[Bestplus] Your feedback needed

[Betty Stone]

I think all the qualifying characteristics mentioned to date make good sense. 
 
As for the sign-in comments option, I wonder if it would be possible to make a code to minimize the need  for us to have to write a lot. We'll be training, and observing and assessing whether people are "with the program" for groups up to ? 18? Maybe C, S, L, E for computer, scoring, lateness, English to indicate problem areas. With a standard class, a teacher has a few classes to assess - I may be a tad over-anxious, but you really have to watch a few times to make sure people are struggling and down-spiraling, as opposed to struggling and then having "aaaha! moments" when they get it. On the other hand, the people we've already observed who have had difficulty, stood out clearly from the onset.
 
Perhaps we should limit the size of the training groups to 16. In a standard large training for anything, most of the group is with the trainer, there are always a few who are "advanced" for any number of reasons, and then there is often/usually someone(s) who doesn't seem to get what's going on. 
 
I don't want to make this overly complicated for us, the trainers.  I'd like it if the C  S  L  E were there and I could circle an S if I thought there might be a problem, and then "x" it off later if I saw the trouble resolved over the course of the training. Maybe there are a few more traits people would want to add. (P for participation? active engagement in the training vs. being in the room and not participating in the activities - This behavior might be a symptom of another problem, such as English level too low, or difficulty with scoring and fear of making a mistake. I remember Cindy commenting on that in the training we observed: that usually people score, cross out and change their minds as they are learning the rubric. A person who does nothing is not working on it.) Four or six seem like a good maximum, whichever traits are essential.
 
What do other people think of this idea? I'm open to going with the group.
 
Betty

Carey Reid <Carey_Reid at worlded.org> wrote:
Hello all,

We would like your feedback on some new policies we'd like to put into
play.

Based on our first few trainings, ACLS and SABES would like to tighten
up requirements for BEST+ trainees so they are completely qualified to
do test administrations. As you'll recall, we've taken some steps
already by developing a
boilerplate paragraph to use when recruiting trainees; that paragraph
underscores CAL's SPL 9-or-better requirement and stresses the need for
punctuality and so forth. However, based on some problems with computer
facility that surfaced at a couple of trainings, we want to add the
following line, or something like it, to the boilerplate paragaph:
ADMINISTERING THE BEST PLUS REQUIRES THAT THE ADMINISTRATOR HAVE A
COMFORTABLE LEVEL OF FACILITY WITH COMPUTERS; THAT IS, SHE/HE MUST BE
ABLE TO USE A KEYBOARD AND OPERATE A MOUSE WITH RELATIVE EASE [NOT IN
ALL-CAPS].

We would also like to add a section to the signin sheet for you, as 
trainers, to note any difficulties a particular trainee might have
exhibited which the regional CAC would need to follow up on. E.g., if a
trainee has a lot of difficulty with scoring, you would note this so
that the CAC could contact that person and work with her or him further.
This approach would allow you to hand out certificates (and avoid the
awkwardness of NOT handing one out) and still alert SABES so that
remedial action can be taken.

What do you think of these ideas? Would you approach any of the above
differently? Is there anything you would add or change, including
addressing problems that you've noticed which are not covered in the
above?

All contributions are welcome. We will put the final version of these
policies into place at the end of the week.

My best,

Carey Reid
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Betty J. Stone
ESOL Program Administrator
SCALE - Somerville Center for Adult Learning Experiences
167 Holland Street, Somerville, MA 02144
Phone: 617-625-6600, Ext. 6933
FAX: 617-623-8528
bjstone13 at yahoo.com

		
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