The impact of the Black watermen continues to be felt today. In the Chesapeake region, generations of Black watermen, like Captain Tyrone Meredith, dedicate their lives<\/a> to preserving the legacy of their forebears. Captain Meredith has worked in the industry for 40 years and is a fifth-generation waterman, following in the footsteps of his father, grandfather, and ancestors. Today, his work as a skipjack captain ensures the spirit and hard work of the Black watermen live on. The Virginia Department of Historic Resources is another source dedicated to preserving this history of the Black watermen; they initiated the African American Watermen Project<\/a>, which documents the culture and history of African American watermen in the Chesapeake Bay\u2019s coastal communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite the many challenges and barriers they faced, the Black watermen of the Chesapeake Bay made indelible marks on both the water industry and U.S. history. Their tenacity, innovation, and unyielding spirit continue to inspire generations. As we celebrate Black History Month, let us honor and remember their contributions\u2014not just in the context of their time, but as a testament to the enduring power of community, resilience, and self-determination. The legacy of the Black watermen is a shining beacon of hope and excellence, reminding us that the waters they navigated are still filled with stories of courage and triumph that resonate to this day.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Black History Month Spotlight: The Black Watermen of the Chesapeake Bay","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"black-history-month-spotlight-the-black-watermen-of-the-chesapeake-bay","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-14 16:53:32","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-14 22:53:32","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/immerse.gowpi.org\/?p=1028","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":849,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2023-04-27 12:00:21","post_date_gmt":"2023-04-27 17:00:21","post_content":"The fastest growing testing trends for 2023 encompass the test taker experience, increasing interest in certification, and how artificial intelligence can play a role in test development. In addition, as the testing industry continues to evolve following the pandemic organizations are reevaluating their strategies for remote testing.\r\n\r\nAll these trends contribute to the perpetual balancing act \u2013 the need for robust test security and a desire to deliver the most convenient and accessible experience for all test takers.\r\nThe whole test taker experience<\/h3>\r\nWe are seeing an increased propensity for testing organizations to look at the test taker experience as a whole, rather than focusing on isolated elements. And we are working with a growing number of clients to map and scrutinize their test taker journey at every stage, with the aim of uncovering improvements or enhancements that will make the testing experience as easy and accessible as possible, for all test takers.\r\n\r\nTest taker journey mapping includes every piece of information, every click, and every scroll they take on their way to receiving a test result. We undertook journey mapping exercises with clients including\u00a0ISACA<\/a>\u00a0and the\u00a0UK Home Office<\/a>\u00a0last year. Working together, we detailed every action a test taker might take during the testing experience. A diagram was used to visualize the journey, and workshops examined every stage in detail. We are currently progressing through the resulting action log and expect to see improvements across the test taker experience, alongside increased efficiencies and smoother processes.\r\n\r\nWe have seen positive outcomes across many clients from this trend of examining the test taker experience through a broad lens. We expect to work with more clients on test taker journey mapping in the year to come, as this continues to be a critical consideration globally across all delivery modalities.\r\n
Balancing test taker needs and wants<\/h3>\r\nTesting organizations are also taking a pragmatic approach and carefully considering what it is their test takers need \u2013 versus what it is they might want. During COVID, we saw a large-scale shift to remote testing. This was necessary but not without its concerns, particularly about test security.\r\n\r\nNow we are seeing organizations re-evaluating their test delivery strategies, particularly in North America where there is ample test center coverage. Some organizations are scaling-up in-person testing, and even more are adopting a multi-modal approach that provides convenience for test takers in more remote locations.\r\n\r\nWe are supporting clients to make these important decisions based on the needs of their testing program and their market. As well as providing testing organizations with the\u00a0data forensics and web crawling<\/a>\u00a0services they need to help inform their decisions.\r\n
Beyond testing \u2013 growing test taker populations<\/h3>\r\nTaking a broader view doesn\u2019t stop with the test taker experience. More and more testing organizations are paying attention to the overall health of their profession and the educational pathways of their test takers. One element of this is a greater focus on test preparation materials and supporting the learner. And even further, we are working with clients on campaigns that promote and recruit individuals to their profession.\r\n\r\nAn important example is nursing, which has seen both a reduction in graduating nurses and an increase in nurses planning to leave the profession. By 2025,\u00a0McKinsey estimates the United States may have a 10-20% gap of nurses available for direct patient care<\/a>.\r\n\r\nWe recently worked with our client, the American Board of Nursing Certification (ABNC) and the\u00a0National Certification Corporation (NCC)<\/a>\u00a0on a \u2018Certified Nurses Make a Difference\u2019 campaign. Public service announcements in specific areas of the United States generated awareness and helped promote the work and value nurses play in patient healthcare. The campaign was aired over 6,000 times with more than 7.5 million impressions in 2022.\r\n\r\nIn a similar example, the\u00a0National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC)<\/a>\u00a0teamed up with membership and education associations to promote the profession of respiratory therapists. Through videos, case studies, and social media, the NBRC are sharing the stories of therapists and patients, elevating the profession and helping to address the shortage in respiratory therapists.\r\n\r\nI have had more conversations with testing organizations in the past year than I have in the rest of my career about ways we can work together to raise the profile of their profession. With workforce shortages continuing across multiple industries, this trend is likely to continue.\r\n
Artificial Intelligence in test development<\/h3>\r\nMy colleague Isabelle Gonthier covered the topic of\u00a0emerging technologies in test development in her first blog of this series<\/a>\u00a0on testing trends for 2023. Including advances in the use of Automatic Item Generation (AIG), which is already in use.\r\n\r\nArtificial Intelligence (AI), and constituent technologies of AI such as machine learning and natural language processing (NLP), are also exciting developments when it comes to test development. While still in their early stages, these technologies are becoming more mainstream with real potential in the test development lifecycle to:\r\n
\r\n \t
Black watermen used a lantern code to signal if boats had fugitive enslaved African Americans on board. They would then exchange passengers under the cover of night on the still waters of the Chesapeake before returning to their ports. From there, the escaped enslaved Black Americans would travel through the Underground Railroad. Harriet Tubman herself grew up on a Maryland plantation by the Chesapeake Bay. While laboring on the docks, she engaged with a group of Black watermen<\/a>, forming connections and discovering the astonishing system of networking they had created. It was through the information Tubman learned from these Black maritime workers that she was ultimately able to escape. Once free, she used those connections to send messages back and forth to those still enslaved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The impact of the Black watermen continues to be felt today. In the Chesapeake region, generations of Black watermen, like Captain Tyrone Meredith, dedicate their lives<\/a> to preserving the legacy of their forebears. Captain Meredith has worked in the industry for 40 years and is a fifth-generation waterman, following in the footsteps of his father, grandfather, and ancestors. Today, his work as a skipjack captain ensures the spirit and hard work of the Black watermen live on. The Virginia Department of Historic Resources is another source dedicated to preserving this history of the Black watermen; they initiated the African American Watermen Project<\/a>, which documents the culture and history of African American watermen in the Chesapeake Bay\u2019s coastal communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite the many challenges and barriers they faced, the Black watermen of the Chesapeake Bay made indelible marks on both the water industry and U.S. history. Their tenacity, innovation, and unyielding spirit continue to inspire generations. As we celebrate Black History Month, let us honor and remember their contributions\u2014not just in the context of their time, but as a testament to the enduring power of community, resilience, and self-determination. The legacy of the Black watermen is a shining beacon of hope and excellence, reminding us that the waters they navigated are still filled with stories of courage and triumph that resonate to this day.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Black History Month Spotlight: The Black Watermen of the Chesapeake Bay","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"black-history-month-spotlight-the-black-watermen-of-the-chesapeake-bay","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-14 16:53:32","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-14 22:53:32","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/immerse.gowpi.org\/?p=1028","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":849,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2023-04-27 12:00:21","post_date_gmt":"2023-04-27 17:00:21","post_content":"The fastest growing testing trends for 2023 encompass the test taker experience, increasing interest in certification, and how artificial intelligence can play a role in test development. In addition, as the testing industry continues to evolve following the pandemic organizations are reevaluating their strategies for remote testing.\r\n\r\nAll these trends contribute to the perpetual balancing act \u2013 the need for robust test security and a desire to deliver the most convenient and accessible experience for all test takers.\r\n Despite these barriers, African Americans changed and propelled the industry forward. Their resilience led to the creation of an incredible communication network. The winding rivers and bustling water passages became a way for Black Americans to pass information and messages through ports. Through this system, they were able to stay informed on what was happening abroad as well as within the United States. This was how those who had secured their freedom through the water industry were able to devise strategies<\/a> for enslaved persons to flee secretly via boat passage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black watermen used a lantern code to signal if boats had fugitive enslaved African Americans on board. They would then exchange passengers under the cover of night on the still waters of the Chesapeake before returning to their ports. From there, the escaped enslaved Black Americans would travel through the Underground Railroad. Harriet Tubman herself grew up on a Maryland plantation by the Chesapeake Bay. While laboring on the docks, she engaged with a group of Black watermen<\/a>, forming connections and discovering the astonishing system of networking they had created. It was through the information Tubman learned from these Black maritime workers that she was ultimately able to escape. Once free, she used those connections to send messages back and forth to those still enslaved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The impact of the Black watermen continues to be felt today. In the Chesapeake region, generations of Black watermen, like Captain Tyrone Meredith, dedicate their lives<\/a> to preserving the legacy of their forebears. Captain Meredith has worked in the industry for 40 years and is a fifth-generation waterman, following in the footsteps of his father, grandfather, and ancestors. Today, his work as a skipjack captain ensures the spirit and hard work of the Black watermen live on. The Virginia Department of Historic Resources is another source dedicated to preserving this history of the Black watermen; they initiated the African American Watermen Project<\/a>, which documents the culture and history of African American watermen in the Chesapeake Bay\u2019s coastal communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite the many challenges and barriers they faced, the Black watermen of the Chesapeake Bay made indelible marks on both the water industry and U.S. history. Their tenacity, innovation, and unyielding spirit continue to inspire generations. As we celebrate Black History Month, let us honor and remember their contributions\u2014not just in the context of their time, but as a testament to the enduring power of community, resilience, and self-determination. The legacy of the Black watermen is a shining beacon of hope and excellence, reminding us that the waters they navigated are still filled with stories of courage and triumph that resonate to this day.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Black History Month Spotlight: The Black Watermen of the Chesapeake Bay","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"black-history-month-spotlight-the-black-watermen-of-the-chesapeake-bay","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-14 16:53:32","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-14 22:53:32","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/immerse.gowpi.org\/?p=1028","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":849,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2023-04-27 12:00:21","post_date_gmt":"2023-04-27 17:00:21","post_content":"The fastest growing testing trends for 2023 encompass the test taker experience, increasing interest in certification, and how artificial intelligence can play a role in test development. In addition, as the testing industry continues to evolve following the pandemic organizations are reevaluating their strategies for remote testing.\r\n\r\nAll these trends contribute to the perpetual balancing act \u2013 the need for robust test security and a desire to deliver the most convenient and accessible experience for all test takers.\r\n That is not to say, however, there were not still vast issues with the system created. Imani Black, shellfish aquaculture biologist and founder of Minorities in Aquaculture<\/a>, discusses this in \u201cWater\u2019s Edge: The Black Watermen of the Chesapeake Bay,\u201d a documentary for PBS<\/a>. She explains that Black Americans were pushed to the coasts as a result of practices steeped in prejudice and racism, and thus they learned how to live and work with the water out of necessity. Further, working on the water was not easy for African Americans. In 1836, a law was passed<\/a> attempting to prohibit and restrict Black Americans from laboring on the water. While white captains and watermen often ignored this decree due to the crucial contributions of Black watermen, this law promoted additional segregation, economic oppression, and discrimination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite these barriers, African Americans changed and propelled the industry forward. Their resilience led to the creation of an incredible communication network. The winding rivers and bustling water passages became a way for Black Americans to pass information and messages through ports. Through this system, they were able to stay informed on what was happening abroad as well as within the United States. This was how those who had secured their freedom through the water industry were able to devise strategies<\/a> for enslaved persons to flee secretly via boat passage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black watermen used a lantern code to signal if boats had fugitive enslaved African Americans on board. They would then exchange passengers under the cover of night on the still waters of the Chesapeake before returning to their ports. From there, the escaped enslaved Black Americans would travel through the Underground Railroad. Harriet Tubman herself grew up on a Maryland plantation by the Chesapeake Bay. While laboring on the docks, she engaged with a group of Black watermen<\/a>, forming connections and discovering the astonishing system of networking they had created. It was through the information Tubman learned from these Black maritime workers that she was ultimately able to escape. Once free, she used those connections to send messages back and forth to those still enslaved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The impact of the Black watermen continues to be felt today. In the Chesapeake region, generations of Black watermen, like Captain Tyrone Meredith, dedicate their lives<\/a> to preserving the legacy of their forebears. Captain Meredith has worked in the industry for 40 years and is a fifth-generation waterman, following in the footsteps of his father, grandfather, and ancestors. Today, his work as a skipjack captain ensures the spirit and hard work of the Black watermen live on. The Virginia Department of Historic Resources is another source dedicated to preserving this history of the Black watermen; they initiated the African American Watermen Project<\/a>, which documents the culture and history of African American watermen in the Chesapeake Bay\u2019s coastal communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite the many challenges and barriers they faced, the Black watermen of the Chesapeake Bay made indelible marks on both the water industry and U.S. history. Their tenacity, innovation, and unyielding spirit continue to inspire generations. As we celebrate Black History Month, let us honor and remember their contributions\u2014not just in the context of their time, but as a testament to the enduring power of community, resilience, and self-determination. The legacy of the Black watermen is a shining beacon of hope and excellence, reminding us that the waters they navigated are still filled with stories of courage and triumph that resonate to this day.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Black History Month Spotlight: The Black Watermen of the Chesapeake Bay","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"black-history-month-spotlight-the-black-watermen-of-the-chesapeake-bay","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-14 16:53:32","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-14 22:53:32","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/immerse.gowpi.org\/?p=1028","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":849,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2023-04-27 12:00:21","post_date_gmt":"2023-04-27 17:00:21","post_content":"The fastest growing testing trends for 2023 encompass the test taker experience, increasing interest in certification, and how artificial intelligence can play a role in test development. In addition, as the testing industry continues to evolve following the pandemic organizations are reevaluating their strategies for remote testing.\r\n\r\nAll these trends contribute to the perpetual balancing act \u2013 the need for robust test security and a desire to deliver the most convenient and accessible experience for all test takers.\r\n Black watermen worked across the entirety of the Bay\u2019s water industry as skilled tradesmen and innovators<\/a>. Black women often were employed in crab picking and oyster shucking, while Black men worked on the water as shipbuilders and crew, in addition to hauling freight and captaining ships. Entering the water industry was groundbreaking, as it was one of the first ways Black Americans could earn a wage. However, being a waterman on the Chesapeake Bay offered more than just a path to freedom and compensation. For many, living at the water\u2019s edge was a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That is not to say, however, there were not still vast issues with the system created. Imani Black, shellfish aquaculture biologist and founder of Minorities in Aquaculture<\/a>, discusses this in \u201cWater\u2019s Edge: The Black Watermen of the Chesapeake Bay,\u201d a documentary for PBS<\/a>. She explains that Black Americans were pushed to the coasts as a result of practices steeped in prejudice and racism, and thus they learned how to live and work with the water out of necessity. Further, working on the water was not easy for African Americans. In 1836, a law was passed<\/a> attempting to prohibit and restrict Black Americans from laboring on the water. While white captains and watermen often ignored this decree due to the crucial contributions of Black watermen, this law promoted additional segregation, economic oppression, and discrimination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite these barriers, African Americans changed and propelled the industry forward. Their resilience led to the creation of an incredible communication network. The winding rivers and bustling water passages became a way for Black Americans to pass information and messages through ports. Through this system, they were able to stay informed on what was happening abroad as well as within the United States. This was how those who had secured their freedom through the water industry were able to devise strategies<\/a> for enslaved persons to flee secretly via boat passage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black watermen used a lantern code to signal if boats had fugitive enslaved African Americans on board. They would then exchange passengers under the cover of night on the still waters of the Chesapeake before returning to their ports. From there, the escaped enslaved Black Americans would travel through the Underground Railroad. Harriet Tubman herself grew up on a Maryland plantation by the Chesapeake Bay. While laboring on the docks, she engaged with a group of Black watermen<\/a>, forming connections and discovering the astonishing system of networking they had created. It was through the information Tubman learned from these Black maritime workers that she was ultimately able to escape. Once free, she used those connections to send messages back and forth to those still enslaved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The impact of the Black watermen continues to be felt today. In the Chesapeake region, generations of Black watermen, like Captain Tyrone Meredith, dedicate their lives<\/a> to preserving the legacy of their forebears. Captain Meredith has worked in the industry for 40 years and is a fifth-generation waterman, following in the footsteps of his father, grandfather, and ancestors. Today, his work as a skipjack captain ensures the spirit and hard work of the Black watermen live on. The Virginia Department of Historic Resources is another source dedicated to preserving this history of the Black watermen; they initiated the African American Watermen Project<\/a>, which documents the culture and history of African American watermen in the Chesapeake Bay\u2019s coastal communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite the many challenges and barriers they faced, the Black watermen of the Chesapeake Bay made indelible marks on both the water industry and U.S. history. Their tenacity, innovation, and unyielding spirit continue to inspire generations. As we celebrate Black History Month, let us honor and remember their contributions\u2014not just in the context of their time, but as a testament to the enduring power of community, resilience, and self-determination. The legacy of the Black watermen is a shining beacon of hope and excellence, reminding us that the waters they navigated are still filled with stories of courage and triumph that resonate to this day.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Black History Month Spotlight: The Black Watermen of the Chesapeake Bay","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"black-history-month-spotlight-the-black-watermen-of-the-chesapeake-bay","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-14 16:53:32","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-14 22:53:32","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/immerse.gowpi.org\/?p=1028","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":849,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2023-04-27 12:00:21","post_date_gmt":"2023-04-27 17:00:21","post_content":"The fastest growing testing trends for 2023 encompass the test taker experience, increasing interest in certification, and how artificial intelligence can play a role in test development. In addition, as the testing industry continues to evolve following the pandemic organizations are reevaluating their strategies for remote testing.\r\n\r\nAll these trends contribute to the perpetual balancing act \u2013 the need for robust test security and a desire to deliver the most convenient and accessible experience for all test takers.\r\n The path to working in the Chesapeake Bay for African Americans was shaped by the growing demand for maritime labor in the 1800s, which led to Maryland offering pseudo-freedom to enslaved persons living and working in the Bay. This was due to the issuing of Seamen\u2019s Protection Certificates, which allowed Black watermen to be classified as citizens as early as sixty-seven years before the Emancipation Proclamation was disseminated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black watermen worked across the entirety of the Bay\u2019s water industry as skilled tradesmen and innovators<\/a>. Black women often were employed in crab picking and oyster shucking, while Black men worked on the water as shipbuilders and crew, in addition to hauling freight and captaining ships. Entering the water industry was groundbreaking, as it was one of the first ways Black Americans could earn a wage. However, being a waterman on the Chesapeake Bay offered more than just a path to freedom and compensation. For many, living at the water\u2019s edge was a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That is not to say, however, there were not still vast issues with the system created. Imani Black, shellfish aquaculture biologist and founder of Minorities in Aquaculture<\/a>, discusses this in \u201cWater\u2019s Edge: The Black Watermen of the Chesapeake Bay,\u201d a documentary for PBS<\/a>. She explains that Black Americans were pushed to the coasts as a result of practices steeped in prejudice and racism, and thus they learned how to live and work with the water out of necessity. Further, working on the water was not easy for African Americans. In 1836, a law was passed<\/a> attempting to prohibit and restrict Black Americans from laboring on the water. While white captains and watermen often ignored this decree due to the crucial contributions of Black watermen, this law promoted additional segregation, economic oppression, and discrimination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite these barriers, African Americans changed and propelled the industry forward. Their resilience led to the creation of an incredible communication network. The winding rivers and bustling water passages became a way for Black Americans to pass information and messages through ports. Through this system, they were able to stay informed on what was happening abroad as well as within the United States. This was how those who had secured their freedom through the water industry were able to devise strategies<\/a> for enslaved persons to flee secretly via boat passage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black watermen used a lantern code to signal if boats had fugitive enslaved African Americans on board. They would then exchange passengers under the cover of night on the still waters of the Chesapeake before returning to their ports. From there, the escaped enslaved Black Americans would travel through the Underground Railroad. Harriet Tubman herself grew up on a Maryland plantation by the Chesapeake Bay. While laboring on the docks, she engaged with a group of Black watermen<\/a>, forming connections and discovering the astonishing system of networking they had created. It was through the information Tubman learned from these Black maritime workers that she was ultimately able to escape. Once free, she used those connections to send messages back and forth to those still enslaved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The impact of the Black watermen continues to be felt today. In the Chesapeake region, generations of Black watermen, like Captain Tyrone Meredith, dedicate their lives<\/a> to preserving the legacy of their forebears. Captain Meredith has worked in the industry for 40 years and is a fifth-generation waterman, following in the footsteps of his father, grandfather, and ancestors. Today, his work as a skipjack captain ensures the spirit and hard work of the Black watermen live on. The Virginia Department of Historic Resources is another source dedicated to preserving this history of the Black watermen; they initiated the African American Watermen Project<\/a>, which documents the culture and history of African American watermen in the Chesapeake Bay\u2019s coastal communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite the many challenges and barriers they faced, the Black watermen of the Chesapeake Bay made indelible marks on both the water industry and U.S. history. Their tenacity, innovation, and unyielding spirit continue to inspire generations. As we celebrate Black History Month, let us honor and remember their contributions\u2014not just in the context of their time, but as a testament to the enduring power of community, resilience, and self-determination. The legacy of the Black watermen is a shining beacon of hope and excellence, reminding us that the waters they navigated are still filled with stories of courage and triumph that resonate to this day.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Black History Month Spotlight: The Black Watermen of the Chesapeake Bay","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"black-history-month-spotlight-the-black-watermen-of-the-chesapeake-bay","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-14 16:53:32","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-14 22:53:32","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/immerse.gowpi.org\/?p=1028","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":849,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2023-04-27 12:00:21","post_date_gmt":"2023-04-27 17:00:21","post_content":"The fastest growing testing trends for 2023 encompass the test taker experience, increasing interest in certification, and how artificial intelligence can play a role in test development. In addition, as the testing industry continues to evolve following the pandemic organizations are reevaluating their strategies for remote testing.\r\n\r\nAll these trends contribute to the perpetual balancing act \u2013 the need for robust test security and a desire to deliver the most convenient and accessible experience for all test takers.\r\n In Maryland, a storied history exists between African Americans and the Bay. The Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in North America<\/a>, has been a robust place of employment for watermen\u2014a term that encompasses both women and men\u2014since the 1600s. In the mid-1800s, that occupation, previously only open to white watermen, was extended to African Americans, who took on roles such as captains, fishermen, oystermen, and owners of seafood processing plants and restaurants. Their labor and contributions transformed the Chesapeake Bay<\/a>. To this day, the Bay is renowned for its rich seafood and maritime industry due to the innovative thinking and hard work of Black watermen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The path to working in the Chesapeake Bay for African Americans was shaped by the growing demand for maritime labor in the 1800s, which led to Maryland offering pseudo-freedom to enslaved persons living and working in the Bay. This was due to the issuing of Seamen\u2019s Protection Certificates, which allowed Black watermen to be classified as citizens as early as sixty-seven years before the Emancipation Proclamation was disseminated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black watermen worked across the entirety of the Bay\u2019s water industry as skilled tradesmen and innovators<\/a>. Black women often were employed in crab picking and oyster shucking, while Black men worked on the water as shipbuilders and crew, in addition to hauling freight and captaining ships. Entering the water industry was groundbreaking, as it was one of the first ways Black Americans could earn a wage. However, being a waterman on the Chesapeake Bay offered more than just a path to freedom and compensation. For many, living at the water\u2019s edge was a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That is not to say, however, there were not still vast issues with the system created. Imani Black, shellfish aquaculture biologist and founder of Minorities in Aquaculture<\/a>, discusses this in \u201cWater\u2019s Edge: The Black Watermen of the Chesapeake Bay,\u201d a documentary for PBS<\/a>. She explains that Black Americans were pushed to the coasts as a result of practices steeped in prejudice and racism, and thus they learned how to live and work with the water out of necessity. Further, working on the water was not easy for African Americans. In 1836, a law was passed<\/a> attempting to prohibit and restrict Black Americans from laboring on the water. While white captains and watermen often ignored this decree due to the crucial contributions of Black watermen, this law promoted additional segregation, economic oppression, and discrimination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite these barriers, African Americans changed and propelled the industry forward. Their resilience led to the creation of an incredible communication network. The winding rivers and bustling water passages became a way for Black Americans to pass information and messages through ports. Through this system, they were able to stay informed on what was happening abroad as well as within the United States. This was how those who had secured their freedom through the water industry were able to devise strategies<\/a> for enslaved persons to flee secretly via boat passage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black watermen used a lantern code to signal if boats had fugitive enslaved African Americans on board. They would then exchange passengers under the cover of night on the still waters of the Chesapeake before returning to their ports. From there, the escaped enslaved Black Americans would travel through the Underground Railroad. Harriet Tubman herself grew up on a Maryland plantation by the Chesapeake Bay. While laboring on the docks, she engaged with a group of Black watermen<\/a>, forming connections and discovering the astonishing system of networking they had created. It was through the information Tubman learned from these Black maritime workers that she was ultimately able to escape. Once free, she used those connections to send messages back and forth to those still enslaved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The impact of the Black watermen continues to be felt today. In the Chesapeake region, generations of Black watermen, like Captain Tyrone Meredith, dedicate their lives<\/a> to preserving the legacy of their forebears. Captain Meredith has worked in the industry for 40 years and is a fifth-generation waterman, following in the footsteps of his father, grandfather, and ancestors. Today, his work as a skipjack captain ensures the spirit and hard work of the Black watermen live on. The Virginia Department of Historic Resources is another source dedicated to preserving this history of the Black watermen; they initiated the African American Watermen Project<\/a>, which documents the culture and history of African American watermen in the Chesapeake Bay\u2019s coastal communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite the many challenges and barriers they faced, the Black watermen of the Chesapeake Bay made indelible marks on both the water industry and U.S. history. Their tenacity, innovation, and unyielding spirit continue to inspire generations. As we celebrate Black History Month, let us honor and remember their contributions\u2014not just in the context of their time, but as a testament to the enduring power of community, resilience, and self-determination. The legacy of the Black watermen is a shining beacon of hope and excellence, reminding us that the waters they navigated are still filled with stories of courage and triumph that resonate to this day.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Black History Month Spotlight: The Black Watermen of the Chesapeake Bay","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"black-history-month-spotlight-the-black-watermen-of-the-chesapeake-bay","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-14 16:53:32","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-14 22:53:32","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/immerse.gowpi.org\/?p=1028","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":849,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2023-04-27 12:00:21","post_date_gmt":"2023-04-27 17:00:21","post_content":"The fastest growing testing trends for 2023 encompass the test taker experience, increasing interest in certification, and how artificial intelligence can play a role in test development. In addition, as the testing industry continues to evolve following the pandemic organizations are reevaluating their strategies for remote testing.\r\n\r\nAll these trends contribute to the perpetual balancing act \u2013 the need for robust test security and a desire to deliver the most convenient and accessible experience for all test takers.\r\n Against the horizon, the Bald Cypress stretches towards a sun-drenched sky. Its trunk bloats with the water of the Chesapeake Bay, a water-logged home to a lone copperhead, who curls against the knees of the tree. This is not the first creature to find refuge in the Cypress, whose roots have known this water for nearly one hundred years. Turtles and wood ducks, raccoons and egrets all have called the Bald Cypress swamp home. Along the Chesapeake watershed, life finds new ways to sustain itself. The endeavors of those who make their living by the water's edge, especially the Black Americans who have called the Chesapeake Bay home for centuries, stand as a testament to this resilience. The Black watermen of the Chesapeake, much like the Bald Cypress, remain revered symbols of the Bay to this day. Their invaluable contributions to the industry are nothing short of extraordinary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Maryland, a storied history exists between African Americans and the Bay. The Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in North America<\/a>, has been a robust place of employment for watermen\u2014a term that encompasses both women and men\u2014since the 1600s. In the mid-1800s, that occupation, previously only open to white watermen, was extended to African Americans, who took on roles such as captains, fishermen, oystermen, and owners of seafood processing plants and restaurants. Their labor and contributions transformed the Chesapeake Bay<\/a>. To this day, the Bay is renowned for its rich seafood and maritime industry due to the innovative thinking and hard work of Black watermen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The path to working in the Chesapeake Bay for African Americans was shaped by the growing demand for maritime labor in the 1800s, which led to Maryland offering pseudo-freedom to enslaved persons living and working in the Bay. This was due to the issuing of Seamen\u2019s Protection Certificates, which allowed Black watermen to be classified as citizens as early as sixty-seven years before the Emancipation Proclamation was disseminated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black watermen worked across the entirety of the Bay\u2019s water industry as skilled tradesmen and innovators<\/a>. Black women often were employed in crab picking and oyster shucking, while Black men worked on the water as shipbuilders and crew, in addition to hauling freight and captaining ships. Entering the water industry was groundbreaking, as it was one of the first ways Black Americans could earn a wage. However, being a waterman on the Chesapeake Bay offered more than just a path to freedom and compensation. For many, living at the water\u2019s edge was a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That is not to say, however, there were not still vast issues with the system created. Imani Black, shellfish aquaculture biologist and founder of Minorities in Aquaculture<\/a>, discusses this in \u201cWater\u2019s Edge: The Black Watermen of the Chesapeake Bay,\u201d a documentary for PBS<\/a>. She explains that Black Americans were pushed to the coasts as a result of practices steeped in prejudice and racism, and thus they learned how to live and work with the water out of necessity. Further, working on the water was not easy for African Americans. In 1836, a law was passed<\/a> attempting to prohibit and restrict Black Americans from laboring on the water. While white captains and watermen often ignored this decree due to the crucial contributions of Black watermen, this law promoted additional segregation, economic oppression, and discrimination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite these barriers, African Americans changed and propelled the industry forward. Their resilience led to the creation of an incredible communication network. The winding rivers and bustling water passages became a way for Black Americans to pass information and messages through ports. Through this system, they were able to stay informed on what was happening abroad as well as within the United States. This was how those who had secured their freedom through the water industry were able to devise strategies<\/a> for enslaved persons to flee secretly via boat passage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black watermen used a lantern code to signal if boats had fugitive enslaved African Americans on board. They would then exchange passengers under the cover of night on the still waters of the Chesapeake before returning to their ports. From there, the escaped enslaved Black Americans would travel through the Underground Railroad. Harriet Tubman herself grew up on a Maryland plantation by the Chesapeake Bay. While laboring on the docks, she engaged with a group of Black watermen<\/a>, forming connections and discovering the astonishing system of networking they had created. It was through the information Tubman learned from these Black maritime workers that she was ultimately able to escape. Once free, she used those connections to send messages back and forth to those still enslaved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The impact of the Black watermen continues to be felt today. In the Chesapeake region, generations of Black watermen, like Captain Tyrone Meredith, dedicate their lives<\/a> to preserving the legacy of their forebears. Captain Meredith has worked in the industry for 40 years and is a fifth-generation waterman, following in the footsteps of his father, grandfather, and ancestors. Today, his work as a skipjack captain ensures the spirit and hard work of the Black watermen live on. The Virginia Department of Historic Resources is another source dedicated to preserving this history of the Black watermen; they initiated the African American Watermen Project<\/a>, which documents the culture and history of African American watermen in the Chesapeake Bay\u2019s coastal communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite the many challenges and barriers they faced, the Black watermen of the Chesapeake Bay made indelible marks on both the water industry and U.S. history. Their tenacity, innovation, and unyielding spirit continue to inspire generations. As we celebrate Black History Month, let us honor and remember their contributions\u2014not just in the context of their time, but as a testament to the enduring power of community, resilience, and self-determination. The legacy of the Black watermen is a shining beacon of hope and excellence, reminding us that the waters they navigated are still filled with stories of courage and triumph that resonate to this day.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Black History Month Spotlight: The Black Watermen of the Chesapeake Bay","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"black-history-month-spotlight-the-black-watermen-of-the-chesapeake-bay","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-14 16:53:32","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-14 22:53:32","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/immerse.gowpi.org\/?p=1028","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":849,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2023-04-27 12:00:21","post_date_gmt":"2023-04-27 17:00:21","post_content":"The fastest growing testing trends for 2023 encompass the test taker experience, increasing interest in certification, and how artificial intelligence can play a role in test development. In addition, as the testing industry continues to evolve following the pandemic organizations are reevaluating their strategies for remote testing.\r\n\r\nAll these trends contribute to the perpetual balancing act \u2013 the need for robust test security and a desire to deliver the most convenient and accessible experience for all test takers.\r\n The lifelong friends I have made is definitely the most rewarding aspect. I can\u2019t begin to name all of the wonderful people I have met in the United States and other countries throughout my career that I truly consider friends. A close second would be the knowledge that I have served my community by protecting public health and the environment. Think about it \u2013 I\u2019ve been able to be part of making sure people have clean water to drink \u2013 water that does not make them sick. I also play a role in cleaning the dirty water before returning it to the environment, preserving water resources for future generations.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Celebrating Women's History Month: Spotlight on Margaret Doss, PO","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"celebrating-womens-history-month-spotlight-on-margaret-doss-po","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-08 10:04:24","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-08 16:04:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/immerse.gowpi.org\/?p=1035","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1028,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2025-02-14 16:53:28","post_date_gmt":"2025-02-14 22:53:28","post_content":"\n Against the horizon, the Bald Cypress stretches towards a sun-drenched sky. Its trunk bloats with the water of the Chesapeake Bay, a water-logged home to a lone copperhead, who curls against the knees of the tree. This is not the first creature to find refuge in the Cypress, whose roots have known this water for nearly one hundred years. Turtles and wood ducks, raccoons and egrets all have called the Bald Cypress swamp home. Along the Chesapeake watershed, life finds new ways to sustain itself. The endeavors of those who make their living by the water's edge, especially the Black Americans who have called the Chesapeake Bay home for centuries, stand as a testament to this resilience. The Black watermen of the Chesapeake, much like the Bald Cypress, remain revered symbols of the Bay to this day. Their invaluable contributions to the industry are nothing short of extraordinary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Maryland, a storied history exists between African Americans and the Bay. The Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in North America<\/a>, has been a robust place of employment for watermen\u2014a term that encompasses both women and men\u2014since the 1600s. In the mid-1800s, that occupation, previously only open to white watermen, was extended to African Americans, who took on roles such as captains, fishermen, oystermen, and owners of seafood processing plants and restaurants. Their labor and contributions transformed the Chesapeake Bay<\/a>. To this day, the Bay is renowned for its rich seafood and maritime industry due to the innovative thinking and hard work of Black watermen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The path to working in the Chesapeake Bay for African Americans was shaped by the growing demand for maritime labor in the 1800s, which led to Maryland offering pseudo-freedom to enslaved persons living and working in the Bay. This was due to the issuing of Seamen\u2019s Protection Certificates, which allowed Black watermen to be classified as citizens as early as sixty-seven years before the Emancipation Proclamation was disseminated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black watermen worked across the entirety of the Bay\u2019s water industry as skilled tradesmen and innovators<\/a>. Black women often were employed in crab picking and oyster shucking, while Black men worked on the water as shipbuilders and crew, in addition to hauling freight and captaining ships. Entering the water industry was groundbreaking, as it was one of the first ways Black Americans could earn a wage. However, being a waterman on the Chesapeake Bay offered more than just a path to freedom and compensation. For many, living at the water\u2019s edge was a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That is not to say, however, there were not still vast issues with the system created. Imani Black, shellfish aquaculture biologist and founder of Minorities in Aquaculture<\/a>, discusses this in \u201cWater\u2019s Edge: The Black Watermen of the Chesapeake Bay,\u201d a documentary for PBS<\/a>. She explains that Black Americans were pushed to the coasts as a result of practices steeped in prejudice and racism, and thus they learned how to live and work with the water out of necessity. Further, working on the water was not easy for African Americans. In 1836, a law was passed<\/a> attempting to prohibit and restrict Black Americans from laboring on the water. While white captains and watermen often ignored this decree due to the crucial contributions of Black watermen, this law promoted additional segregation, economic oppression, and discrimination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite these barriers, African Americans changed and propelled the industry forward. Their resilience led to the creation of an incredible communication network. The winding rivers and bustling water passages became a way for Black Americans to pass information and messages through ports. Through this system, they were able to stay informed on what was happening abroad as well as within the United States. This was how those who had secured their freedom through the water industry were able to devise strategies<\/a> for enslaved persons to flee secretly via boat passage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black watermen used a lantern code to signal if boats had fugitive enslaved African Americans on board. They would then exchange passengers under the cover of night on the still waters of the Chesapeake before returning to their ports. From there, the escaped enslaved Black Americans would travel through the Underground Railroad. Harriet Tubman herself grew up on a Maryland plantation by the Chesapeake Bay. While laboring on the docks, she engaged with a group of Black watermen<\/a>, forming connections and discovering the astonishing system of networking they had created. It was through the information Tubman learned from these Black maritime workers that she was ultimately able to escape. Once free, she used those connections to send messages back and forth to those still enslaved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The impact of the Black watermen continues to be felt today. In the Chesapeake region, generations of Black watermen, like Captain Tyrone Meredith, dedicate their lives<\/a> to preserving the legacy of their forebears. Captain Meredith has worked in the industry for 40 years and is a fifth-generation waterman, following in the footsteps of his father, grandfather, and ancestors. Today, his work as a skipjack captain ensures the spirit and hard work of the Black watermen live on. The Virginia Department of Historic Resources is another source dedicated to preserving this history of the Black watermen; they initiated the African American Watermen Project<\/a>, which documents the culture and history of African American watermen in the Chesapeake Bay\u2019s coastal communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite the many challenges and barriers they faced, the Black watermen of the Chesapeake Bay made indelible marks on both the water industry and U.S. history. Their tenacity, innovation, and unyielding spirit continue to inspire generations. As we celebrate Black History Month, let us honor and remember their contributions\u2014not just in the context of their time, but as a testament to the enduring power of community, resilience, and self-determination. The legacy of the Black watermen is a shining beacon of hope and excellence, reminding us that the waters they navigated are still filled with stories of courage and triumph that resonate to this day.