Northstar Digital Literacy Assessments
Anoka-Hennepin Adventures Plus School Aged Child Care
For the first time ever, Metro North ABE offered a program that was specially tailored to the needs of the Anoka-Hennepin Adventures Plus program. Metro North ABE partnered with the Anoka-Hennepin Adventures Plus School Aged Child Care program to offer preparatory classes and a paid internship.
During the pilot program from January 2- March 9, 2018, a co-hort of Metro North ABE students focused on workplace skills and expectations, child care vocabulary and activities, along with basic first aid and specialized inclusion training. Students also participated in a 7 week onsite, paid internship which required working from 6:30 AM- 9:30 AM, Monday- Thursday, with optional afternoon sessions. Five local elementary schools opened their doors to the interns and provided outstanding mentoring and leadership. Throughout the experience the ABE teacher had onsite visits and held class every Friday as a way to check-in and provide support.
The pilot concluded with updating resumes, school district interviews, and a celebration. All learners who completed the entire pilot program were successfully able to secure regular employment with Anoka- Hennepin ISD 11.
Metro North ABE ensures all students have ample opportunity to build and strengthen their digital literacy skills.
Today’ s professional needs computer skills from the start of, to, active employment. The Northstar Digital Literacy Project identifies basic skills that are necessary to perform tasks on computers and online. The performance of these tasks can be assessed through the following online modules.
• Basic Computer Use
• Internet
• Windows Operating System
• Mac Operating System
• Email
• Microsoft Word
• Social Media
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Information Literacy
Northstar is an assessment, not a curriculum. ABE programs can provide the curriculum for these modules as well as proctor the assessments. When adult learners pass the assessments at approved sites, they can earn Northstar Digital Literacy Certificates in any of the module areas.
These certificates can be used as a credential for employment. There is no cost to complete the online assessments and many ABE programs across the state of Minnesota incorporate Northstar Digital Literacy practice, preparation and assessment into their standard classes.
The Northstar Digital Literacy Project also has developed standards for each of the module areas. The standards have been adopted as statewide digital literacy standards by Minnesota Adult Basic Education, and they have been integrated into the new Minnesota Adult Diploma.
For more information on the Northstar Digital Literacy Project, you can visit their site at: https:// www. digitalliteracyassessment. org / employers
Metro North Adult Basic Education | Ph: 763-433-4200 | www. MetroNorthABE. org March 2018 7