have in standards and assessment in their programs of study. The key here is that as new states and larger educational entities become interested in the technical assessment arena, we want to emphasis the importance of pooling our resources as a consortium. So that with a state like Kentucky, we help them with resources they need and they offer resources that other member states might need. It is a win-win for everyone.

It is also important to note that it is not just the large-scaled project we are helping with in Arizona that has drawn attention. Some of the interested folks are simply looking at our database resources and they see both VTECS and other member state’s standards and assessments in our database that can help them fast-track their programs. The bottom line here is really that more and more educators need assessments tied to standards that meet Perkins IV requirements and VTECS is doing our best to accommodate. As Ron McCage has made clear from the beginning, our motto is to adopt, adapt, or develop when it comes to standards and assessments. As another example, we are also helping Wyoming in this area because they too need the adopt, adapt, develop principle to update and bridge gaps in standards and assessments.

Making somewhat of a shift in our marketing efforts, VTECS is moving towards a marketing plan that makes us more visible as a technical assistance provider. The thinking here is also practical and boils down to VTECS can train you in standards development or test item writing, we can facilitate the process, or we can develop the system for you. We call it TFD. For a better look at what we are doing with technical assessment, click on the link to see a marketing piece that Robyn Marshall developed: VTECS Assessment Design Model. Also visit our website resource list for more resources on technical assessment.

Forward Progress with FBLA

We were approached by the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) and asked to submit a proposal to work with them on their competency lists and test item banks with an eye on raising their rigor a notch or two. When we last reported, we had agreed to complete three titles in developing enhanced task lists for Account I, Entrepreneurship, and Banking & Financial Services on a trial basis to determine if we were to proceed further. Fortunately, we have just been cleared to work with them on 30 titles in a project that will bring in a sizeable amount to help VTECS. To this end, Brenda Hattaway and Melissa Briscoe are hard at work. They are in the second stage of item review, edit, and enhancement for the three areas mentioned. They have begun work on the 30 additional areas which are broken down into four categories driven by FBLA’s competitive events. The event categories are listed for your reference: Basic Business Events, Computer Software Related Events, Finance Events, and Technology Events. For more information on the titles or the project, please contact Brenda Hattaway at hattaway@vtecs.org.

Onward Oregon

Over the past year, VTECS has opened up some wonderful opportunities in the state of Oregon. Tim Withee has led the charge here and established a strong rapport with several educators in Oregon. More specifically, VTECS has partnered with the regional CTE coordinators of Oregon in an effort to develop standards that will be used to create assessments for the most recent Perkins legislation. In order to do this the Regional Coordinators are using VTECS DIRECT™ as a tool to develop and manage the standards. We have conducted two trainings and through these trainings we have also developed custom reports based around the regional coordinators’ needs. One of the most desirable points of using DIRECT is the ability to import task lists from our database and the customization that can be done with those lists. VTECS continues to talk with the regional coordinators about possible work on the horizon.

SREB Project In-Play

Gene Bottoms, Senior Vice President, Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) contacted Ron McCage and asked if we could provide an instructional designer to assist SREB in a large four year project that is being carried out in collaboration with the National Research Center for Career and Technical Education (NRCCTE) to develop and research an alternative certification model for career/technical teachers. This model will be implemented in the form of a professional development program that consists of a 10-day pre-session before the first year of teaching; three, two-day sessions during that year; and a 10-day post-session in the summer after that year. There will also be support of a mentor, an external coach and a principal or school administrator. The beginning teachers will also participate in on-going communities of practice through electronic conversations and guided reflection.

Ken Potthoff will work as the instructional designer with the project director, Heather Sass, to design and develop the following four modules for the Alternative Certification Model for Career/Technical Teachers: Instructional Planning, Instructional Strategies, Classroom Assessment, and Classroom Management. Brenda Hattaway will serve as one of the panel review experts on the classroom assessment module.

Based on the collaboration agreement between NRCCTE and SREB, the four professional development modules will be used in a research study of the induction model in two pilot states. For more details on the project, please contact Ken Potthoff at kpotthoff@vtecs.org.

Brenda’s Mystery News

And last but far from least, Ms. Brenda Hattaway has big news! At the VTECS Technical Coordinator Inservice in September, 2008, Brenda and Shellie made two very special announcements.

