Professional Development Course List
for Adult Education Instructors
Section A-B
(Courses are arranged alphabetically)
BASIC Model ABE/ASE/College Readiness
CABEA 6800310
3 hours/2.5 Credential Points
Audience: ABE/ASE Teachers
Description: The BASIC Model provides a framework for teachers to explore effective academic strategies necessary for postsecondary success. The BASIC Model is evidence based and includes practical transition strategies that can easily be integrated in the ABE/ASE Classroom.
Objectives: Upon completion, course participants will (be able to):
- Participants will discuss specific classroom strategies that help ABE/ASE student’s transition to and succeed in post secondary education based on the BASIC Model.
- Participants will understand the purpose of the Texas College & Career Readiness Standards, in particular the Cross Disciplinary Standards and how it relates to the ABE/ASE classroom.
- Participants will demonstrate understanding of the BASIC Model by selecting a specific strategy and developing a plan for implementation.
Beginning Literacy ESOL Training
CABEA 6800282
3 hours/2.5 Credential Points
Audience: ESOL Teachers and Teachers Aides
Description: Beginning Literacy ESOL training provides instructors with techniques and strategies to improve the persistence and performance of learners in this lowest level of ESOL. Teachers will learn how to promote an environment that enhances persistence and builds community among learners. Strategies and activites focus on realia found in the learners environment to help beginning literacy ESOL learners develop basic oral communication skills and build reading and writing skills.
Objectives: Upon completion, course participants will (be able to):
- Understand how Texas Content Standards can be used to improve learner performance and how BEST Plus measures progress for beginning literacy ESOL learners.
- Use informal classroom assessments to determine students' literacy levels and needs.
- Promote an environment and utilize strategies that enhance persistence and community building among learners.
- Apply strategies and activities to teach oral communication skills to beginning literacy ESL learners.
- Investigate strategies for literacy development that will support reading and writing skills, with a particular focus on using authentic materials found in the learners’ environment.
BEST Literacy Test Training
CABEA 6800141
3 hours/2.5 Credential Points
Audience: BEST Literacy Test Administrators and/or Scorers
Description: This training is intended for anyone who administers or scores the BEST Literacy Test. Using the manual, participants will investigate proper test administration and scoring procedures, practice scoring writing samples, and acquire a basic knowledge of the content. By the end of the session participants should be able to use the writing rubric for scoring writing samples and follow the manual mandates for accurate scoring on the other sections. All participants must bring his/her own BEST Literacy Test Manual (10/06).
Objectives: Upon completion, course participants will (be able to):
- Understand the content of the BEST Literacy Test Manual.
- Apply proper test administration and scoring procedures.
- Use Writing Rubric to accurately score writing section of test.
- Follow manual mandates for correct scoring on other sections.
BEST Plus Refresher
CABEA 6800110
3 hours/2.5 Credential Points
Audience: BEST Plus Test Administrators
Description: This training may be done BEFORE the BEST Plus Scoring Refresher Toolkit for review, fine-tuning, and practice; OR it may be done AFTER the BEST Plus Scoring Refresher Toolkit as remediation and practice following an unsuccessful completion of the BEST Plus Scoring Refresher Toolkit training.
CAL approved test administrators will review objectives, content areas and question types of the BEST Plus oral interview, review the scoring rubric, review appropriate test administration procedures, and practice scoring the test. Each participant must bring his/her own TAG (Test Administrator’s Guide).
Objectives: Upon completion, course participants will (be able to):
- Accurately perform scoring calibration exercises.
- Explain the rationale for scores awarded.
- Properly administer the BEST Plus oral interview.
- Acquire more expertise in using the Test Administrator’s Guide (TAG).
