Reseller Certification: Advanced Voice and Speech Technologies Before partnering with the Test&Train team, AVST’s reseller certification program consisted of hands-on training classes followed by a 50-question paper and pencil test. In addition, attendees were asked to complete a course evaluation form. The AVST product line requires hands on training, but management wanted to improve the assessment and evaluation process based on channel partner and staff feedback. Some of the problems and concerns raised were:

Channel partners wanted immediate test results to determine if they passed the certification exam. Alternate versions of the test were difficult to manage using paper and pencil testing. Attendees did not always complete course evaluations, which was a lost opportunity to get program improvement feedback. Course evaluations had to be manually summarized for reporting Trainers were required to perform the clerical tasks of test distribution and scoring. Trainers were faced with a very labor-intensive task when trying to identify either poorly written questions or subject areas needing more time in the training class. Since implementation of the Test&Train service, when the training class is over, trainees take a 50-question on-line test and a brief class evaluation using the Test&Train system. When a test is complete, the participant simply clicks a button and gets their test results. When everyone is done with the test, the trainer can review test results in summary form. Trainers also use question analysis reporting to identify questions needing editing and/or subject areas that need more instruction time. By reviewing the course evaluation reports, the trainer and management can get feedback on the attendee’s perception of the course. AVST provided Word documents containing the test and survey questions and were ready to go live with the system in less than three days.

Job Applicant Screening Grupo Barsac provides Maquiladora facility management services in Tijuana, Baja California. Their services include complete management of manufacturing and/or assembly operations. Grupo Barsac manages the customs requirements for import and export and is responsible for personnel functions including payroll processing, hiring, and training. Plant managers must be bilingual in order to communicate (orally and in writing) with Spanish-speaking workers and English-speaking managers and executives located in the United States. Applicants for plant management positions were required to appear on site for a lengthy testing and interview process. In many cases, several hours were invested only to discover that the applicant did not possess the requisite English language skills. Grupo Barsac deployed the Test&Train system to screen the applicant's English grammar and writing skills before the interview process. Grupo Barsac management used a previously developed objective test covering basic Spanish and English grammar. They then created a subjective test that requires applicants to write a sample monthly report addressed to an American-based client. When the applicant completes the report writing assignment, the system sends an email to the personnel department indicating that an "essay" is ready for grading. Employment screeners can quickly determine from the submitted essay if the applicant has the basic skills and is a candidate worthy of an interview.