Fifteen delegates from the Singapore WDA (Workforce Development Agency) toured Continuing Education classes in January to learn about an innovative teaching approach that integrates basic skills, including ESL (English as a Second Language), with job-specific training.
The Singapore WDA enhances the competitiveness of their workforce by encouraging workers to advance with education and skills. Since 2005, CASAS (Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment System; a local, national, and international non-profit assessment organization in San Diego) has been working closely with the Singapore WDA to customize an assessment system to measure the literacy and numeracy skills of their workforce.
CASAS identified the I-BEST approach at Continuing Education as a program in the United States that exemplified best practices for setting up literacy classes to directly meet business and industry needs. As a result, the delegation came to see first-hand how the modern approach works in classrooms, and hear about student success.
“The delegates were looking for the best way to help prepare low literate students in Singapore for the workforce and higher-skilled jobs,” said Continuing Education Dean Robin Carvajal. “We have a model of the best approach here, in our I-BEST classes, and our students are wonderful examples of the program’s success.”
I-BEST (Integrated Basic Education Skills Training) is contextualized learning, or learning in context and Continuing Education has implemented I-BEST in Nursing Assistant training, Welding, and a VESL (Vocational ESL) Personal Assistant/Caregiver class.
In the Nursing Assistant training classes, from pre-test to post-test, students have shown an increase of 15% or 1.5 letter grades in as little as six weeks. Additionally, after I-BEST was implemented, one in every six students moved from below 60% (a grade F) to above 90% (a grade A).
“Student success rates have increased for the majority of students in these classes,” said Continuing Education Dean Alma McGee. “Maria Elena Hernandez is an example of how teaching directly relevant learning experiences in vocational classrooms can transition students to employment quickly.”
Maria began studying at Continuing Education in 2008. She completed beginning through advanced ESL classes and transitioned first to the VESL Personal Assistant/Caregiver class, and then completed the free Job Training/Certificate Program for Nursing Assistant. Both classes use I-BEST as an approach to maximize the student’s learning potential. Next, Maria passed the state certification test and became a licensed Certified Nursing Assistant in 2010. She is currently enrolled in classes to complete her GED and her next step will be the Licensed Vocational Nursing program at Mesa College.
“Having all the tools together was the best thing,” said Maria while making an open motion with her hands. “It was like opening a door for a new world.” Maria recognized that her vocabulary and spelling improved while taking the Nursing Assistant class. “I knew I was improving,” she said. “I finished with the third highest grade in the class.”
“In today’s economy, most jobs require not just knowledge, but also skills,” said Jane Eguez, WLS Program Manager at CASAS. “WDA will be able to better meet the needs of Singapore companies if they follow the Continuing Education model of customized literacy training.”
The foundation of basic skills training includes reading, math, language, employability, and service skills necessary to compete in any workforce—from San Diego to Singapore—and Continuing Education is leading the way for building this foundation. “Having education is having power over your life,” said Maria. You can make goals, and you can do new things for yourself with education. Education is the key to a better life.”