What is in it for me?
The STEM Forward research pilot program will help you achieve a National Career Readiness Certificate and Digital Badging through the ACT WorkKeys process, which includes access to an online curriculum and assessment exams.
In addition, our fee-free program also provides stipends to allow you to learn about applied math, graphic literacy, and workplace documents at your own pace—anywhere using a world-class online tutorial. Bring the learning home through hands-on activities during the Pre-Engineering Project Lead The Way course. With cool activities that allow career exploration and college prep activities, you can make more of your experience.
The program includes enrichment activities, such as speaking with experts in the field, taking an all-expense-paid field trip to tour the historic grounds and up-to-date facilities of the WVSU campus, speaking with faculty and admissions representatives, or getting referrals to education services of your choice.
Again, join us to earn your WorkKeys National Career Readiness Certification (NCRC) and obtain Digital badges by taking the ACT online tutorials, hands-on activities, and an embedded math course to prepare for the ACT NCRC assessment. Don't forget you will also go on a field trip, receive stipends when you reach benchmarks, and celebrate your achievements at a graduation event.
Interested? Read on.
What is involved?
To gain a WorkKeys National Career Readiness Certification (NCRC) with the STEM Forward research pilot program (no fee, stipends provided), the attendant must fully participate in all components of the program:
Participate in an orientation, which includes a pre-survey.
Participate in the ACT WorkKeys Online Course Curriculum, including content, materials, and quizzes. This includes completing a placement quiz for each subject, reviewing the lesson, taking the practice questions, and taking the level quiz.
Participants will participate in in-person activities and an embedded math class.
Take the NRCR assessment, followed by a program survey.
Go on the WVSU tour, which includes lunch and a math grab bag.
Enjoy your success with a recognition ceremony in your honor.
What is the ACT Online Curriculum Course?
A little bit more information on the curriculum for the NCRC.
Program participants will get an ACT WorkKeys account to complete the coursework online in the ACT WorkKeys portal. If the participant does not have a laptop or other device, speak to the program contact. Students will begin with the online Applied Math curriculum, Graphic Literacy, and Workplace Documents. Depending on aptitude, students should expect to invest 20-40 hours online for each subject. The courses include a short tutorial, practice problems, section quizzes and unit test (which can be retaken to improve score). After completing all the online work and the teacher confirming at least 80% of hands-on activity class work has been completed, the program participant will be scheduled to take the assessment.
What is involved with the ACT NCRC Assessment?
The Applied Math assessment measures critical thinking, mathematical reasoning, and problem-solving techniques for situations in today’s workplace. While individuals may use calculators and conversion tables to help with the problems on the assessment, math skills are still needed to think them through.
Number of items: 34
Method of delivery: Online and Paper
Test length: 55 minutes
Time Commitment for Online Curriculum
Time Commitment for Lab Days
Time Commitment for Other Days
The NRCR exam is proctored on-site.
The Graphic Literacy assessment measures individuals' reading skills and comprehension of graphical materials to solve work-related problems. Workplace graphics come in a variety of formats, but all communicate a level of information. From charts to graphs, diagrams to floor plans, identifying what information is being presented and understanding how to use it are critical to success.
Number of items: 38
Test length: 55 minutes
Time Commitment for Online Curriculum
Time Commitment for Lab Days
Time Commitment for Other Days
The Workplace Documents assessment measures skills that individuals use when they read actual workplace documents and use that information to make job-related decisions and solve problems. The documents include messages, emails, letters, directions, signs, bulletins, policies, websites, contracts, and regulations.
Number of items: 35
Method of delivery: Online and Paper
Test length: 55 minutes
Time Commitment for Online Curriculum
Time Commitment for Lab Days
Time Commitment for Other Days
How can someone participate with the program?
To participate, a person must be
16 years of age or older enrolled in the ACT Engineering Math course.
Have access to wifi (if you do not, please advise us)
Fill out an application/registration, provide IRB consent, and agree to complete the program to the best of your ability. This includes affirming the time and ability to participate in the online course (up to 40 hours per subject or 10 hours per week).