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Black History Month Spotlight: The Black Watermen of the Chesapeake Bay","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"black-history-month-spotlight-the-black-watermen-of-the-chesapeake-bay","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-14 16:53:32","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-14 22:53:32","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/immerse.gowpi.org\/?p=1028","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":849,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2023-04-27 12:00:21","post_date_gmt":"2023-04-27 17:00:21","post_content":"The fastest growing testing trends for 2023 encompass the test taker experience, increasing interest in certification, and how artificial intelligence can play a role in test development. In addition, as the testing industry continues to evolve following the pandemic organizations are reevaluating their strategies for remote testing.\r\n\r\nAll these trends contribute to the perpetual balancing act \u2013 the need for robust test security and a desire to deliver the most convenient and accessible experience for all test takers.\r\n What has been the most rewarding aspect of your career so far?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The lifelong friends I have made is definitely the most rewarding aspect. I can\u2019t begin to name all of the wonderful people I have met in the United States and other countries throughout my career that I truly consider friends. A close second would be the knowledge that I have served my community by protecting public health and the environment. Think about it \u2013 I\u2019ve been able to be part of making sure people have clean water to drink \u2013 water that does not make them sick. I also play a role in cleaning the dirty water before returning it to the environment, preserving water resources for future generations.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Celebrating Women's History Month: Spotlight on Margaret Doss, PO","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"celebrating-womens-history-month-spotlight-on-margaret-doss-po","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-08 10:04:24","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-08 16:04:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/immerse.gowpi.org\/?p=1035","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1028,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2025-02-14 16:53:28","post_date_gmt":"2025-02-14 22:53:28","post_content":"\n Against the horizon, the Bald Cypress stretches towards a sun-drenched sky. Its trunk bloats with the water of the Chesapeake Bay, a water-logged home to a lone copperhead, who curls against the knees of the tree. This is not the first creature to find refuge in the Cypress, whose roots have known this water for nearly one hundred years. Turtles and wood ducks, raccoons and egrets all have called the Bald Cypress swamp home. Along the Chesapeake watershed, life finds new ways to sustain itself. The endeavors of those who make their living by the water's edge, especially the Black Americans who have called the Chesapeake Bay home for centuries, stand as a testament to this resilience. The Black watermen of the Chesapeake, much like the Bald Cypress, remain revered symbols of the Bay to this day. Their invaluable contributions to the industry are nothing short of extraordinary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Maryland, a storied history exists between African Americans and the Bay. The Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in North America<\/a>, has been a robust place of employment for watermen\u2014a term that encompasses both women and men\u2014since the 1600s. In the mid-1800s, that occupation, previously only open to white watermen, was extended to African Americans, who took on roles such as captains, fishermen, oystermen, and owners of seafood processing plants and restaurants. Their labor and contributions transformed the Chesapeake Bay<\/a>. To this day, the Bay is renowned for its rich seafood and maritime industry due to the innovative thinking and hard work of Black watermen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The path to working in the Chesapeake Bay for African Americans was shaped by the growing demand for maritime labor in the 1800s, which led to Maryland offering pseudo-freedom to enslaved persons living and working in the Bay. This was due to the issuing of Seamen\u2019s Protection Certificates, which allowed Black watermen to be classified as citizens as early as sixty-seven years before the Emancipation Proclamation was disseminated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black watermen worked across the entirety of the Bay\u2019s water industry as skilled tradesmen and innovators<\/a>. Black women often were employed in crab picking and oyster shucking, while Black men worked on the water as shipbuilders and crew, in addition to hauling freight and captaining ships. Entering the water industry was groundbreaking, as it was one of the first ways Black Americans could earn a wage. However, being a waterman on the Chesapeake Bay offered more than just a path to freedom and compensation. For many, living at the water\u2019s edge was a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That is not to say, however, there were not still vast issues with the system created. Imani Black, shellfish aquaculture biologist and founder of Minorities in Aquaculture<\/a>, discusses this in \u201cWater\u2019s Edge: The Black Watermen of the Chesapeake Bay,\u201d a documentary for PBS<\/a>. She explains that Black Americans were pushed to the coasts as a result of practices steeped in prejudice and racism, and thus they learned how to live and work with the water out of necessity. Further, working on the water was not easy for African Americans. In 1836, a law was passed<\/a> attempting to prohibit and restrict Black Americans from laboring on the water. While white captains and watermen often ignored this decree due to the crucial contributions of Black watermen, this law promoted additional segregation, economic oppression, and discrimination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite these barriers, African Americans changed and propelled the industry forward. Their resilience led to the creation of an incredible communication network. The winding rivers and bustling water passages became a way for Black Americans to pass information and messages through ports. Through this system, they were able to stay informed on what was happening abroad as well as within the United States. This was how those who had secured their freedom through the water industry were able to devise strategies<\/a> for enslaved persons to flee secretly via boat passage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black watermen used a lantern code to signal if boats had fugitive enslaved African Americans on board. They would then exchange passengers under the cover of night on the still waters of the Chesapeake before returning to their ports. From there, the escaped enslaved Black Americans would travel through the Underground Railroad. Harriet Tubman herself grew up on a Maryland plantation by the Chesapeake Bay. While laboring on the docks, she engaged with a group of Black watermen<\/a>, forming connections and discovering the astonishing system of networking they had created. It was through the information Tubman learned from these Black maritime workers that she was ultimately able to escape. Once free, she used those connections to send messages back and forth to those still enslaved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The impact of the Black watermen continues to be felt today. In the Chesapeake region, generations of Black watermen, like Captain Tyrone Meredith, dedicate their lives<\/a> to preserving the legacy of their forebears. Captain Meredith has worked in the industry for 40 years and is a fifth-generation waterman, following in the footsteps of his father, grandfather, and ancestors. Today, his work as a skipjack captain ensures the spirit and hard work of the Black watermen live on. The Virginia Department of Historic Resources is another source dedicated to preserving this history of the Black watermen; they initiated the African American Watermen Project<\/a>, which documents the culture and history of African American watermen in the Chesapeake Bay\u2019s coastal communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite the many challenges and barriers they faced, the Black watermen of the Chesapeake Bay made indelible marks on both the water industry and U.S. history. Their tenacity, innovation, and unyielding spirit continue to inspire generations. As we celebrate Black History Month, let us honor and remember their contributions\u2014not just in the context of their time, but as a testament to the enduring power of community, resilience, and self-determination. The legacy of the Black watermen is a shining beacon of hope and excellence, reminding us that the waters they navigated are still filled with stories of courage and triumph that resonate to this day.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Black History Month Spotlight: The Black Watermen of the Chesapeake Bay","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"black-history-month-spotlight-the-black-watermen-of-the-chesapeake-bay","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-14 16:53:32","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-14 22:53:32","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/immerse.gowpi.org\/?p=1028","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":849,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2023-04-27 12:00:21","post_date_gmt":"2023-04-27 17:00:21","post_content":"The fastest growing testing trends for 2023 encompass the test taker experience, increasing interest in certification, and how artificial intelligence can play a role in test development. In addition, as the testing industry continues to evolve following the pandemic organizations are reevaluating their strategies for remote testing.\r\n\r\nAll these trends contribute to the perpetual balancing act \u2013 the need for robust test security and a desire to deliver the most convenient and accessible experience for all test takers.\r\n Work in an organization where the leadership respects its employees and encourages them to be successful, don\u2019t wait to be promoted to learn what you need to know to move up in your organization, and be a leader, even if you haven\u2019t been promoted to an official leadership position. Being a leader means doing what needs to be done because it needs to be done, not for the accolades. I would also say don\u2019t be afraid to let others know you are smart, but be humble, not arrogant. Strive to keep learning. I would encourage women to be involved in organizations or associations outside of work related to our industry \u2013 WPI, AWWA, WEF, your local operator association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What has been the most rewarding aspect of your career so far?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The lifelong friends I have made is definitely the most rewarding aspect. I can\u2019t begin to name all of the wonderful people I have met in the United States and other countries throughout my career that I truly consider friends. A close second would be the knowledge that I have served my community by protecting public health and the environment. Think about it \u2013 I\u2019ve been able to be part of making sure people have clean water to drink \u2013 water that does not make them sick. I also play a role in cleaning the dirty water before returning it to the environment, preserving water resources for future generations.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Celebrating Women's History Month: Spotlight on Margaret Doss, PO","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"celebrating-womens-history-month-spotlight-on-margaret-doss-po","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-08 10:04:24","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-08 16:04:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/immerse.gowpi.org\/?p=1035","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1028,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2025-02-14 16:53:28","post_date_gmt":"2025-02-14 22:53:28","post_content":"\n Against the horizon, the Bald Cypress stretches towards a sun-drenched sky. Its trunk bloats with the water of the Chesapeake Bay, a water-logged home to a lone copperhead, who curls against the knees of the tree. This is not the first creature to find refuge in the Cypress, whose roots have known this water for nearly one hundred years. Turtles and wood ducks, raccoons and egrets all have called the Bald Cypress swamp home. Along the Chesapeake watershed, life finds new ways to sustain itself. The endeavors of those who make their living by the water's edge, especially the Black Americans who have called the Chesapeake Bay home for centuries, stand as a testament to this resilience. The Black watermen of the Chesapeake, much like the Bald Cypress, remain revered symbols of the Bay to this day. Their invaluable contributions to the industry are nothing short of extraordinary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Maryland, a storied history exists between African Americans and the Bay. The Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in North America<\/a>, has been a robust place of employment for watermen\u2014a term that encompasses both women and men\u2014since the 1600s. In the mid-1800s, that occupation, previously only open to white watermen, was extended to African Americans, who took on roles such as captains, fishermen, oystermen, and owners of seafood processing plants and restaurants. Their labor and contributions transformed the Chesapeake Bay<\/a>. To this day, the Bay is renowned for its rich seafood and maritime industry due to the innovative thinking and hard work of Black watermen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The path to working in the Chesapeake Bay for African Americans was shaped by the growing demand for maritime labor in the 1800s, which led to Maryland offering pseudo-freedom to enslaved persons living and working in the Bay. This was due to the issuing of Seamen\u2019s Protection Certificates, which allowed Black watermen to be classified as citizens as early as sixty-seven years before the Emancipation Proclamation was disseminated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black watermen worked across the entirety of the Bay\u2019s water industry as skilled tradesmen and innovators<\/a>. Black women often were employed in crab picking and oyster shucking, while Black men worked on the water as shipbuilders and crew, in addition to hauling freight and captaining ships. Entering the water industry was groundbreaking, as it was one of the first ways Black Americans could earn a wage. However, being a waterman on the Chesapeake Bay offered more than just a path to freedom and compensation. For many, living at the water\u2019s edge was a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That is not to say, however, there were not still vast issues with the system created. Imani Black, shellfish aquaculture biologist and founder of Minorities in Aquaculture<\/a>, discusses this in \u201cWater\u2019s Edge: The Black Watermen of the Chesapeake Bay,\u201d a documentary for PBS<\/a>. She explains that Black Americans were pushed to the coasts as a result of practices steeped in prejudice and racism, and thus they learned how to live and work with the water out of necessity. Further, working on the water was not easy for African Americans. In 1836, a law was passed<\/a> attempting to prohibit and restrict Black Americans from laboring on the water. While white captains and watermen often ignored this decree due to the crucial contributions of Black watermen, this law promoted additional segregation, economic oppression, and discrimination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite these barriers, African Americans changed and propelled the industry forward. Their resilience led to the creation of an incredible communication network. The winding rivers and bustling water passages became a way for Black Americans to pass information and messages through ports. Through this system, they were able to stay informed on what was happening abroad as well as within the United States. This was how those who had secured their freedom through the water industry were able to devise strategies<\/a> for enslaved persons to flee secretly via boat passage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black watermen used a lantern code to signal if boats had fugitive enslaved African Americans on board. They would then exchange passengers under the cover of night on the still waters of the Chesapeake before returning to their ports. From there, the escaped enslaved Black Americans would travel through the Underground Railroad. Harriet Tubman herself grew up on a Maryland plantation by the Chesapeake Bay. While laboring on the docks, she engaged with a group of Black watermen<\/a>, forming connections and discovering the astonishing system of networking they had created. It was through the information Tubman learned from these Black maritime workers that she was ultimately able to escape. Once free, she used those connections to send messages back and forth to those still enslaved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The impact of the Black watermen continues to be felt today. In the Chesapeake region, generations of Black watermen, like Captain Tyrone Meredith, dedicate their lives<\/a> to preserving the legacy of their forebears. Captain Meredith has worked in the industry for 40 years and is a fifth-generation waterman, following in the footsteps of his father, grandfather, and ancestors. Today, his work as a skipjack captain ensures the spirit and hard work of the Black watermen live on. The Virginia Department of Historic Resources is another source dedicated to preserving this history of the Black watermen; they initiated the African American Watermen Project<\/a>, which documents the culture and history of African American watermen in the Chesapeake Bay\u2019s coastal communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite the many challenges and barriers they faced, the Black watermen of the Chesapeake Bay made indelible marks on both the water industry and U.S. history. Their tenacity, innovation, and unyielding spirit continue to inspire generations. As we celebrate Black History Month, let us honor and remember their contributions\u2014not just in the context of their time, but as a testament to the enduring power of community, resilience, and self-determination. The legacy of the Black watermen is a shining beacon of hope and excellence, reminding us that the waters they navigated are still filled with stories of courage and triumph that resonate to this day.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Black History Month Spotlight: The Black Watermen of the Chesapeake Bay","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"black-history-month-spotlight-the-black-watermen-of-the-chesapeake-bay","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-14 16:53:32","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-14 22:53:32","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/immerse.gowpi.org\/?p=1028","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":849,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2023-04-27 12:00:21","post_date_gmt":"2023-04-27 17:00:21","post_content":"The fastest growing testing trends for 2023 encompass the test taker experience, increasing interest in certification, and how artificial intelligence can play a role in test development. In addition, as the testing industry continues to evolve following the pandemic organizations are reevaluating their strategies for remote testing.\r\n\r\nAll these trends contribute to the perpetual balancing act \u2013 the need for robust test security and a desire to deliver the most convenient and accessible experience for all test takers.\r\n What advice would you give to women aspiring to take on a leadership role in the water industry?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Work in an organization where the leadership respects its employees and encourages them to be successful, don\u2019t wait to be promoted to learn what you need to know to move up in your organization, and be a leader, even if you haven\u2019t been promoted to an official leadership position. Being a leader means doing what needs to be done because it needs to be done, not for the accolades. I would also say don\u2019t be afraid to let others know you are smart, but be humble, not arrogant. Strive to keep learning. I would encourage women to be involved in organizations or associations outside of work related to our industry \u2013 WPI, AWWA, WEF, your local operator association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What has been the most rewarding aspect of your career so far?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The lifelong friends I have made is definitely the most rewarding aspect. I can\u2019t begin to name all of the wonderful people I have met in the United States and other countries throughout my career that I truly consider friends. A close second would be the knowledge that I have served my community by protecting public health and the environment. Think about it \u2013 I\u2019ve been able to be part of making sure people have clean water to drink \u2013 water that does not make them sick. I also play a role in cleaning the dirty water before returning it to the environment, preserving water resources for future generations.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Celebrating Women's History Month: Spotlight on Margaret Doss, PO","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"celebrating-womens-history-month-spotlight-on-margaret-doss-po","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-08 10:04:24","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-08 16:04:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/immerse.gowpi.org\/?p=1035","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1028,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2025-02-14 16:53:28","post_date_gmt":"2025-02-14 22:53:28","post_content":"\n Against the horizon, the Bald Cypress stretches towards a sun-drenched sky. Its trunk bloats with the water of the Chesapeake Bay, a water-logged home to a lone copperhead, who curls against the knees of the tree. This is not the first creature to find refuge in the Cypress, whose roots have known this water for nearly one hundred years. Turtles and wood ducks, raccoons and egrets all have called the Bald Cypress swamp home. Along the Chesapeake watershed, life finds new ways to sustain itself. The endeavors of those who make their living by the water's edge, especially the Black Americans who have called the Chesapeake Bay home for centuries, stand as a testament to this resilience. The Black watermen of the Chesapeake, much like the Bald Cypress, remain revered symbols of the Bay to this day. Their invaluable contributions to the industry are nothing short of extraordinary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Maryland, a storied history exists between African Americans and the Bay. The Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in North America<\/a>, has been a robust place of employment for watermen\u2014a term that encompasses both women and men\u2014since the 1600s. In the mid-1800s, that occupation, previously only open to white watermen, was extended to African Americans, who took on roles such as captains, fishermen, oystermen, and owners of seafood processing plants and restaurants. Their labor and contributions transformed the Chesapeake Bay<\/a>. To this day, the Bay is renowned for its rich seafood and maritime industry due to the innovative thinking and hard work of Black watermen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The path to working in the Chesapeake Bay for African Americans was shaped by the growing demand for maritime labor in the 1800s, which led to Maryland offering pseudo-freedom to enslaved persons living and working in the Bay. This was due to the issuing of Seamen\u2019s Protection Certificates, which allowed Black watermen to be classified as citizens as early as sixty-seven years before the Emancipation Proclamation was disseminated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black watermen worked across the entirety of the Bay\u2019s water industry as skilled tradesmen and innovators<\/a>. Black women often were employed in crab picking and oyster shucking, while Black men worked on the water as shipbuilders and crew, in addition to hauling freight and captaining ships. Entering the water industry was groundbreaking, as it was one of the first ways Black Americans could earn a wage. However, being a waterman on the Chesapeake Bay offered more than just a path to freedom and compensation. For many, living at the water\u2019s edge was a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That is not to say, however, there were not still vast issues with the system created. Imani Black, shellfish aquaculture biologist and founder of Minorities in Aquaculture<\/a>, discusses this in \u201cWater\u2019s Edge: The Black Watermen of the Chesapeake Bay,\u201d a documentary for PBS<\/a>. She explains that Black Americans were pushed to the coasts as a result of practices steeped in prejudice and racism, and thus they learned how to live and work with the water out of necessity. Further, working on the water was not easy for African Americans. In 1836, a law was passed<\/a> attempting to prohibit and restrict Black Americans from laboring on the water. While white captains and watermen often ignored this decree due to the crucial contributions of Black watermen, this law promoted additional segregation, economic oppression, and discrimination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite these barriers, African Americans changed and propelled the industry forward. Their resilience led to the creation of an incredible communication network. The winding rivers and bustling water passages became a way for Black Americans to pass information and messages through ports. Through this system, they were able to stay informed on what was happening abroad as well as within the United States. This was how those who had secured their freedom through the water industry were able to devise strategies<\/a> for enslaved persons to flee secretly via boat passage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black watermen used a lantern code to signal if boats had fugitive enslaved African Americans on board. They would then exchange passengers under the cover of night on the still waters of the Chesapeake before returning to their ports. From there, the escaped enslaved Black Americans would travel through the Underground Railroad. Harriet Tubman herself grew up on a Maryland plantation by the Chesapeake Bay. While laboring on the docks, she engaged with a group of Black watermen<\/a>, forming connections and discovering the astonishing system of networking they had created. It was through the information Tubman learned from these Black maritime workers that she was ultimately able to escape. Once free, she used those connections to send messages back and forth to those still enslaved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The impact of the Black watermen continues to be felt today. In the Chesapeake region, generations of Black watermen, like Captain Tyrone Meredith, dedicate their lives<\/a> to preserving the legacy of their forebears. Captain Meredith has worked in the industry for 40 years and is a fifth-generation waterman, following in the footsteps of his father, grandfather, and ancestors. Today, his work as a skipjack captain ensures the spirit and hard work of the Black watermen live on. The Virginia Department of Historic Resources is another source dedicated to preserving this history of the Black watermen; they initiated the African American Watermen Project<\/a>, which documents the culture and history of African American watermen in the Chesapeake Bay\u2019s coastal communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite the many challenges and barriers they faced, the Black watermen of the Chesapeake Bay made indelible marks on both the water industry and U.S. history. Their tenacity, innovation, and unyielding spirit continue to inspire generations. As we celebrate Black History Month, let us honor and remember their contributions\u2014not just in the context of their time, but as a testament to the enduring power of community, resilience, and self-determination. The legacy of the Black watermen is a shining beacon of hope and excellence, reminding us that the waters they navigated are still filled with stories of courage and triumph that resonate to this day.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Black History Month Spotlight: The Black Watermen of the Chesapeake Bay","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"black-history-month-spotlight-the-black-watermen-of-the-chesapeake-bay","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-14 16:53:32","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-14 22:53:32","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/immerse.gowpi.org\/?p=1028","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":849,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2023-04-27 12:00:21","post_date_gmt":"2023-04-27 17:00:21","post_content":"The fastest growing testing trends for 2023 encompass the test taker experience, increasing interest in certification, and how artificial intelligence can play a role in test development. In addition, as the testing industry continues to evolve following the pandemic organizations are reevaluating their strategies for remote testing.\r\n\r\nAll these trends contribute to the perpetual balancing act \u2013 the need for robust test security and a desire to deliver the most convenient and accessible experience for all test takers.\r\n In 2001, I was appointed by the Governor to the Georgia Water\/Wastewater Operator Certification Board, which is a member of WPI. After attending my first WPI conference, I was asked to consider running for a leadership role in WPI. I was honored to be elected as the Wastewater Treatment Division Director for WPI in 2003. I was subsequently elected to serve as an officer from 2004 \u2013 2007. I still believe my involvement with WPI is a way to give back to the water and wastewater industry; to have a lasting positive impact on future generations of operators and laboratory analysts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What advice would you give to women aspiring to take on a leadership role in the water industry?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Work in an organization where the leadership respects its employees and encourages them to be successful, don\u2019t wait to be promoted to learn what you need to know to move up in your organization, and be a leader, even if you haven\u2019t been promoted to an official leadership position. Being a leader means doing what needs to be done because it needs to be done, not for the accolades. I would also say don\u2019t be afraid to let others know you are smart, but be humble, not arrogant. Strive to keep learning. I would encourage women to be involved in organizations or associations outside of work related to our industry \u2013 WPI, AWWA, WEF, your local operator association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What has been the most rewarding aspect of your career so far?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The lifelong friends I have made is definitely the most rewarding aspect. I can\u2019t begin to name all of the wonderful people I have met in the United States and other countries throughout my career that I truly consider friends. A close second would be the knowledge that I have served my community by protecting public health and the environment. Think about it \u2013 I\u2019ve been able to be part of making sure people have clean water to drink \u2013 water that does not make them sick. I also play a role in cleaning the dirty water before returning it to the environment, preserving water resources for future generations.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Celebrating Women's History Month: Spotlight on Margaret Doss, PO","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"celebrating-womens-history-month-spotlight-on-margaret-doss-po","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-08 10:04:24","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-08 16:04:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/immerse.gowpi.org\/?p=1035","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1028,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2025-02-14 16:53:28","post_date_gmt":"2025-02-14 22:53:28","post_content":"\n Against the horizon, the Bald Cypress stretches towards a sun-drenched sky. Its trunk bloats with the water of the Chesapeake Bay, a water-logged home to a lone copperhead, who curls against the knees of the tree. This is not the first creature to find refuge in the Cypress, whose roots have known this water for nearly one hundred years. Turtles and wood ducks, raccoons and egrets all have called the Bald Cypress swamp home. Along the Chesapeake watershed, life finds new ways to sustain itself. The endeavors of those who make their living by the water's edge, especially the Black Americans who have called the Chesapeake Bay home for centuries, stand as a testament to this resilience. The Black watermen of the Chesapeake, much like the Bald Cypress, remain revered symbols of the Bay to this day. Their invaluable contributions to the industry are nothing short of extraordinary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Maryland, a storied history exists between African Americans and the Bay. The Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in North America<\/a>, has been a robust place of employment for watermen\u2014a term that encompasses both women and men\u2014since the 1600s. In the mid-1800s, that occupation, previously only open to white watermen, was extended to African Americans, who took on roles such as captains, fishermen, oystermen, and owners of seafood processing plants and restaurants. Their labor and contributions transformed the Chesapeake Bay<\/a>. To this day, the Bay is renowned for its rich seafood and maritime industry due to the innovative thinking and hard work of Black watermen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The path to working in the Chesapeake Bay for African Americans was shaped by the growing demand for maritime labor in the 1800s, which led to Maryland offering pseudo-freedom to enslaved persons living and working in the Bay. This was due to the issuing of Seamen\u2019s Protection Certificates, which allowed Black watermen to be classified as citizens as early as sixty-seven years before the Emancipation Proclamation was disseminated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black watermen worked across the entirety of the Bay\u2019s water industry as skilled tradesmen and innovators<\/a>. Black women often were employed in crab picking and oyster shucking, while Black men worked on the water as shipbuilders and crew, in addition to hauling freight and captaining ships. Entering the water industry was groundbreaking, as it was one of the first ways Black Americans could earn a wage. However, being a waterman on the Chesapeake Bay offered more than just a path to freedom and compensation. For many, living at the water\u2019s edge was a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That is not to say, however, there were not still vast issues with the system created. Imani Black, shellfish aquaculture biologist and founder of Minorities in Aquaculture<\/a>, discusses this in \u201cWater\u2019s Edge: The Black Watermen of the Chesapeake Bay,\u201d a documentary for PBS<\/a>. She explains that Black Americans were pushed to the coasts as a result of practices steeped in prejudice and racism, and thus they learned how to live and work with the water out of necessity. Further, working on the water was not easy for African Americans. In 1836, a law was passed<\/a> attempting to prohibit and restrict Black Americans from laboring on the water. While white captains and watermen often ignored this decree due to the crucial contributions of Black watermen, this law promoted additional segregation, economic oppression, and discrimination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite these barriers, African Americans changed and propelled the industry forward. Their resilience led to the creation of an incredible communication network. The winding rivers and bustling water passages became a way for Black Americans to pass information and messages through ports. Through this system, they were able to stay informed on what was happening abroad as well as within the United States. This was how those who had secured their freedom through the water industry were able to devise strategies<\/a> for enslaved persons to flee secretly via boat passage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black watermen used a lantern code to signal if boats had fugitive enslaved African Americans on board. They would then exchange passengers under the cover of night on the still waters of the Chesapeake before returning to their ports. From there, the escaped enslaved Black Americans would travel through the Underground Railroad. Harriet Tubman herself grew up on a Maryland plantation by the Chesapeake Bay. While laboring on the docks, she engaged with a group of Black watermen<\/a>, forming connections and discovering the astonishing system of networking they had created. It was through the information Tubman learned from these Black maritime workers that she was ultimately able to escape. Once free, she used those connections to send messages back and forth to those still enslaved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The impact of the Black watermen continues to be felt today. In the Chesapeake region, generations of Black watermen, like Captain Tyrone Meredith, dedicate their lives<\/a> to preserving the legacy of their forebears. Captain Meredith has worked in the industry for 40 years and is a fifth-generation waterman, following in the footsteps of his father, grandfather, and ancestors. Today, his work as a skipjack captain ensures the spirit and hard work of the Black watermen live on. The Virginia Department of Historic Resources is another source dedicated to preserving this history of the Black watermen; they initiated the African American Watermen Project<\/a>, which documents the culture and history of African American watermen in the Chesapeake Bay\u2019s coastal communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite the many challenges and barriers they faced, the Black watermen of the Chesapeake Bay made indelible marks on both the water industry and U.S. history. Their tenacity, innovation, and unyielding spirit continue to inspire generations. As we celebrate Black History Month, let us honor and remember their contributions\u2014not just in the context of their time, but as a testament to the enduring power of community, resilience, and self-determination. The legacy of the Black watermen is a shining beacon of hope and excellence, reminding us that the waters they navigated are still filled with stories of courage and triumph that resonate to this day.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Black History Month Spotlight: The Black Watermen of the Chesapeake Bay","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"black-history-month-spotlight-the-black-watermen-of-the-chesapeake-bay","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-14 16:53:32","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-14 22:53:32","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/immerse.gowpi.org\/?p=1028","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":849,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2023-04-27 12:00:21","post_date_gmt":"2023-04-27 17:00:21","post_content":"The fastest growing testing trends for 2023 encompass the test taker experience, increasing interest in certification, and how artificial intelligence can play a role in test development. In addition, as the testing industry continues to evolve following the pandemic organizations are reevaluating their strategies for remote testing.\r\n\r\nAll these trends contribute to the perpetual balancing act \u2013 the need for robust test security and a desire to deliver the most convenient and accessible experience for all test takers.\r\n When I took my certification exams, I disagreed with a couple of items on the exam, so I contacted Ernie Earn, who served on the Georgia Operator Certification Board at the time. He set me up to be an item bank reviewer (a Subject Matter Expert that reviews items being considered for use on examinations). I fell in love with the whole psychometric process. From there I was invited to join the Laboratory Exam Committee. I felt like being involved in WPI was a way I could give back to the industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2001, I was appointed by the Governor to the Georgia Water\/Wastewater Operator Certification Board, which is a member of WPI. After attending my first WPI conference, I was asked to consider running for a leadership role in WPI. I was honored to be elected as the Wastewater Treatment Division Director for WPI in 2003. I was subsequently elected to serve as an officer from 2004 \u2013 2007. I still believe my involvement with WPI is a way to give back to the water and wastewater industry; to have a lasting positive impact on future generations of operators and laboratory analysts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What advice would you give to women aspiring to take on a leadership role in the water industry?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Work in an organization where the leadership respects its employees and encourages them to be successful, don\u2019t wait to be promoted to learn what you need to know to move up in your organization, and be a leader, even if you haven\u2019t been promoted to an official leadership position. Being a leader means doing what needs to be done because it needs to be done, not for the accolades. I would also say don\u2019t be afraid to let others know you are smart, but be humble, not arrogant. Strive to keep learning. I would encourage women to be involved in organizations or associations outside of work related to our industry \u2013 WPI, AWWA, WEF, your local operator association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What has been the most rewarding aspect of your career so far?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The lifelong friends I have made is definitely the most rewarding aspect. I can\u2019t begin to name all of the wonderful people I have met in the United States and other countries throughout my career that I truly consider friends. A close second would be the knowledge that I have served my community by protecting public health and the environment. Think about it \u2013 I\u2019ve been able to be part of making sure people have clean water to drink \u2013 water that does not make them sick. I also play a role in cleaning the dirty water before returning it to the environment, preserving water resources for future generations.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Celebrating Women's History Month: Spotlight on Margaret Doss, PO","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"celebrating-womens-history-month-spotlight-on-margaret-doss-po","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-08 10:04:24","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-08 16:04:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/immerse.gowpi.org\/?p=1035","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1028,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2025-02-14 16:53:28","post_date_gmt":"2025-02-14 22:53:28","post_content":"\n Against the horizon, the Bald Cypress stretches towards a sun-drenched sky. Its trunk bloats with the water of the Chesapeake Bay, a water-logged home to a lone copperhead, who curls against the knees of the tree. This is not the first creature to find refuge in the Cypress, whose roots have known this water for nearly one hundred years. Turtles and wood ducks, raccoons and egrets all have called the Bald Cypress swamp home. Along the Chesapeake watershed, life finds new ways to sustain itself. The endeavors of those who make their living by the water's edge, especially the Black Americans who have called the Chesapeake Bay home for centuries, stand as a testament to this resilience. The Black watermen of the Chesapeake, much like the Bald Cypress, remain revered symbols of the Bay to this day. Their invaluable contributions to the industry are nothing short of extraordinary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Maryland, a storied history exists between African Americans and the Bay. The Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in North America<\/a>, has been a robust place of employment for watermen\u2014a term that encompasses both women and men\u2014since the 1600s. In the mid-1800s, that occupation, previously only open to white watermen, was extended to African Americans, who took on roles such as captains, fishermen, oystermen, and owners of seafood processing plants and restaurants. Their labor and contributions transformed the Chesapeake Bay<\/a>. To this day, the Bay is renowned for its rich seafood and maritime industry due to the innovative thinking and hard work of Black watermen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The path to working in the Chesapeake Bay for African Americans was shaped by the growing demand for maritime labor in the 1800s, which led to Maryland offering pseudo-freedom to enslaved persons living and working in the Bay. This was due to the issuing of Seamen\u2019s Protection Certificates, which allowed Black watermen to be classified as citizens as early as sixty-seven years before the Emancipation Proclamation was disseminated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black watermen worked across the entirety of the Bay\u2019s water industry as skilled tradesmen and innovators<\/a>. Black women often were employed in crab picking and oyster shucking, while Black men worked on the water as shipbuilders and crew, in addition to hauling freight and captaining ships. Entering the water industry was groundbreaking, as it was one of the first ways Black Americans could earn a wage. However, being a waterman on the Chesapeake Bay offered more than just a path to freedom and compensation. For many, living at the water\u2019s edge was a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That is not to say, however, there were not still vast issues with the system created. Imani Black, shellfish aquaculture biologist and founder of Minorities in Aquaculture<\/a>, discusses this in \u201cWater\u2019s Edge: The Black Watermen of the Chesapeake Bay,\u201d a documentary for PBS<\/a>. She explains that Black Americans were pushed to the coasts as a result of practices steeped in prejudice and racism, and thus they learned how to live and work with the water out of necessity. Further, working on the water was not easy for African Americans. In 1836, a law was passed<\/a> attempting to prohibit and restrict Black Americans from laboring on the water. While white captains and watermen often ignored this decree due to the crucial contributions of Black watermen, this law promoted additional segregation, economic oppression, and discrimination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite these barriers, African Americans changed and propelled the industry forward. Their resilience led to the creation of an incredible communication network. The winding rivers and bustling water passages became a way for Black Americans to pass information and messages through ports. Through this system, they were able to stay informed on what was happening abroad as well as within the United States. This was how those who had secured their freedom through the water industry were able to devise strategies<\/a> for enslaved persons to flee secretly via boat passage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black watermen used a lantern code to signal if boats had fugitive enslaved African Americans on board. They would then exchange passengers under the cover of night on the still waters of the Chesapeake before returning to their ports. From there, the escaped enslaved Black Americans would travel through the Underground Railroad. Harriet Tubman herself grew up on a Maryland plantation by the Chesapeake Bay. While laboring on the docks, she engaged with a group of Black watermen<\/a>, forming connections and discovering the astonishing system of networking they had created. It was through the information Tubman learned from these Black maritime workers that she was ultimately able to escape. Once free, she used those connections to send messages back and forth to those still enslaved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The impact of the Black watermen continues to be felt today. In the Chesapeake region, generations of Black watermen, like Captain Tyrone Meredith, dedicate their lives<\/a> to preserving the legacy of their forebears. Captain Meredith has worked in the industry for 40 years and is a fifth-generation waterman, following in the footsteps of his father, grandfather, and ancestors. Today, his work as a skipjack captain ensures the spirit and hard work of the Black watermen live on. The Virginia Department of Historic Resources is another source dedicated to preserving this history of the Black watermen; they initiated the African American Watermen Project<\/a>, which documents the culture and history of African American watermen in the Chesapeake Bay\u2019s coastal communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite the many challenges and barriers they faced, the Black watermen of the Chesapeake Bay made indelible marks on both the water industry and U.S. history. Their tenacity, innovation, and unyielding spirit continue to inspire generations. As we celebrate Black History Month, let us honor and remember their contributions\u2014not just in the context of their time, but as a testament to the enduring power of community, resilience, and self-determination. The legacy of the Black watermen is a shining beacon of hope and excellence, reminding us that the waters they navigated are still filled with stories of courage and triumph that resonate to this day.