21st Century Learning - 21st Century Learning Project Plan

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES FOR 21ST CENTURY CITIZENSHIP
Project Implementation Plan

THE MEANING OF A FOOTHILL DEGEREE OR CERTIFICATE
IN THE 21ST CENTURY

Foothill College is currently engaged in a discussion related to the meaning of an Associate Degree and what knowledge, skills, and abilities graduates should have to succeed in the 21st Century. The College Curriculum Committee began the discussion in the Winter of 2000. A college opening day activity on SCANS Competencies in September 2000 followed this. In the Fall of 2000 Foothill became part of the League for Innovations 21st Century Learning Outcomes Project which is focused on these same issues. The goal of these activities is to bring about necessary curriculum transformations to ensure that all students are truly prepared for the societal, technical, and workforce changes predicted to occur in the near future. To accomplish this goal, Foothill is looking to insure that an appropriate mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA) competencies are taught in approved degree, certificate, and transfer programs. Students need a balanced exposure to the discipline specific technical skills as well as core competencies such as communication, computation, community skills, ability to think, personal/interpersonal skills and technology skills.

Foothill will utilize existing participatory governance structures and other appropriate committees. These include the Division Curriculum Committees and College Curriculum Committee (CCC), General Education Review Committee (GE Review), Institutional Planning Committee (IPC), Academic Senate, College Roundtable, Deans Council, and Associated Students of Foothill College (ASFC). Program Advisory Boards, Joint Venture Silicon Valley, Workforce Silicon Valley, Regional Articulation Council and other appropriate community groups will also provide critical information as to the expectations of business and transfer universities.

Assessment measures for this project would be very difficult for any one institution to undertake. Foothill's participation in the Pew funded 21st Century Learning Project will allow for a dynamic interaction and shared best practices with other participating community colleges from across the nation. To the extent practical, Foothill will combine KSA outcome assessment with the research required in the State’s Partnership for Excellence measures on Student Success. This project will be conducted over three years and divided into phases. These are:

Year One
Activity Focus: Define and Develop – KSA Standards
The first phase will focus on defining the knowledge, skills, and abilities students will possess after earning an associate degree from Foothill. To frame the conversation, materials from Foothill's General Education Handbook, Mission Statement, and Master Plan will be combined with information from the League for Innovation 21st Century Learning Outcomes Project, Joint Venture Silicon Valley adaptation of SCANS core competencies, and best practice case studies found at other institutions of higher education.

Preliminary work by Foothill's Learning Outcomes Steering Committee indicates a close alignment between existing GE requirement, the League's defined eight core skills, and the SCANS standards already under discussion.

All College
Primary Responsibility: College Curriculum Committee and General Education Review Committee, working with the Academic Senate, President's Roundtable, GE Review Committee, Deans Council, and other appropriate participatory governance committees.

By December 2001:
Conduct a winter quarter retreat, College Hour forum, and related staff development workshops to:

Define and reach consensus on core KSA competencies and related desired behaviors for students earning an associate degree.
- Develop curriculum standards for course outlines linking KSA-expected outcomes, content, and method of evaluation.
- Coordinate with the academic division committees on the required revisions to course outlines.
- Review and approve courses meeting the KSA standards on the GE requirement list to ensure all areas are covered.
- Rewrite the degree requirements for the 2002 college catalog.
- Explore multiple methods for outcomes assessment related to student success (course completion, degrees and certificates awarded, and advancement in basic skills) as stated in the Educational Master Plan and Partnership for Excellence goals.
- Review assessment activities from other institutions in the 21st Century Learning Outcomes project for adoption at Foothill.
Workforce Development Programs
Primary Responsibility: Workforce Education Advisory Group, program advisory boards, and division curriculum committees.

By December 2001:
- Participate in the development of KSA standards for the GE requirements for college and degrees or certificates.
- Develop program-appropriate learning outcomes, level of performance, indices of student work for each level, and assessments to measure achievement appropriate to workforce development programs.
- Launch Computer Technology Information Systems Division pilot program to implement curriculum reforms around the KSA standards and explore multiple methods for outcomes assessment related to workforce development as stated in the Educational Master Plan and Partnership for Excellence goals.
Transfer Programs
Primary Responsibility: College Curriculum Committee, GE Review Committee, and academic divisions.
By December 2001:
- Establish KSA standards and related behaviors for all college degrees.
- Adopt curriculum KSA standards for all college degrees.
- Launch Language Arts Division pilot program to implement curriculum reforms around the KSA standards and explore multiple measures for achieving standards related to transfer, as stated in the Educational Master Plan and Partnership for Excellence goals.

