Predictive Validity of General Education Tests/ Relevance to Program
A great deal of work has been done with general education (essential skills)assessment instruments and correlation of them to success in specific programs. Psychometricians (PhDs) perform this work by designing them and running the statistical data.
Some challenges of the vocational or technical programs ("career college")are weaknesses in English and math. Many students are not primarily English speakers. (They are "English as a second language" individuals.) Many come from "at risk" homes and inner city environments with many social-economic issues. These tests can identify individuals who are not properly suited for the desired program. Some students can then be diverted to other programs and remediation.
I have observed some individuals attempt to enroll in vocational (practical) nursing programs but not be able to pass the admission (general education/essential skills) assessment. Many of them have been directed to Medical Assisting programs instead of the VN. I have observed many of these students complete the MA program and then the vocational nursing program. (That is an expensive route but an effective one.)
More work needs to be done in the area of "bridging" general educational remediational needs with the admission process (assessment of essential skills).
Another thought on the general edication process: it clearly provides support for students with defective essential skills backgrounds so that they can be successful in the career program. Unfortunately, not all programs can contain that element. An example is vocational nursing. That makes "up front" (admission) assessment critical.
David Leon Cooper, MS (Ed Adm)
Hi Christopher- As a Career College educator, I totally agree - for many students, skill based education is the answer. Also, in our economy, there are so many jobs that go unfilled because there are no skilled applicants. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
This is a significant pitfall in the education system here. Having lived and worked in Australia, they have a much more practical system in the last years of primary education. In the equivalent of grade 10/11 students are able to enter an apprenticeship with a tradesman.
Therefore, the last years of their primary education is spent learning an applicable trade for a career and may enter the field as a trained professional upon graduating.
Hi David - Thanks for a very profound post - I agree with much of what you stated. I have also worked at both "for profit" and "not for profit" and have found good and bad examples of both. Best wishes! Susan
Actually, government programs are not likely to be the answer. Private industry is the sector that could most effectively do this.
The large "not-for-profit" organization that I am affiliated with is offering free tutoring in math and English for all of its employees. Additionally, they are PAYING individuals to attend their certified nursing assistant program. There is zero tuition.
The huge private postsecondary industry is mostly "for-profit." It is doing a great job. It is creating employed people--taxpayers--here.
We have structural problems in education.
The taxpayers should not be proping up governmental postsecondary educational entities. If they are so good, let them compete on a level financial playing field with the private sector.
In 1992, when I was working on my master's degree in educational administration, the big argument was over vouchers. The public school teachers screamed: "No, we do not need it--we can get the reforms done without it." I have been watching for 20 years. It is not better.
We need a vehicle to allow many of the high school students to simply GED out the door and enter the trade schools (career colleges).
The money that is being wasted in the public schools (especially for grades 11-12) could be used to remediate and vocationally educate young adults. Some people are not ready for college and some are not fit for it at all.
In short, we need structural changes to address both the remediation of essential skills and the need for career education.
Hi David- Thank you for a very profound post to the forum. It's unfortunate that remediation is not always available for students with deficiencies. Your VA to VN option is great, but as you mention - more expensive. I wish that we could have more state/federal programs to address these problems on the level of higher education.
Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
