Current Assessment Needs in Adult Education and Workforce Development: Summary Report (March 2023)
The present report summarizes the research conducted through focus groups and literature reviews to understand and document the specific assessment needs in adult education and workforce development.
Working bibliography of culturally sustaining and anti-racist assessment resources (January 2023)
Consistent with ASAP’s assessment principles of offering a justice-oriented, antiracist approach, we prepared a working bibliography of culturally sustaining and anti-racist assessment resources. We plan to periodically update this bibliography, so feedback on the structure, content, and organization of the bibliography is welcome, as are suggestions for resources not yet included (asap@umass.edu).
Assessing the Dimensionality of O*NET Cognitive Ability Ratings Across Job Zones (October 2022)
In this study we analyzed the mean importance ratings of the cognitive abilities and selected skills included in the Occupational Information Network (ONET) data base across ONET job zones (from occupations needing no or little preparation to need extensive preparation) to identify the dimensionality of these importance data and to evaluate the consistency of the dimensionality across job zones.
Defining and Assessing Literacy and Numeracy Skills for 21st Century Adult Learners: A Summary of Research and Practice (September 2022)
Numerous definitions of literacy and numeracy have been developed to date. In this report, we summarized and analyzed 20 definitions of literacy and numeracy. These definitions often respond to specific stakeholders’ goals and agendas. In this paper, however, we do not aim to provide an integrated definition of literacy and numeracy for all people in all places. Instead, we believe operational definitions of constructs as relevant as literacy and numeracy must respond to specific needs given at a specific moment.
Assessment Resources in Adult Education and Workforce Development (September 2022)
As part of ASAP we reviewed the literature and practices in adult education and workforce development to compile information on existing assessments and related resources. We plan to periodically update this compilation, so feedback on the structure, content, and organization of the compilation is welcome, as are suggestions for resources not yet included (asap@umass.edu).
Texas Standards 2.0 Webinar (November 2021)
Webinar recorded on 11/3/2021 for the UMass ASAP project. Here, presenters Maria Elena Oliveri, Karl Haigler, and Anson Green provide an explanation of how the Texas 2.0 adult education/workforce development standards were created. These standards bridged adult education and job training programs using the O*NET job classification system. More info about the Texas Standards 2.0 project, including the Standards themselves, is available here.