Standard 1: Purpose

Standard 2: Administration

Standard 3: Learning Resources

Standard 4: Finances

Standard 5: Student Services

Standard 6: Instruction

Standard 7: Equipment

Standard 8: Facilities

Standard 9: Instructional Staff

Standard 10: Co-op Agreements

Standard 5.1: Skills Assessment

For students to develop the skills and knowledge required to service today's automobiles, each student must possess, or be given the opportunity to develop, essential foundation skills in reading, mathematics, science, and mechanical aptitude. To this end, a formal skills assessment instrument (process) for these fundamental skills should be used to evaluate students to ensure that each student has a reasonable probability of success as an automobile technician. Testing procedures and how the test results will be used (e.g., placement, assessment of student's developmental needs, etc.) should be stated in program explanatory material, and justification for all requirements should be available.

Requirements:

  1. Rate the use of a basic skills assessment instrument (recommendations for development, intervention and/or student placement) for automotive students in the following areas: (rate collectively not individually)
    1. reading
    2. mathematics and science
    3. mechanical aptitude
  2. Rate the documentation of testing procedures and how the results will be used in the program explanatory material and its availability to all interested parties.
  3. Rate the availability of written justification for all requirements.

Recommended Documentation:

  • Document or provide an example of the assessment instrument used for the program. This can be a standardized test already issued by the school system as long as the results are accessible to the instructor. Or the test can be provided in the beginning of the program. You are not limited to these two choices. The school can develop any instrument that will give them the information needed to achieve their desired outcomes. Include documentation on how the areas of reading, math, science and mechanical aptitude are covered.
  • Provide an explanation of how the information from the assessment will be used and it's availability to all interested parties.
  • Provide an explanation of the different areas used in the assessment and why they were chosen. Provide additional information on how each of these areas is used in the automotive training program.  
  • Sample Documentation 5.1A
  • Sample Documentation 5.1B
  • Sample Documentation 5.1C

Additional Notes:

  • This assessment should be used to assist the instructor in better understanding a student strengths as well of areas of improvement. This process should be reviewed by the counselors, Special Ed and the Advisory Committee.
  • The results of the assessment should be limited to only those associated with the school system.
  • The skills required in the automotive industry have changed, and it is important that all aspects of the occupation are covered in the training program. This is an excellent opportunity to have the administration and counselors hear from the Advisory Committee about the requirements and skills needed to enter the automotive industry. This information can be used for justification documentation.