Each year the CASAS Summer Institute is held in San Diego, California, during the month of June. The Institute addresses key issues in developing and implementing accountability, assessment, and evaluation systems linked to content and performance standards of national and state programs. Highlights include the use of data across states to inform instruction, improve programs, and report outcomes to stakeholders and policymakers. The Institute offers professional development for program administrators and instructional staff. Also, each Summer Institute has a full strand of NEDP sessions that provide opportunities to learn about developments, and to collaborate with NEDP professionals from across the country.

NEDP strand presentations from the 2009 Summer Institute

Keynote address - Dr. Allison Rossett: Professor of Education Technology at San Diego State University

Dr. Allison Rossett, professor of educational technology at San Diego State University, is in the Training magazine HRD Hall of Fame and was recently a member of the ASTD International Board of Directors. Recipient of ASTD’s coveted recognition for lifelong contributions to workplace learning and performance and designated a 2008 LEGEND, she co-authored Job Aids and Performance Support: Moving from Knowledge in the Classroom to Knowledge Everywhere. In 2009 she released the second edition of her classic book, First Things Fast: A Handbook for Performance Analysis. Among many accomplishments Dr. Rossett is the author of four awardwinning books, including Beyond the Podium: Delivering Training and Performance to a Digital World and First Things Fast: A Handbook for Performance Analysis, Training Needs Assessment, and A Handbook of Job Aids.

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Session B5 - Assessing Advanced Writing Skills Using a Written Prompt: An Overview

This session is an overview of the new CASAS Written Prompt that is currently undergoing pilot and field testing. The CASAS Written Prompt consists of a short written question designed to elicit an essay on a topic familiar to any adult. It uses a holistic rubric to score responses in the areas of content, organization, word choice, grammar, sentence structure, and mechanics. Results from the CASAS Written Prompt also provide diagnostic information. Presenters: Jim Harrison, Linda Taylor, and Nancy Smithwick

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Session D5 - Developing Performance Indicators in Preparation for Rewriting NEDP Tasks

Preliminary efforts to redesign NEDP assessments are currently underway. After the completion of the revalidation of the new competencies in June 2008, CASAS has begun working with subject-matter experts to develop and validate performance indicators. This session describes the process as well as the current status of this effort and explains how performance indicators are an essential prerequisite to developing NEDP assessments. Presenters: Melissa Dayton and Jim Harrison

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Session E5 - NEDP Portfolio

The NEDP Portfolio is a new software program for agencies to track student demographics and performance data through the Diagnostic and Assessment phases of the National External Diploma Program. This session presents an overview of the software and explores the feedback from agencies pilot-testing the software. The session also covers plans for rolling out the software to all agencies and a list of future enhancements. Presenter: Andrew Evans

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Session F5 - Learner Retention in Adult Secondary Education and the National External Diploma Program

The persistence and success of learners in Connecticut’s three secondary completion programs — the Adult High School Credit Diploma Program, the General Educational Development (GED) preparation program, and the National External Diploma Program (NEDP) — are discussed and analyzed. Participants are invited to engage in a discussion about the implications of these findings for their adult education programs. The workshop also presents an overview of NEDP and explores the reasons that its methodology and design promote success for many individuals. Presenters: Ajit Gopalakrishnan, Jim Harrison, and Mary Fox

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Session G5 - O*Net - A New Tool for NEDP Diagnostics

Current plans call for replacing the current Occupational Profile with the O*NET Interest Profiler and Work Importance Profiler, career interest tools developed and maintained by the U.S. Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). These computer-based tools can assist individuals in identifying their work-related interests, what they consider important on the job, and their abilities in order to explore those occupations that relate most closely to those attributes. This session presents evaluative data received from piloting these tools and presents suggestions for NEDP agencies to use this tool with their clients and to explore timelines for implementing O*NET in local agencies. Presenter: Andrew Evans

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Session G7 - Revisiting the NEDP Individualized Competency Requirements

Individuals in the National External Diploma Program must fulfill an individualized competency requirement before being awarded their high school diploma. The policies and guidelines for fulfilling the individualized competency are currently undergoing revision. This interactive session solicits participant feedback in exploring the considerations for procedural enhancements to the program. Presenters: Roni Nudelman and Jim Harrison

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Session H5 - NEDP Symposium: A Round Table Discussion of Development Topics

This symposium provides presentations and round table discussions on many critical development topics such as the NEDP 2007-2008 student demographics, individualized competency, transcript, redesign, and technology integration. Presenters: Melissa Dayton, Andrew Evans, Ardis Breslauer, Cheryl Perry, Jim Harrison, and Mary Fox

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