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Show Computers Aid Education Uy TOM BUSSELBERG KAYSVILLE - Computers won't run themselves, but you combine counselors, teachers and secretarial staff at the Davis Area Vocational Center, and they can piece together a current, ongoing student record that helps the pupil--and everyone concerned-reach his goal, ALTHOUGH some fine tuning is still needed, the student information informa-tion system provides quick access to a fairly complete statistical record re-cord outlining everything from the mundance, but necessary, such as attendance record, to time needed for completion of various "modules" "mod-ules" or portions of coursework. explains Center Director Jack Shell. Attendance information can weigh heavily in a student's progress, prog-ress, however, with an 85 percent in class record necessary, he says, noting that's kept daily and can be forwarded to secondary school vocational coordinators on a weekly week-ly basis and used in monthly reviews re-views for both secondary and adult students. COUNSELOR Gary Baldwin, for one. is enthusiastic about the program even if it's forcing him to "bone up" on computer skills. The data drawn from the computer can be invaluable in the monthly progress prog-ress sessions involving sponsors, whether they be parents or government govern-ment agency representatives, such as for vocational work rehabilitation. rehabilita-tion. Noting "very supportive" feelings feel-ings from the vocational center board as they endorsed the program, prog-ram, last week, Mr. Shell noted further refinement on software aspects under way by Larry Brice, student services director, who's initiated in-itiated the program. DURING THE review, students can visually see their attendance record and may be prodded by achieving a better record there. The length of time it took to complete com-plete a program phase is noted, such as in word processing, comparing com-paring their time with a standard length. And perhaps even more important, im-portant, Mr. Baldwin said, is the chance for teachers to input comments, com-ments, wheyher they indicate a problem or praise. Those monthly sessions, also including in-cluding the instructor, are used as a yardstick to determine if a student is ready to seek a job, Mr. Baldwin said further, noting students with two different goals attend the center: cen-ter: those wishing to "sharpen" skills, primarily, vs. others who are seeking a particular certificate. AFTER A student leaves the center, he's "tracked" through the new student information system, where the new job is listed, wage, hours worked and other data. It complements the existing program where course completers are followed. fol-lowed. Currently, those, dropping up before finishing-such as those only wanting to "sharpen" skills, aren't followed. Even so, though, Mr. Shell proudly points to an 89 percent job placement rate. In other center-related activities reviewed by the board, an audit of financial records for the 1984 fiscal year ended June 30 showed the DAVC "in the black" to the tune of about $11,000, although they would've been higher if a $40,000 equipment appropriation hadn't been previously approved, Mr. Shell said. The Brigham City firm of Davis and Bott completed the audit, their first year on the project, pro-ject, and were "very complimentary," complimen-tary," he added. THE DIRECTOR also outlined major goals for the administrative staff, for formal implementation of the teacher career ladder program to a similar incentive plan for other staffers. Developing a system to work with business and industry in identifying job needs along the Wasatch Front is also of high priority prior-ity while improving public awareness aware-ness is also noted along with the on-going need for more facilities. The present construction project, pro-ject, covering about 34,000 square feet, is about at the "midway point," Mr. Shell indicated, or ab out 15 percent behind schedule, brought on by bad weather earlier this year. "IF BAD weather holds off for 1 Vi months," he said further, com-peltion com-peltion should be reached by the March 28 deadline, although the work site still is not under cover, as had been anticipated. In other action, reorganization of the center's member citizens advisory council is continuing, and will further include changes in the various craft committees where experts ex-perts from various fields critique center programs. One of their goals will aim at pushing center programs prog-rams to "state of the art" levels, he added. |