PROJECT ASPARAGUS: I-BEST IN ACTION
The State of Washington developed the Integrated Basic Education & Skills Training
(I-BEST) program in 2004. Within 10 years, all Washington community colleges offer
I-BEST which has 170 state-approved programs. I-BEST creates higher literacy, stronger
skills, and greater prosperity for its students by pairing two instructors and
contextualized teaching. I-BEST challenges the traditional notion that students must
complete all basic education before they can start a job-training program.
There are different ways of implementing the I-BEST program:
Community and Technical
College Degrees and Certificates
Professional Technical I-BEST Expansion
Combines math & English instruction needed for
students to continue training toward a 2-year
degree.
Academic I-BEST
Geared toward ABE & pre-college students
to transition quickly into a 2-year AA degree
Professional Technical I-BEST (Traditional)
Geared toward ABE and pre-college students, this
program provides job-training certificates that lead
directly to jobs or to further career training
On-Ramp to I-BEST Pilots
On-Ramp pilot programs provide, in 1 to 3 quarters, the training needed for
ABE and English-language learners at lower skills to participate in I-BEST
6 TEACHING MODELS:
1. Washington State’s I-BEST Team Teaching: A group of two or more teachers working together to
plan, conduct, and evaluate the learning activities for the same group of learners. Teachers actively
share the instruction of the content and skills to all students. (i.e., One teacher might present the
material, while the other constructs a concept map.)
2. Collaborative Teaching: Team teachers work together in designing the course and teach the
material not by the usual monologue, but rather by exchanging and discussing ideas and theories in
front of the learners.
3. Complementary/Supportive Team Teaching: One teacher is responsible for teaching the content;
the other provides follow-up activities on related topics or study skills.
4. Parallel Instruction: The class is divided into two groups and each teacher is responsible for teaching
material to his/her smaller group.
5. Differentiated Split Class: The class is divided into smaller groups according to learning needs.
6. Monitoring Teacher: One teacher is responsible for teaching the class; the other monitors student
understanding and behavior.
PROJECT ASPARAGUS: I-BEST IN ACTION
NORTH ORANGE COUNTY REGIONAL CONSORTIUM ‘S PROJECT ASPARAGUS: I-BEST IN ACTION
1st Crop: Spring 2015 - Into to Pharmacy Tech
 SCE noncredit course:
o 1 CTE Instructor & 1 ESL Instructor
o Class meets 5 hours per week
o CTE Certificate/CDCP course curriculum, outcomes, & grading
o ESL support was provided by the 2nd instructor
 What we are learning....
o Students "view" I-BEST as a punishment because of how it was introduced
o Students don't self-identify
o We needed to go back to basics...teach students how to be successful, accomplished
students
2nd Crop: Fall 2015 – Training, Assessments, & Expansion
 Training
o Brought Washington State Board for Community & Technical Colleges to NOCRC
o I-BEST Overview for Everyone (½ day)
o Intensive Team-Teacher Training for Faculty (1½ days)
o Models, Curriculum, Outcomes....
 Assessments
 Expansion
o Intro to Early Childhood Education
o Intro to Admin Assistant
o Intro to Pharmacy Tech
3rd and 4th Crops: Winter 2016 & Beyond….
 Winter 2016:
o Intro to Medical Assistant
o Curriculum for Academic and Career Prep Course
 Beyond...
o Noncredit Funeral Services paired with Credit English
o Two separate but conjoined courses for all CTE Intro classes.
For more information:
North Orange County Regional Consortium
Jesse Crete, NOCRC AEBG Director
[email protected]
w. 714.808.4544
Raine Hambly, NOCCCD: SCE CTE Program Manager
[email protected]
State of Washington I-BEST Program
William S. Durden, Policy Associate, I-BEST
[email protected]
360.704.4368
http://sbctc.edu/college/e_integratedbasiceducationandskillstraining.aspx