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KeyTrain is an online program designed to help students prepare for the WorkKeys portion of the ACT test. There is a per-student charge for the program, which is paid for by our local Regional Educational Service Agency (RESA). KeyTrain focuses on several areas that students will be tested on during the Michigan Merit Exam (MME).
These areas include but are not limited to:
Reading for Information
Applied Mathematics
Locating Information
Introduction to Applied Technology
Applied Technology - Electricity
Applied Technology - Fluid Dynamics
Applied Technology - Mechanics
Applied Technology - Thermodynamics
Business Writing
Listening
Observation
Teamwork
Writing
Beginning Language
Beginning Mathematics
We focus on Applied Mathematics first and then Reading for Information and Locating Information. Not only are we better preparing or students for the work force we are including more math in the program which allows us to qualify for the Forth Year Contextual Math Credit under the MMC.
After three years of using KeyTrain with my vocational students, I am quite happy with the program. There is, however, one problem that falls more into the operation or interface area than into the actual subject matter.
In the Reading for Information section students are asked to identify specific information in a sentence or paragraph. During the practice portion they can click as much as they want until they find the correct answer. I have had several students who would rather click every word in a longer paragraph than actually read the paragraph and answer the question. This means they can complete an entire section, up to the quiz, without becoming any better prepared for the test. In my opinion this could be rectified by changing the method of selecting an answer from click until right to type the word into an answer box and then check it.
We have a class that is divided among three teachers to go over skills needed for the ACT/MME. One teaches science; one teaches math; the other has to do the language arts, reading, and writing. Each teacher is given 4 weeks with a group of students, and then the students are rotated into a different area until they have been with all three teachers. The English teacher has trouble working everything in! I wish the district would pay for us to use the KeyTrain program. I think it would be helpful to use after the students have some reading and writing techniques under their belts.
ReplyDeleteYour idea about user interaction in RI is interesting. Send that to us (KeyTrain) in an email to support at keytrain dot com. Our developers are always open to good ideas from users. FYI...I am the KeyTrain guy for MI...also on twitter as KeyTrain_Guy.
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