New Galileo Item Types

Galileo® K-12 Online item banks currently contain over 110,000 items in math, reading, science, and writing aligned to Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and Next Generation Science Standards* (NGSS) as well as to state standards used to transition to CCSS. Item types include traditional selected-response, constructed-response, and technology-enhanced items supporting transition to CCSS and NGSS and reflecting released plans for Partnership for Assessment of Readiness of College and Careers (PARCC) and Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) assessments.

CCSS and NGSS differ from earlier state standards in a variety of ways that directly affect the development of items and assessments reflecting the new standards. First, the new standards promote the integration of assessment and instruction. Second, the new standards emphasize the development of higher order thinking skills reflecting high Depth of Knowledge (DOK) levels. Third, the new standards replace the heavy reliance on selected-response items characteristic of earlier assessments with a more balanced approach involving selected-response items, technology-enhanced items, and constructed-response items. Finally, the new standards have introduced changes in the assessment process (e.g., the introduction of computerized adaptive tests as the format for SBAC assessments).

ATI has implemented a plan to respond to these new requirements including the following elements: 1) developing online Instructional Dialogs supporting the integration of assessment and instruction, 2) developing new content in the form of selected-response, constructed-response, and technology-enhanced items assessing the higher order thinking skills emphasized in the new standards, 3) introducing a multi-stage Computerized Adaptive Testing option, and 4) designing professional development offerings to assist districts/charter schools to make the transition to CCSS and NGSS.

These innovations will assist districts and charter schools in transitioning instruction and assessment to align with the new standards. These innovations will also ultimately assist districts and charter schools in elevating student achievement by providing students with the opportunity to master the content addressed in the new standards as well as to practice the online test-taking skills required for success in the next generation of statewide assessments created by PARCC and SBAC.

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*Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) is a registered trademark of Achieve. Neither Achieve nor the lead states and partners that developed the NGSS was involved in the production of, and does not endorse, this product.