On July 1, 2008, Brenda began working 80% time, i.e., 4 days per week (oh no…!). Typically, she works Monday through Thursday; so if you call or e-mail her on Friday, you probably won't get an answer until Monday! Around the VTECS office, we affectionately refer to this as her "Incremental Retirement Plan"…so she's "retired" on Friday.

The big surprise came when Shellie announced her FULL retirement from the "Training Trail" … effective immediately. It seems that she feels that she has done enough training and is passing the baton on (or is that chew bone?) to Micah. She added that she is available for consulting and for cameo appearances … if the price is right, of course (hint, hint, awesome treats).

As most or all of you know, Arizona is building a Standards and Assessment System at the downtown campus of Arizona State University. The VTECS’ role has been to develop and manage the process early on by sharing our expertise and resources where applicable as the system progresses.

Given that we’ve now addressed twenty six areas in Arizona, the ASU staff are taking over more and more of the process while VTECS shifts to the adopt, adapt and/or develop items that support the standards recently validated by Arizona. The final step is to incorporate the program areas that are considered to be complete into the TFI/Pitsco E-SESS™ on line system.

We want to make clear that VTECS is applying the VTECS/Arizona model to other states based on their customized needs. Specifically, we have met with Vermont and Wyoming to discuss how we can apply and implement the Arizona/VTECS process to benefit their career and technical education skill assessment system needs. We are also in discussion with other states or post-secondary institutions who have expressed similar interest, however, the talks are too preliminary to report.

In a logical attempt to involve current member states who we are currently working with on this subject, member states that have shown interest, and leaders who are not currently a formal part of our consortium, we plan to host a meeting in Phoenix, Arizona the last week of January, 2009. This meeting will focus on reporting outcomes of completed work, projected work, and proposed work in the area of skill standards and assessment system development and implementation. Ultimately, the meeting will hit the bull’s eye if we can agree on how we can share resources based on your like needs. The key is answering the question as to how can we jointly use VTECS resources in standards and assessments to implement the process so it makes sense for meeting your individual target goals. Details of the meeting will follow; please contact Ron McCage for more information (rmccage@vtecs.org).

Fruits of Our Labour-Laborers AGC Wrap-up

The fruits of VTECS’ labour for the Residential Construction Project have produced eleven modules for the Laborers-AGC Training Fund. VTECS’ development work for each module included Instructor Guides with accompanying PowerPoint^® presentations and Participant Guides—all written to the Laborers-AGC template.

The module titles are listed below for your reference:

	Module 1 Hand & Power Tools
	Module 2 Performing Basic Carpentry Skills
	Module 3 Residential Construction Materials, Plans, Specifications, and Codes
	Module 4 Floor Framing
	Module 5 Wall Framing
	Module 6 Roof Framing
	Module 7 Installing Exterior Doors & Windows
	Module 8 Installing Insulation, Vapor Barriers, & Drywall
	Module 9 Exterior Finishing - Roofs
	Module 10 Exterior Finishing - Walls
	Module 11 Landscaping

Please contact Brenda Hattaway (hattaway@vtecs.org) for additional information.

In the Vermont Vein

Based on in-person meetings and conference calls with Vermont leaders, Doug Webster, who is the VTECS Board Member for Vermont, and John Fischer, CTE Coordinator in Vermont, VTECS is moving forward to assist Vermont in their CTE Skill Assessment Development Project. In short, we are helping Vermont with skill standards alignment, test item selection, development and verification. Priority program areas as identified by Vermont are as follows: Automotive Technology, Culinary Arts, Business Management, Construction Technology, and Information Convergence Technology. The final stage in this project is to incorporate the test items into TFI/Pitsco’s E-SESS™ online assessment system. Please contact Ron McCage with any questions.

Wishing Wyoming

As with Vermont, Wyoming has been looking for assistance in improving skill standards and assessments so that they can ultimately meet technical skills attainment for Perkins IV. With this in mind, Wyoming contacted VTECS and in September of this year Ron and Tim went to Wyoming to discuss standards and assessment with the Wyoming state staff. The meeting was called to identify a workable format for technical skills attainment in Wyoming's Manufacturing, Agriculture, and Construction Clusters to be piloted in August of 2009 for secondary and post-secondary schools. The Wyoming staff was in the process of finalizing standards lists and developing assessment blueprints for programs in each of the Manufacturing, Agriculture, and Construction Clusters. Work is currently underway and VTECS will be delivering additional standards and test items to supplement the work the Wyoming staff is developing.