Year Two
Activity Focus: Implementation & Assessment
Activities this year will focus on extension to the entire campus the KSA curriculum standards developed and tested in year one. Assessment of student learning will be expanded utilizing the research method findings of year one. Modification of multiple measures will be developed as needed.

Primary Responsibility: College Curriculum Committee, GE Review Committee, Division Curriculum Committees, Staff Development, and the Institutional Planning Committee.
By December 2002:

As part of the State-mandated Title 5 curriculum review and update, all divisions will be required to include discipline-appropriate KSA standards in the expected outcomes and be linked to content, method, and evaluation. Courses approved to meet Foothill’s GE requirement will be reviewed to ensure that all of the KSA standards are included. Courses not complying with the KSA requirement will be deleted from the approved list of courses until they are brought into compliance.
Staff development workshops will be presented to assist full- and part-time faculty adjust instructional method, content, activities, and method of evaluation to ensure KSA standards are being presented.
Review implementation strategies and best practices from other 21st Century Learning Outcome project colleges for adaptation at Foothill.
Assessment of student achievement will be expanded to the entire campus utilizing those measures tested in year one. Measures will be implemented that are proven to be meaningful and can be completed with the resources available in the district.

Year Three
Activity Focus: Documentation and Dissemination
Based on data collected in the multiple measures of student achievement research, Foothill will document its performance in the areas of student success. These measures will include changes in the rate of:

course completion
degrees & certificates granted
advancement in basic skills courses
workforce development standards including student and employer satisfaction surveys
student self-assessment

The findings of this research will be shared with the Research and Planning Group within California as all of the community college system is searching for appropriate and meaningful measure as part of the Partnership for Excellence funding program.

Foothill will participate in the League's discussion of documentation beyond traditional grades, credits, and degrees. Such activities might include an electronic variation of transcripts, portfolios, and other means of recording learning outcomes. Smartcard technology may be a possible model for this activity.

Dissemination of the findings of this project will occur through traditional and Web-based publication, conference presentations, and college self-evaluation for the 2005 accreditation self-study.