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Black History Month Spotlight: The Black Watermen of the Chesapeake Bay","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"black-history-month-spotlight-the-black-watermen-of-the-chesapeake-bay","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-14 16:53:32","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-14 22:53:32","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/immerse.gowpi.org\/?p=1028","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":849,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2023-04-27 12:00:21","post_date_gmt":"2023-04-27 17:00:21","post_content":"The fastest growing testing trends for 2023 encompass the test taker experience, increasing interest in certification, and how artificial intelligence can play a role in test development. In addition, as the testing industry continues to evolve following the pandemic organizations are reevaluating their strategies for remote testing.\r\n\r\nAll these trends contribute to the perpetual balancing act \u2013 the need for robust test security and a desire to deliver the most convenient and accessible experience for all test takers.\r\n What motivated you to get involved in several leadership roles over the years at WPI?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n When I took my certification exams, I disagreed with a couple of items on the exam, so I contacted Ernie Earn, who served on the Georgia Operator Certification Board at the time. He set me up to be an item bank reviewer (a Subject Matter Expert that reviews items being considered for use on examinations). I fell in love with the whole psychometric process. From there I was invited to join the Laboratory Exam Committee. I felt like being involved in WPI was a way I could give back to the industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2001, I was appointed by the Governor to the Georgia Water\/Wastewater Operator Certification Board, which is a member of WPI. After attending my first WPI conference, I was asked to consider running for a leadership role in WPI. I was honored to be elected as the Wastewater Treatment Division Director for WPI in 2003. I was subsequently elected to serve as an officer from 2004 \u2013 2007. I still believe my involvement with WPI is a way to give back to the water and wastewater industry; to have a lasting positive impact on future generations of operators and laboratory analysts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What advice would you give to women aspiring to take on a leadership role in the water industry?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Work in an organization where the leadership respects its employees and encourages them to be successful, don\u2019t wait to be promoted to learn what you need to know to move up in your organization, and be a leader, even if you haven\u2019t been promoted to an official leadership position. Being a leader means doing what needs to be done because it needs to be done, not for the accolades. I would also say don\u2019t be afraid to let others know you are smart, but be humble, not arrogant. Strive to keep learning. I would encourage women to be involved in organizations or associations outside of work related to our industry \u2013 WPI, AWWA, WEF, your local operator association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What has been the most rewarding aspect of your career so far?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The lifelong friends I have made is definitely the most rewarding aspect. I can\u2019t begin to name all of the wonderful people I have met in the United States and other countries throughout my career that I truly consider friends. A close second would be the knowledge that I have served my community by protecting public health and the environment. Think about it \u2013 I\u2019ve been able to be part of making sure people have clean water to drink \u2013 water that does not make them sick. I also play a role in cleaning the dirty water before returning it to the environment, preserving water resources for future generations.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Celebrating Women's History Month: Spotlight on Margaret Doss, PO","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"celebrating-womens-history-month-spotlight-on-margaret-doss-po","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-08 10:04:24","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-08 16:04:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/immerse.gowpi.org\/?p=1035","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1028,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2025-02-14 16:53:28","post_date_gmt":"2025-02-14 22:53:28","post_content":"\n Against the horizon, the Bald Cypress stretches towards a sun-drenched sky. Its trunk bloats with the water of the Chesapeake Bay, a water-logged home to a lone copperhead, who curls against the knees of the tree. This is not the first creature to find refuge in the Cypress, whose roots have known this water for nearly one hundred years. Turtles and wood ducks, raccoons and egrets all have called the Bald Cypress swamp home. Along the Chesapeake watershed, life finds new ways to sustain itself. The endeavors of those who make their living by the water's edge, especially the Black Americans who have called the Chesapeake Bay home for centuries, stand as a testament to this resilience. The Black watermen of the Chesapeake, much like the Bald Cypress, remain revered symbols of the Bay to this day. Their invaluable contributions to the industry are nothing short of extraordinary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Maryland, a storied history exists between African Americans and the Bay. The Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in North America<\/a>, has been a robust place of employment for watermen\u2014a term that encompasses both women and men\u2014since the 1600s. In the mid-1800s, that occupation, previously only open to white watermen, was extended to African Americans, who took on roles such as captains, fishermen, oystermen, and owners of seafood processing plants and restaurants. Their labor and contributions transformed the Chesapeake Bay<\/a>. To this day, the Bay is renowned for its rich seafood and maritime industry due to the innovative thinking and hard work of Black watermen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The path to working in the Chesapeake Bay for African Americans was shaped by the growing demand for maritime labor in the 1800s, which led to Maryland offering pseudo-freedom to enslaved persons living and working in the Bay. This was due to the issuing of Seamen\u2019s Protection Certificates, which allowed Black watermen to be classified as citizens as early as sixty-seven years before the Emancipation Proclamation was disseminated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black watermen worked across the entirety of the Bay\u2019s water industry as skilled tradesmen and innovators<\/a>. Black women often were employed in crab picking and oyster shucking, while Black men worked on the water as shipbuilders and crew, in addition to hauling freight and captaining ships. Entering the water industry was groundbreaking, as it was one of the first ways Black Americans could earn a wage. However, being a waterman on the Chesapeake Bay offered more than just a path to freedom and compensation. For many, living at the water\u2019s edge was a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That is not to say, however, there were not still vast issues with the system created. Imani Black, shellfish aquaculture biologist and founder of Minorities in Aquaculture<\/a>, discusses this in \u201cWater\u2019s Edge: The Black Watermen of the Chesapeake Bay,\u201d a documentary for PBS<\/a>. She explains that Black Americans were pushed to the coasts as a result of practices steeped in prejudice and racism, and thus they learned how to live and work with the water out of necessity. Further, working on the water was not easy for African Americans. In 1836, a law was passed<\/a> attempting to prohibit and restrict Black Americans from laboring on the water. While white captains and watermen often ignored this decree due to the crucial contributions of Black watermen, this law promoted additional segregation, economic oppression, and discrimination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite these barriers, African Americans changed and propelled the industry forward. Their resilience led to the creation of an incredible communication network. The winding rivers and bustling water passages became a way for Black Americans to pass information and messages through ports. Through this system, they were able to stay informed on what was happening abroad as well as within the United States. This was how those who had secured their freedom through the water industry were able to devise strategies<\/a> for enslaved persons to flee secretly via boat passage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black watermen used a lantern code to signal if boats had fugitive enslaved African Americans on board. They would then exchange passengers under the cover of night on the still waters of the Chesapeake before returning to their ports. From there, the escaped enslaved Black Americans would travel through the Underground Railroad. Harriet Tubman herself grew up on a Maryland plantation by the Chesapeake Bay. While laboring on the docks, she engaged with a group of Black watermen<\/a>, forming connections and discovering the astonishing system of networking they had created. It was through the information Tubman learned from these Black maritime workers that she was ultimately able to escape. Once free, she used those connections to send messages back and forth to those still enslaved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The impact of the Black watermen continues to be felt today. In the Chesapeake region, generations of Black watermen, like Captain Tyrone Meredith, dedicate their lives<\/a> to preserving the legacy of their forebears. Captain Meredith has worked in the industry for 40 years and is a fifth-generation waterman, following in the footsteps of his father, grandfather, and ancestors. Today, his work as a skipjack captain ensures the spirit and hard work of the Black watermen live on. The Virginia Department of Historic Resources is another source dedicated to preserving this history of the Black watermen; they initiated the African American Watermen Project<\/a>, which documents the culture and history of African American watermen in the Chesapeake Bay\u2019s coastal communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite the many challenges and barriers they faced, the Black watermen of the Chesapeake Bay made indelible marks on both the water industry and U.S. history. Their tenacity, innovation, and unyielding spirit continue to inspire generations. As we celebrate Black History Month, let us honor and remember their contributions\u2014not just in the context of their time, but as a testament to the enduring power of community, resilience, and self-determination. The legacy of the Black watermen is a shining beacon of hope and excellence, reminding us that the waters they navigated are still filled with stories of courage and triumph that resonate to this day.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Black History Month Spotlight: The Black Watermen of the Chesapeake Bay","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"black-history-month-spotlight-the-black-watermen-of-the-chesapeake-bay","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-14 16:53:32","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-14 22:53:32","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/immerse.gowpi.org\/?p=1028","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":849,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2023-04-27 12:00:21","post_date_gmt":"2023-04-27 17:00:21","post_content":"The fastest growing testing trends for 2023 encompass the test taker experience, increasing interest in certification, and how artificial intelligence can play a role in test development. In addition, as the testing industry continues to evolve following the pandemic organizations are reevaluating their strategies for remote testing.\r\n\r\nAll these trends contribute to the perpetual balancing act \u2013 the need for robust test security and a desire to deliver the most convenient and accessible experience for all test takers.\r\n What motivated you to get involved in several leadership roles over the years at WPI?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n When I took my certification exams, I disagreed with a couple of items on the exam, so I contacted Ernie Earn, who served on the Georgia Operator Certification Board at the time. He set me up to be an item bank reviewer (a Subject Matter Expert that reviews items being considered for use on examinations). I fell in love with the whole psychometric process. From there I was invited to join the Laboratory Exam Committee. I felt like being involved in WPI was a way I could give back to the industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2001, I was appointed by the Governor to the Georgia Water\/Wastewater Operator Certification Board, which is a member of WPI. After attending my first WPI conference, I was asked to consider running for a leadership role in WPI. I was honored to be elected as the Wastewater Treatment Division Director for WPI in 2003. I was subsequently elected to serve as an officer from 2004 \u2013 2007. I still believe my involvement with WPI is a way to give back to the water and wastewater industry; to have a lasting positive impact on future generations of operators and laboratory analysts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What advice would you give to women aspiring to take on a leadership role in the water industry?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Work in an organization where the leadership respects its employees and encourages them to be successful, don\u2019t wait to be promoted to learn what you need to know to move up in your organization, and be a leader, even if you haven\u2019t been promoted to an official leadership position. Being a leader means doing what needs to be done because it needs to be done, not for the accolades. I would also say don\u2019t be afraid to let others know you are smart, but be humble, not arrogant. Strive to keep learning. I would encourage women to be involved in organizations or associations outside of work related to our industry \u2013 WPI, AWWA, WEF, your local operator association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What has been the most rewarding aspect of your career so far?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The lifelong friends I have made is definitely the most rewarding aspect. I can\u2019t begin to name all of the wonderful people I have met in the United States and other countries throughout my career that I truly consider friends. A close second would be the knowledge that I have served my community by protecting public health and the environment. Think about it \u2013 I\u2019ve been able to be part of making sure people have clean water to drink \u2013 water that does not make them sick. I also play a role in cleaning the dirty water before returning it to the environment, preserving water resources for future generations.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Celebrating Women's History Month: Spotlight on Margaret Doss, PO","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"celebrating-womens-history-month-spotlight-on-margaret-doss-po","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-08 10:04:24","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-08 16:04:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/immerse.gowpi.org\/?p=1035","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1028,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2025-02-14 16:53:28","post_date_gmt":"2025-02-14 22:53:28","post_content":"\n Against the horizon, the Bald Cypress stretches towards a sun-drenched sky. Its trunk bloats with the water of the Chesapeake Bay, a water-logged home to a lone copperhead, who curls against the knees of the tree. This is not the first creature to find refuge in the Cypress, whose roots have known this water for nearly one hundred years. Turtles and wood ducks, raccoons and egrets all have called the Bald Cypress swamp home. Along the Chesapeake watershed, life finds new ways to sustain itself. The endeavors of those who make their living by the water's edge, especially the Black Americans who have called the Chesapeake Bay home for centuries, stand as a testament to this resilience. The Black watermen of the Chesapeake, much like the Bald Cypress, remain revered symbols of the Bay to this day. Their invaluable contributions to the industry are nothing short of extraordinary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Maryland, a storied history exists between African Americans and the Bay. The Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in North America<\/a>, has been a robust place of employment for watermen\u2014a term that encompasses both women and men\u2014since the 1600s. In the mid-1800s, that occupation, previously only open to white watermen, was extended to African Americans, who took on roles such as captains, fishermen, oystermen, and owners of seafood processing plants and restaurants. Their labor and contributions transformed the Chesapeake Bay<\/a>. To this day, the Bay is renowned for its rich seafood and maritime industry due to the innovative thinking and hard work of Black watermen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The path to working in the Chesapeake Bay for African Americans was shaped by the growing demand for maritime labor in the 1800s, which led to Maryland offering pseudo-freedom to enslaved persons living and working in the Bay. This was due to the issuing of Seamen\u2019s Protection Certificates, which allowed Black watermen to be classified as citizens as early as sixty-seven years before the Emancipation Proclamation was disseminated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black watermen worked across the entirety of the Bay\u2019s water industry as skilled tradesmen and innovators<\/a>. Black women often were employed in crab picking and oyster shucking, while Black men worked on the water as shipbuilders and crew, in addition to hauling freight and captaining ships. Entering the water industry was groundbreaking, as it was one of the first ways Black Americans could earn a wage. However, being a waterman on the Chesapeake Bay offered more than just a path to freedom and compensation. For many, living at the water\u2019s edge was a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That is not to say, however, there were not still vast issues with the system created. Imani Black, shellfish aquaculture biologist and founder of Minorities in Aquaculture<\/a>, discusses this in \u201cWater\u2019s Edge: The Black Watermen of the Chesapeake Bay,\u201d a documentary for PBS<\/a>. She explains that Black Americans were pushed to the coasts as a result of practices steeped in prejudice and racism, and thus they learned how to live and work with the water out of necessity. Further, working on the water was not easy for African Americans. In 1836, a law was passed<\/a> attempting to prohibit and restrict Black Americans from laboring on the water. While white captains and watermen often ignored this decree due to the crucial contributions of Black watermen, this law promoted additional segregation, economic oppression, and discrimination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite these barriers, African Americans changed and propelled the industry forward. Their resilience led to the creation of an incredible communication network. The winding rivers and bustling water passages became a way for Black Americans to pass information and messages through ports. Through this system, they were able to stay informed on what was happening abroad as well as within the United States. This was how those who had secured their freedom through the water industry were able to devise strategies<\/a> for enslaved persons to flee secretly via boat passage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black watermen used a lantern code to signal if boats had fugitive enslaved African Americans on board. They would then exchange passengers under the cover of night on the still waters of the Chesapeake before returning to their ports. From there, the escaped enslaved Black Americans would travel through the Underground Railroad. Harriet Tubman herself grew up on a Maryland plantation by the Chesapeake Bay. While laboring on the docks, she engaged with a group of Black watermen<\/a>, forming connections and discovering the astonishing system of networking they had created. It was through the information Tubman learned from these Black maritime workers that she was ultimately able to escape. Once free, she used those connections to send messages back and forth to those still enslaved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The impact of the Black watermen continues to be felt today. In the Chesapeake region, generations of Black watermen, like Captain Tyrone Meredith, dedicate their lives<\/a> to preserving the legacy of their forebears. Captain Meredith has worked in the industry for 40 years and is a fifth-generation waterman, following in the footsteps of his father, grandfather, and ancestors. Today, his work as a skipjack captain ensures the spirit and hard work of the Black watermen live on. The Virginia Department of Historic Resources is another source dedicated to preserving this history of the Black watermen; they initiated the African American Watermen Project<\/a>, which documents the culture and history of African American watermen in the Chesapeake Bay\u2019s coastal communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite the many challenges and barriers they faced, the Black watermen of the Chesapeake Bay made indelible marks on both the water industry and U.S. history. Their tenacity, innovation, and unyielding spirit continue to inspire generations. As we celebrate Black History Month, let us honor and remember their contributions\u2014not just in the context of their time, but as a testament to the enduring power of community, resilience, and self-determination. The legacy of the Black watermen is a shining beacon of hope and excellence, reminding us that the waters they navigated are still filled with stories of courage and triumph that resonate to this day.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Black History Month Spotlight: The Black Watermen of the Chesapeake Bay","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"black-history-month-spotlight-the-black-watermen-of-the-chesapeake-bay","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-14 16:53:32","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-14 22:53:32","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/immerse.gowpi.org\/?p=1028","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":849,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2023-04-27 12:00:21","post_date_gmt":"2023-04-27 17:00:21","post_content":"The fastest growing testing trends for 2023 encompass the test taker experience, increasing interest in certification, and how artificial intelligence can play a role in test development. In addition, as the testing industry continues to evolve following the pandemic organizations are reevaluating their strategies for remote testing.\r\n\r\nAll these trends contribute to the perpetual balancing act \u2013 the need for robust test security and a desire to deliver the most convenient and accessible experience for all test takers.\r\n I developed and taught a leadership and management class for Water Utility. It was designed for supervisors and managers who had worked their way into a supervisory or management role. Most employees in this circumstance have received no formal training in supervision, management, or leadership. I have taught multiple cohorts, and I think it has assisted several of my fellow employees with their professional growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What motivated you to get involved in several leadership roles over the years at WPI?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n When I took my certification exams, I disagreed with a couple of items on the exam, so I contacted Ernie Earn, who served on the Georgia Operator Certification Board at the time. He set me up to be an item bank reviewer (a Subject Matter Expert that reviews items being considered for use on examinations). I fell in love with the whole psychometric process. From there I was invited to join the Laboratory Exam Committee. I felt like being involved in WPI was a way I could give back to the industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2001, I was appointed by the Governor to the Georgia Water\/Wastewater Operator Certification Board, which is a member of WPI. After attending my first WPI conference, I was asked to consider running for a leadership role in WPI. I was honored to be elected as the Wastewater Treatment Division Director for WPI in 2003. I was subsequently elected to serve as an officer from 2004 \u2013 2007. I still believe my involvement with WPI is a way to give back to the water and wastewater industry; to have a lasting positive impact on future generations of operators and laboratory analysts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What advice would you give to women aspiring to take on a leadership role in the water industry?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Work in an organization where the leadership respects its employees and encourages them to be successful, don\u2019t wait to be promoted to learn what you need to know to move up in your organization, and be a leader, even if you haven\u2019t been promoted to an official leadership position. Being a leader means doing what needs to be done because it needs to be done, not for the accolades. I would also say don\u2019t be afraid to let others know you are smart, but be humble, not arrogant. Strive to keep learning. I would encourage women to be involved in organizations or associations outside of work related to our industry \u2013 WPI, AWWA, WEF, your local operator association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What has been the most rewarding aspect of your career so far?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The lifelong friends I have made is definitely the most rewarding aspect. I can\u2019t begin to name all of the wonderful people I have met in the United States and other countries throughout my career that I truly consider friends. A close second would be the knowledge that I have served my community by protecting public health and the environment. Think about it \u2013 I\u2019ve been able to be part of making sure people have clean water to drink \u2013 water that does not make them sick. I also play a role in cleaning the dirty water before returning it to the environment, preserving water resources for future generations.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Celebrating Women's History Month: Spotlight on Margaret Doss, PO","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"celebrating-womens-history-month-spotlight-on-margaret-doss-po","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-08 10:04:24","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-08 16:04:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/immerse.gowpi.org\/?p=1035","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1028,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2025-02-14 16:53:28","post_date_gmt":"2025-02-14 22:53:28","post_content":"\n Against the horizon, the Bald Cypress stretches towards a sun-drenched sky. Its trunk bloats with the water of the Chesapeake Bay, a water-logged home to a lone copperhead, who curls against the knees of the tree. This is not the first creature to find refuge in the Cypress, whose roots have known this water for nearly one hundred years. Turtles and wood ducks, raccoons and egrets all have called the Bald Cypress swamp home. Along the Chesapeake watershed, life finds new ways to sustain itself. The endeavors of those who make their living by the water's edge, especially the Black Americans who have called the Chesapeake Bay home for centuries, stand as a testament to this resilience. The Black watermen of the Chesapeake, much like the Bald Cypress, remain revered symbols of the Bay to this day. Their invaluable contributions to the industry are nothing short of extraordinary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Maryland, a storied history exists between African Americans and the Bay. The Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in North America<\/a>, has been a robust place of employment for watermen\u2014a term that encompasses both women and men\u2014since the 1600s. In the mid-1800s, that occupation, previously only open to white watermen, was extended to African Americans, who took on roles such as captains, fishermen, oystermen, and owners of seafood processing plants and restaurants. Their labor and contributions transformed the Chesapeake Bay<\/a>. To this day, the Bay is renowned for its rich seafood and maritime industry due to the innovative thinking and hard work of Black watermen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The path to working in the Chesapeake Bay for African Americans was shaped by the growing demand for maritime labor in the 1800s, which led to Maryland offering pseudo-freedom to enslaved persons living and working in the Bay. This was due to the issuing of Seamen\u2019s Protection Certificates, which allowed Black watermen to be classified as citizens as early as sixty-seven years before the Emancipation Proclamation was disseminated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black watermen worked across the entirety of the Bay\u2019s water industry as skilled tradesmen and innovators<\/a>. Black women often were employed in crab picking and oyster shucking, while Black men worked on the water as shipbuilders and crew, in addition to hauling freight and captaining ships. Entering the water industry was groundbreaking, as it was one of the first ways Black Americans could earn a wage. However, being a waterman on the Chesapeake Bay offered more than just a path to freedom and compensation. For many, living at the water\u2019s edge was a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That is not to say, however, there were not still vast issues with the system created. Imani Black, shellfish aquaculture biologist and founder of Minorities in Aquaculture<\/a>, discusses this in \u201cWater\u2019s Edge: The Black Watermen of the Chesapeake Bay,\u201d a documentary for PBS<\/a>. She explains that Black Americans were pushed to the coasts as a result of practices steeped in prejudice and racism, and thus they learned how to live and work with the water out of necessity. Further, working on the water was not easy for African Americans. In 1836, a law was passed<\/a> attempting to prohibit and restrict Black Americans from laboring on the water. While white captains and watermen often ignored this decree due to the crucial contributions of Black watermen, this law promoted additional segregation, economic oppression, and discrimination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite these barriers, African Americans changed and propelled the industry forward. Their resilience led to the creation of an incredible communication network. The winding rivers and bustling water passages became a way for Black Americans to pass information and messages through ports. Through this system, they were able to stay informed on what was happening abroad as well as within the United States. This was how those who had secured their freedom through the water industry were able to devise strategies<\/a> for enslaved persons to flee secretly via boat passage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black watermen used a lantern code to signal if boats had fugitive enslaved African Americans on board. They would then exchange passengers under the cover of night on the still waters of the Chesapeake before returning to their ports. From there, the escaped enslaved Black Americans would travel through the Underground Railroad. Harriet Tubman herself grew up on a Maryland plantation by the Chesapeake Bay. While laboring on the docks, she engaged with a group of Black watermen<\/a>, forming connections and discovering the astonishing system of networking they had created. It was through the information Tubman learned from these Black maritime workers that she was ultimately able to escape. Once free, she used those connections to send messages back and forth to those still enslaved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The impact of the Black watermen continues to be felt today. In the Chesapeake region, generations of Black watermen, like Captain Tyrone Meredith, dedicate their lives<\/a> to preserving the legacy of their forebears. Captain Meredith has worked in the industry for 40 years and is a fifth-generation waterman, following in the footsteps of his father, grandfather, and ancestors. Today, his work as a skipjack captain ensures the spirit and hard work of the Black watermen live on. The Virginia Department of Historic Resources is another source dedicated to preserving this history of the Black watermen; they initiated the African American Watermen Project<\/a>, which documents the culture and history of African American watermen in the Chesapeake Bay\u2019s coastal communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite the many challenges and barriers they faced, the Black watermen of the Chesapeake Bay made indelible marks on both the water industry and U.S. history. Their tenacity, innovation, and unyielding spirit continue to inspire generations. As we celebrate Black History Month, let us honor and remember their contributions\u2014not just in the context of their time, but as a testament to the enduring power of community, resilience, and self-determination. The legacy of the Black watermen is a shining beacon of hope and excellence, reminding us that the waters they navigated are still filled with stories of courage and triumph that resonate to this day.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Black History Month Spotlight: The Black Watermen of the Chesapeake Bay","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"black-history-month-spotlight-the-black-watermen-of-the-chesapeake-bay","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-14 16:53:32","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-14 22:53:32","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/immerse.gowpi.org\/?p=1028","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":849,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2023-04-27 12:00:21","post_date_gmt":"2023-04-27 17:00:21","post_content":"The fastest growing testing trends for 2023 encompass the test taker experience, increasing interest in certification, and how artificial intelligence can play a role in test development. In addition, as the testing industry continues to evolve following the pandemic organizations are reevaluating their strategies for remote testing.\r\n\r\nAll these trends contribute to the perpetual balancing act \u2013 the need for robust test security and a desire to deliver the most convenient and accessible experience for all test takers.\r\n Can you describe an initiative you spearheaded or contributed to that you are particularly proud of?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I developed and taught a leadership and management class for Water Utility. It was designed for supervisors and managers who had worked their way into a supervisory or management role. Most employees in this circumstance have received no formal training in supervision, management, or leadership. I have taught multiple cohorts, and I think it has assisted several of my fellow employees with their professional growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What motivated you to get involved in several leadership roles over the years at WPI?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n When I took my certification exams, I disagreed with a couple of items on the exam, so I contacted Ernie Earn, who served on the Georgia Operator Certification Board at the time. He set me up to be an item bank reviewer (a Subject Matter Expert that reviews items being considered for use on examinations). I fell in love with the whole psychometric process. From there I was invited to join the Laboratory Exam Committee. I felt like being involved in WPI was a way I could give back to the industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2001, I was appointed by the Governor to the Georgia Water\/Wastewater Operator Certification Board, which is a member of WPI. After attending my first WPI conference, I was asked to consider running for a leadership role in WPI. I was honored to be elected as the Wastewater Treatment Division Director for WPI in 2003. I was subsequently elected to serve as an officer from 2004 \u2013 2007. I still believe my involvement with WPI is a way to give back to the water and wastewater industry; to have a lasting positive impact on future generations of operators and laboratory analysts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What advice would you give to women aspiring to take on a leadership role in the water industry?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Work in an organization where the leadership respects its employees and encourages them to be successful, don\u2019t wait to be promoted to learn what you need to know to move up in your organization, and be a leader, even if you haven\u2019t been promoted to an official leadership position. Being a leader means doing what needs to be done because it needs to be done, not for the accolades. I would also say don\u2019t be afraid to let others know you are smart, but be humble, not arrogant. Strive to keep learning. I would encourage women to be involved in organizations or associations outside of work related to our industry \u2013 WPI, AWWA, WEF, your local operator association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What has been the most rewarding aspect of your career so far?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The lifelong friends I have made is definitely the most rewarding aspect. I can\u2019t begin to name all of the wonderful people I have met in the United States and other countries throughout my career that I truly consider friends. A close second would be the knowledge that I have served my community by protecting public health and the environment. Think about it \u2013 I\u2019ve been able to be part of making sure people have clean water to drink \u2013 water that does not make them sick. I also play a role in cleaning the dirty water before returning it to the environment, preserving water resources for future generations.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Celebrating Women's History Month: Spotlight on Margaret Doss, PO","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"celebrating-womens-history-month-spotlight-on-margaret-doss-po","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-08 10:04:24","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-08 16:04:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/immerse.gowpi.org\/?p=1035","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1028,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2025-02-14 16:53:28","post_date_gmt":"2025-02-14 22:53:28","post_content":"\n Against the horizon, the Bald Cypress stretches towards a sun-drenched sky. Its trunk bloats with the water of the Chesapeake Bay, a water-logged home to a lone copperhead, who curls against the knees of the tree. This is not the first creature to find refuge in the Cypress, whose roots have known this water for nearly one hundred years. Turtles and wood ducks, raccoons and egrets all have called the Bald Cypress swamp home. Along the Chesapeake watershed, life finds new ways to sustain itself. The endeavors of those who make their living by the water's edge, especially the Black Americans who have called the Chesapeake Bay home for centuries, stand as a testament to this resilience. The Black watermen of the Chesapeake, much like the Bald Cypress, remain revered symbols of the Bay to this day. Their invaluable contributions to the industry are nothing short of extraordinary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Maryland, a storied history exists between African Americans and the Bay. The Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in North America<\/a>, has been a robust place of employment for watermen\u2014a term that encompasses both women and men\u2014since the 1600s. In the mid-1800s, that occupation, previously only open to white watermen, was extended to African Americans, who took on roles such as captains, fishermen, oystermen, and owners of seafood processing plants and restaurants. Their labor and contributions transformed the Chesapeake Bay<\/a>. To this day, the Bay is renowned for its rich seafood and maritime industry due to the innovative thinking and hard work of Black watermen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The path to working in the Chesapeake Bay for African Americans was shaped by the growing demand for maritime labor in the 1800s, which led to Maryland offering pseudo-freedom to enslaved persons living and working in the Bay. This was due to the issuing of Seamen\u2019s Protection Certificates, which allowed Black watermen to be classified as citizens as early as sixty-seven years before the Emancipation Proclamation was disseminated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black watermen worked across the entirety of the Bay\u2019s water industry as skilled tradesmen and innovators<\/a>. Black women often were employed in crab picking and oyster shucking, while Black men worked on the water as shipbuilders and crew, in addition to hauling freight and captaining ships. Entering the water industry was groundbreaking, as it was one of the first ways Black Americans could earn a wage. However, being a waterman on the Chesapeake Bay offered more than just a path to freedom and compensation. For many, living at the water\u2019s edge was a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That is not to say, however, there were not still vast issues with the system created. Imani Black, shellfish aquaculture biologist and founder of Minorities in Aquaculture<\/a>, discusses this in \u201cWater\u2019s Edge: The Black Watermen of the Chesapeake Bay,\u201d a documentary for PBS<\/a>. She explains that Black Americans were pushed to the coasts as a result of practices steeped in prejudice and racism, and thus they learned how to live and work with the water out of necessity. Further, working on the water was not easy for African Americans. In 1836, a law was passed<\/a> attempting to prohibit and restrict Black Americans from laboring on the water. While white captains and watermen often ignored this decree due to the crucial contributions of Black watermen, this law promoted additional segregation, economic oppression, and discrimination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite these barriers, African Americans changed and propelled the industry forward. Their resilience led to the creation of an incredible communication network. The winding rivers and bustling water passages became a way for Black Americans to pass information and messages through ports. Through this system, they were able to stay informed on what was happening abroad as well as within the United States. This was how those who had secured their freedom through the water industry were able to devise strategies<\/a> for enslaved persons to flee secretly via boat passage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black watermen used a lantern code to signal if boats had fugitive enslaved African Americans on board. They would then exchange passengers under the cover of night on the still waters of the Chesapeake before returning to their ports. From there, the escaped enslaved Black Americans would travel through the Underground Railroad. Harriet Tubman herself grew up on a Maryland plantation by the Chesapeake Bay. While laboring on the docks, she engaged with a group of Black watermen<\/a>, forming connections and discovering the astonishing system of networking they had created. It was through the information Tubman learned from these Black maritime workers that she was ultimately able to escape. Once free, she used those connections to send messages back and forth to those still enslaved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The impact of the Black watermen continues to be felt today. In the Chesapeake region, generations of Black watermen, like Captain Tyrone Meredith, dedicate their lives<\/a> to preserving the legacy of their forebears. Captain Meredith has worked in the industry for 40 years and is a fifth-generation waterman, following in the footsteps of his father, grandfather, and ancestors. Today, his work as a skipjack captain ensures the spirit and hard work of the Black watermen live on. The Virginia Department of Historic Resources is another source dedicated to preserving this history of the Black watermen; they initiated the African American Watermen Project<\/a>, which documents the culture and history of African American watermen in the Chesapeake Bay\u2019s coastal communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite the many challenges and barriers they faced, the Black watermen of the Chesapeake Bay made indelible marks on both the water industry and U.S. history. Their tenacity, innovation, and unyielding spirit continue to inspire generations. As we celebrate Black History Month, let us honor and remember their contributions\u2014not just in the context of their time, but as a testament to the enduring power of community, resilience, and self-determination. The legacy of the Black watermen is a shining beacon of hope and excellence, reminding us that the waters they navigated are still filled with stories of courage and triumph that resonate to this day.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Black History Month Spotlight: The Black Watermen of the Chesapeake Bay","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"black-history-month-spotlight-the-black-watermen-of-the-chesapeake-bay","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-14 16:53:32","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-14 22:53:32","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/immerse.gowpi.org\/?p=1028","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":849,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2023-04-27 12:00:21","post_date_gmt":"2023-04-27 17:00:21","post_content":"The fastest growing testing trends for 2023 encompass the test taker experience, increasing interest in certification, and how artificial intelligence can play a role in test development. In addition, as the testing industry continues to evolve following the pandemic organizations are reevaluating their strategies for remote testing.\r\n\r\nAll these trends contribute to the perpetual balancing act \u2013 the need for robust test security and a desire to deliver the most convenient and accessible experience for all test takers.\r\n The atmosphere in Columbia County is one of teamwork and family, which I love! We call ourselves the Water Utility family. I get to know my employees. I care about them, and they know I care. I try to touch base with my employees on a regular basis. We routinely have meals together. In the Business Office, we have monthly birthday brunches to celebrate those who are having birthdays \u2013 we can\u2019t shut down the office for the whole group to go out. In the lab, we typically go to lunch as a group to celebrate birthdays and other achievements, like winning the Lab of the Year competition for the Georgia Association of Water Professionals. I work hard to explain my expectations to my folks. I provide the training and the tools they need to do their jobs effectively, then I get out of their way and let them work. The managers that report to me are great at what they do; I don\u2019t need to get in their way. My goal is to be a good servant-leader.