Again, we feel it is important to reiterate that the type of work being done in Wyoming and Vermont is one of the key benefits of membership in VTECS. As is the case in most states, Wyoming has limited funds, time, and personnel to complete the Perkins IV requirements. VTECS is hoping to lend time and resources to provide the resources Wyoming needs to make the project a success.

Get Ready—Virginia’s Career and College Readiness Project

VTECS is working with the Virginia DOE—Office of Career & Technical Education, the Virginia CTE Resource Center, and the University of Virginia—Weldon Cooper Center to update Virginia's existing list of workplace readiness skills so that they are congruent with current and anticipated skill needs for success in careers and in postsecondary education. VTECS is taking the lead in identifying the most recent state and national workplace readiness skills; then creating a comparison grid of Virginia's list with VTECS Workplace Skills list, with selected lists from other states, with SCANS, and with the 21st Century Skills. Using these grids, Virginia—and VTECS—will update their workplace skills lists.

VTECS DIRECT Dazzles PA

VTECS is working with Pennsylvania to use VTECS DIRECT as a resource for developing their Programs of Study. In November, Brenda and Tim facilitated a hands-on workshop on VTECS DIRECT at Pennsylvania's statewide conference on Integrated Learning: The School-to-Career Connection. They also presented during the concurrent sessions. Both activities generated lots of positive response and another workshop is being planned for early 2009.

Training Tracker - Blazing Brenda, Shellie and Micah's Training Trail

Well, you’ve already been privy to the big news that the gears are switching to Mr. Micah. This gregarious fellow has been working hard to become the new training assistant…Shellie led Micah's home schooling and Mom (Brenda) took him to school (obedience & agility!!) … so be on the lookout for Micah Eugene the next time Brenda comes to your location!

What’s all this talk of full retirement and semi-retirement? Truth be known, Brenda Hattaway, Shellie, and Micah have all been busy!! They were on the “training & demo & presentation trail” with stops in South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Alabama, Minnesota, Virginia, Maryland, and Arizona. On several occasions one (or more!) of their colleagues—Robyn Marshall, Ken Potthoff, and Tim Withee—joined them.

They've done hands-on workshops on VTECS Connect™ and VTECS DIRECT™ and demonstrated both pieces of software at conferences. At the Annual Career Cluster Institute, Brenda's two "encore" sessions, Building a Better Test and Inaccessible [Assessment] Terminology, were enthusiastically received.

Recently Brenda facilitated a full day workshop for the Alabama CTE State Staff on developing and using scenarios as a resource for implementing project based learning activities. Participants received a copy of VTECS' Developing a Scenario booklet plus other resources and had an opportunity to write scenarios. Brenda demonstrated how the occupational analysis data housed in VTECS DIRECT could be used to provide technical information to create a checklist or a rubric for scenarios.

On the Assessment Super Highway with Brenda & Micah

With Micah needing more experience under his leash, Brenda and Micah made numerous trips to Phoenix, Arizona, working on the Arizona Statewide Assessment Project. It was easier to let Micah assist her with these gigs, Shellie doesn't go on these trips preferring the more exciting activities associated with VTECS Connect workshops. Micah, however, is happy to offer his services as the VTECS Assessment Security Specialist. As you can see, he's on the lookout for security breaches … clearly, his backyard is completely safe!

Where Have the Boys Been?

Tim Withee was busy last winter and spring training on VTECS Connect in Maryland and Newark Public Schools in New Jersey. Both are avid users of the software and we have designed customer reports around their data collection needs.

Ken Potthoff worked in Louisiana and Idaho to train on VTECS Connect. We have created a custom report for data collection in Louisiana where they have been piloting the software in several large parishes. Idaho now uses the Students by Job Sites Connect Report as their state required data collection report for Idaho’s Individualized Occupational Training Program (IOT). Their IOT offers organized work-based learning experiences to fit individual student career choices. This past November Ken did a special needs demonstration on Connect with Lloyd Dennis, a Special Needs Director for Burns High School in Duncan, South Carolina at their 2nd Annual Transitions conference. Amy McCaskill, VTECS Technical Coordinator for South Carolina, has been busy taking software requests ever since. Switching to VTECS DIRECT, Ken trained the Indiana County Technology Center (ICTC) staff to use DIRECT to help develop curricula for their programs of study. As you have already seen from Brenda and Tim’s great work in Pennsylvania, several schools and state staff are high on VTECS DIRECT.

