bksbLIVE Start-up Guide

© 2012 Vision West Notts

Version 1.0.5

bksb PROCESSThe bksb process for English and mathematics

1.Initial Assessment

Identifies learner’s general working level.

(Pre-entry to Level 3)

2.Diagnostic Assessment

Identifies specific gaps in the learner’s skills, generating an ILP.

3.Learning Resources

Interactive, paper-based and vocational. To developskills and provide motivation.

4.Skill Check

Interactive summative assessments to confirm

learner competence.

5.Functional Skills

ScenariosTesting problem solving

skills in a variety of contexts.

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bksb PROCESS Step 1 - Initial Assessment

The bksb Initial Assessment identifies the learner’s general working level in English and mathematics, from Pre-entry to Level 3. It is mapped to the Adult Core curriculum and also tracks functional skills standards.

We suggest you allow approximately 20 minutes for each assessment. However, this is only a guideline. We feel it is important that the learner takes whatever time is necessary, rather than rushing and guessing, thus producing an invalid result.

Free Writing Exercise

In order to obtain a broader assessment of English skills, we recommend that a learner undertakes a piece of free writing. Assessment guidelines and a marking grid are provided for quick marking. There are also suggested titles for a free writing exercise. However, any piece of writing can be assessed using the grid.

Step 2 - Diagnostic Assessment and ILP

The bksb Diagnostic Assessment identifies the strengths and skill gaps of individual learners and provides development in bite-sized chunks. The diagnostic automatically saves after every ques-tion. This enables the assessment to be completed in stages, if required.

To produce a valid result, we feel it is important that the learner does not feel under a time pressure. However, as a general indication, we suggest you allow approximately one hour for each of the diagnostic assessments.

The bksb Interactive Diagnostic Assessments are available from Entry Level 2, right through to Level 3 in English and mathematics. Entry Level 1 diagnostics for English and maths are also avail-able as a paper-based version. To comply with best practice, the appropriate level diagnostic for a learner to take should be identified by the bksb Interactive Initial Assessment.

The ‘Printable page’ version of the ILP produced by the diagnostic assessment has space for target-setting and monitoring by the tutor for each skill gap and tutor and learner signatures for programmes where learner agreements are required.

The interactive ILP provides links for instant access to the bksb learning resources (see screen shot on page 3).

Step 3 – Interactive/PDF/Vocational Learning Resources

Interactive learning resources providing information, examples and self-marking exercises are available at Entry 2 - Level 3. At all other levels, learners may access the resources as a PDF document. Vocational learning resources are also available.

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Individual Learning Plan (ILP)

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Step 4 – Skill Checks

The bksb Skill Checks are an interactive assessment tool for confirming competency of individual topic areas in the English and mathematics curriculum.

Available from Entry Level 3 to Level 3, they are best utilised as a summative test after the learner has worked through the learning resources. Rigour is provided by the concentration of questioning on one particular topic and the high pass mark required - 75%. Skill Checks can reduce the volume of assessment by the tutor and so release time for additional learning support, where needed.

Step 5 – Functional Skills Scenarios

Functional Skills Scenarios in English, maths and ICT are the final step of the process. They are available on an easy to install CD and cover a variety of contexts suitable for both adults and the key 14-19 age group. They are available from Entry 2 to Level 2.

ICT Initial Assessment and Resources

The bksb ICT Initial Assessment identifies the general working level of an individual learner in the wide range of applications required for functional skills, e.g. word processing, spreadsheets etc. The learners should commence by fully developing their skills at the identified level via the link to the learning resources (available in Office 2003, 2007 and 2010) and then start working on skills at the next higher level.

The assessment is fully interactive and self-marking and identifies one of the following 4 levels for each application: Below Entry 3, Entry 3, Level 1 or Level 2. We suggest you allow approximately 30 minutes for the assessment. However, this is only a guideline.

bksb PROCESS

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TUTORS

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bksbLIVE

Access

Setting up a Learner

Step 1 : Access

TUTORS

Your reference is your college username. Your default password is set as ‘password’ in lowercase.

FIG: A

2. The tutor has access to add learn-ers/groups and track results etc. This access is not available in the learner’s portal.

Note: A tutor also has their own learner portal as their home page in order to directly access the interactive assessments. for personal development etc.

FIG: B

1. When first logging in as a tutor (and learner), the system will prompt you to change your default password. Changing the default password is just for security and will not need to be repeated after your first login.

TUTORS

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bksbLIVE User Guide

Step 2 : Setting up a Learner

1. Select the ‘Tutor’ access from your menu tab at the top right of the screen.

FIG: C

2. You will now see the tutor screen with the tabs along the top. Select the ‘Add Learner’ tab.

FIG: D

FIG: E

3. You can now add in your learner’s details. USERNAME: This is generated by your organisation or you, and must be unique to that learner (i.e. Student Reference No).

PASSWORD: This can simply be set to ‘password’ as the learners will be prompted to change this when they first log in.

DOB: If you have the learner’s details, you can enter their date of birth (or today’s date).