BEST Plus Scoring Refresher Toolkit
CABEA 6800128
4 hours/2.5 CredentialPoints
Audience: BEST Plus Test Administrators
Description: This training is designed to recalibrate approved BEST Plus test administrators. Participants will have the opportunity to reflect on their own strengths and weaknesses regarding administration and accurate scoring of the BEST Plus. Participants will practice using the scoring rubric to provide justification for scoring each of the three language aspects. After practice, participants will complete a BEST Plus scoring calibration assessment. Each participant must bring his/her own TAG (Test Administrator’s Guide) and their own Scoring Refresher Workbook. Please note: This session will be limited to 15 participants when the test will be administered as part of the training. The session will be limited to 20-25 when the test is not administered as part of the training.
Objectives: Upon completion, course participants will (be able to):
- Use the scoring rubric to provide justifications for scoring on each of the three language proficiency subscales of Listening Comprehension, Language Complexity, and Communication.
- Identify effective BEST Plus test administration procedures.
- Recognize his/her strengths and areas of difficulty in administering and scoring the test.
BEST Plus Training
CABEA 6800043
6 hours/5 Credential Points
Audience: BEST Plus Test Administrators
Description: The participants will study the rationale for the BEST Plus test and acquire sufficient mastery of the BEST Plus test to perform duties of a tester in administering, scoring, and interpreting the scores.
Every participant is REQUIRED to have a NEW Test Administrator Guide (TAG) to keep. Note: This is a requirement for approval.
Objectives: Upon completion, course participants will (be able to):
- Understand the background and overview of the BEST Plus.
- Use the BEST Plus TAG (Test Administrator’s Guide).
- Use BEST Plus scoring rubric to score BEST Plus tests.
- Administer the BEST Plus test.
BEST PLUS Training for Non-Testers
CABEA 6800129
3 hours/2.5 Credential Points
Audience: ESOL Teachers and BEST Plus Test Administrators
Description: This training is intended for teachers, administrators and other adult education staff involved with but not actually administering BEST Plus. The training will explore objectives, content areas and question types of the BEST Plus oral interview. Participants will experience scoring and appropriate test administration procedures. Test taking techniques and language acquisition activities will also be discussed.
Objectives: Upon completion, course participants will (be able to):
- Work better with students in preparation for assessment.
- Describe the content areas and question types.
- Explain the basic testing procedures.
- Acquire a working knowledge of the BEST Plus.
Building an Adult Reader
CABEA 6800150
6 hours/5 Credential Points
Audience: ABE/ASE Teachers
Description: This training will provide adult educators with an understanding of the six foundations of reading: phonemic and phonological awareness (segmentation, blends, diagraph, vowel patterns), decoding skills (word families), fluency (fluency probes), vocabulary development (antonyms, general context, examples, synonyms), comprehension (graphic organizers), and motivation (intrinsic, extrinsic). Each foundation will be explored and authentic activities will be provided. Participants will leave with a knowledge of the foundations of reading and how to apply them in their direct reading instruction. The six foundations are critical when building a successful adult reader.
Objectives: Upon completion, course participants will (be able to):
- Apply the six reading foundations in direct instruction.
- Recognize the critical nature of the six reading foundations for the adult learner.
- Implement authentic activities to support knowledge acquisition using the six reading foundation areas for adult learners.
- Implement authentic activities to support knowledge acquisition using the six reading foundation areas for adult learners.
Building Stronger Teams in the AE Workplace
CABEA 6800296
3 hours/2.5 Credential Points
Audience: ABE/ASE Teachers, ESOL Teachers, Administrators and Staff
Description: This course is designed to build efficient functioning "teams" in Adult Education programs. The typical Five Dysfunctions of a Team are used as a focus for discussion and activities designed to overcome "team dysfunctions" if they exist. Participants will learn how to achieve the desired outcome, that of a more cohesive, communicative, supportive group of co-workers in the AE workplace.
Objectives: Upon completion, course participants will (be able to):
- Identify the dysfunctions where they exist
- Identify strategies for overcoming the dysfunctions
- Contribute more effectively to overall team goals and objectives