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Can you describe an initiative you spearheaded or contributed to that you are particularly proud of?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I developed and taught a leadership and management class for Water Utility. It was designed for supervisors and managers who had worked their way into a supervisory or management role. Most employees in this circumstance have received no formal training in supervision, management, or leadership. I have taught multiple cohorts, and I think it has assisted several of my fellow employees with their professional growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What motivated you to get involved in several leadership roles over the years at WPI?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n When I took my certification exams, I disagreed with a couple of items on the exam, so I contacted Ernie Earn, who served on the Georgia Operator Certification Board at the time. He set me up to be an item bank reviewer (a Subject Matter Expert that reviews items being considered for use on examinations). I fell in love with the whole psychometric process. From there I was invited to join the Laboratory Exam Committee. I felt like being involved in WPI was a way I could give back to the industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2001, I was appointed by the Governor to the Georgia Water\/Wastewater Operator Certification Board, which is a member of WPI. After attending my first WPI conference, I was asked to consider running for a leadership role in WPI. I was honored to be elected as the Wastewater Treatment Division Director for WPI in 2003. I was subsequently elected to serve as an officer from 2004 \u2013 2007. I still believe my involvement with WPI is a way to give back to the water and wastewater industry; to have a lasting positive impact on future generations of operators and laboratory analysts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What advice would you give to women aspiring to take on a leadership role in the water industry?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Work in an organization where the leadership respects its employees and encourages them to be successful, don\u2019t wait to be promoted to learn what you need to know to move up in your organization, and be a leader, even if you haven\u2019t been promoted to an official leadership position. Being a leader means doing what needs to be done because it needs to be done, not for the accolades. I would also say don\u2019t be afraid to let others know you are smart, but be humble, not arrogant. Strive to keep learning. I would encourage women to be involved in organizations or associations outside of work related to our industry \u2013 WPI, AWWA, WEF, your local operator association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What has been the most rewarding aspect of your career so far?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The lifelong friends I have made is definitely the most rewarding aspect. I can\u2019t begin to name all of the wonderful people I have met in the United States and other countries throughout my career that I truly consider friends. A close second would be the knowledge that I have served my community by protecting public health and the environment. Think about it \u2013 I\u2019ve been able to be part of making sure people have clean water to drink \u2013 water that does not make them sick. I also play a role in cleaning the dirty water before returning it to the environment, preserving water resources for future generations.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Celebrating Women's History Month: Spotlight on Margaret Doss, PO","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"celebrating-womens-history-month-spotlight-on-margaret-doss-po","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-08 10:04:24","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-08 16:04:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/immerse.gowpi.org\/?p=1035","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1028,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2025-02-14 16:53:28","post_date_gmt":"2025-02-14 22:53:28","post_content":"\n Against the horizon, the Bald Cypress stretches towards a sun-drenched sky. Its trunk bloats with the water of the Chesapeake Bay, a water-logged home to a lone copperhead, who curls against the knees of the tree. This is not the first creature to find refuge in the Cypress, whose roots have known this water for nearly one hundred years. Turtles and wood ducks, raccoons and egrets all have called the Bald Cypress swamp home. Along the Chesapeake watershed, life finds new ways to sustain itself. The endeavors of those who make their living by the water's edge, especially the Black Americans who have called the Chesapeake Bay home for centuries, stand as a testament to this resilience. The Black watermen of the Chesapeake, much like the Bald Cypress, remain revered symbols of the Bay to this day. Their invaluable contributions to the industry are nothing short of extraordinary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Maryland, a storied history exists between African Americans and the Bay. The Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in North America<\/a>, has been a robust place of employment for watermen\u2014a term that encompasses both women and men\u2014since the 1600s. In the mid-1800s, that occupation, previously only open to white watermen, was extended to African Americans, who took on roles such as captains, fishermen, oystermen, and owners of seafood processing plants and restaurants. Their labor and contributions transformed the Chesapeake Bay<\/a>. To this day, the Bay is renowned for its rich seafood and maritime industry due to the innovative thinking and hard work of Black watermen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The path to working in the Chesapeake Bay for African Americans was shaped by the growing demand for maritime labor in the 1800s, which led to Maryland offering pseudo-freedom to enslaved persons living and working in the Bay. This was due to the issuing of Seamen\u2019s Protection Certificates, which allowed Black watermen to be classified as citizens as early as sixty-seven years before the Emancipation Proclamation was disseminated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black watermen worked across the entirety of the Bay\u2019s water industry as skilled tradesmen and innovators<\/a>. Black women often were employed in crab picking and oyster shucking, while Black men worked on the water as shipbuilders and crew, in addition to hauling freight and captaining ships. Entering the water industry was groundbreaking, as it was one of the first ways Black Americans could earn a wage. However, being a waterman on the Chesapeake Bay offered more than just a path to freedom and compensation. For many, living at the water\u2019s edge was a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That is not to say, however, there were not still vast issues with the system created. Imani Black, shellfish aquaculture biologist and founder of Minorities in Aquaculture<\/a>, discusses this in \u201cWater\u2019s Edge: The Black Watermen of the Chesapeake Bay,\u201d a documentary for PBS<\/a>. She explains that Black Americans were pushed to the coasts as a result of practices steeped in prejudice and racism, and thus they learned how to live and work with the water out of necessity. Further, working on the water was not easy for African Americans. In 1836, a law was passed<\/a> attempting to prohibit and restrict Black Americans from laboring on the water. While white captains and watermen often ignored this decree due to the crucial contributions of Black watermen, this law promoted additional segregation, economic oppression, and discrimination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite these barriers, African Americans changed and propelled the industry forward. Their resilience led to the creation of an incredible communication network. The winding rivers and bustling water passages became a way for Black Americans to pass information and messages through ports. Through this system, they were able to stay informed on what was happening abroad as well as within the United States. This was how those who had secured their freedom through the water industry were able to devise strategies<\/a> for enslaved persons to flee secretly via boat passage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black watermen used a lantern code to signal if boats had fugitive enslaved African Americans on board. They would then exchange passengers under the cover of night on the still waters of the Chesapeake before returning to their ports. From there, the escaped enslaved Black Americans would travel through the Underground Railroad. Harriet Tubman herself grew up on a Maryland plantation by the Chesapeake Bay. While laboring on the docks, she engaged with a group of Black watermen<\/a>, forming connections and discovering the astonishing system of networking they had created. It was through the information Tubman learned from these Black maritime workers that she was ultimately able to escape. Once free, she used those connections to send messages back and forth to those still enslaved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The impact of the Black watermen continues to be felt today. In the Chesapeake region, generations of Black watermen, like Captain Tyrone Meredith, dedicate their lives<\/a> to preserving the legacy of their forebears. Captain Meredith has worked in the industry for 40 years and is a fifth-generation waterman, following in the footsteps of his father, grandfather, and ancestors. Today, his work as a skipjack captain ensures the spirit and hard work of the Black watermen live on. The Virginia Department of Historic Resources is another source dedicated to preserving this history of the Black watermen; they initiated the African American Watermen Project<\/a>, which documents the culture and history of African American watermen in the Chesapeake Bay\u2019s coastal communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite the many challenges and barriers they faced, the Black watermen of the Chesapeake Bay made indelible marks on both the water industry and U.S. history. Their tenacity, innovation, and unyielding spirit continue to inspire generations. As we celebrate Black History Month, let us honor and remember their contributions\u2014not just in the context of their time, but as a testament to the enduring power of community, resilience, and self-determination. The legacy of the Black watermen is a shining beacon of hope and excellence, reminding us that the waters they navigated are still filled with stories of courage and triumph that resonate to this day.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Black History Month Spotlight: The Black Watermen of the Chesapeake Bay","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"black-history-month-spotlight-the-black-watermen-of-the-chesapeake-bay","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-14 16:53:32","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-14 22:53:32","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/immerse.gowpi.org\/?p=1028","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":849,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2023-04-27 12:00:21","post_date_gmt":"2023-04-27 17:00:21","post_content":"The fastest growing testing trends for 2023 encompass the test taker experience, increasing interest in certification, and how artificial intelligence can play a role in test development. In addition, as the testing industry continues to evolve following the pandemic organizations are reevaluating their strategies for remote testing.\r\n\r\nAll these trends contribute to the perpetual balancing act \u2013 the need for robust test security and a desire to deliver the most convenient and accessible experience for all test takers.\r\n How do you ensure that your team stays motivated and engaged in their work?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The atmosphere in Columbia County is one of teamwork and family, which I love! We call ourselves the Water Utility family. I get to know my employees. I care about them, and they know I care. I try to touch base with my employees on a regular basis. We routinely have meals together. In the Business Office, we have monthly birthday brunches to celebrate those who are having birthdays \u2013 we can\u2019t shut down the office for the whole group to go out. In the lab, we typically go to lunch as a group to celebrate birthdays and other achievements, like winning the Lab of the Year competition for the Georgia Association of Water Professionals. I work hard to explain my expectations to my folks. I provide the training and the tools they need to do their jobs effectively, then I get out of their way and let them work. The managers that report to me are great at what they do; I don\u2019t need to get in their way. My goal is to be a good servant-leader.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Can you describe an initiative you spearheaded or contributed to that you are particularly proud of?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I developed and taught a leadership and management class for Water Utility. It was designed for supervisors and managers who had worked their way into a supervisory or management role. Most employees in this circumstance have received no formal training in supervision, management, or leadership. I have taught multiple cohorts, and I think it has assisted several of my fellow employees with their professional growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What motivated you to get involved in several leadership roles over the years at WPI?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n When I took my certification exams, I disagreed with a couple of items on the exam, so I contacted Ernie Earn, who served on the Georgia Operator Certification Board at the time. He set me up to be an item bank reviewer (a Subject Matter Expert that reviews items being considered for use on examinations). I fell in love with the whole psychometric process. From there I was invited to join the Laboratory Exam Committee. I felt like being involved in WPI was a way I could give back to the industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2001, I was appointed by the Governor to the Georgia Water\/Wastewater Operator Certification Board, which is a member of WPI. After attending my first WPI conference, I was asked to consider running for a leadership role in WPI. I was honored to be elected as the Wastewater Treatment Division Director for WPI in 2003. I was subsequently elected to serve as an officer from 2004 \u2013 2007. I still believe my involvement with WPI is a way to give back to the water and wastewater industry; to have a lasting positive impact on future generations of operators and laboratory analysts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What advice would you give to women aspiring to take on a leadership role in the water industry?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Work in an organization where the leadership respects its employees and encourages them to be successful, don\u2019t wait to be promoted to learn what you need to know to move up in your organization, and be a leader, even if you haven\u2019t been promoted to an official leadership position. Being a leader means doing what needs to be done because it needs to be done, not for the accolades. I would also say don\u2019t be afraid to let others know you are smart, but be humble, not arrogant. Strive to keep learning. I would encourage women to be involved in organizations or associations outside of work related to our industry \u2013 WPI, AWWA, WEF, your local operator association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What has been the most rewarding aspect of your career so far?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The lifelong friends I have made is definitely the most rewarding aspect. I can\u2019t begin to name all of the wonderful people I have met in the United States and other countries throughout my career that I truly consider friends. A close second would be the knowledge that I have served my community by protecting public health and the environment. Think about it \u2013 I\u2019ve been able to be part of making sure people have clean water to drink \u2013 water that does not make them sick. I also play a role in cleaning the dirty water before returning it to the environment, preserving water resources for future generations.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Celebrating Women's History Month: Spotlight on Margaret Doss, PO","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"celebrating-womens-history-month-spotlight-on-margaret-doss-po","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-08 10:04:24","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-08 16:04:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/immerse.gowpi.org\/?p=1035","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1028,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2025-02-14 16:53:28","post_date_gmt":"2025-02-14 22:53:28","post_content":"\n Against the horizon, the Bald Cypress stretches towards a sun-drenched sky. Its trunk bloats with the water of the Chesapeake Bay, a water-logged home to a lone copperhead, who curls against the knees of the tree. This is not the first creature to find refuge in the Cypress, whose roots have known this water for nearly one hundred years. Turtles and wood ducks, raccoons and egrets all have called the Bald Cypress swamp home. Along the Chesapeake watershed, life finds new ways to sustain itself. The endeavors of those who make their living by the water's edge, especially the Black Americans who have called the Chesapeake Bay home for centuries, stand as a testament to this resilience. The Black watermen of the Chesapeake, much like the Bald Cypress, remain revered symbols of the Bay to this day. Their invaluable contributions to the industry are nothing short of extraordinary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Maryland, a storied history exists between African Americans and the Bay. The Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in North America<\/a>, has been a robust place of employment for watermen\u2014a term that encompasses both women and men\u2014since the 1600s. In the mid-1800s, that occupation, previously only open to white watermen, was extended to African Americans, who took on roles such as captains, fishermen, oystermen, and owners of seafood processing plants and restaurants. Their labor and contributions transformed the Chesapeake Bay<\/a>. To this day, the Bay is renowned for its rich seafood and maritime industry due to the innovative thinking and hard work of Black watermen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The path to working in the Chesapeake Bay for African Americans was shaped by the growing demand for maritime labor in the 1800s, which led to Maryland offering pseudo-freedom to enslaved persons living and working in the Bay. This was due to the issuing of Seamen\u2019s Protection Certificates, which allowed Black watermen to be classified as citizens as early as sixty-seven years before the Emancipation Proclamation was disseminated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black watermen worked across the entirety of the Bay\u2019s water industry as skilled tradesmen and innovators<\/a>. Black women often were employed in crab picking and oyster shucking, while Black men worked on the water as shipbuilders and crew, in addition to hauling freight and captaining ships. Entering the water industry was groundbreaking, as it was one of the first ways Black Americans could earn a wage. However, being a waterman on the Chesapeake Bay offered more than just a path to freedom and compensation. For many, living at the water\u2019s edge was a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That is not to say, however, there were not still vast issues with the system created. Imani Black, shellfish aquaculture biologist and founder of Minorities in Aquaculture<\/a>, discusses this in \u201cWater\u2019s Edge: The Black Watermen of the Chesapeake Bay,\u201d a documentary for PBS<\/a>. She explains that Black Americans were pushed to the coasts as a result of practices steeped in prejudice and racism, and thus they learned how to live and work with the water out of necessity. Further, working on the water was not easy for African Americans. In 1836, a law was passed<\/a> attempting to prohibit and restrict Black Americans from laboring on the water. While white captains and watermen often ignored this decree due to the crucial contributions of Black watermen, this law promoted additional segregation, economic oppression, and discrimination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite these barriers, African Americans changed and propelled the industry forward. Their resilience led to the creation of an incredible communication network. The winding rivers and bustling water passages became a way for Black Americans to pass information and messages through ports. Through this system, they were able to stay informed on what was happening abroad as well as within the United States. This was how those who had secured their freedom through the water industry were able to devise strategies<\/a> for enslaved persons to flee secretly via boat passage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black watermen used a lantern code to signal if boats had fugitive enslaved African Americans on board. They would then exchange passengers under the cover of night on the still waters of the Chesapeake before returning to their ports. From there, the escaped enslaved Black Americans would travel through the Underground Railroad. Harriet Tubman herself grew up on a Maryland plantation by the Chesapeake Bay. While laboring on the docks, she engaged with a group of Black watermen<\/a>, forming connections and discovering the astonishing system of networking they had created. It was through the information Tubman learned from these Black maritime workers that she was ultimately able to escape. Once free, she used those connections to send messages back and forth to those still enslaved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The impact of the Black watermen continues to be felt today. In the Chesapeake region, generations of Black watermen, like Captain Tyrone Meredith, dedicate their lives<\/a> to preserving the legacy of their forebears. Captain Meredith has worked in the industry for 40 years and is a fifth-generation waterman, following in the footsteps of his father, grandfather, and ancestors. Today, his work as a skipjack captain ensures the spirit and hard work of the Black watermen live on. The Virginia Department of Historic Resources is another source dedicated to preserving this history of the Black watermen; they initiated the African American Watermen Project<\/a>, which documents the culture and history of African American watermen in the Chesapeake Bay\u2019s coastal communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite the many challenges and barriers they faced, the Black watermen of the Chesapeake Bay made indelible marks on both the water industry and U.S. history. Their tenacity, innovation, and unyielding spirit continue to inspire generations. As we celebrate Black History Month, let us honor and remember their contributions\u2014not just in the context of their time, but as a testament to the enduring power of community, resilience, and self-determination. The legacy of the Black watermen is a shining beacon of hope and excellence, reminding us that the waters they navigated are still filled with stories of courage and triumph that resonate to this day.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Black History Month Spotlight: The Black Watermen of the Chesapeake Bay","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"black-history-month-spotlight-the-black-watermen-of-the-chesapeake-bay","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-14 16:53:32","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-14 22:53:32","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/immerse.gowpi.org\/?p=1028","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":849,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2023-04-27 12:00:21","post_date_gmt":"2023-04-27 17:00:21","post_content":"The fastest growing testing trends for 2023 encompass the test taker experience, increasing interest in certification, and how artificial intelligence can play a role in test development. In addition, as the testing industry continues to evolve following the pandemic organizations are reevaluating their strategies for remote testing.\r\n\r\nAll these trends contribute to the perpetual balancing act \u2013 the need for robust test security and a desire to deliver the most convenient and accessible experience for all test takers.\r\n I read a lot. I also attend industry conferences. I particularly like to learn about new technologies from vendors and from people at other utilities who are using the technology we are considering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How do you ensure that your team stays motivated and engaged in their work?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The atmosphere in Columbia County is one of teamwork and family, which I love! We call ourselves the Water Utility family. I get to know my employees. I care about them, and they know I care. I try to touch base with my employees on a regular basis. We routinely have meals together. In the Business Office, we have monthly birthday brunches to celebrate those who are having birthdays \u2013 we can\u2019t shut down the office for the whole group to go out. In the lab, we typically go to lunch as a group to celebrate birthdays and other achievements, like winning the Lab of the Year competition for the Georgia Association of Water Professionals. I work hard to explain my expectations to my folks. I provide the training and the tools they need to do their jobs effectively, then I get out of their way and let them work. The managers that report to me are great at what they do; I don\u2019t need to get in their way. My goal is to be a good servant-leader.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Can you describe an initiative you spearheaded or contributed to that you are particularly proud of?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I developed and taught a leadership and management class for Water Utility. It was designed for supervisors and managers who had worked their way into a supervisory or management role. Most employees in this circumstance have received no formal training in supervision, management, or leadership. I have taught multiple cohorts, and I think it has assisted several of my fellow employees with their professional growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What motivated you to get involved in several leadership roles over the years at WPI?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n When I took my certification exams, I disagreed with a couple of items on the exam, so I contacted Ernie Earn, who served on the Georgia Operator Certification Board at the time. He set me up to be an item bank reviewer (a Subject Matter Expert that reviews items being considered for use on examinations). I fell in love with the whole psychometric process. From there I was invited to join the Laboratory Exam Committee. I felt like being involved in WPI was a way I could give back to the industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2001, I was appointed by the Governor to the Georgia Water\/Wastewater Operator Certification Board, which is a member of WPI. After attending my first WPI conference, I was asked to consider running for a leadership role in WPI. I was honored to be elected as the Wastewater Treatment Division Director for WPI in 2003. I was subsequently elected to serve as an officer from 2004 \u2013 2007. I still believe my involvement with WPI is a way to give back to the water and wastewater industry; to have a lasting positive impact on future generations of operators and laboratory analysts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What advice would you give to women aspiring to take on a leadership role in the water industry?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Work in an organization where the leadership respects its employees and encourages them to be successful, don\u2019t wait to be promoted to learn what you need to know to move up in your organization, and be a leader, even if you haven\u2019t been promoted to an official leadership position. Being a leader means doing what needs to be done because it needs to be done, not for the accolades. I would also say don\u2019t be afraid to let others know you are smart, but be humble, not arrogant. Strive to keep learning. I would encourage women to be involved in organizations or associations outside of work related to our industry \u2013 WPI, AWWA, WEF, your local operator association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What has been the most rewarding aspect of your career so far?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The lifelong friends I have made is definitely the most rewarding aspect. I can\u2019t begin to name all of the wonderful people I have met in the United States and other countries throughout my career that I truly consider friends. A close second would be the knowledge that I have served my community by protecting public health and the environment. Think about it \u2013 I\u2019ve been able to be part of making sure people have clean water to drink \u2013 water that does not make them sick. I also play a role in cleaning the dirty water before returning it to the environment, preserving water resources for future generations.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Celebrating Women's History Month: Spotlight on Margaret Doss, PO","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"celebrating-womens-history-month-spotlight-on-margaret-doss-po","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-08 10:04:24","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-08 16:04:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/immerse.gowpi.org\/?p=1035","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1028,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2025-02-14 16:53:28","post_date_gmt":"2025-02-14 22:53:28","post_content":"\n Against the horizon, the Bald Cypress stretches towards a sun-drenched sky. Its trunk bloats with the water of the Chesapeake Bay, a water-logged home to a lone copperhead, who curls against the knees of the tree. This is not the first creature to find refuge in the Cypress, whose roots have known this water for nearly one hundred years. Turtles and wood ducks, raccoons and egrets all have called the Bald Cypress swamp home. Along the Chesapeake watershed, life finds new ways to sustain itself. The endeavors of those who make their living by the water's edge, especially the Black Americans who have called the Chesapeake Bay home for centuries, stand as a testament to this resilience. The Black watermen of the Chesapeake, much like the Bald Cypress, remain revered symbols of the Bay to this day. Their invaluable contributions to the industry are nothing short of extraordinary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Maryland, a storied history exists between African Americans and the Bay. The Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in North America<\/a>, has been a robust place of employment for watermen\u2014a term that encompasses both women and men\u2014since the 1600s. In the mid-1800s, that occupation, previously only open to white watermen, was extended to African Americans, who took on roles such as captains, fishermen, oystermen, and owners of seafood processing plants and restaurants. Their labor and contributions transformed the Chesapeake Bay<\/a>. To this day, the Bay is renowned for its rich seafood and maritime industry due to the innovative thinking and hard work of Black watermen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The path to working in the Chesapeake Bay for African Americans was shaped by the growing demand for maritime labor in the 1800s, which led to Maryland offering pseudo-freedom to enslaved persons living and working in the Bay. This was due to the issuing of Seamen\u2019s Protection Certificates, which allowed Black watermen to be classified as citizens as early as sixty-seven years before the Emancipation Proclamation was disseminated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black watermen worked across the entirety of the Bay\u2019s water industry as skilled tradesmen and innovators<\/a>. Black women often were employed in crab picking and oyster shucking, while Black men worked on the water as shipbuilders and crew, in addition to hauling freight and captaining ships. Entering the water industry was groundbreaking, as it was one of the first ways Black Americans could earn a wage. However, being a waterman on the Chesapeake Bay offered more than just a path to freedom and compensation. For many, living at the water\u2019s edge was a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That is not to say, however, there were not still vast issues with the system created. Imani Black, shellfish aquaculture biologist and founder of Minorities in Aquaculture<\/a>, discusses this in \u201cWater\u2019s Edge: The Black Watermen of the Chesapeake Bay,\u201d a documentary for PBS<\/a>. She explains that Black Americans were pushed to the coasts as a result of practices steeped in prejudice and racism, and thus they learned how to live and work with the water out of necessity. Further, working on the water was not easy for African Americans. In 1836, a law was passed<\/a> attempting to prohibit and restrict Black Americans from laboring on the water. While white captains and watermen often ignored this decree due to the crucial contributions of Black watermen, this law promoted additional segregation, economic oppression, and discrimination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite these barriers, African Americans changed and propelled the industry forward. Their resilience led to the creation of an incredible communication network. The winding rivers and bustling water passages became a way for Black Americans to pass information and messages through ports. Through this system, they were able to stay informed on what was happening abroad as well as within the United States. This was how those who had secured their freedom through the water industry were able to devise strategies<\/a> for enslaved persons to flee secretly via boat passage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black watermen used a lantern code to signal if boats had fugitive enslaved African Americans on board. They would then exchange passengers under the cover of night on the still waters of the Chesapeake before returning to their ports. From there, the escaped enslaved Black Americans would travel through the Underground Railroad. Harriet Tubman herself grew up on a Maryland plantation by the Chesapeake Bay. While laboring on the docks, she engaged with a group of Black watermen<\/a>, forming connections and discovering the astonishing system of networking they had created. It was through the information Tubman learned from these Black maritime workers that she was ultimately able to escape. Once free, she used those connections to send messages back and forth to those still enslaved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The impact of the Black watermen continues to be felt today. In the Chesapeake region, generations of Black watermen, like Captain Tyrone Meredith, dedicate their lives<\/a> to preserving the legacy of their forebears. Captain Meredith has worked in the industry for 40 years and is a fifth-generation waterman, following in the footsteps of his father, grandfather, and ancestors. Today, his work as a skipjack captain ensures the spirit and hard work of the Black watermen live on. The Virginia Department of Historic Resources is another source dedicated to preserving this history of the Black watermen; they initiated the African American Watermen Project<\/a>, which documents the culture and history of African American watermen in the Chesapeake Bay\u2019s coastal communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite the many challenges and barriers they faced, the Black watermen of the Chesapeake Bay made indelible marks on both the water industry and U.S. history. Their tenacity, innovation, and unyielding spirit continue to inspire generations. As we celebrate Black History Month, let us honor and remember their contributions\u2014not just in the context of their time, but as a testament to the enduring power of community, resilience, and self-determination. The legacy of the Black watermen is a shining beacon of hope and excellence, reminding us that the waters they navigated are still filled with stories of courage and triumph that resonate to this day.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Black History Month Spotlight: The Black Watermen of the Chesapeake Bay","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"black-history-month-spotlight-the-black-watermen-of-the-chesapeake-bay","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-14 16:53:32","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-14 22:53:32","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/immerse.gowpi.org\/?p=1028","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":849,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2023-04-27 12:00:21","post_date_gmt":"2023-04-27 17:00:21","post_content":"The fastest growing testing trends for 2023 encompass the test taker experience, increasing interest in certification, and how artificial intelligence can play a role in test development. In addition, as the testing industry continues to evolve following the pandemic organizations are reevaluating their strategies for remote testing.\r\n\r\nAll these trends contribute to the perpetual balancing act \u2013 the need for robust test security and a desire to deliver the most convenient and accessible experience for all test takers.\r\n How do you stay up to date with the latest advancements and trends in the water industry?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I read a lot. I also attend industry conferences. I particularly like to learn about new technologies from vendors and from people at other utilities who are using the technology we are considering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How do you ensure that your team stays motivated and engaged in their work?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The atmosphere in Columbia County is one of teamwork and family, which I love! We call ourselves the Water Utility family. I get to know my employees. I care about them, and they know I care. I try to touch base with my employees on a regular basis. We routinely have meals together. In the Business Office, we have monthly birthday brunches to celebrate those who are having birthdays \u2013 we can\u2019t shut down the office for the whole group to go out. In the lab, we typically go to lunch as a group to celebrate birthdays and other achievements, like winning the Lab of the Year competition for the Georgia Association of Water Professionals. I work hard to explain my expectations to my folks. I provide the training and the tools they need to do their jobs effectively, then I get out of their way and let them work. The managers that report to me are great at what they do; I don\u2019t need to get in their way. My goal is to be a good servant-leader.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Can you describe an initiative you spearheaded or contributed to that you are particularly proud of?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I developed and taught a leadership and management class for Water Utility. It was designed for supervisors and managers who had worked their way into a supervisory or management role. Most employees in this circumstance have received no formal training in supervision, management, or leadership. I have taught multiple cohorts, and I think it has assisted several of my fellow employees with their professional growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What motivated you to get involved in several leadership roles over the years at WPI?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n When I took my certification exams, I disagreed with a couple of items on the exam, so I contacted Ernie Earn, who served on the Georgia Operator Certification Board at the time. He set me up to be an item bank reviewer (a Subject Matter Expert that reviews items being considered for use on examinations). I fell in love with the whole psychometric process. From there I was invited to join the Laboratory Exam Committee. I felt like being involved in WPI was a way I could give back to the industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2001, I was appointed by the Governor to the Georgia Water\/Wastewater Operator Certification Board, which is a member of WPI. After attending my first WPI conference, I was asked to consider running for a leadership role in WPI. I was honored to be elected as the Wastewater Treatment Division Director for WPI in 2003. I was subsequently elected to serve as an officer from 2004 \u2013 2007. I still believe my involvement with WPI is a way to give back to the water and wastewater industry; to have a lasting positive impact on future generations of operators and laboratory analysts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What advice would you give to women aspiring to take on a leadership role in the water industry?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Work in an organization where the leadership respects its employees and encourages them to be successful, don\u2019t wait to be promoted to learn what you need to know to move up in your organization, and be a leader, even if you haven\u2019t been promoted to an official leadership position. Being a leader means doing what needs to be done because it needs to be done, not for the accolades. I would also say don\u2019t be afraid to let others know you are smart, but be humble, not arrogant. Strive to keep learning. I would encourage women to be involved in organizations or associations outside of work related to our industry \u2013 WPI, AWWA, WEF, your local operator association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What has been the most rewarding aspect of your career so far?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The lifelong friends I have made is definitely the most rewarding aspect. I can\u2019t begin to name all of the wonderful people I have met in the United States and other countries throughout my career that I truly consider friends. A close second would be the knowledge that I have served my community by protecting public health and the environment. Think about it \u2013 I\u2019ve been able to be part of making sure people have clean water to drink \u2013 water that does not make them sick. I also play a role in cleaning the dirty water before returning it to the environment, preserving water resources for future generations.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Celebrating Women's History Month: Spotlight on Margaret Doss, PO","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"celebrating-womens-history-month-spotlight-on-margaret-doss-po","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-08 10:04:24","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-08 16:04:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/immerse.gowpi.org\/?p=1035","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1028,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2025-02-14 16:53:28","post_date_gmt":"2025-02-14 22:53:28","post_content":"\n Against the horizon, the Bald Cypress stretches towards a sun-drenched sky. Its trunk bloats with the water of the Chesapeake Bay, a water-logged home to a lone copperhead, who curls against the knees of the tree. This is not the first creature to find refuge in the Cypress, whose roots have known this water for nearly one hundred years. Turtles and wood ducks, raccoons and egrets all have called the Bald Cypress swamp home. Along the Chesapeake watershed, life finds new ways to sustain itself. The endeavors of those who make their living by the water's edge, especially the Black Americans who have called the Chesapeake Bay home for centuries, stand as a testament to this resilience. The Black watermen of the Chesapeake, much like the Bald Cypress, remain revered symbols of the Bay to this day. Their invaluable contributions to the industry are nothing short of extraordinary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Maryland, a storied history exists between African Americans and the Bay. The Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in North America<\/a>, has been a robust place of employment for watermen\u2014a term that encompasses both women and men\u2014since the 1600s. In the mid-1800s, that occupation, previously only open to white watermen, was extended to African Americans, who took on roles such as captains, fishermen, oystermen, and owners of seafood processing plants and restaurants. Their labor and contributions transformed the Chesapeake Bay<\/a>. To this day, the Bay is renowned for its rich seafood and maritime industry due to the innovative thinking and hard work of Black watermen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The path to working in the Chesapeake Bay for African Americans was shaped by the growing demand for maritime labor in the 1800s, which led to Maryland offering pseudo-freedom to enslaved persons living and working in the Bay. This was due to the issuing of Seamen\u2019s Protection Certificates, which allowed Black watermen to be classified as citizens as early as sixty-seven years before the Emancipation Proclamation was disseminated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black watermen worked across the entirety of the Bay\u2019s water industry as skilled tradesmen and innovators<\/a>. Black women often were employed in crab picking and oyster shucking, while Black men worked on the water as shipbuilders and crew, in addition to hauling freight and captaining ships. Entering the water industry was groundbreaking, as it was one of the first ways Black Americans could earn a wage. However, being a waterman on the Chesapeake Bay offered more than just a path to freedom and compensation. For many, living at the water\u2019s edge was a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That is not to say, however, there were not still vast issues with the system created. Imani Black, shellfish aquaculture biologist and founder of Minorities in Aquaculture<\/a>, discusses this in \u201cWater\u2019s Edge: The Black Watermen of the Chesapeake Bay,\u201d a documentary for PBS<\/a>. She explains that Black Americans were pushed to the coasts as a result of practices steeped in prejudice and racism, and thus they learned how to live and work with the water out of necessity. Further, working on the water was not easy for African Americans. In 1836, a law was passed<\/a> attempting to prohibit and restrict Black Americans from laboring on the water. While white captains and watermen often ignored this decree due to the crucial contributions of Black watermen, this law promoted additional segregation, economic oppression, and discrimination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite these barriers, African Americans changed and propelled the industry forward. Their resilience led to the creation of an incredible communication network. The winding rivers and bustling water passages became a way for Black Americans to pass information and messages through ports. Through this system, they were able to stay informed on what was happening abroad as well as within the United States. This was how those who had secured their freedom through the water industry were able to devise strategies<\/a> for enslaved persons to flee secretly via boat passage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black watermen used a lantern code to signal if boats had fugitive enslaved African Americans on board. They would then exchange passengers under the cover of night on the still waters of the Chesapeake before returning to their ports. From there, the escaped enslaved Black Americans would travel through the Underground Railroad. Harriet Tubman herself grew up on a Maryland plantation by the Chesapeake Bay. While laboring on the docks, she engaged with a group of Black watermen<\/a>, forming connections and discovering the astonishing system of networking they had created. It was through the information Tubman learned from these Black maritime workers that she was ultimately able to escape. Once free, she used those connections to send messages back and forth to those still enslaved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The impact of the Black watermen continues to be felt today. In the Chesapeake region, generations of Black watermen, like Captain Tyrone Meredith, dedicate their lives<\/a> to preserving the legacy of their forebears. Captain Meredith has worked in the industry for 40 years and is a fifth-generation waterman, following in the footsteps of his father, grandfather, and ancestors. Today, his work as a skipjack captain ensures the spirit and hard work of the Black watermen live on. The Virginia Department of Historic Resources is another source dedicated to preserving this history of the Black watermen; they initiated the African American Watermen Project<\/a>, which documents the culture and history of African American watermen in the Chesapeake Bay\u2019s coastal communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite the many challenges and barriers they faced, the Black watermen of the Chesapeake Bay made indelible marks on both the water industry and U.S. history. Their tenacity, innovation, and unyielding spirit continue to inspire generations. As we celebrate Black History Month, let us honor and remember their contributions\u2014not just in the context of their time, but as a testament to the enduring power of community, resilience, and self-determination. The legacy of the Black watermen is a shining beacon of hope and excellence, reminding us that the waters they navigated are still filled with stories of courage and triumph that resonate to this day.