VoCATS: An Instructional Management System
VoCATS is a system for planning, implementing, and evaluating instruction. VoCATS is a competency-based and criterion-referenced instructional management system. The VoCATS model includes setting objectives, pre-assessing students, planning lessons, teaching the stated objectives, obtaining feedback, and post-assessing students. Career and Technical Education teachers throughout the state use the VoCATS system to collect data on student performance. Local school administrators and vocational educators use data obtained through VoCATS to improve instruction, to document student gains, and to demonstrate competency mastery.
Teams of North Carolina teachers develop VoCATS materials with input from business and industry representatives. Existing materials are continuously updated, and new materials are developed as needed.
The major products of VoCATS provide tools and strategies to assist the instructional process. The focus of this process is on facilitating rather than controlling effective instruction. VoCATS products for Career and Technical Education courses include:
- Course blueprints
- Classroom assessment item banks
- Curriculum guides
- VoCATS-designated software (Classroom Manager)
- Individual teacher resources
In the VoCATS system:
- The Course Blueprint determines the instructional content
- The Teacher determines the sequence of instruction
- The Starting Point Of Instruction for each student should be individualized
- Assessment of student competence occurs prior to, during, and following instruction.
VoCATS Status Report:
- All high school CTE teachers use VoCATS as an assessment tool on an ongoing basis for pretests, interim tests, unit tests, 9-week tests, midterms, etc.
- Scanning centers are available at each high school that include a computer, laser printer, and an NCS scanner to support the VoCATS process.
- ALL high school CTE teachers and middle school business teachers have access to VoCATS software (CMS) and up-to-date item banks.
- Training in the VoCATS process is ongoing.
- VoCATS reports provided to teachers and principals reflect the proficiency targets that are correlated to the ABCs.
- VoCATS results are reported to the NC State Board of Education.
- Student scores can be reported to community colleges for articulation purposes. Raw scores must be reported.
- State, regional, and individual LEA results of CTE VoCATS postassessments can be accessed online at wdeppms.dpi.state.nc.us/wdeppms.nsf. Visitors to this site can log on as follows: User Name: Guest, Password: Guest
VoCATS Testing Calendar 2007-2008 (Word 160 KB).
VoCATS Planning Calendar 2007-2008 (Word 144 KB).
Instructional Specialists support the CTE teachers.
Links to Pacing Guides and Blueprints
Status of Curriculum Materials (Word 264 KB) lists the latest revision dates for course blueprints, curriculum products, and test bank items.
BlackBoard Status of VoCATS Itembanks (Excel 204 KB)
Updating/installing classroom itembanks
Installation of CMS95 as a Standalone System
2007 VoCATS information from DPI (PDF 88 KB). Includes upcoming events and staff development, major issues, websites, state staff list, mailing address.
This page was last updated on January 9, 2008