The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and the U.S. Congress have improved the quality, effectiveness, and integrity of the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA). A basic skills improvement program funded by the DOL was implemented in two Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, worksites. Several implications for managing the changes within JTPA related…

When changing technology required that workers in the unionized sector of the British Columbia Construction Industry be able to read more difficult materials than had previously been necessary and to use complex mathematical concepts on the job, it became evident that a new approach was called for, and SkillPlan was developed in March 1991 to…

This document consists of the four issues of the newsletter "Workforce Skills" published during 1994. This newsletter contains a variety of articles about Colorado's Community College and Occupational Education System (CCOES) and about work force skills training developed and delivered by community colleges. Each newsletter includes some…

Descriptive data were collected on 45 workplace literacy partnerships during a national evaluation of the effectiveness of workplace literacy programs (WPL) funded by the National Workplace Literacy Program. Findings indicated the following: on average, partnerships consisted of 8 partners; about 60 percent were business or industry; 20 percent…

This guide, part of a series of workplace-developed materials for retraining factory workers, provides teaching materials for a workplace course in problem-solving techniques. The course is a review of basic problem-solving techniques focused on helping participants to be comfortable solving problems on the job. Topics covered include the…

Seven job-related basic skills identified as skills employers want are as follows: (1) learning to learn; (2) reading, writing, and computation; (3) oral communication and listening; (4) creative thinking and problem solving; (5) personal management, including self-esteem, goal setting, motivation, and personal and career development; (6) group…

In 1988 SPD1, a division of Motorola, began an extensive 4-year endeavor to transform itself into an organization built on excellence and customer satisfaction. SPD1 contracted with Merex Corporation to provide three services that would enable employees to take on their new responsibilities more effectively. Merex conducted Skills Enhancement…

This two-part document contains the final report (part 1) and the model curriculum (part 2) of the Workplace Basic Skills project at Burke Mills, Inc., North Carolina. Part 1, the final report, discusses the design, implementation, and operation of a project to identify a yarn manufacturer's skill needs, assess prospective employees' basic skills,…

This symposium on human resource development (HRD) and small manufacturers consists of three presentations. "Toward a Model of Technical Assistance for Small Manufacturers: The Role of Performance Technology" (Dale C. Brandenburg) reviews literature documenting the need for technical assistance to small manufacturers, especially as it…

This manual contains a workshop curriculum that offers background information and activities rooted in the whole language approach. It is designed to address needs of employees with skill levels below fifth grade. Section I is an introduction to the changing workplace environment. Sections II-V cover problem solving, communication (speaking…

The Working Smart workplace literacy project was sponsored by a public school district and several profit and nonprofit companies and conducted for the hotel and food industry in the Los Angeles area. Literacy instruction was merged with job requirements of the customer service job classifications. Videodisc courseware was developed, as were…

This document, a result of a 3-year study, gives step-by-step instructions for establishing and implementing a program to teach the basic skills necessary in the workplace. The resulting programs use the applied approach that motivates learners by linking learning to improved job performance. The document is intended for practitioners and…

According to the most recent National Adult Literacy Survey, nearly half of Illinois adults lack sufficient reading proficiency to ensure job success and advancement in 21st century workplaces. The Test of Adult Basic Education is currently used as a pretest/posttest in Illinois' existing adult basic education, adult secondary education, and…

This document is the first in a series of two reports on demand-led strategies to support welfare-to-work clients. The authors believe employment retention programs that demonstrate they can meet the needs of employers for effective employees follow a demand-led approach, which has the potential to expand the opportunities available to welfare…