Spring 2016
Accuplacer and MyFoundationsLab
Pg. 6
The SATCC is working hard to ensure that people find success in the apprenticeship program and that begins when new candidates want to register as apprentices. Positive changes are making a big difference. Prior to 2013, the SATCC used entrance exams for candidates who did not meet the academic prerequisite requirements. The entrance exams though did not diagnose the math or reading skills of the candidate. Inadequate math, reading and problem solving skills can lead to failure in technical training and be a barrier to successful completion of an apprenticeship.
An Accuplacer diagnostic assessment takes place for each individual. Following that, In a continuous effort to support a personalized learning path, apprentices, the SATCC introduced which includes a variety of Accuplacer/MyFoundationsLab interactive learning activities (ACC/MFL) in 2013-14. ACC/MFL to teach and reinforce skills identifies and helps to upgrade (MyFoundationsLab), is provided academic deficiencies for at no cost to the client. Those potential apprentices. who successfully complete the program will have higher basic The computer-based skill skills, which will allow them assessments and online learning to enter into or continue in helps people to update their apprenticeship. literacy and math skills. People are referred to ACC/MFL by the Now that the ACC/MFL has been SATCC’s Assessment Unit. Most underway for a full year, how do commonly, clients who do not the two methods stack up? For have the necessary entrance the years 2008-09 to 2012-13 requirements or need to upgrade when the entrance exams were various skills during technical used, the evaluation showed that training will be referred to the 72 out of 349 individuals (20.6 program. per cent) who wrote the exam became registered apprentices. In comparison, during 2014-15– the first full year the SATCC started
using ACC/MFL– 28.7 per cent of the 237 individuals referred to ACC/MFL that year completed one or more elements to become apprentices, which is 8.1 per cent more than the five-year entrance exam results. Similar results continue in 2015-16. Through the first six months of 2015-16, 25.5 per cent of the 110 individuals referred to ACC/MFL became registered apprentices. The SATCC will continue to monitor ACC/MFL and new numbers will be available this fall.