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Black History Month Spotlight: The Black Watermen of the Chesapeake Bay","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"black-history-month-spotlight-the-black-watermen-of-the-chesapeake-bay","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-14 16:53:32","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-14 22:53:32","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/immerse.gowpi.org\/?p=1028","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":849,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2023-04-27 12:00:21","post_date_gmt":"2023-04-27 17:00:21","post_content":"The fastest growing testing trends for 2023 encompass the test taker experience, increasing interest in certification, and how artificial intelligence can play a role in test development. In addition, as the testing industry continues to evolve following the pandemic organizations are reevaluating their strategies for remote testing.\r\n\r\nAll these trends contribute to the perpetual balancing act \u2013 the need for robust test security and a desire to deliver the most convenient and accessible experience for all test takers.\r\n One challenge, which is part of my job, is to explain highly technical scientific concepts to a variety of audiences in non-technical terms. Another challenge is keeping current on upcoming regulations that impact the Water Utility. It seems that there are times when regulations at the state and federal levels are coming fast and furious. It is sometimes a challenge to read and decipher what will impact us, if we should offer public comment, and what we need to do to prepare. I would also say that the speed of technological advances can be challenging. Treatment technologies are rapidly changing, along with the regulations. Currently, getting a handle on AI \u2013 its benefits and detriments in our field \u2013 is a formidable task.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How do you stay up to date with the latest advancements and trends in the water industry?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I read a lot. I also attend industry conferences. I particularly like to learn about new technologies from vendors and from people at other utilities who are using the technology we are considering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How do you ensure that your team stays motivated and engaged in their work?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The atmosphere in Columbia County is one of teamwork and family, which I love! We call ourselves the Water Utility family. I get to know my employees. I care about them, and they know I care. I try to touch base with my employees on a regular basis. We routinely have meals together. In the Business Office, we have monthly birthday brunches to celebrate those who are having birthdays \u2013 we can\u2019t shut down the office for the whole group to go out. In the lab, we typically go to lunch as a group to celebrate birthdays and other achievements, like winning the Lab of the Year competition for the Georgia Association of Water Professionals. I work hard to explain my expectations to my folks. I provide the training and the tools they need to do their jobs effectively, then I get out of their way and let them work. The managers that report to me are great at what they do; I don\u2019t need to get in their way. My goal is to be a good servant-leader.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Can you describe an initiative you spearheaded or contributed to that you are particularly proud of?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I developed and taught a leadership and management class for Water Utility. It was designed for supervisors and managers who had worked their way into a supervisory or management role. Most employees in this circumstance have received no formal training in supervision, management, or leadership. I have taught multiple cohorts, and I think it has assisted several of my fellow employees with their professional growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What motivated you to get involved in several leadership roles over the years at WPI?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n When I took my certification exams, I disagreed with a couple of items on the exam, so I contacted Ernie Earn, who served on the Georgia Operator Certification Board at the time. He set me up to be an item bank reviewer (a Subject Matter Expert that reviews items being considered for use on examinations). I fell in love with the whole psychometric process. From there I was invited to join the Laboratory Exam Committee. I felt like being involved in WPI was a way I could give back to the industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2001, I was appointed by the Governor to the Georgia Water\/Wastewater Operator Certification Board, which is a member of WPI. After attending my first WPI conference, I was asked to consider running for a leadership role in WPI. I was honored to be elected as the Wastewater Treatment Division Director for WPI in 2003. I was subsequently elected to serve as an officer from 2004 \u2013 2007. I still believe my involvement with WPI is a way to give back to the water and wastewater industry; to have a lasting positive impact on future generations of operators and laboratory analysts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What advice would you give to women aspiring to take on a leadership role in the water industry?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Work in an organization where the leadership respects its employees and encourages them to be successful, don\u2019t wait to be promoted to learn what you need to know to move up in your organization, and be a leader, even if you haven\u2019t been promoted to an official leadership position. Being a leader means doing what needs to be done because it needs to be done, not for the accolades. I would also say don\u2019t be afraid to let others know you are smart, but be humble, not arrogant. Strive to keep learning. I would encourage women to be involved in organizations or associations outside of work related to our industry \u2013 WPI, AWWA, WEF, your local operator association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What has been the most rewarding aspect of your career so far?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The lifelong friends I have made is definitely the most rewarding aspect. I can\u2019t begin to name all of the wonderful people I have met in the United States and other countries throughout my career that I truly consider friends. A close second would be the knowledge that I have served my community by protecting public health and the environment. Think about it \u2013 I\u2019ve been able to be part of making sure people have clean water to drink \u2013 water that does not make them sick. I also play a role in cleaning the dirty water before returning it to the environment, preserving water resources for future generations.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Celebrating Women's History Month: Spotlight on Margaret Doss, PO","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"celebrating-womens-history-month-spotlight-on-margaret-doss-po","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-08 10:04:24","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-08 16:04:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/immerse.gowpi.org\/?p=1035","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1028,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2025-02-14 16:53:28","post_date_gmt":"2025-02-14 22:53:28","post_content":"\n Against the horizon, the Bald Cypress stretches towards a sun-drenched sky. Its trunk bloats with the water of the Chesapeake Bay, a water-logged home to a lone copperhead, who curls against the knees of the tree. This is not the first creature to find refuge in the Cypress, whose roots have known this water for nearly one hundred years. Turtles and wood ducks, raccoons and egrets all have called the Bald Cypress swamp home. Along the Chesapeake watershed, life finds new ways to sustain itself. The endeavors of those who make their living by the water's edge, especially the Black Americans who have called the Chesapeake Bay home for centuries, stand as a testament to this resilience. The Black watermen of the Chesapeake, much like the Bald Cypress, remain revered symbols of the Bay to this day. Their invaluable contributions to the industry are nothing short of extraordinary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Maryland, a storied history exists between African Americans and the Bay. The Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in North America<\/a>, has been a robust place of employment for watermen\u2014a term that encompasses both women and men\u2014since the 1600s. In the mid-1800s, that occupation, previously only open to white watermen, was extended to African Americans, who took on roles such as captains, fishermen, oystermen, and owners of seafood processing plants and restaurants. Their labor and contributions transformed the Chesapeake Bay<\/a>. To this day, the Bay is renowned for its rich seafood and maritime industry due to the innovative thinking and hard work of Black watermen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The path to working in the Chesapeake Bay for African Americans was shaped by the growing demand for maritime labor in the 1800s, which led to Maryland offering pseudo-freedom to enslaved persons living and working in the Bay. This was due to the issuing of Seamen\u2019s Protection Certificates, which allowed Black watermen to be classified as citizens as early as sixty-seven years before the Emancipation Proclamation was disseminated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black watermen worked across the entirety of the Bay\u2019s water industry as skilled tradesmen and innovators<\/a>. Black women often were employed in crab picking and oyster shucking, while Black men worked on the water as shipbuilders and crew, in addition to hauling freight and captaining ships. Entering the water industry was groundbreaking, as it was one of the first ways Black Americans could earn a wage. However, being a waterman on the Chesapeake Bay offered more than just a path to freedom and compensation. For many, living at the water\u2019s edge was a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That is not to say, however, there were not still vast issues with the system created. Imani Black, shellfish aquaculture biologist and founder of Minorities in Aquaculture<\/a>, discusses this in \u201cWater\u2019s Edge: The Black Watermen of the Chesapeake Bay,\u201d a documentary for PBS<\/a>. She explains that Black Americans were pushed to the coasts as a result of practices steeped in prejudice and racism, and thus they learned how to live and work with the water out of necessity. Further, working on the water was not easy for African Americans. In 1836, a law was passed<\/a> attempting to prohibit and restrict Black Americans from laboring on the water. While white captains and watermen often ignored this decree due to the crucial contributions of Black watermen, this law promoted additional segregation, economic oppression, and discrimination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite these barriers, African Americans changed and propelled the industry forward. Their resilience led to the creation of an incredible communication network. The winding rivers and bustling water passages became a way for Black Americans to pass information and messages through ports. Through this system, they were able to stay informed on what was happening abroad as well as within the United States. This was how those who had secured their freedom through the water industry were able to devise strategies<\/a> for enslaved persons to flee secretly via boat passage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black watermen used a lantern code to signal if boats had fugitive enslaved African Americans on board. They would then exchange passengers under the cover of night on the still waters of the Chesapeake before returning to their ports. From there, the escaped enslaved Black Americans would travel through the Underground Railroad. Harriet Tubman herself grew up on a Maryland plantation by the Chesapeake Bay. While laboring on the docks, she engaged with a group of Black watermen<\/a>, forming connections and discovering the astonishing system of networking they had created. It was through the information Tubman learned from these Black maritime workers that she was ultimately able to escape. Once free, she used those connections to send messages back and forth to those still enslaved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The impact of the Black watermen continues to be felt today. In the Chesapeake region, generations of Black watermen, like Captain Tyrone Meredith, dedicate their lives<\/a> to preserving the legacy of their forebears. Captain Meredith has worked in the industry for 40 years and is a fifth-generation waterman, following in the footsteps of his father, grandfather, and ancestors. Today, his work as a skipjack captain ensures the spirit and hard work of the Black watermen live on. The Virginia Department of Historic Resources is another source dedicated to preserving this history of the Black watermen; they initiated the African American Watermen Project<\/a>, which documents the culture and history of African American watermen in the Chesapeake Bay\u2019s coastal communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite the many challenges and barriers they faced, the Black watermen of the Chesapeake Bay made indelible marks on both the water industry and U.S. history. Their tenacity, innovation, and unyielding spirit continue to inspire generations. As we celebrate Black History Month, let us honor and remember their contributions\u2014not just in the context of their time, but as a testament to the enduring power of community, resilience, and self-determination. The legacy of the Black watermen is a shining beacon of hope and excellence, reminding us that the waters they navigated are still filled with stories of courage and triumph that resonate to this day.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Black History Month Spotlight: The Black Watermen of the Chesapeake Bay","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"black-history-month-spotlight-the-black-watermen-of-the-chesapeake-bay","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-14 16:53:32","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-14 22:53:32","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/immerse.gowpi.org\/?p=1028","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":849,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2023-04-27 12:00:21","post_date_gmt":"2023-04-27 17:00:21","post_content":"The fastest growing testing trends for 2023 encompass the test taker experience, increasing interest in certification, and how artificial intelligence can play a role in test development. In addition, as the testing industry continues to evolve following the pandemic organizations are reevaluating their strategies for remote testing.\r\n\r\nAll these trends contribute to the perpetual balancing act \u2013 the need for robust test security and a desire to deliver the most convenient and accessible experience for all test takers.\r\n What are some of the biggest challenges you face in your role, and how have you overcome them?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n One challenge, which is part of my job, is to explain highly technical scientific concepts to a variety of audiences in non-technical terms. Another challenge is keeping current on upcoming regulations that impact the Water Utility. It seems that there are times when regulations at the state and federal levels are coming fast and furious. It is sometimes a challenge to read and decipher what will impact us, if we should offer public comment, and what we need to do to prepare. I would also say that the speed of technological advances can be challenging. Treatment technologies are rapidly changing, along with the regulations. Currently, getting a handle on AI \u2013 its benefits and detriments in our field \u2013 is a formidable task.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How do you stay up to date with the latest advancements and trends in the water industry?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I read a lot. I also attend industry conferences. I particularly like to learn about new technologies from vendors and from people at other utilities who are using the technology we are considering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How do you ensure that your team stays motivated and engaged in their work?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The atmosphere in Columbia County is one of teamwork and family, which I love! We call ourselves the Water Utility family. I get to know my employees. I care about them, and they know I care. I try to touch base with my employees on a regular basis. We routinely have meals together. In the Business Office, we have monthly birthday brunches to celebrate those who are having birthdays \u2013 we can\u2019t shut down the office for the whole group to go out. In the lab, we typically go to lunch as a group to celebrate birthdays and other achievements, like winning the Lab of the Year competition for the Georgia Association of Water Professionals. I work hard to explain my expectations to my folks. I provide the training and the tools they need to do their jobs effectively, then I get out of their way and let them work. The managers that report to me are great at what they do; I don\u2019t need to get in their way. My goal is to be a good servant-leader.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Can you describe an initiative you spearheaded or contributed to that you are particularly proud of?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I developed and taught a leadership and management class for Water Utility. It was designed for supervisors and managers who had worked their way into a supervisory or management role. Most employees in this circumstance have received no formal training in supervision, management, or leadership. I have taught multiple cohorts, and I think it has assisted several of my fellow employees with their professional growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What motivated you to get involved in several leadership roles over the years at WPI?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n When I took my certification exams, I disagreed with a couple of items on the exam, so I contacted Ernie Earn, who served on the Georgia Operator Certification Board at the time. He set me up to be an item bank reviewer (a Subject Matter Expert that reviews items being considered for use on examinations). I fell in love with the whole psychometric process. From there I was invited to join the Laboratory Exam Committee. I felt like being involved in WPI was a way I could give back to the industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2001, I was appointed by the Governor to the Georgia Water\/Wastewater Operator Certification Board, which is a member of WPI. After attending my first WPI conference, I was asked to consider running for a leadership role in WPI. I was honored to be elected as the Wastewater Treatment Division Director for WPI in 2003. I was subsequently elected to serve as an officer from 2004 \u2013 2007. I still believe my involvement with WPI is a way to give back to the water and wastewater industry; to have a lasting positive impact on future generations of operators and laboratory analysts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What advice would you give to women aspiring to take on a leadership role in the water industry?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Work in an organization where the leadership respects its employees and encourages them to be successful, don\u2019t wait to be promoted to learn what you need to know to move up in your organization, and be a leader, even if you haven\u2019t been promoted to an official leadership position. Being a leader means doing what needs to be done because it needs to be done, not for the accolades. I would also say don\u2019t be afraid to let others know you are smart, but be humble, not arrogant. Strive to keep learning. I would encourage women to be involved in organizations or associations outside of work related to our industry \u2013 WPI, AWWA, WEF, your local operator association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What has been the most rewarding aspect of your career so far?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The lifelong friends I have made is definitely the most rewarding aspect. I can\u2019t begin to name all of the wonderful people I have met in the United States and other countries throughout my career that I truly consider friends. A close second would be the knowledge that I have served my community by protecting public health and the environment. Think about it \u2013 I\u2019ve been able to be part of making sure people have clean water to drink \u2013 water that does not make them sick. I also play a role in cleaning the dirty water before returning it to the environment, preserving water resources for future generations.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Celebrating Women's History Month: Spotlight on Margaret Doss, PO","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"celebrating-womens-history-month-spotlight-on-margaret-doss-po","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-08 10:04:24","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-08 16:04:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/immerse.gowpi.org\/?p=1035","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1028,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2025-02-14 16:53:28","post_date_gmt":"2025-02-14 22:53:28","post_content":"\n Against the horizon, the Bald Cypress stretches towards a sun-drenched sky. Its trunk bloats with the water of the Chesapeake Bay, a water-logged home to a lone copperhead, who curls against the knees of the tree. This is not the first creature to find refuge in the Cypress, whose roots have known this water for nearly one hundred years. Turtles and wood ducks, raccoons and egrets all have called the Bald Cypress swamp home. Along the Chesapeake watershed, life finds new ways to sustain itself. The endeavors of those who make their living by the water's edge, especially the Black Americans who have called the Chesapeake Bay home for centuries, stand as a testament to this resilience. The Black watermen of the Chesapeake, much like the Bald Cypress, remain revered symbols of the Bay to this day. Their invaluable contributions to the industry are nothing short of extraordinary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Maryland, a storied history exists between African Americans and the Bay. The Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in North America<\/a>, has been a robust place of employment for watermen\u2014a term that encompasses both women and men\u2014since the 1600s. In the mid-1800s, that occupation, previously only open to white watermen, was extended to African Americans, who took on roles such as captains, fishermen, oystermen, and owners of seafood processing plants and restaurants. Their labor and contributions transformed the Chesapeake Bay<\/a>. To this day, the Bay is renowned for its rich seafood and maritime industry due to the innovative thinking and hard work of Black watermen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The path to working in the Chesapeake Bay for African Americans was shaped by the growing demand for maritime labor in the 1800s, which led to Maryland offering pseudo-freedom to enslaved persons living and working in the Bay. This was due to the issuing of Seamen\u2019s Protection Certificates, which allowed Black watermen to be classified as citizens as early as sixty-seven years before the Emancipation Proclamation was disseminated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black watermen worked across the entirety of the Bay\u2019s water industry as skilled tradesmen and innovators<\/a>. Black women often were employed in crab picking and oyster shucking, while Black men worked on the water as shipbuilders and crew, in addition to hauling freight and captaining ships. Entering the water industry was groundbreaking, as it was one of the first ways Black Americans could earn a wage. However, being a waterman on the Chesapeake Bay offered more than just a path to freedom and compensation. For many, living at the water\u2019s edge was a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That is not to say, however, there were not still vast issues with the system created. Imani Black, shellfish aquaculture biologist and founder of Minorities in Aquaculture<\/a>, discusses this in \u201cWater\u2019s Edge: The Black Watermen of the Chesapeake Bay,\u201d a documentary for PBS<\/a>. She explains that Black Americans were pushed to the coasts as a result of practices steeped in prejudice and racism, and thus they learned how to live and work with the water out of necessity. Further, working on the water was not easy for African Americans. In 1836, a law was passed<\/a> attempting to prohibit and restrict Black Americans from laboring on the water. While white captains and watermen often ignored this decree due to the crucial contributions of Black watermen, this law promoted additional segregation, economic oppression, and discrimination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite these barriers, African Americans changed and propelled the industry forward. Their resilience led to the creation of an incredible communication network. The winding rivers and bustling water passages became a way for Black Americans to pass information and messages through ports. Through this system, they were able to stay informed on what was happening abroad as well as within the United States. This was how those who had secured their freedom through the water industry were able to devise strategies<\/a> for enslaved persons to flee secretly via boat passage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black watermen used a lantern code to signal if boats had fugitive enslaved African Americans on board. They would then exchange passengers under the cover of night on the still waters of the Chesapeake before returning to their ports. From there, the escaped enslaved Black Americans would travel through the Underground Railroad. Harriet Tubman herself grew up on a Maryland plantation by the Chesapeake Bay. While laboring on the docks, she engaged with a group of Black watermen<\/a>, forming connections and discovering the astonishing system of networking they had created. It was through the information Tubman learned from these Black maritime workers that she was ultimately able to escape. Once free, she used those connections to send messages back and forth to those still enslaved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The impact of the Black watermen continues to be felt today. In the Chesapeake region, generations of Black watermen, like Captain Tyrone Meredith, dedicate their lives<\/a> to preserving the legacy of their forebears. Captain Meredith has worked in the industry for 40 years and is a fifth-generation waterman, following in the footsteps of his father, grandfather, and ancestors. Today, his work as a skipjack captain ensures the spirit and hard work of the Black watermen live on. The Virginia Department of Historic Resources is another source dedicated to preserving this history of the Black watermen; they initiated the African American Watermen Project<\/a>, which documents the culture and history of African American watermen in the Chesapeake Bay\u2019s coastal communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite the many challenges and barriers they faced, the Black watermen of the Chesapeake Bay made indelible marks on both the water industry and U.S. history. Their tenacity, innovation, and unyielding spirit continue to inspire generations. As we celebrate Black History Month, let us honor and remember their contributions\u2014not just in the context of their time, but as a testament to the enduring power of community, resilience, and self-determination. The legacy of the Black watermen is a shining beacon of hope and excellence, reminding us that the waters they navigated are still filled with stories of courage and triumph that resonate to this day.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Black History Month Spotlight: The Black Watermen of the Chesapeake Bay","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"black-history-month-spotlight-the-black-watermen-of-the-chesapeake-bay","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-14 16:53:32","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-14 22:53:32","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/immerse.gowpi.org\/?p=1028","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":849,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2023-04-27 12:00:21","post_date_gmt":"2023-04-27 17:00:21","post_content":"The fastest growing testing trends for 2023 encompass the test taker experience, increasing interest in certification, and how artificial intelligence can play a role in test development. In addition, as the testing industry continues to evolve following the pandemic organizations are reevaluating their strategies for remote testing.\r\n\r\nAll these trends contribute to the perpetual balancing act \u2013 the need for robust test security and a desire to deliver the most convenient and accessible experience for all test takers.\r\n Being asked to teach has tremendously impacted my professional growth. Early in my career, the Georgia Water and Wastewater Institute needed a lab instructor to fill in and teach a week-long class, and they asked me to do so. I LOVED teaching! I learned a tremendous amount in preparing to teach the class, and my instruction was well received by the students. I taught some additional classes, which led to several subsequent milestones in my professional growth: teaching official certification classes on a local basis, being the Environmental Trainer for the Water Utility for a time, going back to school to complete my Master\u2019s degree, and developing some online training courses. I still teach various classes from time to time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What are some of the biggest challenges you face in your role, and how have you overcome them?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n One challenge, which is part of my job, is to explain highly technical scientific concepts to a variety of audiences in non-technical terms. Another challenge is keeping current on upcoming regulations that impact the Water Utility. It seems that there are times when regulations at the state and federal levels are coming fast and furious. It is sometimes a challenge to read and decipher what will impact us, if we should offer public comment, and what we need to do to prepare. I would also say that the speed of technological advances can be challenging. Treatment technologies are rapidly changing, along with the regulations. Currently, getting a handle on AI \u2013 its benefits and detriments in our field \u2013 is a formidable task.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How do you stay up to date with the latest advancements and trends in the water industry?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I read a lot. I also attend industry conferences. I particularly like to learn about new technologies from vendors and from people at other utilities who are using the technology we are considering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How do you ensure that your team stays motivated and engaged in their work?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The atmosphere in Columbia County is one of teamwork and family, which I love! We call ourselves the Water Utility family. I get to know my employees. I care about them, and they know I care. I try to touch base with my employees on a regular basis. We routinely have meals together. In the Business Office, we have monthly birthday brunches to celebrate those who are having birthdays \u2013 we can\u2019t shut down the office for the whole group to go out. In the lab, we typically go to lunch as a group to celebrate birthdays and other achievements, like winning the Lab of the Year competition for the Georgia Association of Water Professionals. I work hard to explain my expectations to my folks. I provide the training and the tools they need to do their jobs effectively, then I get out of their way and let them work. The managers that report to me are great at what they do; I don\u2019t need to get in their way. My goal is to be a good servant-leader.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Can you describe an initiative you spearheaded or contributed to that you are particularly proud of?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I developed and taught a leadership and management class for Water Utility. It was designed for supervisors and managers who had worked their way into a supervisory or management role. Most employees in this circumstance have received no formal training in supervision, management, or leadership. I have taught multiple cohorts, and I think it has assisted several of my fellow employees with their professional growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What motivated you to get involved in several leadership roles over the years at WPI?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n When I took my certification exams, I disagreed with a couple of items on the exam, so I contacted Ernie Earn, who served on the Georgia Operator Certification Board at the time. He set me up to be an item bank reviewer (a Subject Matter Expert that reviews items being considered for use on examinations). I fell in love with the whole psychometric process. From there I was invited to join the Laboratory Exam Committee. I felt like being involved in WPI was a way I could give back to the industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2001, I was appointed by the Governor to the Georgia Water\/Wastewater Operator Certification Board, which is a member of WPI. After attending my first WPI conference, I was asked to consider running for a leadership role in WPI. I was honored to be elected as the Wastewater Treatment Division Director for WPI in 2003. I was subsequently elected to serve as an officer from 2004 \u2013 2007. I still believe my involvement with WPI is a way to give back to the water and wastewater industry; to have a lasting positive impact on future generations of operators and laboratory analysts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What advice would you give to women aspiring to take on a leadership role in the water industry?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Work in an organization where the leadership respects its employees and encourages them to be successful, don\u2019t wait to be promoted to learn what you need to know to move up in your organization, and be a leader, even if you haven\u2019t been promoted to an official leadership position. Being a leader means doing what needs to be done because it needs to be done, not for the accolades. I would also say don\u2019t be afraid to let others know you are smart, but be humble, not arrogant. Strive to keep learning. I would encourage women to be involved in organizations or associations outside of work related to our industry \u2013 WPI, AWWA, WEF, your local operator association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What has been the most rewarding aspect of your career so far?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The lifelong friends I have made is definitely the most rewarding aspect. I can\u2019t begin to name all of the wonderful people I have met in the United States and other countries throughout my career that I truly consider friends. A close second would be the knowledge that I have served my community by protecting public health and the environment. Think about it \u2013 I\u2019ve been able to be part of making sure people have clean water to drink \u2013 water that does not make them sick. I also play a role in cleaning the dirty water before returning it to the environment, preserving water resources for future generations.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Celebrating Women's History Month: Spotlight on Margaret Doss, PO","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"celebrating-womens-history-month-spotlight-on-margaret-doss-po","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-08 10:04:24","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-08 16:04:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/immerse.gowpi.org\/?p=1035","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1028,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2025-02-14 16:53:28","post_date_gmt":"2025-02-14 22:53:28","post_content":"\n Against the horizon, the Bald Cypress stretches towards a sun-drenched sky. Its trunk bloats with the water of the Chesapeake Bay, a water-logged home to a lone copperhead, who curls against the knees of the tree. This is not the first creature to find refuge in the Cypress, whose roots have known this water for nearly one hundred years. Turtles and wood ducks, raccoons and egrets all have called the Bald Cypress swamp home. Along the Chesapeake watershed, life finds new ways to sustain itself. The endeavors of those who make their living by the water's edge, especially the Black Americans who have called the Chesapeake Bay home for centuries, stand as a testament to this resilience. The Black watermen of the Chesapeake, much like the Bald Cypress, remain revered symbols of the Bay to this day. Their invaluable contributions to the industry are nothing short of extraordinary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Maryland, a storied history exists between African Americans and the Bay. The Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in North America<\/a>, has been a robust place of employment for watermen\u2014a term that encompasses both women and men\u2014since the 1600s. In the mid-1800s, that occupation, previously only open to white watermen, was extended to African Americans, who took on roles such as captains, fishermen, oystermen, and owners of seafood processing plants and restaurants. Their labor and contributions transformed the Chesapeake Bay<\/a>. To this day, the Bay is renowned for its rich seafood and maritime industry due to the innovative thinking and hard work of Black watermen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The path to working in the Chesapeake Bay for African Americans was shaped by the growing demand for maritime labor in the 1800s, which led to Maryland offering pseudo-freedom to enslaved persons living and working in the Bay. This was due to the issuing of Seamen\u2019s Protection Certificates, which allowed Black watermen to be classified as citizens as early as sixty-seven years before the Emancipation Proclamation was disseminated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black watermen worked across the entirety of the Bay\u2019s water industry as skilled tradesmen and innovators<\/a>. Black women often were employed in crab picking and oyster shucking, while Black men worked on the water as shipbuilders and crew, in addition to hauling freight and captaining ships. Entering the water industry was groundbreaking, as it was one of the first ways Black Americans could earn a wage. However, being a waterman on the Chesapeake Bay offered more than just a path to freedom and compensation. For many, living at the water\u2019s edge was a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That is not to say, however, there were not still vast issues with the system created. Imani Black, shellfish aquaculture biologist and founder of Minorities in Aquaculture<\/a>, discusses this in \u201cWater\u2019s Edge: The Black Watermen of the Chesapeake Bay,\u201d a documentary for PBS<\/a>. She explains that Black Americans were pushed to the coasts as a result of practices steeped in prejudice and racism, and thus they learned how to live and work with the water out of necessity. Further, working on the water was not easy for African Americans. In 1836, a law was passed<\/a> attempting to prohibit and restrict Black Americans from laboring on the water. While white captains and watermen often ignored this decree due to the crucial contributions of Black watermen, this law promoted additional segregation, economic oppression, and discrimination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite these barriers, African Americans changed and propelled the industry forward. Their resilience led to the creation of an incredible communication network. The winding rivers and bustling water passages became a way for Black Americans to pass information and messages through ports. Through this system, they were able to stay informed on what was happening abroad as well as within the United States. This was how those who had secured their freedom through the water industry were able to devise strategies<\/a> for enslaved persons to flee secretly via boat passage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black watermen used a lantern code to signal if boats had fugitive enslaved African Americans on board. They would then exchange passengers under the cover of night on the still waters of the Chesapeake before returning to their ports. From there, the escaped enslaved Black Americans would travel through the Underground Railroad. Harriet Tubman herself grew up on a Maryland plantation by the Chesapeake Bay. While laboring on the docks, she engaged with a group of Black watermen<\/a>, forming connections and discovering the astonishing system of networking they had created. It was through the information Tubman learned from these Black maritime workers that she was ultimately able to escape. Once free, she used those connections to send messages back and forth to those still enslaved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The impact of the Black watermen continues to be felt today. In the Chesapeake region, generations of Black watermen, like Captain Tyrone Meredith, dedicate their lives<\/a> to preserving the legacy of their forebears. Captain Meredith has worked in the industry for 40 years and is a fifth-generation waterman, following in the footsteps of his father, grandfather, and ancestors. Today, his work as a skipjack captain ensures the spirit and hard work of the Black watermen live on. The Virginia Department of Historic Resources is another source dedicated to preserving this history of the Black watermen; they initiated the African American Watermen Project<\/a>, which documents the culture and history of African American watermen in the Chesapeake Bay\u2019s coastal communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite the many challenges and barriers they faced, the Black watermen of the Chesapeake Bay made indelible marks on both the water industry and U.S. history. Their tenacity, innovation, and unyielding spirit continue to inspire generations. As we celebrate Black History Month, let us honor and remember their contributions\u2014not just in the context of their time, but as a testament to the enduring power of community, resilience, and self-determination. The legacy of the Black watermen is a shining beacon of hope and excellence, reminding us that the waters they navigated are still filled with stories of courage and triumph that resonate to this day.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Black History Month Spotlight: The Black Watermen of the Chesapeake Bay","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"black-history-month-spotlight-the-black-watermen-of-the-chesapeake-bay","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-14 16:53:32","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-14 22:53:32","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/immerse.gowpi.org\/?p=1028","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":849,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2023-04-27 12:00:21","post_date_gmt":"2023-04-27 17:00:21","post_content":"The fastest growing testing trends for 2023 encompass the test taker experience, increasing interest in certification, and how artificial intelligence can play a role in test development. In addition, as the testing industry continues to evolve following the pandemic organizations are reevaluating their strategies for remote testing.\r\n\r\nAll these trends contribute to the perpetual balancing act \u2013 the need for robust test security and a desire to deliver the most convenient and accessible experience for all test takers.\r\n Can you share a moment or experience that significantly impacted your professional growth?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Being asked to teach has tremendously impacted my professional growth. Early in my career, the Georgia Water and Wastewater Institute needed a lab instructor to fill in and teach a week-long class, and they asked me to do so. I LOVED teaching! I learned a tremendous amount in preparing to teach the class, and my instruction was well received by the students. I taught some additional classes, which led to several subsequent milestones in my professional growth: teaching official certification classes on a local basis, being the Environmental Trainer for the Water Utility for a time, going back to school to complete my Master\u2019s degree, and developing some online training courses. I still teach various classes from time to time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What are some of the biggest challenges you face in your role, and how have you overcome them?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n One challenge, which is part of my job, is to explain highly technical scientific concepts to a variety of audiences in non-technical terms. Another challenge is keeping current on upcoming regulations that impact the Water Utility. It seems that there are times when regulations at the state and federal levels are coming fast and furious. It is sometimes a challenge to read and decipher what will impact us, if we should offer public comment, and what we need to do to prepare. I would also say that the speed of technological advances can be challenging. Treatment technologies are rapidly changing, along with the regulations. Currently, getting a handle on AI \u2013 its benefits and detriments in our field \u2013 is a formidable task.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How do you stay up to date with the latest advancements and trends in the water industry?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I read a lot. I also attend industry conferences. I particularly like to learn about new technologies from vendors and from people at other utilities who are using the technology we are considering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How do you ensure that your team stays motivated and engaged in their work?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The atmosphere in Columbia County is one of teamwork and family, which I love! We call ourselves the Water Utility family. I get to know my employees. I care about them, and they know I care. I try to touch base with my employees on a regular basis. We routinely have meals together. In the Business Office, we have monthly birthday brunches to celebrate those who are having birthdays \u2013 we can\u2019t shut down the office for the whole group to go out. In the lab, we typically go to lunch as a group to celebrate birthdays and other achievements, like winning the Lab of the Year competition for the Georgia Association of Water Professionals. I work hard to explain my expectations to my folks. I provide the training and the tools they need to do their jobs effectively, then I get out of their way and let them work. The managers that report to me are great at what they do; I don\u2019t need to get in their way. My goal is to be a good servant-leader.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Can you describe an initiative you spearheaded or contributed to that you are particularly proud of?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I developed and taught a leadership and management class for Water Utility. It was designed for supervisors and managers who had worked their way into a supervisory or management role. Most employees in this circumstance have received no formal training in supervision, management, or leadership. I have taught multiple cohorts, and I think it has assisted several of my fellow employees with their professional growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What motivated you to get involved in several leadership roles over the years at WPI?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n When I took my certification exams, I disagreed with a couple of items on the exam, so I contacted Ernie Earn, who served on the Georgia Operator Certification Board at the time. He set me up to be an item bank reviewer (a Subject Matter Expert that reviews items being considered for use on examinations). I fell in love with the whole psychometric process. From there I was invited to join the Laboratory Exam Committee. I felt like being involved in WPI was a way I could give back to the industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2001, I was appointed by the Governor to the Georgia Water\/Wastewater Operator Certification Board, which is a member of WPI. After attending my first WPI conference, I was asked to consider running for a leadership role in WPI. I was honored to be elected as the Wastewater Treatment Division Director for WPI in 2003. I was subsequently elected to serve as an officer from 2004 \u2013 2007. I still believe my involvement with WPI is a way to give back to the water and wastewater industry; to have a lasting positive impact on future generations of operators and laboratory analysts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What advice would you give to women aspiring to take on a leadership role in the water industry?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Work in an organization where the leadership respects its employees and encourages them to be successful, don\u2019t wait to be promoted to learn what you need to know to move up in your organization, and be a leader, even if you haven\u2019t been promoted to an official leadership position. Being a leader means doing what needs to be done because it needs to be done, not for the accolades. I would also say don\u2019t be afraid to let others know you are smart, but be humble, not arrogant. Strive to keep learning. I would encourage women to be involved in organizations or associations outside of work related to our industry \u2013 WPI, AWWA, WEF, your local operator association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What has been the most rewarding aspect of your career so far?