21st Century Learning Home Project Plan Membership Roster Worksheet Meeting Minutes Annual Meeting Core Competencies Program Matrix How to Program Matrix Form Course Matrix How to Course Matrix Form		KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES FOR 21ST CENTURY CITIZENSHIP Project Implementation Plan THE MEANING OF A FOOTHILL DEGEREE OR CERTIFICATE IN THE 21ST CENTURY Foothill College is currently engaged in a discussion related to the meaning of an Associate Degree and what knowledge, skills, and abilities graduates should have to succeed in the 21st Century. The College Curriculum Committee began the discussion in the Winter of 2000. A college opening day activity on SCANS Competencies in September 2000 followed this. In the Fall of 2000 Foothill became part of the League for Innovations 21st Century Learning Outcomes Project which is focused on these same issues. The goal of these activities is to bring about necessary curriculum transformations to ensure that all students are truly prepared for the societal, technical, and workforce changes predicted to occur in the near future. To accomplish this goal, Foothill is looking to insure that an appropriate mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA) competencies are taught in approved degree, certificate, and transfer programs. Students need a balanced exposure to the discipline specific technical skills as well as core competencies such as communication, computation, community skills, ability to think, personal/interpersonal skills and technology skills. Foothill will utilize existing participatory governance structures and other appropriate committees. These include the Division Curriculum Committees and College Curriculum Committee (CCC), General Education Review Committee (GE Review), Institutional Planning Committee (IPC), Academic Senate, College Roundtable, Deans Council, and Associated Students of Foothill College (ASFC). Program Advisory Boards, Joint Venture Silicon Valley, Workforce Silicon Valley, Regional Articulation Council and other appropriate community groups will also provide critical information as to the expectations of business and transfer universities. Assessment measures for this project would be very difficult for any one institution to undertake. Foothill's participation in the Pew funded 21st Century Learning Project will allow for a dynamic interaction and shared best practices with other participating community colleges from across the nation. To the extent practical, Foothill will combine KSA outcome assessment with the research required in the State’s Partnership for Excellence measures on Student Success. This project will be conducted over three years and divided into phases. These are: Year One Activity Focus: Define and Develop – KSA Standards The first phase will focus on defining the knowledge, skills, and abilities students will possess after earning an associate degree from Foothill. To frame the conversation, materials from Foothill's General Education Handbook, Mission Statement, and Master Plan will be combined with information from the League for Innovation 21st Century Learning Outcomes Project, Joint Venture Silicon Valley adaptation of SCANS core competencies, and best practice case studies found at other institutions of higher education. Preliminary work by Foothill's Learning Outcomes Steering Committee indicates a close alignment between existing GE requirement, the League's defined eight core skills, and the SCANS standards already under discussion. All College Primary Responsibility: College Curriculum Committee and General Education Review Committee, working with the Academic Senate, President's Roundtable, GE Review Committee, Deans Council, and other appropriate participatory governance committees. By December 2001: Conduct a winter quarter retreat, College Hour forum, and related staff development workshops to: Define and reach consensus on core KSA competencies and related desired behaviors for students earning an associate degree. Develop curriculum standards for course outlines linking KSA-expected outcomes, content, and method of evaluation. Coordinate with the academic division committees on the required revisions to course outlines. Review and approve courses meeting the KSA standards on the GE requirement list to ensure all areas are covered. Rewrite the degree requirements for the 2002 college catalog. Explore multiple methods for outcomes assessment related to student success (course completion, degrees and certificates awarded, and advancement in basic skills) as stated in the Educational Master Plan and Partnership for Excellence goals. Review assessment activities from other institutions in the 21st Century Learning Outcomes project for adoption at Foothill. Workforce Development Programs Primary Responsibility: Workforce Education Advisory Group, program advisory boards, and division curriculum committees. By December 2001: Participate in the development of KSA standards for the GE requirements for college and degrees or certificates. Develop program-appropriate learning outcomes, level of performance, indices of student work for each level, and assessments to measure achievement appropriate to workforce development programs. Launch Computer Technology Information Systems Division pilot program to implement curriculum reforms around the KSA standards and explore multiple methods for outcomes assessment related to workforce development as stated in the Educational Master Plan and Partnership for Excellence goals. Transfer Programs Primary Responsibility: College Curriculum Committee, GE Review Committee, and academic divisions. By December 2001: Establish KSA standards and related behaviors for all college degrees. Adopt curriculum KSA standards for all college degrees. Launch Language Arts Division pilot program to implement curriculum reforms around the KSA standards and explore multiple measures for achieving standards related to transfer, as stated in the Educational Master Plan and Partnership for Excellence goals. Year Two Activity Focus: Implementation & Assessment Activities this year will focus on extension to the entire campus the KSA curriculum standards developed and tested in year one. Assessment of student learning will be expanded utilizing the research method findings of year one. Modification of multiple measures will be developed as needed. Primary Responsibility: College Curriculum Committee, GE Review Committee, Division Curriculum Committees, Staff Development, and the Institutional Planning Committee. By December 2002: As part of the State-mandated Title 5 curriculum review and update, all divisions will be required to include discipline-appropriate KSA standards in the expected outcomes and be linked to content, method, and evaluation. Courses approved to meet Foothill’s GE requirement will be reviewed to ensure that all of the KSA standards are included. Courses not complying with the KSA requirement will be deleted from the approved list of courses until they are brought into compliance. Staff development workshops will be presented to assist full- and part-time faculty adjust instructional method, content, activities, and method of evaluation to ensure KSA standards are being presented. Review implementation strategies and best practices from other 21st Century Learning Outcome project colleges for adaptation at Foothill. Assessment of student achievement will be expanded to the entire campus utilizing those measures tested in year one. Measures will be implemented that are proven to be meaningful and can be completed with the resources available in the district. Year Three Activity Focus: Documentation and Dissemination Based on data collected in the multiple measures of student achievement research, Foothill will document its performance in the areas of student success. These measures will include changes in the rate of: course completion degrees & certificates granted advancement in basic skills courses workforce development standards including student and employer satisfaction surveys student self-assessment The findings of this research will be shared with the Research and Planning Group within California as all of the community college system is searching for appropriate and meaningful measure as part of the Partnership for Excellence funding program. Foothill will participate in the League's discussion of documentation beyond traditional grades, credits, and degrees. Such activities might include an electronic variation of transcripts, portfolios, and other means of recording learning outcomes. Smartcard technology may be a possible model for this activity. Dissemination of the findings of this project will occur through traditional and Web-based publication, conference presentations, and college self-evaluation for the 2005 accreditation self-study.
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