Technology Foundations

Instructor:  Anita Parker, BS, BBA

The Technology Foundations class is not a program but an academic component of all programs at the Tennessee Technology Center at McMinnville. The Technology Foundations class is designed to provide the opportunity to acquire and master or upgrade basic skills, to improve performance, and to enhance the program the student has chosen to pursue. The class gives the student the opportunity to progress at his/her own speed in an individualized program. The class is designed to deal with all levels of education.

Upon the completion of their basic skills instruction, students may choose to continue upgrading their skills with intermediate and advanced math instruction. Optional modules on the KeyTrain/Career Ready 101 computerized program are also available. Finding Your Career is available to all students.  This optional instruction includes:  Creating Career Goals/Preparing for Your Career - Writing a Resume, Job Search Strategies, Applying for a job, and Interviewing Strategies. In addition, Career Skills, Applied Technology (mechanics, electricity, fluids, and thermodynamics), Business Writing, Teamwork, Observation, and Listening are available only upon request of the student or the instructor. 

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Students are admitted into the Technology Foundations class based upon criteria determined by the Tennessee Board of Regents and by Technology Foundations instructors statewide. At the time of enrollment, diploma seeking full-time and part-time students are given a computer-based test using the KeyTrain/Career Ready 101 assessment in Locating Information, Reading for Information, and Applied Mathematics.  After the KeyTrain/Career Ready 101 placement tests and evaluation of the reports are completed, students who test above their program requirements are exempt from the basic skills portion of the Technology Foundations class.

Students who have scored less than program requirements in Locating Information, Reading for Information, and Applied Mathematics are enrolled in the Technology Foundations class for approximately 4 hours per week. The typical student will complete the KeyTrain/Career Ready 101 skills within the first 4 months of enrollment.  Individualized instruction as well as computerized instruction is given until the student has mastered the required KeyTrain/Career Ready 101 levels. Each individualized instructional program is designed to correct basic educational deficiencies, to improve the performance levels, and to enhance the program the student has chosen to pursue.

COMPLETION REQUIREMENTS

When the student has met TBR and instructor requirements for Reading for Information, Applied Mathematics, and Locating Information, the student no longer is required to attend the Technology Foundations class.  Instructors and Student Services are informed of the completion status.

Students who finish the basic skills requirements have the option of taking the NCRC—WorkKeys National Career Readiness Test.  The charge is $19.25 for all three tests listed above.  The Certificate is good for 5 years.

If you have questions about KeyTrain/Career Ready 101 and the ACT/WorkKeys NCRC, please go to the following websites for more information:

          http://www.tennessee.gov/labor-wfd/et_services_crc.html

          http://www.keytrain.com/

          http://www.act.org/workkeys/index.html