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The lifelong friends I have made is definitely the most rewarding aspect. I can\u2019t begin to name all of the wonderful people I have met in the United States and other countries throughout my career that I truly consider friends. A close second would be the knowledge that I have served my community by protecting public health and the environment. Think about it \u2013 I\u2019ve been able to be part of making sure people have clean water to drink \u2013 water that does not make them sick. I also play a role in cleaning the dirty water before returning it to the environment, preserving water resources for future generations.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Celebrating Women's History Month: Spotlight on Margaret Doss, PO","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"celebrating-womens-history-month-spotlight-on-margaret-doss-po","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-08 10:04:24","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-08 16:04:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/immerse.gowpi.org\/?p=1035","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1028,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2025-02-14 16:53:28","post_date_gmt":"2025-02-14 22:53:28","post_content":"\n Against the horizon, the Bald Cypress stretches towards a sun-drenched sky. Its trunk bloats with the water of the Chesapeake Bay, a water-logged home to a lone copperhead, who curls against the knees of the tree. This is not the first creature to find refuge in the Cypress, whose roots have known this water for nearly one hundred years. Turtles and wood ducks, raccoons and egrets all have called the Bald Cypress swamp home. Along the Chesapeake watershed, life finds new ways to sustain itself. The endeavors of those who make their living by the water's edge, especially the Black Americans who have called the Chesapeake Bay home for centuries, stand as a testament to this resilience. The Black watermen of the Chesapeake, much like the Bald Cypress, remain revered symbols of the Bay to this day. Their invaluable contributions to the industry are nothing short of extraordinary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Maryland, a storied history exists between African Americans and the Bay. The Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in North America<\/a>, has been a robust place of employment for watermen\u2014a term that encompasses both women and men\u2014since the 1600s. In the mid-1800s, that occupation, previously only open to white watermen, was extended to African Americans, who took on roles such as captains, fishermen, oystermen, and owners of seafood processing plants and restaurants. Their labor and contributions transformed the Chesapeake Bay<\/a>. To this day, the Bay is renowned for its rich seafood and maritime industry due to the innovative thinking and hard work of Black watermen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The path to working in the Chesapeake Bay for African Americans was shaped by the growing demand for maritime labor in the 1800s, which led to Maryland offering pseudo-freedom to enslaved persons living and working in the Bay. This was due to the issuing of Seamen\u2019s Protection Certificates, which allowed Black watermen to be classified as citizens as early as sixty-seven years before the Emancipation Proclamation was disseminated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black watermen worked across the entirety of the Bay\u2019s water industry as skilled tradesmen and innovators<\/a>. Black women often were employed in crab picking and oyster shucking, while Black men worked on the water as shipbuilders and crew, in addition to hauling freight and captaining ships. Entering the water industry was groundbreaking, as it was one of the first ways Black Americans could earn a wage. However, being a waterman on the Chesapeake Bay offered more than just a path to freedom and compensation. For many, living at the water\u2019s edge was a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That is not to say, however, there were not still vast issues with the system created. Imani Black, shellfish aquaculture biologist and founder of Minorities in Aquaculture<\/a>, discusses this in \u201cWater\u2019s Edge: The Black Watermen of the Chesapeake Bay,\u201d a documentary for PBS<\/a>. She explains that Black Americans were pushed to the coasts as a result of practices steeped in prejudice and racism, and thus they learned how to live and work with the water out of necessity. Further, working on the water was not easy for African Americans. In 1836, a law was passed<\/a> attempting to prohibit and restrict Black Americans from laboring on the water. While white captains and watermen often ignored this decree due to the crucial contributions of Black watermen, this law promoted additional segregation, economic oppression, and discrimination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite these barriers, African Americans changed and propelled the industry forward. Their resilience led to the creation of an incredible communication network. The winding rivers and bustling water passages became a way for Black Americans to pass information and messages through ports. Through this system, they were able to stay informed on what was happening abroad as well as within the United States. This was how those who had secured their freedom through the water industry were able to devise strategies<\/a> for enslaved persons to flee secretly via boat passage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black watermen used a lantern code to signal if boats had fugitive enslaved African Americans on board. They would then exchange passengers under the cover of night on the still waters of the Chesapeake before returning to their ports. From there, the escaped enslaved Black Americans would travel through the Underground Railroad. Harriet Tubman herself grew up on a Maryland plantation by the Chesapeake Bay. While laboring on the docks, she engaged with a group of Black watermen<\/a>, forming connections and discovering the astonishing system of networking they had created. It was through the information Tubman learned from these Black maritime workers that she was ultimately able to escape. Once free, she used those connections to send messages back and forth to those still enslaved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The impact of the Black watermen continues to be felt today. In the Chesapeake region, generations of Black watermen, like Captain Tyrone Meredith, dedicate their lives<\/a> to preserving the legacy of their forebears. Captain Meredith has worked in the industry for 40 years and is a fifth-generation waterman, following in the footsteps of his father, grandfather, and ancestors. Today, his work as a skipjack captain ensures the spirit and hard work of the Black watermen live on. The Virginia Department of Historic Resources is another source dedicated to preserving this history of the Black watermen; they initiated the African American Watermen Project<\/a>, which documents the culture and history of African American watermen in the Chesapeake Bay\u2019s coastal communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite the many challenges and barriers they faced, the Black watermen of the Chesapeake Bay made indelible marks on both the water industry and U.S. history. Their tenacity, innovation, and unyielding spirit continue to inspire generations. As we celebrate Black History Month, let us honor and remember their contributions\u2014not just in the context of their time, but as a testament to the enduring power of community, resilience, and self-determination. The legacy of the Black watermen is a shining beacon of hope and excellence, reminding us that the waters they navigated are still filled with stories of courage and triumph that resonate to this day.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Black History Month Spotlight: The Black Watermen of the Chesapeake Bay","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"black-history-month-spotlight-the-black-watermen-of-the-chesapeake-bay","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-14 16:53:32","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-14 22:53:32","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/immerse.gowpi.org\/?p=1028","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":849,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2023-04-27 12:00:21","post_date_gmt":"2023-04-27 17:00:21","post_content":"The fastest growing testing trends for 2023 encompass the test taker experience, increasing interest in certification, and how artificial intelligence can play a role in test development. In addition, as the testing industry continues to evolve following the pandemic organizations are reevaluating their strategies for remote testing.\r\n\r\nAll these trends contribute to the perpetual balancing act \u2013 the need for robust test security and a desire to deliver the most convenient and accessible experience for all test takers.\r\n In 1993, I was promoted to Head Treatment Plant Operator while still retaining the laboratory analyst duties. In 1999, the County built a Central Laboratory to conduct drinking water and wastewater regulatory analysis, and I was promoted to be the inaugural Laboratory Manager. I obtained certification as a Water Laboratory Analyst shortly thereafter. By that time, I was doing a fair amount of teaching in our industry, both at the Water Utility and as a contract instructor at the Georgia Water and Wastewater Institute, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The Water Utility Director created the position of Environmental Trainer, and I transferred to that position in 2002. While working full-time and raising a family (my kids were teenagers), I enrolled in the University of Georgia\u2019s Adult Education Master\u2019s Degree program. I completed my M. Ed. in 2005. In 2008, I was promoted to Compliance Manager at the Water Utility, which is the job I currently hold. I am responsible for the Central Laboratory, the Business Office, and the Training Department.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Can you share a moment or experience that significantly impacted your professional growth?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Being asked to teach has tremendously impacted my professional growth. Early in my career, the Georgia Water and Wastewater Institute needed a lab instructor to fill in and teach a week-long class, and they asked me to do so. I LOVED teaching! I learned a tremendous amount in preparing to teach the class, and my instruction was well received by the students. I taught some additional classes, which led to several subsequent milestones in my professional growth: teaching official certification classes on a local basis, being the Environmental Trainer for the Water Utility for a time, going back to school to complete my Master\u2019s degree, and developing some online training courses. I still teach various classes from time to time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What are some of the biggest challenges you face in your role, and how have you overcome them?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n One challenge, which is part of my job, is to explain highly technical scientific concepts to a variety of audiences in non-technical terms. Another challenge is keeping current on upcoming regulations that impact the Water Utility. It seems that there are times when regulations at the state and federal levels are coming fast and furious. It is sometimes a challenge to read and decipher what will impact us, if we should offer public comment, and what we need to do to prepare. I would also say that the speed of technological advances can be challenging. Treatment technologies are rapidly changing, along with the regulations. Currently, getting a handle on AI \u2013 its benefits and detriments in our field \u2013 is a formidable task.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How do you stay up to date with the latest advancements and trends in the water industry?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I read a lot. I also attend industry conferences. I particularly like to learn about new technologies from vendors and from people at other utilities who are using the technology we are considering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How do you ensure that your team stays motivated and engaged in their work?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The atmosphere in Columbia County is one of teamwork and family, which I love! We call ourselves the Water Utility family. I get to know my employees. I care about them, and they know I care. I try to touch base with my employees on a regular basis. We routinely have meals together. In the Business Office, we have monthly birthday brunches to celebrate those who are having birthdays \u2013 we can\u2019t shut down the office for the whole group to go out. In the lab, we typically go to lunch as a group to celebrate birthdays and other achievements, like winning the Lab of the Year competition for the Georgia Association of Water Professionals. I work hard to explain my expectations to my folks. I provide the training and the tools they need to do their jobs effectively, then I get out of their way and let them work. The managers that report to me are great at what they do; I don\u2019t need to get in their way. My goal is to be a good servant-leader.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Can you describe an initiative you spearheaded or contributed to that you are particularly proud of?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I developed and taught a leadership and management class for Water Utility. It was designed for supervisors and managers who had worked their way into a supervisory or management role. Most employees in this circumstance have received no formal training in supervision, management, or leadership. I have taught multiple cohorts, and I think it has assisted several of my fellow employees with their professional growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What motivated you to get involved in several leadership roles over the years at WPI?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n When I took my certification exams, I disagreed with a couple of items on the exam, so I contacted Ernie Earn, who served on the Georgia Operator Certification Board at the time. He set me up to be an item bank reviewer (a Subject Matter Expert that reviews items being considered for use on examinations). I fell in love with the whole psychometric process. From there I was invited to join the Laboratory Exam Committee. I felt like being involved in WPI was a way I could give back to the industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2001, I was appointed by the Governor to the Georgia Water\/Wastewater Operator Certification Board, which is a member of WPI. After attending my first WPI conference, I was asked to consider running for a leadership role in WPI. I was honored to be elected as the Wastewater Treatment Division Director for WPI in 2003. I was subsequently elected to serve as an officer from 2004 \u2013 2007. I still believe my involvement with WPI is a way to give back to the water and wastewater industry; to have a lasting positive impact on future generations of operators and laboratory analysts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What advice would you give to women aspiring to take on a leadership role in the water industry?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Work in an organization where the leadership respects its employees and encourages them to be successful, don\u2019t wait to be promoted to learn what you need to know to move up in your organization, and be a leader, even if you haven\u2019t been promoted to an official leadership position. Being a leader means doing what needs to be done because it needs to be done, not for the accolades. I would also say don\u2019t be afraid to let others know you are smart, but be humble, not arrogant. Strive to keep learning. I would encourage women to be involved in organizations or associations outside of work related to our industry \u2013 WPI, AWWA, WEF, your local operator association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What has been the most rewarding aspect of your career so far?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The lifelong friends I have made is definitely the most rewarding aspect. I can\u2019t begin to name all of the wonderful people I have met in the United States and other countries throughout my career that I truly consider friends. A close second would be the knowledge that I have served my community by protecting public health and the environment. Think about it \u2013 I\u2019ve been able to be part of making sure people have clean water to drink \u2013 water that does not make them sick. I also play a role in cleaning the dirty water before returning it to the environment, preserving water resources for future generations.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Celebrating Women's History Month: Spotlight on Margaret Doss, PO","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"celebrating-womens-history-month-spotlight-on-margaret-doss-po","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-03-08 10:04:24","post_modified_gmt":"2025-03-08 16:04:24","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/immerse.gowpi.org\/?p=1035","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":1028,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2025-02-14 16:53:28","post_date_gmt":"2025-02-14 22:53:28","post_content":"\n Against the horizon, the Bald Cypress stretches towards a sun-drenched sky. Its trunk bloats with the water of the Chesapeake Bay, a water-logged home to a lone copperhead, who curls against the knees of the tree. This is not the first creature to find refuge in the Cypress, whose roots have known this water for nearly one hundred years. Turtles and wood ducks, raccoons and egrets all have called the Bald Cypress swamp home. Along the Chesapeake watershed, life finds new ways to sustain itself. The endeavors of those who make their living by the water's edge, especially the Black Americans who have called the Chesapeake Bay home for centuries, stand as a testament to this resilience. The Black watermen of the Chesapeake, much like the Bald Cypress, remain revered symbols of the Bay to this day. Their invaluable contributions to the industry are nothing short of extraordinary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Maryland, a storied history exists between African Americans and the Bay. The Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in North America<\/a>, has been a robust place of employment for watermen\u2014a term that encompasses both women and men\u2014since the 1600s. In the mid-1800s, that occupation, previously only open to white watermen, was extended to African Americans, who took on roles such as captains, fishermen, oystermen, and owners of seafood processing plants and restaurants. Their labor and contributions transformed the Chesapeake Bay<\/a>. To this day, the Bay is renowned for its rich seafood and maritime industry due to the innovative thinking and hard work of Black watermen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The path to working in the Chesapeake Bay for African Americans was shaped by the growing demand for maritime labor in the 1800s, which led to Maryland offering pseudo-freedom to enslaved persons living and working in the Bay. This was due to the issuing of Seamen\u2019s Protection Certificates, which allowed Black watermen to be classified as citizens as early as sixty-seven years before the Emancipation Proclamation was disseminated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black watermen worked across the entirety of the Bay\u2019s water industry as skilled tradesmen and innovators<\/a>. Black women often were employed in crab picking and oyster shucking, while Black men worked on the water as shipbuilders and crew, in addition to hauling freight and captaining ships. Entering the water industry was groundbreaking, as it was one of the first ways Black Americans could earn a wage. However, being a waterman on the Chesapeake Bay offered more than just a path to freedom and compensation. For many, living at the water\u2019s edge was a way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That is not to say, however, there were not still vast issues with the system created. Imani Black, shellfish aquaculture biologist and founder of Minorities in Aquaculture<\/a>, discusses this in \u201cWater\u2019s Edge: The Black Watermen of the Chesapeake Bay,\u201d a documentary for PBS<\/a>. She explains that Black Americans were pushed to the coasts as a result of practices steeped in prejudice and racism, and thus they learned how to live and work with the water out of necessity. Further, working on the water was not easy for African Americans. In 1836, a law was passed<\/a> attempting to prohibit and restrict Black Americans from laboring on the water. While white captains and watermen often ignored this decree due to the crucial contributions of Black watermen, this law promoted additional segregation, economic oppression, and discrimination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite these barriers, African Americans changed and propelled the industry forward. Their resilience led to the creation of an incredible communication network. The winding rivers and bustling water passages became a way for Black Americans to pass information and messages through ports. Through this system, they were able to stay informed on what was happening abroad as well as within the United States. This was how those who had secured their freedom through the water industry were able to devise strategies<\/a> for enslaved persons to flee secretly via boat passage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black watermen used a lantern code to signal if boats had fugitive enslaved African Americans on board. They would then exchange passengers under the cover of night on the still waters of the Chesapeake before returning to their ports. From there, the escaped enslaved Black Americans would travel through the Underground Railroad. Harriet Tubman herself grew up on a Maryland plantation by the Chesapeake Bay. While laboring on the docks, she engaged with a group of Black watermen<\/a>, forming connections and discovering the astonishing system of networking they had created. It was through the information Tubman learned from these Black maritime workers that she was ultimately able to escape. Once free, she used those connections to send messages back and forth to those still enslaved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The impact of the Black watermen continues to be felt today. In the Chesapeake region, generations of Black watermen, like Captain Tyrone Meredith, dedicate their lives<\/a> to preserving the legacy of their forebears. Captain Meredith has worked in the industry for 40 years and is a fifth-generation waterman, following in the footsteps of his father, grandfather, and ancestors. Today, his work as a skipjack captain ensures the spirit and hard work of the Black watermen live on. The Virginia Department of Historic Resources is another source dedicated to preserving this history of the Black watermen; they initiated the African American Watermen Project<\/a>, which documents the culture and history of African American watermen in the Chesapeake Bay\u2019s coastal communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite the many challenges and barriers they faced, the Black watermen of the Chesapeake Bay made indelible marks on both the water industry and U.S. history. Their tenacity, innovation, and unyielding spirit continue to inspire generations. As we celebrate Black History Month, let us honor and remember their contributions\u2014not just in the context of their time, but as a testament to the enduring power of community, resilience, and self-determination. The legacy of the Black watermen is a shining beacon of hope and excellence, reminding us that the waters they navigated are still filled with stories of courage and triumph that resonate to this day.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Black History Month Spotlight: The Black Watermen of the Chesapeake Bay","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"black-history-month-spotlight-the-black-watermen-of-the-chesapeake-bay","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-14 16:53:32","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-14 22:53:32","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/immerse.gowpi.org\/?p=1028","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":849,"post_author":"1","post_date":"2023-04-27 12:00:21","post_date_gmt":"2023-04-27 17:00:21","post_content":"The fastest growing testing trends for 2023 encompass the test taker experience, increasing interest in certification, and how artificial intelligence can play a role in test development. In addition, as the testing industry continues to evolve following the pandemic organizations are reevaluating their strategies for remote testing.\r\n\r\nAll these trends contribute to the perpetual balancing act \u2013 the need for robust test security and a desire to deliver the most convenient and accessible experience for all test takers.\r\nThe whole test taker experience<\/h3>\r\nWe are seeing an increased propensity for testing organizations to look at the test taker experience as a whole, rather than focusing on isolated elements. And we are working with a growing number of clients to map and scrutinize their test taker journey at every stage, with the aim of uncovering improvements or enhancements that will make the testing experience as easy and accessible as possible, for all test takers.\r\n\r\nTest taker journey mapping includes every piece of information, every click, and every scroll they take on their way to receiving a test result. We undertook journey mapping exercises with clients including\u00a0ISACA<\/a>\u00a0and the\u00a0UK Home Office<\/a>\u00a0last year. Working together, we detailed every action a test taker might take during the testing experience. A diagram was used to visualize the journey, and workshops examined every stage in detail. We are currently progressing through the resulting action log and expect to see improvements across the test taker experience, alongside increased efficiencies and smoother processes.\r\n\r\nWe have seen positive outcomes across many clients from this trend of examining the test taker experience through a broad lens. We expect to work with more clients on test taker journey mapping in the year to come, as this continues to be a critical consideration globally across all delivery modalities.\r\n
Balancing test taker needs and wants<\/h3>\r\nTesting organizations are also taking a pragmatic approach and carefully considering what it is their test takers need \u2013 versus what it is they might want. During COVID, we saw a large-scale shift to remote testing. This was necessary but not without its concerns, particularly about test security.\r\n\r\nNow we are seeing organizations re-evaluating their test delivery strategies, particularly in North America where there is ample test center coverage. Some organizations are scaling-up in-person testing, and even more are adopting a multi-modal approach that provides convenience for test takers in more remote locations.\r\n\r\nWe are supporting clients to make these important decisions based on the needs of their testing program and their market. As well as providing testing organizations with the\u00a0data forensics and web crawling<\/a>\u00a0services they need to help inform their decisions.\r\n
Beyond testing \u2013 growing test taker populations<\/h3>\r\nTaking a broader view doesn\u2019t stop with the test taker experience. More and more testing organizations are paying attention to the overall health of their profession and the educational pathways of their test takers. One element of this is a greater focus on test preparation materials and supporting the learner. And even further, we are working with clients on campaigns that promote and recruit individuals to their profession.\r\n\r\nAn important example is nursing, which has seen both a reduction in graduating nurses and an increase in nurses planning to leave the profession. By 2025,\u00a0McKinsey estimates the United States may have a 10-20% gap of nurses available for direct patient care<\/a>.\r\n\r\nWe recently worked with our client, the American Board of Nursing Certification (ABNC) and the\u00a0National Certification Corporation (NCC)<\/a>\u00a0on a \u2018Certified Nurses Make a Difference\u2019 campaign. Public service announcements in specific areas of the United States generated awareness and helped promote the work and value nurses play in patient healthcare. The campaign was aired over 6,000 times with more than 7.5 million impressions in 2022.\r\n\r\nIn a similar example, the\u00a0National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC)<\/a>\u00a0teamed up with membership and education associations to promote the profession of respiratory therapists. Through videos, case studies, and social media, the NBRC are sharing the stories of therapists and patients, elevating the profession and helping to address the shortage in respiratory therapists.\r\n\r\nI have had more conversations with testing organizations in the past year than I have in the rest of my career about ways we can work together to raise the profile of their profession. With workforce shortages continuing across multiple industries, this trend is likely to continue.\r\n
Artificial Intelligence in test development<\/h3>\r\nMy colleague Isabelle Gonthier covered the topic of\u00a0emerging technologies in test development in her first blog of this series<\/a>\u00a0on testing trends for 2023. Including advances in the use of Automatic Item Generation (AIG), which is already in use.\r\n\r\nArtificial Intelligence (AI), and constituent technologies of AI such as machine learning and natural language processing (NLP), are also exciting developments when it comes to test development. While still in their early stages, these technologies are becoming more mainstream with real potential in the test development lifecycle to:\r\n
\r\n \t
The whole test taker experience<\/h3>\r\nWe are seeing an increased propensity for testing organizations to look at the test taker experience as a whole, rather than focusing on isolated elements. And we are working with a growing number of clients to map and scrutinize their test taker journey at every stage, with the aim of uncovering improvements or enhancements that will make the testing experience as easy and accessible as possible, for all test takers.\r\n\r\nTest taker journey mapping includes every piece of information, every click, and every scroll they take on their way to receiving a test result. We undertook journey mapping exercises with clients including\u00a0ISACA<\/a>\u00a0and the\u00a0UK Home Office<\/a>\u00a0last year. Working together, we detailed every action a test taker might take during the testing experience. A diagram was used to visualize the journey, and workshops examined every stage in detail. We are currently progressing through the resulting action log and expect to see improvements across the test taker experience, alongside increased efficiencies and smoother processes.\r\n\r\nWe have seen positive outcomes across many clients from this trend of examining the test taker experience through a broad lens. We expect to work with more clients on test taker journey mapping in the year to come, as this continues to be a critical consideration globally across all delivery modalities.\r\n
Balancing test taker needs and wants<\/h3>\r\nTesting organizations are also taking a pragmatic approach and carefully considering what it is their test takers need \u2013 versus what it is they might want. During COVID, we saw a large-scale shift to remote testing. This was necessary but not without its concerns, particularly about test security.\r\n\r\nNow we are seeing organizations re-evaluating their test delivery strategies, particularly in North America where there is ample test center coverage. Some organizations are scaling-up in-person testing, and even more are adopting a multi-modal approach that provides convenience for test takers in more remote locations.\r\n\r\nWe are supporting clients to make these important decisions based on the needs of their testing program and their market. As well as providing testing organizations with the\u00a0data forensics and web crawling<\/a>\u00a0services they need to help inform their decisions.\r\n
Beyond testing \u2013 growing test taker populations<\/h3>\r\nTaking a broader view doesn\u2019t stop with the test taker experience. More and more testing organizations are paying attention to the overall health of their profession and the educational pathways of their test takers. One element of this is a greater focus on test preparation materials and supporting the learner. And even further, we are working with clients on campaigns that promote and recruit individuals to their profession.\r\n\r\nAn important example is nursing, which has seen both a reduction in graduating nurses and an increase in nurses planning to leave the profession. By 2025,\u00a0McKinsey estimates the United States may have a 10-20% gap of nurses available for direct patient care<\/a>.\r\n\r\nWe recently worked with our client, the American Board of Nursing Certification (ABNC) and the\u00a0National Certification Corporation (NCC)<\/a>\u00a0on a \u2018Certified Nurses Make a Difference\u2019 campaign. Public service announcements in specific areas of the United States generated awareness and helped promote the work and value nurses play in patient healthcare. The campaign was aired over 6,000 times with more than 7.5 million impressions in 2022.\r\n\r\nIn a similar example, the\u00a0National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC)<\/a>\u00a0teamed up with membership and education associations to promote the profession of respiratory therapists. Through videos, case studies, and social media, the NBRC are sharing the stories of therapists and patients, elevating the profession and helping to address the shortage in respiratory therapists.\r\n\r\nI have had more conversations with testing organizations in the past year than I have in the rest of my career about ways we can work together to raise the profile of their profession. With workforce shortages continuing across multiple industries, this trend is likely to continue.\r\n
Artificial Intelligence in test development<\/h3>\r\nMy colleague Isabelle Gonthier covered the topic of\u00a0emerging technologies in test development in her first blog of this series<\/a>\u00a0on testing trends for 2023. Including advances in the use of Automatic Item Generation (AIG), which is already in use.\r\n\r\nArtificial Intelligence (AI), and constituent technologies of AI such as machine learning and natural language processing (NLP), are also exciting developments when it comes to test development. While still in their early stages, these technologies are becoming more mainstream with real potential in the test development lifecycle to:\r\n
\r\n \t
The whole test taker experience<\/h3>\r\nWe are seeing an increased propensity for testing organizations to look at the test taker experience as a whole, rather than focusing on isolated elements. And we are working with a growing number of clients to map and scrutinize their test taker journey at every stage, with the aim of uncovering improvements or enhancements that will make the testing experience as easy and accessible as possible, for all test takers.\r\n\r\nTest taker journey mapping includes every piece of information, every click, and every scroll they take on their way to receiving a test result. We undertook journey mapping exercises with clients including\u00a0ISACA<\/a>\u00a0and the\u00a0UK Home Office<\/a>\u00a0last year. Working together, we detailed every action a test taker might take during the testing experience. A diagram was used to visualize the journey, and workshops examined every stage in detail. We are currently progressing through the resulting action log and expect to see improvements across the test taker experience, alongside increased efficiencies and smoother processes.\r\n\r\nWe have seen positive outcomes across many clients from this trend of examining the test taker experience through a broad lens. We expect to work with more clients on test taker journey mapping in the year to come, as this continues to be a critical consideration globally across all delivery modalities.\r\n
Balancing test taker needs and wants<\/h3>\r\nTesting organizations are also taking a pragmatic approach and carefully considering what it is their test takers need \u2013 versus what it is they might want. During COVID, we saw a large-scale shift to remote testing. This was necessary but not without its concerns, particularly about test security.\r\n\r\nNow we are seeing organizations re-evaluating their test delivery strategies, particularly in North America where there is ample test center coverage. Some organizations are scaling-up in-person testing, and even more are adopting a multi-modal approach that provides convenience for test takers in more remote locations.\r\n\r\nWe are supporting clients to make these important decisions based on the needs of their testing program and their market. As well as providing testing organizations with the\u00a0data forensics and web crawling<\/a>\u00a0services they need to help inform their decisions.\r\n
Beyond testing \u2013 growing test taker populations<\/h3>\r\nTaking a broader view doesn\u2019t stop with the test taker experience. More and more testing organizations are paying attention to the overall health of their profession and the educational pathways of their test takers. One element of this is a greater focus on test preparation materials and supporting the learner. And even further, we are working with clients on campaigns that promote and recruit individuals to their profession.\r\n\r\nAn important example is nursing, which has seen both a reduction in graduating nurses and an increase in nurses planning to leave the profession. By 2025,\u00a0McKinsey estimates the United States may have a 10-20% gap of nurses available for direct patient care<\/a>.\r\n\r\nWe recently worked with our client, the American Board of Nursing Certification (ABNC) and the\u00a0National Certification Corporation (NCC)<\/a>\u00a0on a \u2018Certified Nurses Make a Difference\u2019 campaign. Public service announcements in specific areas of the United States generated awareness and helped promote the work and value nurses play in patient healthcare. The campaign was aired over 6,000 times with more than 7.5 million impressions in 2022.\r\n\r\nIn a similar example, the\u00a0National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC)<\/a>\u00a0teamed up with membership and education associations to promote the profession of respiratory therapists. Through videos, case studies, and social media, the NBRC are sharing the stories of therapists and patients, elevating the profession and helping to address the shortage in respiratory therapists.\r\n\r\nI have had more conversations with testing organizations in the past year than I have in the rest of my career about ways we can work together to raise the profile of their profession. With workforce shortages continuing across multiple industries, this trend is likely to continue.\r\n
Artificial Intelligence in test development<\/h3>\r\nMy colleague Isabelle Gonthier covered the topic of\u00a0emerging technologies in test development in her first blog of this series<\/a>\u00a0on testing trends for 2023. Including advances in the use of Automatic Item Generation (AIG), which is already in use.\r\n\r\nArtificial Intelligence (AI), and constituent technologies of AI such as machine learning and natural language processing (NLP), are also exciting developments when it comes to test development. While still in their early stages, these technologies are becoming more mainstream with real potential in the test development lifecycle to:\r\n
\r\n \t
The whole test taker experience<\/h3>\r\nWe are seeing an increased propensity for testing organizations to look at the test taker experience as a whole, rather than focusing on isolated elements. And we are working with a growing number of clients to map and scrutinize their test taker journey at every stage, with the aim of uncovering improvements or enhancements that will make the testing experience as easy and accessible as possible, for all test takers.\r\n\r\nTest taker journey mapping includes every piece of information, every click, and every scroll they take on their way to receiving a test result. We undertook journey mapping exercises with clients including\u00a0ISACA<\/a>\u00a0and the\u00a0UK Home Office<\/a>\u00a0last year. Working together, we detailed every action a test taker might take during the testing experience. A diagram was used to visualize the journey, and workshops examined every stage in detail. We are currently progressing through the resulting action log and expect to see improvements across the test taker experience, alongside increased efficiencies and smoother processes.\r\n\r\nWe have seen positive outcomes across many clients from this trend of examining the test taker experience through a broad lens. We expect to work with more clients on test taker journey mapping in the year to come, as this continues to be a critical consideration globally across all delivery modalities.\r\n
Balancing test taker needs and wants<\/h3>\r\nTesting organizations are also taking a pragmatic approach and carefully considering what it is their test takers need \u2013 versus what it is they might want. During COVID, we saw a large-scale shift to remote testing. This was necessary but not without its concerns, particularly about test security.\r\n\r\nNow we are seeing organizations re-evaluating their test delivery strategies, particularly in North America where there is ample test center coverage. Some organizations are scaling-up in-person testing, and even more are adopting a multi-modal approach that provides convenience for test takers in more remote locations.\r\n\r\nWe are supporting clients to make these important decisions based on the needs of their testing program and their market. As well as providing testing organizations with the\u00a0data forensics and web crawling<\/a>\u00a0services they need to help inform their decisions.\r\n
Beyond testing \u2013 growing test taker populations<\/h3>\r\nTaking a broader view doesn\u2019t stop with the test taker experience. More and more testing organizations are paying attention to the overall health of their profession and the educational pathways of their test takers. One element of this is a greater focus on test preparation materials and supporting the learner. And even further, we are working with clients on campaigns that promote and recruit individuals to their profession.\r\n\r\nAn important example is nursing, which has seen both a reduction in graduating nurses and an increase in nurses planning to leave the profession. By 2025,\u00a0McKinsey estimates the United States may have a 10-20% gap of nurses available for direct patient care<\/a>.\r\n\r\nWe recently worked with our client, the American Board of Nursing Certification (ABNC) and the\u00a0National Certification Corporation (NCC)<\/a>\u00a0on a \u2018Certified Nurses Make a Difference\u2019 campaign. Public service announcements in specific areas of the United States generated awareness and helped promote the work and value nurses play in patient healthcare. The campaign was aired over 6,000 times with more than 7.5 million impressions in 2022.\r\n\r\nIn a similar example, the\u00a0National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC)<\/a>\u00a0teamed up with membership and education associations to promote the profession of respiratory therapists. Through videos, case studies, and social media, the NBRC are sharing the stories of therapists and patients, elevating the profession and helping to address the shortage in respiratory therapists.\r\n\r\nI have had more conversations with testing organizations in the past year than I have in the rest of my career about ways we can work together to raise the profile of their profession. With workforce shortages continuing across multiple industries, this trend is likely to continue.\r\n
Artificial Intelligence in test development<\/h3>\r\nMy colleague Isabelle Gonthier covered the topic of\u00a0emerging technologies in test development in her first blog of this series<\/a>\u00a0on testing trends for 2023. Including advances in the use of Automatic Item Generation (AIG), which is already in use.\r\n\r\nArtificial Intelligence (AI), and constituent technologies of AI such as machine learning and natural language processing (NLP), are also exciting developments when it comes to test development. While still in their early stages, these technologies are becoming more mainstream with real potential in the test development lifecycle to:\r\n
\r\n \t
The whole test taker experience<\/h3>\r\nWe are seeing an increased propensity for testing organizations to look at the test taker experience as a whole, rather than focusing on isolated elements. And we are working with a growing number of clients to map and scrutinize their test taker journey at every stage, with the aim of uncovering improvements or enhancements that will make the testing experience as easy and accessible as possible, for all test takers.\r\n\r\nTest taker journey mapping includes every piece of information, every click, and every scroll they take on their way to receiving a test result. We undertook journey mapping exercises with clients including\u00a0ISACA<\/a>\u00a0and the\u00a0UK Home Office<\/a>\u00a0last year. Working together, we detailed every action a test taker might take during the testing experience. A diagram was used to visualize the journey, and workshops examined every stage in detail. We are currently progressing through the resulting action log and expect to see improvements across the test taker experience, alongside increased efficiencies and smoother processes.\r\n\r\nWe have seen positive outcomes across many clients from this trend of examining the test taker experience through a broad lens. We expect to work with more clients on test taker journey mapping in the year to come, as this continues to be a critical consideration globally across all delivery modalities.\r\n
Balancing test taker needs and wants<\/h3>\r\nTesting organizations are also taking a pragmatic approach and carefully considering what it is their test takers need \u2013 versus what it is they might want. During COVID, we saw a large-scale shift to remote testing. This was necessary but not without its concerns, particularly about test security.\r\n\r\nNow we are seeing organizations re-evaluating their test delivery strategies, particularly in North America where there is ample test center coverage. Some organizations are scaling-up in-person testing, and even more are adopting a multi-modal approach that provides convenience for test takers in more remote locations.\r\n\r\nWe are supporting clients to make these important decisions based on the needs of their testing program and their market. As well as providing testing organizations with the\u00a0data forensics and web crawling<\/a>\u00a0services they need to help inform their decisions.\r\n
Beyond testing \u2013 growing test taker populations<\/h3>\r\nTaking a broader view doesn\u2019t stop with the test taker experience. More and more testing organizations are paying attention to the overall health of their profession and the educational pathways of their test takers. One element of this is a greater focus on test preparation materials and supporting the learner. And even further, we are working with clients on campaigns that promote and recruit individuals to their profession.\r\n\r\nAn important example is nursing, which has seen both a reduction in graduating nurses and an increase in nurses planning to leave the profession. By 2025,\u00a0McKinsey estimates the United States may have a 10-20% gap of nurses available for direct patient care<\/a>.\r\n\r\nWe recently worked with our client, the American Board of Nursing Certification (ABNC) and the\u00a0National Certification Corporation (NCC)<\/a>\u00a0on a \u2018Certified Nurses Make a Difference\u2019 campaign. Public service announcements in specific areas of the United States generated awareness and helped promote the work and value nurses play in patient healthcare. The campaign was aired over 6,000 times with more than 7.5 million impressions in 2022.\r\n\r\nIn a similar example, the\u00a0National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC)<\/a>\u00a0teamed up with membership and education associations to promote the profession of respiratory therapists. Through videos, case studies, and social media, the NBRC are sharing the stories of therapists and patients, elevating the profession and helping to address the shortage in respiratory therapists.\r\n\r\nI have had more conversations with testing organizations in the past year than I have in the rest of my career about ways we can work together to raise the profile of their profession. With workforce shortages continuing across multiple industries, this trend is likely to continue.\r\n
Artificial Intelligence in test development<\/h3>\r\nMy colleague Isabelle Gonthier covered the topic of\u00a0emerging technologies in test development in her first blog of this series<\/a>\u00a0on testing trends for 2023. Including advances in the use of Automatic Item Generation (AIG), which is already in use.\r\n\r\nArtificial Intelligence (AI), and constituent technologies of AI such as machine learning and natural language processing (NLP), are also exciting developments when it comes to test development. While still in their early stages, these technologies are becoming more mainstream with real potential in the test development lifecycle to:\r\n
\r\n \t
The whole test taker experience<\/h3>\r\nWe are seeing an increased propensity for testing organizations to look at the test taker experience as a whole, rather than focusing on isolated elements. And we are working with a growing number of clients to map and scrutinize their test taker journey at every stage, with the aim of uncovering improvements or enhancements that will make the testing experience as easy and accessible as possible, for all test takers.\r\n\r\nTest taker journey mapping includes every piece of information, every click, and every scroll they take on their way to receiving a test result. We undertook journey mapping exercises with clients including\u00a0ISACA<\/a>\u00a0and the\u00a0UK Home Office<\/a>\u00a0last year. Working together, we detailed every action a test taker might take during the testing experience. A diagram was used to visualize the journey, and workshops examined every stage in detail. We are currently progressing through the resulting action log and expect to see improvements across the test taker experience, alongside increased efficiencies and smoother processes.\r\n\r\nWe have seen positive outcomes across many clients from this trend of examining the test taker experience through a broad lens. We expect to work with more clients on test taker journey mapping in the year to come, as this continues to be a critical consideration globally across all delivery modalities.\r\n
