WECM! - Houston Community College

"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
CENTER FOR TEACHING & LEARNING EXCELLENCE
“Student Engagement = Student Success”
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
!
!
!
!
!
!
WECM!is!Your!Friend!!!
Seminar!Handbook!
1"
Table&of&Contents&
What!is!WECM?!.....................................................................................................................................!3!
How!WECM!Affects!HCC!......................................................................................................................!3!
Why!Do!We!Need!WECM?!..................................................................................................................!3!
WECM!Organizational!Chart!.............................................................................................................!4!
Structure!Activity!–!Access!the!WECM!Protocol!Manual!.........................................................!5!
Types!of!WECM!Courses!.....................................................................................................................!6!
WECM!Activity!–!Visit!the!Texas!Workforce!Website!...............................................................!7!
WECM!Activity!–!WECM!Search!Activity!........................................................................................!7!
What!if!I!Can’t!Find!the!WECM!Course!I!Need?!...........................................................................!8!
How!are!Special!Topics!and!Local!Needs!Courses!Requested!at!HCC?!...............................!8!
What!Makes!a!Good!Special!Topics!or!Local!Need!Course?!...................................................!9!
Special!Topics!Activity!–!Valid/Invalid!Course!Activity!........................................................!10!
What!is!the!purpose!of!a!WECM!workshop?!..............................................................................!11!
Workshops!Activity!–!Visit!the!Workshop!Schedule!Webpage!...........................................!11!
Who!participates!in!the!WECM!workshops?!.............................................................................!12!
Workshop!Activity!–!WECM!Workshop!Tools!...........................................................................!13!
Workshop!Activity!–!WECM!Career!Clusters!.............................................................................!14!
What!is!your!role!in!WECM?!...........................................................................................................!15!
Your!Role!Activity!–!Sign!up!for!the!THECB!Listserv!..............................................................!15!
Your!Role!Activity!–!Visit!the!WECM!Comments!Webpage!...................................................!16!
Basics!Quick!Query!............................................................................................................................!17!
History!Quick!Query!..........................................................................................................................!18!
Structure!Quick!Query!......................................................................................................................!19!
WECM!Quick!Query!............................................................................................................................!20!
Special!Topics!Quick!Query!............................................................................................................!21!
Workshops!Quick!Query!..................................................................................................................!22!
Your!Role!Quick!Query!.....................................................................................................................!23!
"
"
"
"
2"
WECM!is!Your!Friend!!Seminar!Handbook!
"
Use$this$handbook$to$apply$the$concepts$learned$within$the$steps$in$the$WECM$is$Your$Friend!$
Seminar.$$
What&is&WECM?&
The"Workforce"Education"Course"Manual"(WECM)"is"a"web=accessible"database"of"
approximately"17,000"individual,"pre=approved"career"and"technical"education"courses"for"
use"by"Texas"community"and"technical"colleges.""
"
It"is"housed"and"funded"by"the"Texas"Higher"Education"Coordinating"Board"(THECB),"
managed"by"the"WECM"Project"staff,"overseen"by"the"WECM"Leadership"Committee"(WLC)"
and"maintained"by"community"and"technical"college"faculty"at"annual"and"special"WECM"
Workshops.""
"
WECM"courses"are"coordinated"with"the"Texas"Education"Agency’s"(TEA)"course"level"
Texas"Essential"Knowledge"and"Skills"(TEKS)"standards."As"well,"WECM"courses"support"
the"Perkins"Career"Clusters,"a"series"of"16"career"clusters"created"for"programs"to"provide"
industry=validated"knowledge"and"skills"necessary"for"students"to"be"successful"in"a"chosen"
field"of"study."
How&WECM&Affects&HCC&
•
•
•
•
Funding"is"required"to"run"an"educational"program,"including"workforce"programs."
WECM"provides"a"list"of"all"approved"courses"eligible"for"state"reimbursement"
funding."
The"Texas"Higher"Education"Coordinating"Board"(THECB)"uses"WECM"as"a"
mechanism"to"ensure"the"quality,"consistency"and"transferability"of"workforce"
programs"across"the"state."
Complying"with"WECM"requirements"ensures"HCC"can"be"subsidized"with"state"
funding"based"on"contact"hours"of"workforce"courses"delivered"to"students,"ensures"
that"HCC"credits"can"be"transferred"to"any"other"college"within"the"State"of"Texas,"
and"ensures"each"course"has"covered"standard"minimum"content."
Why&Do&We&Need&WECM?&
•
•
•
•
•
Provides"assurances"and"accountability"to"the"legislature"for"workforce"training"
dollars."
Provides"a"mechanism"to"allocate"state"contact"hour"reimbursement"dollars."
Allows"for"portability"of"credit"between"Texas"Community"Colleges"and"Technical"
Colleges."