The recent release of the Microsoft^® Vista^® operating system has required significant changes to be made to VTECS Connect and VTECS DIRECT. So for several months, Steve Scherb, the VTECS software designer, has been working diligently to complete the changes and test new versions of our software.

While most of these changes are "invisible" to software users, they are absolutely essential to make the software install and work in the Vista^® environment. In addition to making VTECS software "Vista^® ready," other enhancements have been completed. One improvement you are sure to appreciate is the option to save any report as an Adobe Acrobat (pdf) document. This format is extremely popular because it maintains the formatting contained in the original document.

The new versions are available for distribution now so spread the word! Software users who are running VTECS Connect 2.2 or VTECS DIRECT 5 under Windows XP should visit the VTECS Connect and VTECS DIRECT support pages on the VTECS web site to request the ID and password to download the new update.

If your computer is running the Vista^® operating system, you will need to install VTECS Connect or VTECS DIRECT from a new program CD-ROM containing the Microsoft^® Vista^® version. Contact the VTECS technical coordinator in your state if you need the program CD.

PassAssured Push

VTECS is ramping up our efforts to bring a proven winner to schools in our member states. The Pharmacy Technician Training Program (PTTP) is a student-driven product that provides students with the formative and summative assessment they need to pass the national Pharmacy Technician Certification Board Exam or other state required alternative certification exams. In fact, get this, the pass rate on the national exam is 98% for students who finish the PTTP that VTECS can get to your local schools. The PTTP also comes with an Educator Resource CD for the teachers to release tests, communicate with students and monitor progress as well as an e-textbook. We’re now offering incentive packages for state CTE backing and large student population sales. Please contact Ken Potthoff (kpotthoff@vtecs.org) or 800-248-7701 ext. 3579 and if you’re ready to order, contact Dana Wilson (dwilson@vtecs.org) or 800-248-7701 ext. 3543.

We went straight to the heart of Texas for the 2008 Technical Coordinator’s Inservice and it was a rooting tooting good time. Held on September 17-19 in San Antonio Texas just a block or so from the famous RiverWalk, the Inservice was productive because it gave VTECS a chance to share what was accomplished at the last Board Meeting and to show Technical Coordinators and Guests what VTECS was putting into action with standards and technical assessment work across state lines. Technical Coordinators also had the invaluable opportunity to share what they are doing with VTECS in their own states and to discuss likes and differences in how they were handling national and state educational initiatives. Finally, they got a good taste of our software if they needed indoctrination, a little refresher on their user or training skills, and some changes and updates were presented. Thanks again for your attendance and participation—your input is so important.

Charlotte Fast Lane—ACTE

The 2008 ACTE Conference went well for VTECS because we had a good number of folks who showed genuine interest in our products and, as expected, there were several inquires on what we’re specifically doing with technical assessment. It was also a real bonus that the conference was held in Charlotte, home of Robyn Marshall.

Inside IVETA

Once again in conjunction with ACTE, the International Vocation Education Technical Association (IVETA) held their annual conference on December 3. The theme of IVETA's conference was "Employment/Unemployment: The Role of Vocational-Technical Education” and the presentations were very well-received. There were excellent questions and good discussion all the way around. And to top off the day, VTECS sponsored a reception where a good time was had by all. We should also point out that IVETA’s membership has now increased to about 275 members and there were representatives from at least 17 countries present at this year’s conference.

NCPN Networking in Cincy

The National Career Pathways Network ((NCPN) Annual Conference took place this year in the Queen City of Cincinnati. VTECS had two sessions in different formats on technical assessment and skill standards development; both sessions were well-attended. Ken Potthoff presented the sessions and ran the exhibitor’s booth. Traffic was outstanding the first day, especially in the morning, and we had strong interest from states, local schools and even post-secondary in the way of community colleges.

Clusters Go Deep in Ft. Worth

Save the date for the 7th Annual Career Clusters Institute which will be held June 15-17, 2009 in Forth Worth, Texas. The theme of this year’s conference is Career Clusters: The Building Blocks of Change.

Have a safe and happy holiday and from all of us at VTECS, Happy New Year!

Copyright 2008 by VTECS. All rights reserved