Balancing test taker needs and wants<\/h3>\r\nTesting organizations are also taking a pragmatic approach and carefully considering what it is their test takers need \u2013 versus what it is they might want. During COVID, we saw a large-scale shift to remote testing. This was necessary but not without its concerns, particularly about test security.\r\n\r\nNow we are seeing organizations re-evaluating their test delivery strategies, particularly in North America where there is ample test center coverage. Some organizations are scaling-up in-person testing, and even more are adopting a multi-modal approach that provides convenience for test takers in more remote locations.\r\n\r\nWe are supporting clients to make these important decisions based on the needs of their testing program and their market. As well as providing testing organizations with the\u00a0data forensics and web crawling<\/a>\u00a0services they need to help inform their decisions.\r\n
Beyond testing \u2013 growing test taker populations<\/h3>\r\nTaking a broader view doesn\u2019t stop with the test taker experience. More and more testing organizations are paying attention to the overall health of their profession and the educational pathways of their test takers. One element of this is a greater focus on test preparation materials and supporting the learner. And even further, we are working with clients on campaigns that promote and recruit individuals to their profession.\r\n\r\nAn important example is nursing, which has seen both a reduction in graduating nurses and an increase in nurses planning to leave the profession. By 2025,\u00a0McKinsey estimates the United States may have a 10-20% gap of nurses available for direct patient care<\/a>.\r\n\r\nWe recently worked with our client, the American Board of Nursing Certification (ABNC) and the\u00a0National Certification Corporation (NCC)<\/a>\u00a0on a \u2018Certified Nurses Make a Difference\u2019 campaign. Public service announcements in specific areas of the United States generated awareness and helped promote the work and value nurses play in patient healthcare. The campaign was aired over 6,000 times with more than 7.5 million impressions in 2022.\r\n\r\nIn a similar example, the\u00a0National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC)<\/a>\u00a0teamed up with membership and education associations to promote the profession of respiratory therapists. Through videos, case studies, and social media, the NBRC are sharing the stories of therapists and patients, elevating the profession and helping to address the shortage in respiratory therapists.\r\n\r\nI have had more conversations with testing organizations in the past year than I have in the rest of my career about ways we can work together to raise the profile of their profession. With workforce shortages continuing across multiple industries, this trend is likely to continue.\r\n
Artificial Intelligence in test development<\/h3>\r\nMy colleague Isabelle Gonthier covered the topic of\u00a0emerging technologies in test development in her first blog of this series<\/a>\u00a0on testing trends for 2023. Including advances in the use of Automatic Item Generation (AIG), which is already in use.\r\n\r\nArtificial Intelligence (AI), and constituent technologies of AI such as machine learning and natural language processing (NLP), are also exciting developments when it comes to test development. While still in their early stages, these technologies are becoming more mainstream with real potential in the test development lifecycle to:\r\n
\r\n \t
The whole test taker experience<\/h3>\r\nWe are seeing an increased propensity for testing organizations to look at the test taker experience as a whole, rather than focusing on isolated elements. And we are working with a growing number of clients to map and scrutinize their test taker journey at every stage, with the aim of uncovering improvements or enhancements that will make the testing experience as easy and accessible as possible, for all test takers.\r\n\r\nTest taker journey mapping includes every piece of information, every click, and every scroll they take on their way to receiving a test result. We undertook journey mapping exercises with clients including\u00a0ISACA<\/a>\u00a0and the\u00a0UK Home Office<\/a>\u00a0last year. Working together, we detailed every action a test taker might take during the testing experience. A diagram was used to visualize the journey, and workshops examined every stage in detail. We are currently progressing through the resulting action log and expect to see improvements across the test taker experience, alongside increased efficiencies and smoother processes.\r\n\r\nWe have seen positive outcomes across many clients from this trend of examining the test taker experience through a broad lens. We expect to work with more clients on test taker journey mapping in the year to come, as this continues to be a critical consideration globally across all delivery modalities.\r\n
Balancing test taker needs and wants<\/h3>\r\nTesting organizations are also taking a pragmatic approach and carefully considering what it is their test takers need \u2013 versus what it is they might want. During COVID, we saw a large-scale shift to remote testing. This was necessary but not without its concerns, particularly about test security.\r\n\r\nNow we are seeing organizations re-evaluating their test delivery strategies, particularly in North America where there is ample test center coverage. Some organizations are scaling-up in-person testing, and even more are adopting a multi-modal approach that provides convenience for test takers in more remote locations.\r\n\r\nWe are supporting clients to make these important decisions based on the needs of their testing program and their market. As well as providing testing organizations with the\u00a0data forensics and web crawling<\/a>\u00a0services they need to help inform their decisions.\r\n
Beyond testing \u2013 growing test taker populations<\/h3>\r\nTaking a broader view doesn\u2019t stop with the test taker experience. More and more testing organizations are paying attention to the overall health of their profession and the educational pathways of their test takers. One element of this is a greater focus on test preparation materials and supporting the learner. And even further, we are working with clients on campaigns that promote and recruit individuals to their profession.\r\n\r\nAn important example is nursing, which has seen both a reduction in graduating nurses and an increase in nurses planning to leave the profession. By 2025,\u00a0McKinsey estimates the United States may have a 10-20% gap of nurses available for direct patient care<\/a>.\r\n\r\nWe recently worked with our client, the American Board of Nursing Certification (ABNC) and the\u00a0National Certification Corporation (NCC)<\/a>\u00a0on a \u2018Certified Nurses Make a Difference\u2019 campaign. Public service announcements in specific areas of the United States generated awareness and helped promote the work and value nurses play in patient healthcare. The campaign was aired over 6,000 times with more than 7.5 million impressions in 2022.\r\n\r\nIn a similar example, the\u00a0National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC)<\/a>\u00a0teamed up with membership and education associations to promote the profession of respiratory therapists. Through videos, case studies, and social media, the NBRC are sharing the stories of therapists and patients, elevating the profession and helping to address the shortage in respiratory therapists.\r\n\r\nI have had more conversations with testing organizations in the past year than I have in the rest of my career about ways we can work together to raise the profile of their profession. With workforce shortages continuing across multiple industries, this trend is likely to continue.\r\n
Artificial Intelligence in test development<\/h3>\r\nMy colleague Isabelle Gonthier covered the topic of\u00a0emerging technologies in test development in her first blog of this series<\/a>\u00a0on testing trends for 2023. Including advances in the use of Automatic Item Generation (AIG), which is already in use.\r\n\r\nArtificial Intelligence (AI), and constituent technologies of AI such as machine learning and natural language processing (NLP), are also exciting developments when it comes to test development. While still in their early stages, these technologies are becoming more mainstream with real potential in the test development lifecycle to:\r\n
\r\n \t
\u00a9<\/em> Maryland Public Television<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe whole test taker experience<\/h3>\r\nWe are seeing an increased propensity for testing organizations to look at the test taker experience as a whole, rather than focusing on isolated elements. And we are working with a growing number of clients to map and scrutinize their test taker journey at every stage, with the aim of uncovering improvements or enhancements that will make the testing experience as easy and accessible as possible, for all test takers.\r\n\r\nTest taker journey mapping includes every piece of information, every click, and every scroll they take on their way to receiving a test result. We undertook journey mapping exercises with clients including\u00a0ISACA<\/a>\u00a0and the\u00a0UK Home Office<\/a>\u00a0last year. Working together, we detailed every action a test taker might take during the testing experience. A diagram was used to visualize the journey, and workshops examined every stage in detail. We are currently progressing through the resulting action log and expect to see improvements across the test taker experience, alongside increased efficiencies and smoother processes.\r\n\r\nWe have seen positive outcomes across many clients from this trend of examining the test taker experience through a broad lens. We expect to work with more clients on test taker journey mapping in the year to come, as this continues to be a critical consideration globally across all delivery modalities.\r\n
Balancing test taker needs and wants<\/h3>\r\nTesting organizations are also taking a pragmatic approach and carefully considering what it is their test takers need \u2013 versus what it is they might want. During COVID, we saw a large-scale shift to remote testing. This was necessary but not without its concerns, particularly about test security.\r\n\r\nNow we are seeing organizations re-evaluating their test delivery strategies, particularly in North America where there is ample test center coverage. Some organizations are scaling-up in-person testing, and even more are adopting a multi-modal approach that provides convenience for test takers in more remote locations.\r\n\r\nWe are supporting clients to make these important decisions based on the needs of their testing program and their market. As well as providing testing organizations with the\u00a0data forensics and web crawling<\/a>\u00a0services they need to help inform their decisions.\r\n
Beyond testing \u2013 growing test taker populations<\/h3>\r\nTaking a broader view doesn\u2019t stop with the test taker experience. More and more testing organizations are paying attention to the overall health of their profession and the educational pathways of their test takers. One element of this is a greater focus on test preparation materials and supporting the learner. And even further, we are working with clients on campaigns that promote and recruit individuals to their profession.\r\n\r\nAn important example is nursing, which has seen both a reduction in graduating nurses and an increase in nurses planning to leave the profession. By 2025,\u00a0McKinsey estimates the United States may have a 10-20% gap of nurses available for direct patient care<\/a>.\r\n\r\nWe recently worked with our client, the American Board of Nursing Certification (ABNC) and the\u00a0National Certification Corporation (NCC)<\/a>\u00a0on a \u2018Certified Nurses Make a Difference\u2019 campaign. Public service announcements in specific areas of the United States generated awareness and helped promote the work and value nurses play in patient healthcare. The campaign was aired over 6,000 times with more than 7.5 million impressions in 2022.\r\n\r\nIn a similar example, the\u00a0National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC)<\/a>\u00a0teamed up with membership and education associations to promote the profession of respiratory therapists. Through videos, case studies, and social media, the NBRC are sharing the stories of therapists and patients, elevating the profession and helping to address the shortage in respiratory therapists.\r\n\r\nI have had more conversations with testing organizations in the past year than I have in the rest of my career about ways we can work together to raise the profile of their profession. With workforce shortages continuing across multiple industries, this trend is likely to continue.\r\n
Artificial Intelligence in test development<\/h3>\r\nMy colleague Isabelle Gonthier covered the topic of\u00a0emerging technologies in test development in her first blog of this series<\/a>\u00a0on testing trends for 2023. Including advances in the use of Automatic Item Generation (AIG), which is already in use.\r\n\r\nArtificial Intelligence (AI), and constituent technologies of AI such as machine learning and natural language processing (NLP), are also exciting developments when it comes to test development. While still in their early stages, these technologies are becoming more mainstream with real potential in the test development lifecycle to:\r\n
\r\n \t
\u00a9<\/em> Maryland Public Television<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe whole test taker experience<\/h3>\r\nWe are seeing an increased propensity for testing organizations to look at the test taker experience as a whole, rather than focusing on isolated elements. And we are working with a growing number of clients to map and scrutinize their test taker journey at every stage, with the aim of uncovering improvements or enhancements that will make the testing experience as easy and accessible as possible, for all test takers.\r\n\r\nTest taker journey mapping includes every piece of information, every click, and every scroll they take on their way to receiving a test result. We undertook journey mapping exercises with clients including\u00a0ISACA<\/a>\u00a0and the\u00a0UK Home Office<\/a>\u00a0last year. Working together, we detailed every action a test taker might take during the testing experience. A diagram was used to visualize the journey, and workshops examined every stage in detail. We are currently progressing through the resulting action log and expect to see improvements across the test taker experience, alongside increased efficiencies and smoother processes.\r\n\r\nWe have seen positive outcomes across many clients from this trend of examining the test taker experience through a broad lens. We expect to work with more clients on test taker journey mapping in the year to come, as this continues to be a critical consideration globally across all delivery modalities.\r\n
Balancing test taker needs and wants<\/h3>\r\nTesting organizations are also taking a pragmatic approach and carefully considering what it is their test takers need \u2013 versus what it is they might want. During COVID, we saw a large-scale shift to remote testing. This was necessary but not without its concerns, particularly about test security.\r\n\r\nNow we are seeing organizations re-evaluating their test delivery strategies, particularly in North America where there is ample test center coverage. Some organizations are scaling-up in-person testing, and even more are adopting a multi-modal approach that provides convenience for test takers in more remote locations.\r\n\r\nWe are supporting clients to make these important decisions based on the needs of their testing program and their market. As well as providing testing organizations with the\u00a0data forensics and web crawling<\/a>\u00a0services they need to help inform their decisions.\r\n
Beyond testing \u2013 growing test taker populations<\/h3>\r\nTaking a broader view doesn\u2019t stop with the test taker experience. More and more testing organizations are paying attention to the overall health of their profession and the educational pathways of their test takers. One element of this is a greater focus on test preparation materials and supporting the learner. And even further, we are working with clients on campaigns that promote and recruit individuals to their profession.\r\n\r\nAn important example is nursing, which has seen both a reduction in graduating nurses and an increase in nurses planning to leave the profession. By 2025,\u00a0McKinsey estimates the United States may have a 10-20% gap of nurses available for direct patient care<\/a>.\r\n\r\nWe recently worked with our client, the American Board of Nursing Certification (ABNC) and the\u00a0National Certification Corporation (NCC)<\/a>\u00a0on a \u2018Certified Nurses Make a Difference\u2019 campaign. Public service announcements in specific areas of the United States generated awareness and helped promote the work and value nurses play in patient healthcare. The campaign was aired over 6,000 times with more than 7.5 million impressions in 2022.\r\n\r\nIn a similar example, the\u00a0National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC)<\/a>\u00a0teamed up with membership and education associations to promote the profession of respiratory therapists. Through videos, case studies, and social media, the NBRC are sharing the stories of therapists and patients, elevating the profession and helping to address the shortage in respiratory therapists.\r\n\r\nI have had more conversations with testing organizations in the past year than I have in the rest of my career about ways we can work together to raise the profile of their profession. With workforce shortages continuing across multiple industries, this trend is likely to continue.\r\n
Artificial Intelligence in test development<\/h3>\r\nMy colleague Isabelle Gonthier covered the topic of\u00a0emerging technologies in test development in her first blog of this series<\/a>\u00a0on testing trends for 2023. Including advances in the use of Automatic Item Generation (AIG), which is already in use.\r\n\r\nArtificial Intelligence (AI), and constituent technologies of AI such as machine learning and natural language processing (NLP), are also exciting developments when it comes to test development. While still in their early stages, these technologies are becoming more mainstream with real potential in the test development lifecycle to:\r\n
\r\n \t
\u00a9<\/em> Maryland Public Television<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe whole test taker experience<\/h3>\r\nWe are seeing an increased propensity for testing organizations to look at the test taker experience as a whole, rather than focusing on isolated elements. And we are working with a growing number of clients to map and scrutinize their test taker journey at every stage, with the aim of uncovering improvements or enhancements that will make the testing experience as easy and accessible as possible, for all test takers.\r\n\r\nTest taker journey mapping includes every piece of information, every click, and every scroll they take on their way to receiving a test result. We undertook journey mapping exercises with clients including\u00a0ISACA<\/a>\u00a0and the\u00a0UK Home Office<\/a>\u00a0last year. Working together, we detailed every action a test taker might take during the testing experience. A diagram was used to visualize the journey, and workshops examined every stage in detail. We are currently progressing through the resulting action log and expect to see improvements across the test taker experience, alongside increased efficiencies and smoother processes.\r\n\r\nWe have seen positive outcomes across many clients from this trend of examining the test taker experience through a broad lens. We expect to work with more clients on test taker journey mapping in the year to come, as this continues to be a critical consideration globally across all delivery modalities.\r\n
Balancing test taker needs and wants<\/h3>\r\nTesting organizations are also taking a pragmatic approach and carefully considering what it is their test takers need \u2013 versus what it is they might want. During COVID, we saw a large-scale shift to remote testing. This was necessary but not without its concerns, particularly about test security.\r\n\r\nNow we are seeing organizations re-evaluating their test delivery strategies, particularly in North America where there is ample test center coverage. Some organizations are scaling-up in-person testing, and even more are adopting a multi-modal approach that provides convenience for test takers in more remote locations.\r\n\r\nWe are supporting clients to make these important decisions based on the needs of their testing program and their market. As well as providing testing organizations with the\u00a0data forensics and web crawling<\/a>\u00a0services they need to help inform their decisions.\r\n
Beyond testing \u2013 growing test taker populations<\/h3>\r\nTaking a broader view doesn\u2019t stop with the test taker experience. More and more testing organizations are paying attention to the overall health of their profession and the educational pathways of their test takers. One element of this is a greater focus on test preparation materials and supporting the learner. And even further, we are working with clients on campaigns that promote and recruit individuals to their profession.\r\n\r\nAn important example is nursing, which has seen both a reduction in graduating nurses and an increase in nurses planning to leave the profession. By 2025,\u00a0McKinsey estimates the United States may have a 10-20% gap of nurses available for direct patient care<\/a>.\r\n\r\nWe recently worked with our client, the American Board of Nursing Certification (ABNC) and the\u00a0National Certification Corporation (NCC)<\/a>\u00a0on a \u2018Certified Nurses Make a Difference\u2019 campaign. Public service announcements in specific areas of the United States generated awareness and helped promote the work and value nurses play in patient healthcare. The campaign was aired over 6,000 times with more than 7.5 million impressions in 2022.\r\n\r\nIn a similar example, the\u00a0National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC)<\/a>\u00a0teamed up with membership and education associations to promote the profession of respiratory therapists. Through videos, case studies, and social media, the NBRC are sharing the stories of therapists and patients, elevating the profession and helping to address the shortage in respiratory therapists.\r\n\r\nI have had more conversations with testing organizations in the past year than I have in the rest of my career about ways we can work together to raise the profile of their profession. With workforce shortages continuing across multiple industries, this trend is likely to continue.\r\n
Artificial Intelligence in test development<\/h3>\r\nMy colleague Isabelle Gonthier covered the topic of\u00a0emerging technologies in test development in her first blog of this series<\/a>\u00a0on testing trends for 2023. Including advances in the use of Automatic Item Generation (AIG), which is already in use.\r\n\r\nArtificial Intelligence (AI), and constituent technologies of AI such as machine learning and natural language processing (NLP), are also exciting developments when it comes to test development. While still in their early stages, these technologies are becoming more mainstream with real potential in the test development lifecycle to:\r\n
\r\n \t
\u00a9<\/em> Maryland Public Television<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe whole test taker experience<\/h3>\r\nWe are seeing an increased propensity for testing organizations to look at the test taker experience as a whole, rather than focusing on isolated elements. And we are working with a growing number of clients to map and scrutinize their test taker journey at every stage, with the aim of uncovering improvements or enhancements that will make the testing experience as easy and accessible as possible, for all test takers.\r\n\r\nTest taker journey mapping includes every piece of information, every click, and every scroll they take on their way to receiving a test result. We undertook journey mapping exercises with clients including\u00a0ISACA<\/a>\u00a0and the\u00a0UK Home Office<\/a>\u00a0last year. Working together, we detailed every action a test taker might take during the testing experience. A diagram was used to visualize the journey, and workshops examined every stage in detail. We are currently progressing through the resulting action log and expect to see improvements across the test taker experience, alongside increased efficiencies and smoother processes.\r\n\r\nWe have seen positive outcomes across many clients from this trend of examining the test taker experience through a broad lens. We expect to work with more clients on test taker journey mapping in the year to come, as this continues to be a critical consideration globally across all delivery modalities.\r\n
Balancing test taker needs and wants<\/h3>\r\nTesting organizations are also taking a pragmatic approach and carefully considering what it is their test takers need \u2013 versus what it is they might want. During COVID, we saw a large-scale shift to remote testing. This was necessary but not without its concerns, particularly about test security.\r\n\r\nNow we are seeing organizations re-evaluating their test delivery strategies, particularly in North America where there is ample test center coverage. Some organizations are scaling-up in-person testing, and even more are adopting a multi-modal approach that provides convenience for test takers in more remote locations.\r\n\r\nWe are supporting clients to make these important decisions based on the needs of their testing program and their market. As well as providing testing organizations with the\u00a0data forensics and web crawling<\/a>\u00a0services they need to help inform their decisions.\r\n
Beyond testing \u2013 growing test taker populations<\/h3>\r\nTaking a broader view doesn\u2019t stop with the test taker experience. More and more testing organizations are paying attention to the overall health of their profession and the educational pathways of their test takers. One element of this is a greater focus on test preparation materials and supporting the learner. And even further, we are working with clients on campaigns that promote and recruit individuals to their profession.\r\n\r\nAn important example is nursing, which has seen both a reduction in graduating nurses and an increase in nurses planning to leave the profession. By 2025,\u00a0McKinsey estimates the United States may have a 10-20% gap of nurses available for direct patient care<\/a>.\r\n\r\nWe recently worked with our client, the American Board of Nursing Certification (ABNC) and the\u00a0National Certification Corporation (NCC)<\/a>\u00a0on a \u2018Certified Nurses Make a Difference\u2019 campaign. Public service announcements in specific areas of the United States generated awareness and helped promote the work and value nurses play in patient healthcare. The campaign was aired over 6,000 times with more than 7.5 million impressions in 2022.\r\n\r\nIn a similar example, the\u00a0National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC)<\/a>\u00a0teamed up with membership and education associations to promote the profession of respiratory therapists. Through videos, case studies, and social media, the NBRC are sharing the stories of therapists and patients, elevating the profession and helping to address the shortage in respiratory therapists.\r\n\r\nI have had more conversations with testing organizations in the past year than I have in the rest of my career about ways we can work together to raise the profile of their profession. With workforce shortages continuing across multiple industries, this trend is likely to continue.\r\n
Artificial Intelligence in test development<\/h3>\r\nMy colleague Isabelle Gonthier covered the topic of\u00a0emerging technologies in test development in her first blog of this series<\/a>\u00a0on testing trends for 2023. Including advances in the use of Automatic Item Generation (AIG), which is already in use.\r\n\r\nArtificial Intelligence (AI), and constituent technologies of AI such as machine learning and natural language processing (NLP), are also exciting developments when it comes to test development. While still in their early stages, these technologies are becoming more mainstream with real potential in the test development lifecycle to:\r\n
\r\n \t
\u00a9<\/em> Maryland Public Television<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe whole test taker experience<\/h3>\r\nWe are seeing an increased propensity for testing organizations to look at the test taker experience as a whole, rather than focusing on isolated elements. And we are working with a growing number of clients to map and scrutinize their test taker journey at every stage, with the aim of uncovering improvements or enhancements that will make the testing experience as easy and accessible as possible, for all test takers.\r\n\r\nTest taker journey mapping includes every piece of information, every click, and every scroll they take on their way to receiving a test result. We undertook journey mapping exercises with clients including\u00a0ISACA<\/a>\u00a0and the\u00a0UK Home Office<\/a>\u00a0last year. Working together, we detailed every action a test taker might take during the testing experience. A diagram was used to visualize the journey, and workshops examined every stage in detail. We are currently progressing through the resulting action log and expect to see improvements across the test taker experience, alongside increased efficiencies and smoother processes.\r\n\r\nWe have seen positive outcomes across many clients from this trend of examining the test taker experience through a broad lens. We expect to work with more clients on test taker journey mapping in the year to come, as this continues to be a critical consideration globally across all delivery modalities.\r\n
Balancing test taker needs and wants<\/h3>\r\nTesting organizations are also taking a pragmatic approach and carefully considering what it is their test takers need \u2013 versus what it is they might want. During COVID, we saw a large-scale shift to remote testing. This was necessary but not without its concerns, particularly about test security.\r\n\r\nNow we are seeing organizations re-evaluating their test delivery strategies, particularly in North America where there is ample test center coverage. Some organizations are scaling-up in-person testing, and even more are adopting a multi-modal approach that provides convenience for test takers in more remote locations.\r\n\r\nWe are supporting clients to make these important decisions based on the needs of their testing program and their market. As well as providing testing organizations with the\u00a0data forensics and web crawling<\/a>\u00a0services they need to help inform their decisions.\r\n
Beyond testing \u2013 growing test taker populations<\/h3>\r\nTaking a broader view doesn\u2019t stop with the test taker experience. More and more testing organizations are paying attention to the overall health of their profession and the educational pathways of their test takers. One element of this is a greater focus on test preparation materials and supporting the learner. And even further, we are working with clients on campaigns that promote and recruit individuals to their profession.\r\n\r\nAn important example is nursing, which has seen both a reduction in graduating nurses and an increase in nurses planning to leave the profession. By 2025,\u00a0McKinsey estimates the United States may have a 10-20% gap of nurses available for direct patient care<\/a>.\r\n\r\nWe recently worked with our client, the American Board of Nursing Certification (ABNC) and the\u00a0National Certification Corporation (NCC)<\/a>\u00a0on a \u2018Certified Nurses Make a Difference\u2019 campaign. Public service announcements in specific areas of the United States generated awareness and helped promote the work and value nurses play in patient healthcare. The campaign was aired over 6,000 times with more than 7.5 million impressions in 2022.\r\n\r\nIn a similar example, the\u00a0National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC)<\/a>\u00a0teamed up with membership and education associations to promote the profession of respiratory therapists. Through videos, case studies, and social media, the NBRC are sharing the stories of therapists and patients, elevating the profession and helping to address the shortage in respiratory therapists.\r\n\r\nI have had more conversations with testing organizations in the past year than I have in the rest of my career about ways we can work together to raise the profile of their profession. With workforce shortages continuing across multiple industries, this trend is likely to continue.\r\n
Artificial Intelligence in test development<\/h3>\r\nMy colleague Isabelle Gonthier covered the topic of\u00a0emerging technologies in test development in her first blog of this series<\/a>\u00a0on testing trends for 2023. Including advances in the use of Automatic Item Generation (AIG), which is already in use.\r\n\r\nArtificial Intelligence (AI), and constituent technologies of AI such as machine learning and natural language processing (NLP), are also exciting developments when it comes to test development. While still in their early stages, these technologies are becoming more mainstream with real potential in the test development lifecycle to:\r\n
\r\n \t
\u00a9<\/em> Maryland Public Television<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe whole test taker experience<\/h3>\r\nWe are seeing an increased propensity for testing organizations to look at the test taker experience as a whole, rather than focusing on isolated elements. And we are working with a growing number of clients to map and scrutinize their test taker journey at every stage, with the aim of uncovering improvements or enhancements that will make the testing experience as easy and accessible as possible, for all test takers.\r\n\r\nTest taker journey mapping includes every piece of information, every click, and every scroll they take on their way to receiving a test result. We undertook journey mapping exercises with clients including\u00a0ISACA<\/a>\u00a0and the\u00a0UK Home Office<\/a>\u00a0last year. Working together, we detailed every action a test taker might take during the testing experience. A diagram was used to visualize the journey, and workshops examined every stage in detail. We are currently progressing through the resulting action log and expect to see improvements across the test taker experience, alongside increased efficiencies and smoother processes.\r\n\r\nWe have seen positive outcomes across many clients from this trend of examining the test taker experience through a broad lens. We expect to work with more clients on test taker journey mapping in the year to come, as this continues to be a critical consideration globally across all delivery modalities.\r\n
Balancing test taker needs and wants<\/h3>\r\nTesting organizations are also taking a pragmatic approach and carefully considering what it is their test takers need \u2013 versus what it is they might want. During COVID, we saw a large-scale shift to remote testing. This was necessary but not without its concerns, particularly about test security.\r\n\r\nNow we are seeing organizations re-evaluating their test delivery strategies, particularly in North America where there is ample test center coverage. Some organizations are scaling-up in-person testing, and even more are adopting a multi-modal approach that provides convenience for test takers in more remote locations.\r\n\r\nWe are supporting clients to make these important decisions based on the needs of their testing program and their market. As well as providing testing organizations with the\u00a0data forensics and web crawling<\/a>\u00a0services they need to help inform their decisions.\r\n
Beyond testing \u2013 growing test taker populations<\/h3>\r\nTaking a broader view doesn\u2019t stop with the test taker experience. More and more testing organizations are paying attention to the overall health of their profession and the educational pathways of their test takers. One element of this is a greater focus on test preparation materials and supporting the learner. And even further, we are working with clients on campaigns that promote and recruit individuals to their profession.\r\n\r\nAn important example is nursing, which has seen both a reduction in graduating nurses and an increase in nurses planning to leave the profession. By 2025,\u00a0McKinsey estimates the United States may have a 10-20% gap of nurses available for direct patient care<\/a>.\r\n\r\nWe recently worked with our client, the American Board of Nursing Certification (ABNC) and the\u00a0National Certification Corporation (NCC)<\/a>\u00a0on a \u2018Certified Nurses Make a Difference\u2019 campaign. Public service announcements in specific areas of the United States generated awareness and helped promote the work and value nurses play in patient healthcare. The campaign was aired over 6,000 times with more than 7.5 million impressions in 2022.\r\n\r\nIn a similar example, the\u00a0National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC)<\/a>\u00a0teamed up with membership and education associations to promote the profession of respiratory therapists. Through videos, case studies, and social media, the NBRC are sharing the stories of therapists and patients, elevating the profession and helping to address the shortage in respiratory therapists.\r\n\r\nI have had more conversations with testing organizations in the past year than I have in the rest of my career about ways we can work together to raise the profile of their profession. With workforce shortages continuing across multiple industries, this trend is likely to continue.\r\n
Artificial Intelligence in test development<\/h3>\r\nMy colleague Isabelle Gonthier covered the topic of\u00a0emerging technologies in test development in her first blog of this series<\/a>\u00a0on testing trends for 2023. Including advances in the use of Automatic Item Generation (AIG), which is already in use.\r\n\r\nArtificial Intelligence (AI), and constituent technologies of AI such as machine learning and natural language processing (NLP), are also exciting developments when it comes to test development. While still in their early stages, these technologies are becoming more mainstream with real potential in the test development lifecycle to:\r\n
\r\n \t
\u00a9<\/em> Maryland Public Television<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe whole test taker experience<\/h3>\r\nWe are seeing an increased propensity for testing organizations to look at the test taker experience as a whole, rather than focusing on isolated elements. And we are working with a growing number of clients to map and scrutinize their test taker journey at every stage, with the aim of uncovering improvements or enhancements that will make the testing experience as easy and accessible as possible, for all test takers.\r\n\r\nTest taker journey mapping includes every piece of information, every click, and every scroll they take on their way to receiving a test result. We undertook journey mapping exercises with clients including\u00a0ISACA<\/a>\u00a0and the\u00a0UK Home Office<\/a>\u00a0last year. Working together, we detailed every action a test taker might take during the testing experience. A diagram was used to visualize the journey, and workshops examined every stage in detail. We are currently progressing through the resulting action log and expect to see improvements across the test taker experience, alongside increased efficiencies and smoother processes.\r\n\r\nWe have seen positive outcomes across many clients from this trend of examining the test taker experience through a broad lens. We expect to work with more clients on test taker journey mapping in the year to come, as this continues to be a critical consideration globally across all delivery modalities.\r\n
Balancing test taker needs and wants<\/h3>\r\nTesting organizations are also taking a pragmatic approach and carefully considering what it is their test takers need \u2013 versus what it is they might want. During COVID, we saw a large-scale shift to remote testing. This was necessary but not without its concerns, particularly about test security.\r\n\r\nNow we are seeing organizations re-evaluating their test delivery strategies, particularly in North America where there is ample test center coverage. Some organizations are scaling-up in-person testing, and even more are adopting a multi-modal approach that provides convenience for test takers in more remote locations.\r\n\r\nWe are supporting clients to make these important decisions based on the needs of their testing program and their market. As well as providing testing organizations with the\u00a0data forensics and web crawling<\/a>\u00a0services they need to help inform their decisions.\r\n
Beyond testing \u2013 growing test taker populations<\/h3>\r\nTaking a broader view doesn\u2019t stop with the test taker experience. More and more testing organizations are paying attention to the overall health of their profession and the educational pathways of their test takers. One element of this is a greater focus on test preparation materials and supporting the learner. And even further, we are working with clients on campaigns that promote and recruit individuals to their profession.\r\n\r\nAn important example is nursing, which has seen both a reduction in graduating nurses and an increase in nurses planning to leave the profession. By 2025,\u00a0McKinsey estimates the United States may have a 10-20% gap of nurses available for direct patient care<\/a>.\r\n\r\nWe recently worked with our client, the American Board of Nursing Certification (ABNC) and the\u00a0National Certification Corporation (NCC)<\/a>\u00a0on a \u2018Certified Nurses Make a Difference\u2019 campaign. Public service announcements in specific areas of the United States generated awareness and helped promote the work and value nurses play in patient healthcare. The campaign was aired over 6,000 times with more than 7.5 million impressions in 2022.\r\n\r\nIn a similar example, the\u00a0National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC)<\/a>\u00a0teamed up with membership and education associations to promote the profession of respiratory therapists. Through videos, case studies, and social media, the NBRC are sharing the stories of therapists and patients, elevating the profession and helping to address the shortage in respiratory therapists.\r\n\r\nI have had more conversations with testing organizations in the past year than I have in the rest of my career about ways we can work together to raise the profile of their profession. With workforce shortages continuing across multiple industries, this trend is likely to continue.\r\n
Artificial Intelligence in test development<\/h3>\r\nMy colleague Isabelle Gonthier covered the topic of\u00a0emerging technologies in test development in her first blog of this series<\/a>\u00a0on testing trends for 2023. Including advances in the use of Automatic Item Generation (AIG), which is already in use.\r\n\r\nArtificial Intelligence (AI), and constituent technologies of AI such as machine learning and natural language processing (NLP), are also exciting developments when it comes to test development. While still in their early stages, these technologies are becoming more mainstream with real potential in the test development lifecycle to:\r\n
\r\n \t
\u00a9<\/em> Maryland Public Television<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe whole test taker experience<\/h3>\r\nWe are seeing an increased propensity for testing organizations to look at the test taker experience as a whole, rather than focusing on isolated elements. And we are working with a growing number of clients to map and scrutinize their test taker journey at every stage, with the aim of uncovering improvements or enhancements that will make the testing experience as easy and accessible as possible, for all test takers.\r\n\r\nTest taker journey mapping includes every piece of information, every click, and every scroll they take on their way to receiving a test result. We undertook journey mapping exercises with clients including\u00a0ISACA<\/a>\u00a0and the\u00a0UK Home Office<\/a>\u00a0last year. Working together, we detailed every action a test taker might take during the testing experience. A diagram was used to visualize the journey, and workshops examined every stage in detail. We are currently progressing through the resulting action log and expect to see improvements across the test taker experience, alongside increased efficiencies and smoother processes.\r\n\r\nWe have seen positive outcomes across many clients from this trend of examining the test taker experience through a broad lens. We expect to work with more clients on test taker journey mapping in the year to come, as this continues to be a critical consideration globally across all delivery modalities.\r\n
Balancing test taker needs and wants<\/h3>\r\nTesting organizations are also taking a pragmatic approach and carefully considering what it is their test takers need \u2013 versus what it is they might want. During COVID, we saw a large-scale shift to remote testing. This was necessary but not without its concerns, particularly about test security.\r\n\r\nNow we are seeing organizations re-evaluating their test delivery strategies, particularly in North America where there is ample test center coverage. Some organizations are scaling-up in-person testing, and even more are adopting a multi-modal approach that provides convenience for test takers in more remote locations.\r\n\r\nWe are supporting clients to make these important decisions based on the needs of their testing program and their market. As well as providing testing organizations with the\u00a0data forensics and web crawling<\/a>\u00a0services they need to help inform their decisions.\r\n
Beyond testing \u2013 growing test taker populations<\/h3>\r\nTaking a broader view doesn\u2019t stop with the test taker experience. More and more testing organizations are paying attention to the overall health of their profession and the educational pathways of their test takers. One element of this is a greater focus on test preparation materials and supporting the learner. And even further, we are working with clients on campaigns that promote and recruit individuals to their profession.\r\n\r\nAn important example is nursing, which has seen both a reduction in graduating nurses and an increase in nurses planning to leave the profession. By 2025,\u00a0McKinsey estimates the United States may have a 10-20% gap of nurses available for direct patient care<\/a>.\r\n\r\nWe recently worked with our client, the American Board of Nursing Certification (ABNC) and the\u00a0National Certification Corporation (NCC)<\/a>\u00a0on a \u2018Certified Nurses Make a Difference\u2019 campaign. Public service announcements in specific areas of the United States generated awareness and helped promote the work and value nurses play in patient healthcare. The campaign was aired over 6,000 times with more than 7.5 million impressions in 2022.\r\n\r\nIn a similar example, the\u00a0National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC)<\/a>\u00a0teamed up with membership and education associations to promote the profession of respiratory therapists. Through videos, case studies, and social media, the NBRC are sharing the stories of therapists and patients, elevating the profession and helping to address the shortage in respiratory therapists.\r\n\r\nI have had more conversations with testing organizations in the past year than I have in the rest of my career about ways we can work together to raise the profile of their profession. With workforce shortages continuing across multiple industries, this trend is likely to continue.\r\n
Artificial Intelligence in test development<\/h3>\r\nMy colleague Isabelle Gonthier covered the topic of\u00a0emerging technologies in test development in her first blog of this series<\/a>\u00a0on testing trends for 2023. Including advances in the use of Automatic Item Generation (AIG), which is already in use.\r\n\r\nArtificial Intelligence (AI), and constituent technologies of AI such as machine learning and natural language processing (NLP), are also exciting developments when it comes to test development. While still in their early stages, these technologies are becoming more mainstream with real potential in the test development lifecycle to:\r\n
\r\n \t
\u00a9<\/em> Maryland Public Television<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe whole test taker experience<\/h3>\r\nWe are seeing an increased propensity for testing organizations to look at the test taker experience as a whole, rather than focusing on isolated elements. And we are working with a growing number of clients to map and scrutinize their test taker journey at every stage, with the aim of uncovering improvements or enhancements that will make the testing experience as easy and accessible as possible, for all test takers.\r\n\r\nTest taker journey mapping includes every piece of information, every click, and every scroll they take on their way to receiving a test result. We undertook journey mapping exercises with clients including\u00a0ISACA<\/a>\u00a0and the\u00a0UK Home Office<\/a>\u00a0last year. Working together, we detailed every action a test taker might take during the testing experience. A diagram was used to visualize the journey, and workshops examined every stage in detail. We are currently progressing through the resulting action log and expect to see improvements across the test taker experience, alongside increased efficiencies and smoother processes.\r\n\r\nWe have seen positive outcomes across many clients from this trend of examining the test taker experience through a broad lens. We expect to work with more clients on test taker journey mapping in the year to come, as this continues to be a critical consideration globally across all delivery modalities.\r\n
