1.  READING

PASS EXTENDED DEFINITION: Reading is the process of decoding abstract symbols in order to understand their underlying message or meanings. Effective readers employ a variety of strategies to improve comprehension, to self-correct, and to discover meaning in many types of text. A fluent reader can interpret a writer’s literal and inferential meaning, recognize the differing goals of different types of writing, use all the features of a written document (e.g., tables, index, appendices, footnotes), vary the method of reading (skim, review, survey, analyze), and make connections between texts and personal experiences. Reading is undertaken for a variety of reasons, including enjoyment, information acquisition, comprehension, and critical analysis.

4. ANALYTIC THINKING

PASS Extended Definition: Analytic Thinking is the ability to apply deductive and inductive thinking, make and test conjectures, follow logical arguments, judge the validity of arguments, construct simple valid proofs, understand and apply reasoning processes, develop appropriate criteria for analyzing data or opinions, distinguish fact from belief, identify cause and effect, and respond to multiple perspectives. Analytic thinking is necessary in all areas of study from the fine arts to mathematics.

5. INTEGRATIVE THINKING

PASS Extended Definition: Integrative Thinking requires an understanding of the interactions within, between, and among natural, social, organizational and technological systems, and the relationship of the individual to such interactions. Integrative thinking uses or combines information from a variety of disciplines in an integrated fashion to demonstrate understanding of the world, and to solve problems or create products. Integrative thinking requires the ability to synthesize and integrate information and observations from the parts to form a new pattern or framework for comprehending the whole.

6. PROBLEM SOLVING

PASS Extended Definition: Problem Solving [is] a series of skills, some systematic, some intuitive, that are developed over time as the result of attempting many complex, non-standardized problems. Problem solving may be inductive, deductive, or non-linear. Effective problem solvers employ many of the following techniques: identifying the critical elements of the problem; developing multi-step solutions in a non-routine fashion; generalizing familiar solutions and strategies to new problems and situations; generating alternative solutions and strategies for familiar problems and situations; conducting systematic observations and investigations to collect data; and considering the implications and unintended effects of proposed solutions.

7.  TECHNOLOGY AS A LEARNING TOOL

PASS Extended Definition: Technology as a Learning Tool means coming to view any technology as an extension and enhancement of the human mind, not as a separate mechanical system. While the use of technology requires "content" knowledge, a vital key is the "process" ability to integrate the technology to facilitate inquiry, understand, and the production of knowledge. Using technology includes such skills as knowing how to operate and when to employ computers, online databases, telephones, fax machines, electronic mail and bulletin boards, and calculators; audio-visual and multimedia tools, including video cameras and recorders, projection systems, LCD panels, CD-ROMs, sound recording devices, and slide projectors. There is a hardware and software dimension to many technologies. Competent learners master both, with greater emphasis on the potentialities of the software dimension.

8. TEAMWORK

PASS Extended Definition: Teamwork encompasses the social dimensions of learning and doing. A learner who is proficient at learning socially works well with others to create products, solve problems, reach consensus, negotiate, and cope with conflict. Effective team members:

a. understand the diversity present in any group and how it affects performance and goal attainment;

b.  demonstrate an understanding of the various roles present in groups;

c.  show the capacity to lead and follow, depending on the situation;

d.  understand the balance between individual and group contributions and responsibilities;

e.  understand both individual and group accountability; and

f.  show awareness of the role and potential uses of humor when people work together.

9. QUALITY WORK

PASS Extended Definition: Quality Work is the relative degree of excellence present in a student’s work as compared to defined standards or criteria. Quality work may be evaluated along any of a number of dimensions, including its content, structure, presentation, insights, conclusions, or entertainment value. Quality work demands students capable of comparing their work continuously to internal and external standards. Schools striving for quality create an ethos in which the nature of quality is discussed and standards for achieving quality are identified. Quality work involves ongoing critique and evaluation of products as they evolve. Students with an understanding of quality can describe the nature of quality and of standards and can critique and evaluate the quality of product[s] as they are being developed and when they are completed.

PASS: The Oregon University System (OUS) has adopted new admissions requirements for students to be admitted to Oregon's public universities, to be phased in beginning in Fall 2001.  This new admissions system is know as PASS:  Proficiency-based Admission Standards System.

PASS: Proficiency-based Admission Standards System:
  http://www.ous.edu/pass/ 
Introduction to PASS:
  http://www.ous.edu/pass/about/intro/index.html
PASS English Assessment Guidelines for 2000-2001:
 http://www.ous.edu/pass/about/intro/s1_english_assessment.html 
ONE (Oregon Network for Education):
   http://www.ous.edu/one/index.htm 

PREP: Oregon Community Colleges System has adopted PREP (PRoficiencies for Entry into Programs) to align OUS's PASS with the Oregon Board of Education's CIM (Certificate of Initial Mastery) and CAM (Certificate of Advanced Mastery) standards, and define "what it takes to succeed in [Oregon] community college programs.

PREP: PRoficiencies for Entry into Programs:
 http://www.odccwd.state.or.us/comcol/prep/PREP.html 
Oregon Community Colleges:
 http://www.odccwd.state.or.us/comcol/ComCol.htm 
ONE (Oregon Network for Education):
http://www.ous.edu/one/index.htm