TBL-JC Supplemental Statement

OMB Approval No. 1205-0436

Expiration Date: 6/20/2020

ABBREVIATED SUPPORTING STATEMENT

CLEARANCE FORM

A. SUPPLEMENTAL SUPPORTING STATEMENT

A.1. Title: Use of Technology-Based Learning for Basic Skills in Job Corps
A.2. Compliance with 5 CFR 1320.5: Yes X No __	A.3. Assurances of Confidentiality: Yes
A.4. Federal Cost: $52,899	A.5. Requested Expiration Date (Month/Year): February 1, 2018
A.6. Burden Hour Estimates: a. Number of Respondents: 125 a.1. % Received Electronically: 100% b. Frequency: Once c. Average Response Time: 45 minutes d. Total Annual Burden Hours: 93.75 hours	A7. Does the Collection Of Information Employ Statistical Methods? X No __Yes (Complete Section B and attach CEO review sheet).
A.8. Abstract: Description and Purpose: This survey concerns use of technology-based learning (TBL) for remedial education in Job Corps (JC), a residential program for disadvantaged out-of-school youth, administered by the Employment and Training Administration at the national level. TBL encompasses many different types of technology, including computer-based learning systems (which can be interactive, online and can have varying degrees of instructor involvement) as well as use of videos and audio for initial teaching and skill practice. The survey’s primary focus is on use of TBL for remediation, a topic of growing national interest, due to the demand for higher skills in many jobs in the economy and the need to accelerate or improve skill basic skill acquisition among youth. The survey, part of a study being conducted by Abt Associates under an ETA contract, is intended to produce information of practical assistance to the JC National Office in modernizing JC Centers’ approaches to teaching and learning. Thus the survey will provide accurate, timely information, on a national basis, to assist ETA in its roles in program oversight, policy development and technical assistance. Survey questions will cover such topics as:   Specific hardware and software in use for remediation and other learning; Connectivity and support; Instructor and student readiness; Physical settings where TBL is used; Processes related to selection of TBL resources; Satisfaction and perceived effectiveness of TBL used for remediation; and Challenges, barriers and promising practices related to use of TBL in reading and math remediation. The universe of all 125 Job Corps Centers will receive a copy of the survey questionnaire via a web-based medium (Survey Monkey). There are three versions of the questionnaire, depending on current or past use of TBL which will be seamlessly delivered to each respondent based on responses to two initial questions. The Director of each JC Center will be responsible for making sure answers are inputted. The response rate is expected to be 90 to 100 percent, since the JC National Office will provide official notification to all Centers, which are required to comply with JC National Office directives, and further, the research contractor will also provide multiple cycles of email follow-up, and if necessary, phone contact. Since there is no sampling and the response rate is expected to be high, no statistical methods will be used. This data collection will not duplicate any information currently collected. Although identifiers will be used to link the information collected with other data, identities of respondents will not be included in published reports nor otherwise be revealed to anyone not directly involved in the information collection (i.e., contractor personnel). Respondents will be advised that their privacy and confidentiality will be protected in the introduction to the survey, which will note that the information they provide will be combined with other Centers and presented in a report which will not identify -- nor permit identification -- of individual Centers or respondents. Current Inventory of Surveys Under OMB control number 1205-0436: There are currently no surveys being conducted under the new 1205-0436 (approved in June 2017 and expiring in June 2020).