Balancing test taker needs and wants<\/h3>\r\nTesting organizations are also taking a pragmatic approach and carefully considering what it is their test takers need \u2013 versus what it is they might want. During COVID, we saw a large-scale shift to remote testing. This was necessary but not without its concerns, particularly about test security.\r\n\r\nNow we are seeing organizations re-evaluating their test delivery strategies, particularly in North America where there is ample test center coverage. Some organizations are scaling-up in-person testing, and even more are adopting a multi-modal approach that provides convenience for test takers in more remote locations.\r\n\r\nWe are supporting clients to make these important decisions based on the needs of their testing program and their market. As well as providing testing organizations with the\u00a0data forensics and web crawling<\/a>\u00a0services they need to help inform their decisions.\r\n
Beyond testing \u2013 growing test taker populations<\/h3>\r\nTaking a broader view doesn\u2019t stop with the test taker experience. More and more testing organizations are paying attention to the overall health of their profession and the educational pathways of their test takers. One element of this is a greater focus on test preparation materials and supporting the learner. And even further, we are working with clients on campaigns that promote and recruit individuals to their profession.\r\n\r\nAn important example is nursing, which has seen both a reduction in graduating nurses and an increase in nurses planning to leave the profession. By 2025,\u00a0McKinsey estimates the United States may have a 10-20% gap of nurses available for direct patient care<\/a>.\r\n\r\nWe recently worked with our client, the American Board of Nursing Certification (ABNC) and the\u00a0National Certification Corporation (NCC)<\/a>\u00a0on a \u2018Certified Nurses Make a Difference\u2019 campaign. Public service announcements in specific areas of the United States generated awareness and helped promote the work and value nurses play in patient healthcare. The campaign was aired over 6,000 times with more than 7.5 million impressions in 2022.\r\n\r\nIn a similar example, the\u00a0National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC)<\/a>\u00a0teamed up with membership and education associations to promote the profession of respiratory therapists. Through videos, case studies, and social media, the NBRC are sharing the stories of therapists and patients, elevating the profession and helping to address the shortage in respiratory therapists.\r\n\r\nI have had more conversations with testing organizations in the past year than I have in the rest of my career about ways we can work together to raise the profile of their profession. With workforce shortages continuing across multiple industries, this trend is likely to continue.\r\n
Artificial Intelligence in test development<\/h3>\r\nMy colleague Isabelle Gonthier covered the topic of\u00a0emerging technologies in test development in her first blog of this series<\/a>\u00a0on testing trends for 2023. Including advances in the use of Automatic Item Generation (AIG), which is already in use.\r\n\r\nArtificial Intelligence (AI), and constituent technologies of AI such as machine learning and natural language processing (NLP), are also exciting developments when it comes to test development. While still in their early stages, these technologies are becoming more mainstream with real potential in the test development lifecycle to:\r\n
\r\n \t
\u00a9<\/em> Maryland Public Television<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe whole test taker experience<\/h3>\r\nWe are seeing an increased propensity for testing organizations to look at the test taker experience as a whole, rather than focusing on isolated elements. And we are working with a growing number of clients to map and scrutinize their test taker journey at every stage, with the aim of uncovering improvements or enhancements that will make the testing experience as easy and accessible as possible, for all test takers.\r\n\r\nTest taker journey mapping includes every piece of information, every click, and every scroll they take on their way to receiving a test result. We undertook journey mapping exercises with clients including\u00a0ISACA<\/a>\u00a0and the\u00a0UK Home Office<\/a>\u00a0last year. Working together, we detailed every action a test taker might take during the testing experience. A diagram was used to visualize the journey, and workshops examined every stage in detail. We are currently progressing through the resulting action log and expect to see improvements across the test taker experience, alongside increased efficiencies and smoother processes.\r\n\r\nWe have seen positive outcomes across many clients from this trend of examining the test taker experience through a broad lens. We expect to work with more clients on test taker journey mapping in the year to come, as this continues to be a critical consideration globally across all delivery modalities.\r\n
Balancing test taker needs and wants<\/h3>\r\nTesting organizations are also taking a pragmatic approach and carefully considering what it is their test takers need \u2013 versus what it is they might want. During COVID, we saw a large-scale shift to remote testing. This was necessary but not without its concerns, particularly about test security.\r\n\r\nNow we are seeing organizations re-evaluating their test delivery strategies, particularly in North America where there is ample test center coverage. Some organizations are scaling-up in-person testing, and even more are adopting a multi-modal approach that provides convenience for test takers in more remote locations.\r\n\r\nWe are supporting clients to make these important decisions based on the needs of their testing program and their market. As well as providing testing organizations with the\u00a0data forensics and web crawling<\/a>\u00a0services they need to help inform their decisions.\r\n
Beyond testing \u2013 growing test taker populations<\/h3>\r\nTaking a broader view doesn\u2019t stop with the test taker experience. More and more testing organizations are paying attention to the overall health of their profession and the educational pathways of their test takers. One element of this is a greater focus on test preparation materials and supporting the learner. And even further, we are working with clients on campaigns that promote and recruit individuals to their profession.\r\n\r\nAn important example is nursing, which has seen both a reduction in graduating nurses and an increase in nurses planning to leave the profession. By 2025,\u00a0McKinsey estimates the United States may have a 10-20% gap of nurses available for direct patient care<\/a>.\r\n\r\nWe recently worked with our client, the American Board of Nursing Certification (ABNC) and the\u00a0National Certification Corporation (NCC)<\/a>\u00a0on a \u2018Certified Nurses Make a Difference\u2019 campaign. Public service announcements in specific areas of the United States generated awareness and helped promote the work and value nurses play in patient healthcare. The campaign was aired over 6,000 times with more than 7.5 million impressions in 2022.\r\n\r\nIn a similar example, the\u00a0National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC)<\/a>\u00a0teamed up with membership and education associations to promote the profession of respiratory therapists. Through videos, case studies, and social media, the NBRC are sharing the stories of therapists and patients, elevating the profession and helping to address the shortage in respiratory therapists.\r\n\r\nI have had more conversations with testing organizations in the past year than I have in the rest of my career about ways we can work together to raise the profile of their profession. With workforce shortages continuing across multiple industries, this trend is likely to continue.\r\n
Artificial Intelligence in test development<\/h3>\r\nMy colleague Isabelle Gonthier covered the topic of\u00a0emerging technologies in test development in her first blog of this series<\/a>\u00a0on testing trends for 2023. Including advances in the use of Automatic Item Generation (AIG), which is already in use.\r\n\r\nArtificial Intelligence (AI), and constituent technologies of AI such as machine learning and natural language processing (NLP), are also exciting developments when it comes to test development. While still in their early stages, these technologies are becoming more mainstream with real potential in the test development lifecycle to:\r\n
\r\n \t
\u00a9<\/em> Maryland Public Television<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe whole test taker experience<\/h3>\r\nWe are seeing an increased propensity for testing organizations to look at the test taker experience as a whole, rather than focusing on isolated elements. And we are working with a growing number of clients to map and scrutinize their test taker journey at every stage, with the aim of uncovering improvements or enhancements that will make the testing experience as easy and accessible as possible, for all test takers.\r\n\r\nTest taker journey mapping includes every piece of information, every click, and every scroll they take on their way to receiving a test result. We undertook journey mapping exercises with clients including\u00a0ISACA<\/a>\u00a0and the\u00a0UK Home Office<\/a>\u00a0last year. Working together, we detailed every action a test taker might take during the testing experience. A diagram was used to visualize the journey, and workshops examined every stage in detail. We are currently progressing through the resulting action log and expect to see improvements across the test taker experience, alongside increased efficiencies and smoother processes.\r\n\r\nWe have seen positive outcomes across many clients from this trend of examining the test taker experience through a broad lens. We expect to work with more clients on test taker journey mapping in the year to come, as this continues to be a critical consideration globally across all delivery modalities.\r\n
Balancing test taker needs and wants<\/h3>\r\nTesting organizations are also taking a pragmatic approach and carefully considering what it is their test takers need \u2013 versus what it is they might want. During COVID, we saw a large-scale shift to remote testing. This was necessary but not without its concerns, particularly about test security.\r\n\r\nNow we are seeing organizations re-evaluating their test delivery strategies, particularly in North America where there is ample test center coverage. Some organizations are scaling-up in-person testing, and even more are adopting a multi-modal approach that provides convenience for test takers in more remote locations.\r\n\r\nWe are supporting clients to make these important decisions based on the needs of their testing program and their market. As well as providing testing organizations with the\u00a0data forensics and web crawling<\/a>\u00a0services they need to help inform their decisions.\r\n
Beyond testing \u2013 growing test taker populations<\/h3>\r\nTaking a broader view doesn\u2019t stop with the test taker experience. More and more testing organizations are paying attention to the overall health of their profession and the educational pathways of their test takers. One element of this is a greater focus on test preparation materials and supporting the learner. And even further, we are working with clients on campaigns that promote and recruit individuals to their profession.\r\n\r\nAn important example is nursing, which has seen both a reduction in graduating nurses and an increase in nurses planning to leave the profession. By 2025,\u00a0McKinsey estimates the United States may have a 10-20% gap of nurses available for direct patient care<\/a>.\r\n\r\nWe recently worked with our client, the American Board of Nursing Certification (ABNC) and the\u00a0National Certification Corporation (NCC)<\/a>\u00a0on a \u2018Certified Nurses Make a Difference\u2019 campaign. Public service announcements in specific areas of the United States generated awareness and helped promote the work and value nurses play in patient healthcare. The campaign was aired over 6,000 times with more than 7.5 million impressions in 2022.\r\n\r\nIn a similar example, the\u00a0National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC)<\/a>\u00a0teamed up with membership and education associations to promote the profession of respiratory therapists. Through videos, case studies, and social media, the NBRC are sharing the stories of therapists and patients, elevating the profession and helping to address the shortage in respiratory therapists.\r\n\r\nI have had more conversations with testing organizations in the past year than I have in the rest of my career about ways we can work together to raise the profile of their profession. With workforce shortages continuing across multiple industries, this trend is likely to continue.\r\n
Artificial Intelligence in test development<\/h3>\r\nMy colleague Isabelle Gonthier covered the topic of\u00a0emerging technologies in test development in her first blog of this series<\/a>\u00a0on testing trends for 2023. Including advances in the use of Automatic Item Generation (AIG), which is already in use.\r\n\r\nArtificial Intelligence (AI), and constituent technologies of AI such as machine learning and natural language processing (NLP), are also exciting developments when it comes to test development. While still in their early stages, these technologies are becoming more mainstream with real potential in the test development lifecycle to:\r\n
\r\n \t
\u00a9<\/em> Maryland Public Television<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe whole test taker experience<\/h3>\r\nWe are seeing an increased propensity for testing organizations to look at the test taker experience as a whole, rather than focusing on isolated elements. And we are working with a growing number of clients to map and scrutinize their test taker journey at every stage, with the aim of uncovering improvements or enhancements that will make the testing experience as easy and accessible as possible, for all test takers.\r\n\r\nTest taker journey mapping includes every piece of information, every click, and every scroll they take on their way to receiving a test result. We undertook journey mapping exercises with clients including\u00a0ISACA<\/a>\u00a0and the\u00a0UK Home Office<\/a>\u00a0last year. Working together, we detailed every action a test taker might take during the testing experience. A diagram was used to visualize the journey, and workshops examined every stage in detail. We are currently progressing through the resulting action log and expect to see improvements across the test taker experience, alongside increased efficiencies and smoother processes.\r\n\r\nWe have seen positive outcomes across many clients from this trend of examining the test taker experience through a broad lens. We expect to work with more clients on test taker journey mapping in the year to come, as this continues to be a critical consideration globally across all delivery modalities.\r\n
Balancing test taker needs and wants<\/h3>\r\nTesting organizations are also taking a pragmatic approach and carefully considering what it is their test takers need \u2013 versus what it is they might want. During COVID, we saw a large-scale shift to remote testing. This was necessary but not without its concerns, particularly about test security.\r\n\r\nNow we are seeing organizations re-evaluating their test delivery strategies, particularly in North America where there is ample test center coverage. Some organizations are scaling-up in-person testing, and even more are adopting a multi-modal approach that provides convenience for test takers in more remote locations.\r\n\r\nWe are supporting clients to make these important decisions based on the needs of their testing program and their market. As well as providing testing organizations with the\u00a0data forensics and web crawling<\/a>\u00a0services they need to help inform their decisions.\r\n
Beyond testing \u2013 growing test taker populations<\/h3>\r\nTaking a broader view doesn\u2019t stop with the test taker experience. More and more testing organizations are paying attention to the overall health of their profession and the educational pathways of their test takers. One element of this is a greater focus on test preparation materials and supporting the learner. And even further, we are working with clients on campaigns that promote and recruit individuals to their profession.\r\n\r\nAn important example is nursing, which has seen both a reduction in graduating nurses and an increase in nurses planning to leave the profession. By 2025,\u00a0McKinsey estimates the United States may have a 10-20% gap of nurses available for direct patient care<\/a>.\r\n\r\nWe recently worked with our client, the American Board of Nursing Certification (ABNC) and the\u00a0National Certification Corporation (NCC)<\/a>\u00a0on a \u2018Certified Nurses Make a Difference\u2019 campaign. Public service announcements in specific areas of the United States generated awareness and helped promote the work and value nurses play in patient healthcare. The campaign was aired over 6,000 times with more than 7.5 million impressions in 2022.\r\n\r\nIn a similar example, the\u00a0National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC)<\/a>\u00a0teamed up with membership and education associations to promote the profession of respiratory therapists. Through videos, case studies, and social media, the NBRC are sharing the stories of therapists and patients, elevating the profession and helping to address the shortage in respiratory therapists.\r\n\r\nI have had more conversations with testing organizations in the past year than I have in the rest of my career about ways we can work together to raise the profile of their profession. With workforce shortages continuing across multiple industries, this trend is likely to continue.\r\n
Artificial Intelligence in test development<\/h3>\r\nMy colleague Isabelle Gonthier covered the topic of\u00a0emerging technologies in test development in her first blog of this series<\/a>\u00a0on testing trends for 2023. Including advances in the use of Automatic Item Generation (AIG), which is already in use.\r\n\r\nArtificial Intelligence (AI), and constituent technologies of AI such as machine learning and natural language processing (NLP), are also exciting developments when it comes to test development. While still in their early stages, these technologies are becoming more mainstream with real potential in the test development lifecycle to:\r\n
\r\n \t
\u00a9<\/em> Maryland Public Television<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe whole test taker experience<\/h3>\r\nWe are seeing an increased propensity for testing organizations to look at the test taker experience as a whole, rather than focusing on isolated elements. And we are working with a growing number of clients to map and scrutinize their test taker journey at every stage, with the aim of uncovering improvements or enhancements that will make the testing experience as easy and accessible as possible, for all test takers.\r\n\r\nTest taker journey mapping includes every piece of information, every click, and every scroll they take on their way to receiving a test result. We undertook journey mapping exercises with clients including\u00a0ISACA<\/a>\u00a0and the\u00a0UK Home Office<\/a>\u00a0last year. Working together, we detailed every action a test taker might take during the testing experience. A diagram was used to visualize the journey, and workshops examined every stage in detail. We are currently progressing through the resulting action log and expect to see improvements across the test taker experience, alongside increased efficiencies and smoother processes.\r\n\r\nWe have seen positive outcomes across many clients from this trend of examining the test taker experience through a broad lens. We expect to work with more clients on test taker journey mapping in the year to come, as this continues to be a critical consideration globally across all delivery modalities.\r\n
Balancing test taker needs and wants<\/h3>\r\nTesting organizations are also taking a pragmatic approach and carefully considering what it is their test takers need \u2013 versus what it is they might want. During COVID, we saw a large-scale shift to remote testing. This was necessary but not without its concerns, particularly about test security.\r\n\r\nNow we are seeing organizations re-evaluating their test delivery strategies, particularly in North America where there is ample test center coverage. Some organizations are scaling-up in-person testing, and even more are adopting a multi-modal approach that provides convenience for test takers in more remote locations.\r\n\r\nWe are supporting clients to make these important decisions based on the needs of their testing program and their market. As well as providing testing organizations with the\u00a0data forensics and web crawling<\/a>\u00a0services they need to help inform their decisions.\r\n
Beyond testing \u2013 growing test taker populations<\/h3>\r\nTaking a broader view doesn\u2019t stop with the test taker experience. More and more testing organizations are paying attention to the overall health of their profession and the educational pathways of their test takers. One element of this is a greater focus on test preparation materials and supporting the learner. And even further, we are working with clients on campaigns that promote and recruit individuals to their profession.\r\n\r\nAn important example is nursing, which has seen both a reduction in graduating nurses and an increase in nurses planning to leave the profession. By 2025,\u00a0McKinsey estimates the United States may have a 10-20% gap of nurses available for direct patient care<\/a>.\r\n\r\nWe recently worked with our client, the American Board of Nursing Certification (ABNC) and the\u00a0National Certification Corporation (NCC)<\/a>\u00a0on a \u2018Certified Nurses Make a Difference\u2019 campaign. Public service announcements in specific areas of the United States generated awareness and helped promote the work and value nurses play in patient healthcare. The campaign was aired over 6,000 times with more than 7.5 million impressions in 2022.\r\n\r\nIn a similar example, the\u00a0National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC)<\/a>\u00a0teamed up with membership and education associations to promote the profession of respiratory therapists. Through videos, case studies, and social media, the NBRC are sharing the stories of therapists and patients, elevating the profession and helping to address the shortage in respiratory therapists.\r\n\r\nI have had more conversations with testing organizations in the past year than I have in the rest of my career about ways we can work together to raise the profile of their profession. With workforce shortages continuing across multiple industries, this trend is likely to continue.\r\n
Artificial Intelligence in test development<\/h3>\r\nMy colleague Isabelle Gonthier covered the topic of\u00a0emerging technologies in test development in her first blog of this series<\/a>\u00a0on testing trends for 2023. Including advances in the use of Automatic Item Generation (AIG), which is already in use.\r\n\r\nArtificial Intelligence (AI), and constituent technologies of AI such as machine learning and natural language processing (NLP), are also exciting developments when it comes to test development. While still in their early stages, these technologies are becoming more mainstream with real potential in the test development lifecycle to:\r\n
\r\n \t
\u00a9<\/em> Maryland Public Television<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe whole test taker experience<\/h3>\r\nWe are seeing an increased propensity for testing organizations to look at the test taker experience as a whole, rather than focusing on isolated elements. And we are working with a growing number of clients to map and scrutinize their test taker journey at every stage, with the aim of uncovering improvements or enhancements that will make the testing experience as easy and accessible as possible, for all test takers.\r\n\r\nTest taker journey mapping includes every piece of information, every click, and every scroll they take on their way to receiving a test result. We undertook journey mapping exercises with clients including\u00a0ISACA<\/a>\u00a0and the\u00a0UK Home Office<\/a>\u00a0last year. Working together, we detailed every action a test taker might take during the testing experience. A diagram was used to visualize the journey, and workshops examined every stage in detail. We are currently progressing through the resulting action log and expect to see improvements across the test taker experience, alongside increased efficiencies and smoother processes.\r\n\r\nWe have seen positive outcomes across many clients from this trend of examining the test taker experience through a broad lens. We expect to work with more clients on test taker journey mapping in the year to come, as this continues to be a critical consideration globally across all delivery modalities.\r\n
Balancing test taker needs and wants<\/h3>\r\nTesting organizations are also taking a pragmatic approach and carefully considering what it is their test takers need \u2013 versus what it is they might want. During COVID, we saw a large-scale shift to remote testing. This was necessary but not without its concerns, particularly about test security.\r\n\r\nNow we are seeing organizations re-evaluating their test delivery strategies, particularly in North America where there is ample test center coverage. Some organizations are scaling-up in-person testing, and even more are adopting a multi-modal approach that provides convenience for test takers in more remote locations.\r\n\r\nWe are supporting clients to make these important decisions based on the needs of their testing program and their market. As well as providing testing organizations with the\u00a0data forensics and web crawling<\/a>\u00a0services they need to help inform their decisions.\r\n
Beyond testing \u2013 growing test taker populations<\/h3>\r\nTaking a broader view doesn\u2019t stop with the test taker experience. More and more testing organizations are paying attention to the overall health of their profession and the educational pathways of their test takers. One element of this is a greater focus on test preparation materials and supporting the learner. And even further, we are working with clients on campaigns that promote and recruit individuals to their profession.\r\n\r\nAn important example is nursing, which has seen both a reduction in graduating nurses and an increase in nurses planning to leave the profession. By 2025,\u00a0McKinsey estimates the United States may have a 10-20% gap of nurses available for direct patient care<\/a>.\r\n\r\nWe recently worked with our client, the American Board of Nursing Certification (ABNC) and the\u00a0National Certification Corporation (NCC)<\/a>\u00a0on a \u2018Certified Nurses Make a Difference\u2019 campaign. Public service announcements in specific areas of the United States generated awareness and helped promote the work and value nurses play in patient healthcare. The campaign was aired over 6,000 times with more than 7.5 million impressions in 2022.\r\n\r\nIn a similar example, the\u00a0National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC)<\/a>\u00a0teamed up with membership and education associations to promote the profession of respiratory therapists. Through videos, case studies, and social media, the NBRC are sharing the stories of therapists and patients, elevating the profession and helping to address the shortage in respiratory therapists.\r\n\r\nI have had more conversations with testing organizations in the past year than I have in the rest of my career about ways we can work together to raise the profile of their profession. With workforce shortages continuing across multiple industries, this trend is likely to continue.\r\n
Artificial Intelligence in test development<\/h3>\r\nMy colleague Isabelle Gonthier covered the topic of\u00a0emerging technologies in test development in her first blog of this series<\/a>\u00a0on testing trends for 2023. Including advances in the use of Automatic Item Generation (AIG), which is already in use.\r\n\r\nArtificial Intelligence (AI), and constituent technologies of AI such as machine learning and natural language processing (NLP), are also exciting developments when it comes to test development. While still in their early stages, these technologies are becoming more mainstream with real potential in the test development lifecycle to:\r\n
\r\n \t
\u00a9<\/em> Maryland Public Television<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe whole test taker experience<\/h3>\r\nWe are seeing an increased propensity for testing organizations to look at the test taker experience as a whole, rather than focusing on isolated elements. And we are working with a growing number of clients to map and scrutinize their test taker journey at every stage, with the aim of uncovering improvements or enhancements that will make the testing experience as easy and accessible as possible, for all test takers.\r\n\r\nTest taker journey mapping includes every piece of information, every click, and every scroll they take on their way to receiving a test result. We undertook journey mapping exercises with clients including\u00a0ISACA<\/a>\u00a0and the\u00a0UK Home Office<\/a>\u00a0last year. Working together, we detailed every action a test taker might take during the testing experience. A diagram was used to visualize the journey, and workshops examined every stage in detail. We are currently progressing through the resulting action log and expect to see improvements across the test taker experience, alongside increased efficiencies and smoother processes.\r\n\r\nWe have seen positive outcomes across many clients from this trend of examining the test taker experience through a broad lens. We expect to work with more clients on test taker journey mapping in the year to come, as this continues to be a critical consideration globally across all delivery modalities.\r\n
Balancing test taker needs and wants<\/h3>\r\nTesting organizations are also taking a pragmatic approach and carefully considering what it is their test takers need \u2013 versus what it is they might want. During COVID, we saw a large-scale shift to remote testing. This was necessary but not without its concerns, particularly about test security.\r\n\r\nNow we are seeing organizations re-evaluating their test delivery strategies, particularly in North America where there is ample test center coverage. Some organizations are scaling-up in-person testing, and even more are adopting a multi-modal approach that provides convenience for test takers in more remote locations.\r\n\r\nWe are supporting clients to make these important decisions based on the needs of their testing program and their market. As well as providing testing organizations with the\u00a0data forensics and web crawling<\/a>\u00a0services they need to help inform their decisions.\r\n
Beyond testing \u2013 growing test taker populations<\/h3>\r\nTaking a broader view doesn\u2019t stop with the test taker experience. More and more testing organizations are paying attention to the overall health of their profession and the educational pathways of their test takers. One element of this is a greater focus on test preparation materials and supporting the learner. And even further, we are working with clients on campaigns that promote and recruit individuals to their profession.\r\n\r\nAn important example is nursing, which has seen both a reduction in graduating nurses and an increase in nurses planning to leave the profession. By 2025,\u00a0McKinsey estimates the United States may have a 10-20% gap of nurses available for direct patient care<\/a>.\r\n\r\nWe recently worked with our client, the American Board of Nursing Certification (ABNC) and the\u00a0National Certification Corporation (NCC)<\/a>\u00a0on a \u2018Certified Nurses Make a Difference\u2019 campaign. Public service announcements in specific areas of the United States generated awareness and helped promote the work and value nurses play in patient healthcare. The campaign was aired over 6,000 times with more than 7.5 million impressions in 2022.\r\n\r\nIn a similar example, the\u00a0National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC)<\/a>\u00a0teamed up with membership and education associations to promote the profession of respiratory therapists. Through videos, case studies, and social media, the NBRC are sharing the stories of therapists and patients, elevating the profession and helping to address the shortage in respiratory therapists.\r\n\r\nI have had more conversations with testing organizations in the past year than I have in the rest of my career about ways we can work together to raise the profile of their profession. With workforce shortages continuing across multiple industries, this trend is likely to continue.\r\n
Artificial Intelligence in test development<\/h3>\r\nMy colleague Isabelle Gonthier covered the topic of\u00a0emerging technologies in test development in her first blog of this series<\/a>\u00a0on testing trends for 2023. Including advances in the use of Automatic Item Generation (AIG), which is already in use.\r\n\r\nArtificial Intelligence (AI), and constituent technologies of AI such as machine learning and natural language processing (NLP), are also exciting developments when it comes to test development. While still in their early stages, these technologies are becoming more mainstream with real potential in the test development lifecycle to:\r\n
\r\n \t
\u00a9<\/em> Maryland Public Television<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe whole test taker experience<\/h3>\r\nWe are seeing an increased propensity for testing organizations to look at the test taker experience as a whole, rather than focusing on isolated elements. And we are working with a growing number of clients to map and scrutinize their test taker journey at every stage, with the aim of uncovering improvements or enhancements that will make the testing experience as easy and accessible as possible, for all test takers.\r\n\r\nTest taker journey mapping includes every piece of information, every click, and every scroll they take on their way to receiving a test result. We undertook journey mapping exercises with clients including\u00a0ISACA<\/a>\u00a0and the\u00a0UK Home Office<\/a>\u00a0last year. Working together, we detailed every action a test taker might take during the testing experience. A diagram was used to visualize the journey, and workshops examined every stage in detail. We are currently progressing through the resulting action log and expect to see improvements across the test taker experience, alongside increased efficiencies and smoother processes.\r\n\r\nWe have seen positive outcomes across many clients from this trend of examining the test taker experience through a broad lens. We expect to work with more clients on test taker journey mapping in the year to come, as this continues to be a critical consideration globally across all delivery modalities.\r\n
Balancing test taker needs and wants<\/h3>\r\nTesting organizations are also taking a pragmatic approach and carefully considering what it is their test takers need \u2013 versus what it is they might want. During COVID, we saw a large-scale shift to remote testing. This was necessary but not without its concerns, particularly about test security.\r\n\r\nNow we are seeing organizations re-evaluating their test delivery strategies, particularly in North America where there is ample test center coverage. Some organizations are scaling-up in-person testing, and even more are adopting a multi-modal approach that provides convenience for test takers in more remote locations.\r\n\r\nWe are supporting clients to make these important decisions based on the needs of their testing program and their market. As well as providing testing organizations with the\u00a0data forensics and web crawling<\/a>\u00a0services they need to help inform their decisions.\r\n
Beyond testing \u2013 growing test taker populations<\/h3>\r\nTaking a broader view doesn\u2019t stop with the test taker experience. More and more testing organizations are paying attention to the overall health of their profession and the educational pathways of their test takers. One element of this is a greater focus on test preparation materials and supporting the learner. And even further, we are working with clients on campaigns that promote and recruit individuals to their profession.\r\n\r\nAn important example is nursing, which has seen both a reduction in graduating nurses and an increase in nurses planning to leave the profession. By 2025,\u00a0McKinsey estimates the United States may have a 10-20% gap of nurses available for direct patient care<\/a>.\r\n\r\nWe recently worked with our client, the American Board of Nursing Certification (ABNC) and the\u00a0National Certification Corporation (NCC)<\/a>\u00a0on a \u2018Certified Nurses Make a Difference\u2019 campaign. Public service announcements in specific areas of the United States generated awareness and helped promote the work and value nurses play in patient healthcare. The campaign was aired over 6,000 times with more than 7.5 million impressions in 2022.\r\n\r\nIn a similar example, the\u00a0National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC)<\/a>\u00a0teamed up with membership and education associations to promote the profession of respiratory therapists. Through videos, case studies, and social media, the NBRC are sharing the stories of therapists and patients, elevating the profession and helping to address the shortage in respiratory therapists.\r\n\r\nI have had more conversations with testing organizations in the past year than I have in the rest of my career about ways we can work together to raise the profile of their profession. With workforce shortages continuing across multiple industries, this trend is likely to continue.\r\n
Artificial Intelligence in test development<\/h3>\r\nMy colleague Isabelle Gonthier covered the topic of\u00a0emerging technologies in test development in her first blog of this series<\/a>\u00a0on testing trends for 2023. Including advances in the use of Automatic Item Generation (AIG), which is already in use.\r\n\r\nArtificial Intelligence (AI), and constituent technologies of AI such as machine learning and natural language processing (NLP), are also exciting developments when it comes to test development. While still in their early stages, these technologies are becoming more mainstream with real potential in the test development lifecycle to:\r\n
\r\n \t
\u00a9<\/em> Maryland Public Television<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe whole test taker experience<\/h3>\r\nWe are seeing an increased propensity for testing organizations to look at the test taker experience as a whole, rather than focusing on isolated elements. And we are working with a growing number of clients to map and scrutinize their test taker journey at every stage, with the aim of uncovering improvements or enhancements that will make the testing experience as easy and accessible as possible, for all test takers.\r\n\r\nTest taker journey mapping includes every piece of information, every click, and every scroll they take on their way to receiving a test result. We undertook journey mapping exercises with clients including\u00a0ISACA<\/a>\u00a0and the\u00a0UK Home Office<\/a>\u00a0last year. Working together, we detailed every action a test taker might take during the testing experience. A diagram was used to visualize the journey, and workshops examined every stage in detail. We are currently progressing through the resulting action log and expect to see improvements across the test taker experience, alongside increased efficiencies and smoother processes.\r\n\r\nWe have seen positive outcomes across many clients from this trend of examining the test taker experience through a broad lens. We expect to work with more clients on test taker journey mapping in the year to come, as this continues to be a critical consideration globally across all delivery modalities.\r\n
Balancing test taker needs and wants<\/h3>\r\nTesting organizations are also taking a pragmatic approach and carefully considering what it is their test takers need \u2013 versus what it is they might want. During COVID, we saw a large-scale shift to remote testing. This was necessary but not without its concerns, particularly about test security.\r\n\r\nNow we are seeing organizations re-evaluating their test delivery strategies, particularly in North America where there is ample test center coverage. Some organizations are scaling-up in-person testing, and even more are adopting a multi-modal approach that provides convenience for test takers in more remote locations.\r\n\r\nWe are supporting clients to make these important decisions based on the needs of their testing program and their market. As well as providing testing organizations with the\u00a0data forensics and web crawling<\/a>\u00a0services they need to help inform their decisions.\r\n
Beyond testing \u2013 growing test taker populations<\/h3>\r\nTaking a broader view doesn\u2019t stop with the test taker experience. More and more testing organizations are paying attention to the overall health of their profession and the educational pathways of their test takers. One element of this is a greater focus on test preparation materials and supporting the learner. And even further, we are working with clients on campaigns that promote and recruit individuals to their profession.\r\n\r\nAn important example is nursing, which has seen both a reduction in graduating nurses and an increase in nurses planning to leave the profession. By 2025,\u00a0McKinsey estimates the United States may have a 10-20% gap of nurses available for direct patient care<\/a>.\r\n\r\nWe recently worked with our client, the American Board of Nursing Certification (ABNC) and the\u00a0National Certification Corporation (NCC)<\/a>\u00a0on a \u2018Certified Nurses Make a Difference\u2019 campaign. Public service announcements in specific areas of the United States generated awareness and helped promote the work and value nurses play in patient healthcare. The campaign was aired over 6,000 times with more than 7.5 million impressions in 2022.\r\n\r\nIn a similar example, the\u00a0National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC)<\/a>\u00a0teamed up with membership and education associations to promote the profession of respiratory therapists. Through videos, case studies, and social media, the NBRC are sharing the stories of therapists and patients, elevating the profession and helping to address the shortage in respiratory therapists.\r\n\r\nI have had more conversations with testing organizations in the past year than I have in the rest of my career about ways we can work together to raise the profile of their profession. With workforce shortages continuing across multiple industries, this trend is likely to continue.\r\n
Artificial Intelligence in test development<\/h3>\r\nMy colleague Isabelle Gonthier covered the topic of\u00a0emerging technologies in test development in her first blog of this series<\/a>\u00a0on testing trends for 2023. Including advances in the use of Automatic Item Generation (AIG), which is already in use.\r\n\r\nArtificial Intelligence (AI), and constituent technologies of AI such as machine learning and natural language processing (NLP), are also exciting developments when it comes to test development. While still in their early stages, these technologies are becoming more mainstream with real potential in the test development lifecycle to:\r\n
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\u00a9<\/em> Maryland Public Television<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe whole test taker experience<\/h3>\r\nWe are seeing an increased propensity for testing organizations to look at the test taker experience as a whole, rather than focusing on isolated elements. And we are working with a growing number of clients to map and scrutinize their test taker journey at every stage, with the aim of uncovering improvements or enhancements that will make the testing experience as easy and accessible as possible, for all test takers.\r\n\r\nTest taker journey mapping includes every piece of information, every click, and every scroll they take on their way to receiving a test result. We undertook journey mapping exercises with clients including\u00a0ISACA<\/a>\u00a0and the\u00a0UK Home Office<\/a>\u00a0last year. Working together, we detailed every action a test taker might take during the testing experience. A diagram was used to visualize the journey, and workshops examined every stage in detail. We are currently progressing through the resulting action log and expect to see improvements across the test taker experience, alongside increased efficiencies and smoother processes.\r\n\r\nWe have seen positive outcomes across many clients from this trend of examining the test taker experience through a broad lens. We expect to work with more clients on test taker journey mapping in the year to come, as this continues to be a critical consideration globally across all delivery modalities.\r\n
Balancing test taker needs and wants<\/h3>\r\nTesting organizations are also taking a pragmatic approach and carefully considering what it is their test takers need \u2013 versus what it is they might want. During COVID, we saw a large-scale shift to remote testing. This was necessary but not without its concerns, particularly about test security.\r\n\r\nNow we are seeing organizations re-evaluating their test delivery strategies, particularly in North America where there is ample test center coverage. Some organizations are scaling-up in-person testing, and even more are adopting a multi-modal approach that provides convenience for test takers in more remote locations.\r\n\r\nWe are supporting clients to make these important decisions based on the needs of their testing program and their market. As well as providing testing organizations with the\u00a0data forensics and web crawling<\/a>\u00a0services they need to help inform their decisions.\r\n
Beyond testing \u2013 growing test taker populations<\/h3>\r\nTaking a broader view doesn\u2019t stop with the test taker experience. More and more testing organizations are paying attention to the overall health of their profession and the educational pathways of their test takers. One element of this is a greater focus on test preparation materials and supporting the learner. And even further, we are working with clients on campaigns that promote and recruit individuals to their profession.\r\n\r\nAn important example is nursing, which has seen both a reduction in graduating nurses and an increase in nurses planning to leave the profession. By 2025,\u00a0McKinsey estimates the United States may have a 10-20% gap of nurses available for direct patient care<\/a>.\r\n\r\nWe recently worked with our client, the American Board of Nursing Certification (ABNC) and the\u00a0National Certification Corporation (NCC)<\/a>\u00a0on a \u2018Certified Nurses Make a Difference\u2019 campaign. Public service announcements in specific areas of the United States generated awareness and helped promote the work and value nurses play in patient healthcare. The campaign was aired over 6,000 times with more than 7.5 million impressions in 2022.\r\n\r\nIn a similar example, the\u00a0National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC)<\/a>\u00a0teamed up with membership and education associations to promote the profession of respiratory therapists. Through videos, case studies, and social media, the NBRC are sharing the stories of therapists and patients, elevating the profession and helping to address the shortage in respiratory therapists.\r\n\r\nI have had more conversations with testing organizations in the past year than I have in the rest of my career about ways we can work together to raise the profile of their profession. With workforce shortages continuing across multiple industries, this trend is likely to continue.\r\n
Artificial Intelligence in test development<\/h3>\r\nMy colleague Isabelle Gonthier covered the topic of\u00a0emerging technologies in test development in her first blog of this series<\/a>\u00a0on testing trends for 2023. Including advances in the use of Automatic Item Generation (AIG), which is already in use.\r\n\r\nArtificial Intelligence (AI), and constituent technologies of AI such as machine learning and natural language processing (NLP), are also exciting developments when it comes to test development. While still in their early stages, these technologies are becoming more mainstream with real potential in the test development lifecycle to:\r\n
\r\n \t
\u00a9<\/em> Maryland Public Television<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe whole test taker experience<\/h3>\r\nWe are seeing an increased propensity for testing organizations to look at the test taker experience as a whole, rather than focusing on isolated elements. And we are working with a growing number of clients to map and scrutinize their test taker journey at every stage, with the aim of uncovering improvements or enhancements that will make the testing experience as easy and accessible as possible, for all test takers.\r\n\r\nTest taker journey mapping includes every piece of information, every click, and every scroll they take on their way to receiving a test result. We undertook journey mapping exercises with clients including\u00a0ISACA<\/a>\u00a0and the\u00a0UK Home Office<\/a>\u00a0last year. Working together, we detailed every action a test taker might take during the testing experience. A diagram was used to visualize the journey, and workshops examined every stage in detail. We are currently progressing through the resulting action log and expect to see improvements across the test taker experience, alongside increased efficiencies and smoother processes.\r\n\r\nWe have seen positive outcomes across many clients from this trend of examining the test taker experience through a broad lens. We expect to work with more clients on test taker journey mapping in the year to come, as this continues to be a critical consideration globally across all delivery modalities.\r\n
Balancing test taker needs and wants<\/h3>\r\nTesting organizations are also taking a pragmatic approach and carefully considering what it is their test takers need \u2013 versus what it is they might want. During COVID, we saw a large-scale shift to remote testing. This was necessary but not without its concerns, particularly about test security.\r\n\r\nNow we are seeing organizations re-evaluating their test delivery strategies, particularly in North America where there is ample test center coverage. Some organizations are scaling-up in-person testing, and even more are adopting a multi-modal approach that provides convenience for test takers in more remote locations.\r\n\r\nWe are supporting clients to make these important decisions based on the needs of their testing program and their market. As well as providing testing organizations with the\u00a0