Using Assessments and Badges

What are the Badges

GPEAK has developed a series of badges that identify successful completion of a skill and/or of the GPEAK programming. They are used to help incentivize participants to learn through the different skills and develop themselves for the future. We support a variety of methods for integrating the badges.

The Pre and Post Assessments

To use the pre and post assessments you can do one of a few things. If you are a certified badging group, GPEAK will set up your assessments and your information. Please reach out to gpeak@icc.edu for more information!

If you are interested in using the pre and post assessments locally and aren't looking to use them for badging (they are excellent conversation points), you are able to download the assessments into a google drive.

Click on the link for the assessments (be sure you are using a window that is signed into a google account!)
- Pre assessment
- Post assessment
Select Make a Copy and open the sheet
Click Tools at the top banner of the sheet that opens
Select Manage Form > Edit Form
- That will lead you to a personal copy of the pre and post assessment to use with your learners in your space.

The GPEAK system supports the following integration models:

As a professional development opportunity

- The GPEAK curricular resources can be used on their own to facilitate individual and group activities to engage in the essential employability competencies
- This can be a helpful integration model that is embedded in a variety of courses and programs but especially those that are preparing individuals for an opportunity such as an internship, apprenticeship, or entry-level employment.

As a skills assessment

- GPEAK can be used as a tool-based observational assessment of an individual’s performance in experiential learning such as internships and apprenticeships.
- Individuals can take the GPEAK pre-assessment at the start of an experience to reflect on the essential skills they feel they are demonstrating or leading on, and those that they feel they are still learning to focus on developing as a part of the experience. They can then take the GPEAK post-assessment to reflect on how they have grown and include evidence to show how they have demonstrated that essential skill.
- Integrating the GPEAK assessments should be used primarily as a feedback tool and development strategy and not as the sole basis for a grade or credit determination. Depending on the length of the experience, it may only be appropriate to do one GPEAK assessment. If the length of the experience allows (for example, a full semester), it is beneficial to have a baseline, middle, and final assessment to evaluate participant’s growth over time.
- Both the individual participant and their mentor(s) can complete the GPEAK assessments to support collaborative conversations focused on constructive feedback. One of the most valuable aspects of assessing an experiential learning opportunity is the ability for a participant to receive feedback and have a discussion with their mentor(s).

As a badging and certification program

- A participant can earn up to 10 GPEAK Competency Badges by attaining Demonstrating or Leading scores on at least 4 out of 5 of the performance indicators within each of the 10 Essential Employability Competencies.
- Participants demonstrate this by submitting reflections and evidence through the GPEAK post-assessment that can be validated by the staff coordinating the badging program.
- The currency for the badge and what it means for learners is a local decision.

Ways to Achieve the Badges

Contact GPEAK@icc.edu to discuss ways to distribute badges at your site.
Digital badges and certificates are automatically available for sites that use the standard GPEAK assessment tool in Qualtrics. The process is managed by Illinois Central College.
If you are a site that is creating a copy of the GPEAK Assessment tool and managing your own validation process, GPEAK certificates can be made available to your site.

GPEAK In Action!

Rockford Public Schools

Rockford Public Schools (RPS) has integrated GPEAK into their Work Study Program, newly launched in the 2023–2024 school year. Students who have a part-time job outside of the school day can earn digital badges once they have demonstrated an essential skill based on feedback from their manager. As part of the initiative, RPS has hired and trained job coaches, who meet 1-2 times a month with each student’s manager to understand the student’s performance and where additional training or support may be needed. Job coaches also meet with students, providing them with tactics to develop their skills and ensure they’re able to succeed in their current jobs as well as in their future careers. RPS has received feedback that managers are having collaborative conversations with their students they weren’t having before, and students have shared that they feel more comfortable discussing their work with a manager.

Career Launch Chicago

Career Launch Chicago is utilizing GPEAK for professional development for 12th grade students participating in youth apprenticeships at companies across Chicago. These ongoing conversations provide a space for youth apprentices to reflect on how the essential skills are showing up in the workplace and to engage in conversations on both celebrating their successes and how to improve their performance.

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