Ensures"that"curriculum"remains"current"and"aligned"with"industry"needs."
Consolidates"and"standardizes"workforce"courses"across"the"state."
3"
WECM&Organizational&Chart&
"
"
Contributor"
Description"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
4"
&Structure&Activity&–&Access&the&WECM&Protocol&Manual&
Navigate"to"the"WECM"Protocol"manual"webpage"address"below"and"become"familiar"with"
the"WECM"Protocol"Manual."This"is"the"document"that"is"used"as"a"guide"for"running"the"
WECM."Note"some"of"the"main"sections"of"the"manual"below."
"
Link"to"site:"
http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/aar/undergraduateed/workforceed/wecm2000/aboutnew.htm"
"
"
"
5"
Types&of&WECM&Courses&
"
"
Course"Type"
Description"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
6"
&WECM&Activity&–&Visit&the&Texas&Workforce&Website&
Access"the"Texas"Workforce"website"using"the"method"demonstrated."Bookmark"the"site."
Then"take"a"few"minutes"to"explore"the"site"and"become"familiar"with"all"of"the"features"
included."List"some"of"the"features"and"how"they"will"be"beneficial"your"program"here."
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
&
&WECM&Activity&–&WECM&Search&Activity&
You"are"a"building"construction"program"department"chair"and"realize"the"need"a"credit"
class"for"a"building"construction"related"course"that"instructs"about"green"building"
renovation"strategies."You"are"limited"on"time"so"you"need"an"active"WECM"course"that"is"a"
minimum"of"3"credit"hours"and"includes"renewable"energy"content"and"retrofitting"of"
existing"structures."
"
Use"the"information"that"you"know"about"searching"the"WECM"database"to"find"a"course"
that"you"believe"would"fit"this"description."Write"down"the"steps"that"you"will"use"to"
conduct"the"search"here."Access"the"WECM"database"to"complete"your"search."When"you"
have"chosen"your"course,"write"down"the"course"information"below."Check"your"answer"
within"the"seminar."
&
7"
What&if&I&Can’t&Find&the&WECM&Course&I&Need?&
•
•
•
Use"a"closely=related"WECM"course"and"modify"it"for"your"needs"
Create"and"submit"a"Special"Topics"Course"
Create"and"submit"a"Local"Need"Course"
How&are&Special&Topics&and&Local&Needs&Courses&Requested&at&HCC?&
Credit!(SCH):!
E=mail"questions"related"to"any"WECM"CE"course"to:"[email protected]."
Sketch"a"flow"of"the"paperwork"for"requesting"and"creating"a"SCH"WECM"course"below:!
"
"
"
8"
Continuing!Education!(CE):!
E=mail"questions"related"to"any"WECM"CE"course"to:"[email protected]."
Sketch"a"flow"of"the"paperwork"for"requesting"and"creating"a"CE"WECM"course"below:"
"
"
&
&
&
&
&
&
&
&
&
What&Makes&a&Good&Special&Topics&or&Local&Need&Course?&
Valid"courses:"
• Do"not"duplicate"an"existing"course"in"the"WECM"
• Have"a"course"title"that"is"identifiable"as"“workforce”"training"
• Contain"a"concise"course"description"(try"to"limit"to"25"words)"
• Include"end=of=course"outcomes"that"are"specific,"measurable,"attainable"and"unique"
to"that"course"
• Fall"within"the"allowable"contact"hour"ranges"(16=112"for"Special"Topics"and"16=176"
for"Local"Need)"
• Are"free"from"typographical,"grammatical"and"other"transcription"errors."
"
"
9"
&Special&Topics&Activity&–&Valid/Invalid&Course&Activity&
Can"you"spot"the"valid"and"invalid"course?"Examine"the"two"course"review"forms"and"
decide"which"is"valid"and"which"is"not."Notate"any"inconsistencies"below"the"forms,"then"
indicate"which"one"is"valid"and"which"is"invalid,"and"why."
"
Form!A!
Form!B!
"
"
Circle"One:"""""Valid"""""""Invalid"
Notes:"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
Circle"One:"""""Valid"""""""Invalid"
Notes:"
10"
"
"
What&is&the&purpose&of&a&WECM&workshop?&
•
•
•
•
updating"and/or"changing"current"course"content"
archiving"courses"no"longer"relevant"
reviewing"all"Special"Topic"and"Local"Needs"courses"submitted"by"colleges"
writing"any"new"WECM"courses"needed"
"
"
&Workshops&Activity&–&Visit&the&Workshop&Schedule&Webpage&
Visit"the"workshop"schedule"webpage"to"review"previous"workshop"schedules"and"become"
familiar"with"accessing"the"information."When"was"the"last"time"that"any"of"the"courses"in"
your"program"were"reviewed?"Which"courses"were"reviewed?"