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bksbLIVE Start-up Guide

TUTORS

4. Please then use the scroll bar on the right hand side to scroll to the bottom and select ‘next’.

FIG: F

FIG: G

FIG H

5. From here, you can allocate which courses (from the left hand panel) that you would like this particular learner to do. Note: The options on the left will be restricted to what you have purchased (or are piloting) as an organisation. Click on the green symbol next to the course(s) you would like that learner to complete and they will appear on the right hand side. Please select all courses required for that learner.

(Note: ‘English’ is the full English process of Initial and Diagnostic Assessments, Learning Resources and Skill Checks. The same applies for maths.)

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6. You can now see all the courses for that learner which you have selected appear in the right-hand panel.

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8. Nothing needs adding to this screen. Please click on the ‘done’ button at the bottom right of the screen.

FIG: J

9. Your learner has now been created. Click on ‘Ok’ and you will automatically return to the ‘Add learner’ screen at FIG E.

7. Now scroll down and click on the ‘next’ button at the bottom right of the screen.

FIG: I

10. You can now repeat this process again (to add more learners) or navigate away by clicking on the ‘Home’ tab at the top left of the screen.

To exit to login screen (for either Tutors or Learners (at FIG A), please select the menu from the top right of your screen (as per FIG B) and select ‘Exit bksb’ – the bottom option on the list. This will return you to the login page.

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bksbLIVE Start-up Guide

TUTORS

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bksbLIVE

Tracking, Monitoring and Administration

Adding Learners to Groups

Group Management

TUTORS FIG: Z

FIG: Aa

1. We can see in FIG Z, that this learner has advanced some way through the bksb system.

Under each of their courses, the learner is at various stages of completion and the system is prompting them what they need to do next under “my subjects”

The learner’s achievements, (what they have completed to date), can be found in the ‘My Achievements’ section in the middle of the screen. This can be print-ed at any time to show that learner’s progress. However, as a tutor, you can also track and monitor the progress of a single learner, a class and also the re-sults of all learners (expanded below).

1. To create a group (or groups), please log into the tutor section of your pro-file, as explained earlier at FIGs C and D.

2. Now select the ‘Add Group’ tab at the top of the page and you will be presented with the screen at FIG Aa (left).

Step 4 : Tracking, Monitoring and Administration

1) Creating Groups

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3. You can now create a group and add the data in as required.

FIG: Ab

You can make this a group private (so it cannot be accessed by other tutors).

4. When you have finished, click on the ‘next’ button.

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bksbLIVE Start-up Guide

Description of the Class/Group

Your Group Name

You can add the group to your ‘own groups’.

TUTORS FIG: Ac

FIG: Ad

5. By searching under ‘user ID’, ‘First Name’ or ‘Last Name’, you can find the learners that you would like to add into your group (or class). All matching learners from your search will appear at the bottom of your screen.

8. Your group has now been created (see FIG Ad). Your screen willreturn automatically to the ‘Create Group’ section again (at FIG Aa). You can then add another group or navigate away if you have finished adding groups.

2) Adding Learners to Groups

6. By selecting the green symbol next to the learner’s name, you will add them to your group. They will appear in the ‘Group Members’ section at the top of the screen as shown in FIG Ac.

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7. Click on ‘done’ once you have added all the learners to the group as required.

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1. To access reports for individual learners or groups, select the tutor tabs at the top of the page (as per FIGs C, D and Aa) then select the ‘My Groups’ tab.

FIG: Ae

3) Group Management

2. Select which group you would like the report for and click on the ‘Group Options’ to the right of the group name.

3. This will reveal a drop down list of options available for that group, including assessment summaries and reports. You can also access individual learner profiles by selecting ‘View Students’.

FIG: Af

FIG: Ag

FIG: Ah

4. You will now see the learners in your group. You can access their profile by clicking on ‘view learner’, here.

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bksbLIVE Start-up Guide

TUTORS

5. By clicking on the ‘Subjects’ tab, you can view the learner’s ‘Course Progress’ here.

FIG: Ai

User Details can be amended in this area.

4) Reporting and Tracking

1. From the tutor tabs at the top of the page (as per FIGs C, D, Aa and Ag), you can now select the ‘Reports’ tab.

FIG: Aj

2. Select the report you require from the subjects you are running with the learners. Selecting the ‘detailed’ report option for each assessment/subject is recommended. Please click on ‘run report’.

3. You will now be asked to select which group you would like to run the report for. Please select the group(s) required from the menu on the right.

FIG: Ak

4. Select the required group(s) and click ‘run’.

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5. You now have the full tracking system for your group of learners at FIG Al. All data in tracking grids is generated automatically at the end of assessments.

FIG: Al

3) Group Management

The numbers relate to the topics in the Diagnostic level.

IA = Initial Assessment Result

N = Not taken this level diagnostic.

Identified learning gap from the diagnostic (page 16 for details) – not yet completed (not accessed learning resource or Skill Check). This can be overidden by tutors by clicking the icon (if required).

Identified learning gap from the diagnostic which has been completed (learning resource and Skill Check). This can be overidden by tutors by clicking the icon (if required).

6. This data can be exported to an Excel spreadsheet.

FIG: Am

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bksbLIVE Start-up Guide

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