Massachusetts Connecting Activities

 


1a - Key Points About the Database

1 - INTRODUCTION TO THE DATABASE - VIDEO
1a - Key Points About the Database
1b - REGISTERING AND SIGNING IN - VIDEO
1c - Navigating the Database Screens
2 - USING THE PLACEMENT SCREEN - VIDEO
2a -Classifying Placements - Activity Name, Program Checkboxes, Job Title, etc.
2a.1 - FY2024 Placement Screen Definitions and Discussion
2b. Classifying and Defining STEM Placements
2c - Placement and WBLP Screen - Sharing via Email/Username
2d - Participants with more than one work experience
2d - Worksites with multiple participants - Using the COPY WBLP button
2e - Placement Screen - Required and Optional Fields
2g - Work and Learning Program Elements (Preview of FY19 elements)
2h - Career Areas
2z - Deleting Placement Screen Records
3 - USING THE JOB DESCRIPTION AND SKILLS/TASKS SCREENS - VIDEO
4 - USING THE PERFORMANCE REVIEW SCREEN - VIDEO
5 - ACTIVITY SCREEN - VIDEO
6 - Reflection Screen
7 - Importing
8 - REPORTS MENU AND EMPLOYER SCREENS - POWERPOINT PRESENTATION
8a - About the Reports/Admin Menu
8b - Connecting Activities Quarterly Report
8c - Connecting Activities Qualifying Wages Report
8d - Custom Reports
8e - Employer Screens
9 - Sharing, Collaboration and Privacy
9a - UPDATING MY ACCOUNT SETTINGS - VIDEO
9b - Add | Invite New Usernames
9c - Using the "One-Step WBLP Review Screen" for Supervisors
9d: Instructions for students to create their WBLPs online
DATABASE FIELD LIST
What's New in the Database
Winter/Spring 2019 Webinar Series

The Massachusetts Career Readiness Database (MA-CR Database) can be found at https://masswbl.org and/or the "Database Signin" button on this site at http://massconnecting.org. This database is used by a variety of programs across Massachusetts, including the School to Career Connecting Activities program and many of the Cooperative Education programs, YouthWorks, WIOA Youth, local summer jobs programs and other programs.

SIGNING UP. Sign up for a usename and password at https://masswbl.org. When you sign up to use the database, you can sign up as as staff, employer or intern. If you are signing up for a staff account, you'll need an access code (available from your regional office or from Jennifer Leonard at jleonard@skillslibrary.com).

SHARING and PRIVACY. The database is designed to facilitate collaboration, while maintaining privacy and confidentiality. You can collaborate with co-workers, supervisors, participants or teachers to write and view WBLPs. There are two ways to share information with others. 1.) When you sign up to use the online WBLP, you can list the email (username) of up to three co-workers with whom you want to share all the information you enter. 2.) As you fill in each WBLP, you can list the email (username) of the participant, supervisor, program staff and/or teacher or other contact person, and give them access to view and/or work on the WBLP.

NAVIGATING IN THE DATABASE. Navigation in the database is intuitive. You will start at a main menu page, and from there, click a button to start a new record. Or you will click the various buttons to open existing records. You can navigate to the placement screen (which provides basics about the job placement) to the job description, skills, and reviews screens. Staff also have access to a reports menu with summary reports and lists. All database users also have access to a "bank" of sample job descriptions and skiills/tasks. Feel free to explore to learn more about the database.

SAVING. Use the "Save" buttons on the screens to save your work. You`ll be prompted to save if you forget.

FILLING IN PLACEMENT DETAILS (optional vs. required information). The placement screen in the database requests basic information about the job placement, including the participant name, supervisor name, school, employer, start date, end date, hourly wage, if any, hours per week, etc. Program staff see a more detailed version of the placement screen with additional program enrollment details. This screen has color-coded icons that indicate what information is required for your program.

Dropdown lists. The screens provide some customized dropdown lists. Most of these lists are based on information entered by you or others in your region.

Job Descriptions and Skills.  You can get ideas and sample job descriptions and skills/tasks from the "Job Description Bank" within the program (click the buttons for the bank of job descriptions and the bank of skills/tasks) and from the online resources on this site and in the SkillsPages blog. 

Setting up routines. Work with your colleagues or co-workers to set up routines for the database:

  • Who enters the information on the placement form?
  • When do you enter this information?
  • Who writes the job description and list of skills/tasks?
  • Who completes the performance reviews and writes goals and comments?
  • How can you be consistent in entering school names, activity names, organization names, career areas, job titles, etc.?
  • What reports will you run to review and analyze data? Who runs these reports? How do you use the data from reports to continually build and improve your youth programs?

Questions and Suggestions. Database users can email Jennifer Leonard at jleonard@skillslibrary.com for assistance and to provide suggestions. The database and these resource pages are continually improved and enhanced based on suggestions by database users.