"
Link"to"site:"
http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/AAR/UndergraduateEd/WorkforceEd/wecm2000/aboutne
w.htm"
11"
Who&participates&in&the&WECM&workshops?&
Below"is"the"list"of"the"seven"key"participating"roles"in"most"WECM"workshops."Use"the"
space"provided"to"indicate"what"each"role"is"responsible"for"within"the"WECM"workshop."
"
"
Director"of"the"WECM"Project/"
WECM"Project"Staff"
"
"
THECB"Staff"
"
"
Facilitators/"
Facilitators=in=Training"
"
"
Lead"Facilitator"
"
"
Data"Specialist"
"
"
Instructional"Specialist"
"
"
"
"
"
12"
&Workshop&Activity&–&WECM&Workshop&Tools&
The"table"provides"a"list"of"tools"workshop"participants"have"to"assist"in"the"review"process."
Navigate"to"the"webpages"indicated"to"examine"each"tool.""
"
Tool"
WECM"Database"
[LINK]"
"
Course"Frequency"Data"
Course"Contact"Hour"
Range"Chart"
[LINK]"
Use"
Online"database"of"all"courses"
A"THECB"list"of"courses"being"reviewed"within"a"CIP"area"or"Team"
including"how"often"the"course"was"reported"for"funding"by"any"
college"over"the"past"5"years"(i.e."the"course"was"offered"and"run)."
This"information"is"useful"to"determine"if"the"course"should"be"
archived"for"non=use."This"is"currently"only"available"at"the"
workshop,"but"plans"are"to"make"it"available"on"the"updated"search"
page"sometime"in"2013."
A"GIPWE"document"that"provides"recommended"and"allowable"
contact"hour"ranges"for"credit"courses,"and"lab"hour"breakdowns."
Useful"for"determining"if"course"being"reviewed"fits"in"appropriate"
hour"ranges,"and"what"options"are"available"to"adjust"contact"hour"
ranges"if"alteration"is"necessary."
WECM"Protocol"Manual"
[LINK]"
Rules"and"regulations"guiding"the"writing"of"new"WECM"courses."
Writing"end=of=course"
outcomes"
[LINK]"
A"document"that"provides"a"quick"and"easy"reference"for"selecting"
appropriate"level"and"domain"action"verbs"to"be"used"in"learning"
outcomes."
"
13"
&Workshop&Activity&–&WECM&Career&Clusters&
The"sixteen"career"clusters"identified"by"the"federal"government"are"listed"below."Navigate"
to"the"Achieve"Texas"website"(www.achievetexas.org)"and"visit"the"Programs"of"Study"
webpage"to"find"out"which"ones"would"apply"to"your"program."Indicate"which"career"
clusters"that"would"impact"your"program."
"
Career!Cluster"
Impact!your!program?!
Agriculture,"Food"&"Natural"Resources"
"
Architecture"&"Construction"
"
Arts,"A/V"Technology"&"Communications"
"
Business"Management"&"Administration"
"
Education"&"Training"
"
Finance"
"
Government"&"Public"Administration"
"
Health"Sciences"
"
Hospitality"&"Tourism"
"
Human"Services"
"
Information"Technology"
"
Law,"Public"Safety,"Corrections"&"Security"
"
Manufacturing"
"
Marketing,"Sales"&"Service"
"
Science,"Technology,"Engineering"&"Mathematics"
"
Transportation,"Distribution"&"Logistics"
"
"
"
14"
What&is&your&role&in&WECM?&
Anyone"that"has"a"connection"to"a"workforce"education"program"or"course"is"affected"by"
the"WECM"Project."However,"each"person"plays"a"different"role."Each"of"the"following"roles"
is"important"to"WECM"at"HCC."How"does"each"role"affect"WECM"at"HCC?"Which"role(s)"do"
you"play?"Answer"these"questions"below."
"
• Student"
•
Instructor"
•
Program"Level"Administrator"
•
Dean"Level"Administrator"
"
"
"
"
&Your&Role&Activity&–&Sign&up&for&the&THECB&Listserv&
Begin"your"involvement"by"signing"up"for"the"THECB"IP"Listserve."The"listserve"is"open"to"
anyone"with"a"Texas"community"or"technical"college"e=mail"address,"and"will"provide"e=
mail"updates"about"WECM"workshops,"course"changes,"and"any"other"WECM=related"
announcements."Signing"up"for"the"listserve"will"allow"you"to"receive"the"same"information"
directly"from"THECB"that"your"supervisor"and"the"HCC"administration"receives.""
"
Take"a"few"minutes"now"to"self=subscribe"to"the"listserv"using"the"link"below,"and"never"be"
left"out"of"the"WECM"information"loop"again!"
"
http://lists.state.tx.us/mailman/listinfo/iplist""
15"
&Your&Role&Activity&–&Visit&the&WECM&Comments&Webpage&
Have"you"ever"wondered"why"your"WECM"course"changed?"Or"felt"frustration"that"there"is"
not"a"CE"alternate"to"your"SCH"course?"
"
Get"the"answers"to"your"WECM"questions"directly"from"the"source!"All"of"these"questions,"
and"any"of"your"other"WECM"questions,"can"be"answered"if"you"visit"the"WECM"comments"
page."
"
Take"a"few"minutes"now"to"visit"the"WECM"Comments"using"the"link"below.""Use"the"
website"form"to"contact"the"WECM"Project""Director"and"sate=wide"Leadership"Committee"
members.""
"
Enter"an"e=mail"address"and"a"clear,"concise"professional"question"or"comment,"and"you"
should"receive"a"response"within"5=7"days."
"
http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/aar.undergraduateed/workforceed/wecm/"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
16"
Basics&Quick&Query&
1. What"does"the"acronym"WECM"mean?"
2. What"is"the"purpose"of"the"WECM?"
3. What"does"the"acronym"GIPWE"mean?"
4. What"is"the"purpose"of"the"GIPWE?"
5. How"are"the"WECM"and"the"GIPWE"related?"
6. About"how"many"courses"does"the"WECM"currently"provide?"
7. How"is"HCC"affected"by"the"GIPWE"and"the"WECM?"
"
17"
History&Quick&Query&
1. What"specific"difficulties"did"the"development"of"WECM"alleviate"for"community"and"
technical"colleges"in"Texas?"
"
"
2. Under"what"classification"system"did"the"WECM"standardize"the"funding"for"
courses?"
"
"
3. What"is"the"typical"minimum"contact"hours"that"will"be"funded"by"WECM?"
4. What"are"five"reasons"that"you"need"WECM?"
18"
Structure&Quick&Query&
1. Can"you"identify"the"function"of"each"of"the"following"groups"within"the"WECM"
Project:"
•
THECB"
•
WLC"
•
TACE"WECM"Committee"
•
WECM"Project"Staff"
•
Texas"Community"and"Technical"College"Faculty"
2. How"is"the"WECM"Project"funded,"and"on"what"basis?"
3. What"is"the"WECM"Protocol?"
4. Who"maintains"the"WECM"courses"and"by"what"means?"
19"
WECM&Quick&Query&
1. Can"you"name"the"ten"types"of"WECM"courses?"What"makes"each"unique?"
2. Can"you"name"five"components"of"a"WECM"course"record?"
3. True"or"False:"There"is"only"one"way"to"access"the"Texas"Workforce"Website"and"the"
WECM"search"site."
"
"
4. What"steps"would"you"take"to"access"the"Texas"Workforce"website?"The"WECM"
search"site?"Can"you"think"of"an"alternate"way"to"access"each?"
"
"
5. What"are"three"items"on"the"Texas"Workforce"site"that"relates"to"WECM?"How"do"
they"relate"and"what"is"their"importance?"
"
"
6. True"or"False:"The"WECM"search"site"only"allows"you"one"way"to"search"for"WECM"
courses."
"
"
7. Could"you"carry"out"a"WECM"search"on"your"own?"
"
20"
Special&Topics&Quick&Query&
1. What"are"your"options"if"you"cannot"find"a"WECM"course"to"meet"your"need?"
2. What"is"a"special"topics"course?"
3. What"is"a"local"need"course?"
4. How"do"you"request"a"special"topics"or"local"need"course"at"HCC?"
5. Why"should"special"topics"or"local"need"courses"be"well=written?"
6. What"makes"a"good"special"topics"or"local"need"course?"
7. What"is"the"difference"between"a"valid"and"an"invalid""
special"topics"or"local"need"course?"
"
"
21"
"
"
Workshops&Quick&Query&
1. What"are"the"5"types"of"WECM"Workshops"and"what"makes"each"different?"
2. What"is"the"primary"goal"of"a"WECM"Workshop?"
3. When"is"a"typical"Workshop"held?"
4. Can"you"name"the"main"Workshop"participants"and"explain"their"roles?"
5. What"tools"do"workshop"participants"use?"
6. What"major"updates"to"the"WECM"workshops"have"taken"place"since"it"was"created?"
7. How"do"these"updates"affect"the"WECM"Workshops?"
22"
Your&Role&Quick&Query&
1. How"is"HCC"affected"by"WECM?"
2. As"an"HCC"employee,"what"role"do"you"play"in"WECM?"
3. What"are"the"ways"you"can"become"involved"in"WECM"initially?"
4. What"leadership"opportunities"does"WECM"provide?"
5. Have"you"decided"to"become"more"involved"in"WECM?"
"
23"