Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Have you ever wondered what goes into a Comprehensive Assessment System?

Merriam-Webster defines comprehensive as: covering completely or broadly and inclusive.  By definition, a Comprehensive Assessment System should include assessments which provide teachers with the ability to collect a wide range of student data including growth, ability estimates, and effectiveness of instruction. Using a variety of ATI’s assessment options can assist districts to meet this goal.

ATI’s Assessment System Offerings currently include:

Comprehensive Benchmark Assessment Series (CBAS)
• Comprehensive Benchmark Series with Open Response Items
• Comprehensive Benchmark Series with Multiple-Choice Items (scannable)
• Comprehensive Benchmark Series with Technology Enhanced Items

Computerized Adaptive Tests (CAT) Series

Formative Assessment Series
• Formative Assessments with Technology –Enhanced items
• Formative Assessments with Performance-Based Tasks
• Formative Assessments with Writing Prompts
• Formative Assessments with Writing Prompts with Customized Scoring Rubrics
• Formative Assessments with Multiple-Choice Items (scannable)

Early Education Assessment Series
• Early Education Assessments with Technology-Enhanced items
• Early Education Assessments with Individually Administered items

Instructional Effectiveness Series
• Comprehensive Pretests
• Comprehensive Posttests

District Curriculum-Aligned Assessments
• District Curriculum-Aligned Assessments with Technology –Enhanced items
• District Curriculum-Aligned Assessments with Performance-Based Tasks
• District Curriculum-Aligned Assessments with Writing Prompts
• District Curriculum-Aligned Assessments with Writing Prompts with Customized Scoring Rubrics
• District Curriculum-Aligned Assessments with Multiple-Choice Items (scannable)

Universal Screening Series
• Universal Screening Series with Technology-Enhanced items 
• Universal Screening Series with Multiple-Choice Items (scannable)

Placement Series

Course Examination Series
• Course Examination Series with Technology-Enhanced Items
• Course Examination Series with Multiple-Choice Items (scannable)
• Course Examination Series with Open Response Items

ATI-Built District-Created Assessments – Community Assessment and Item Banking Initiative
• ATI-Built District-Created Assessments with Technology-Enhanced Items
• ATI-Built District-Created Assessments with Open Response Items
• ATI-Built District-Created Assessments with Multiple-Choice items (printable)

References: "Comprehensive." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, 2015. Web. 21 Jan. 2015.

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Flexible Ways to Increase Your Proficiencies as a Galileo K-12 or Pre-K User

Recognizing the value of continued learning opportunities, ATI’s Professional Development Team provides multiple and flexible ways for you to extend your proficiencies as a Galileo user. 

ATI professional development options include on-site large-group professional development, web-based small-group live and recorded webinar sessions including the Learning On-Demand series, and pre-recorded video tutorials, quick reference guides, and help files accessed respectively through the Galileo Forum and the Help interface.

Make it your New Year’s resolution to become a member of the ATI Professional Development Forum. It takes just a minute to register and then you’ll have access to hundreds of Galileo resources. Simply log into Galileo, access the Forum link, and click the “Create Account” button. 

ATI’s Professional Development Forum offers numerous supporting reference guides, resources and recorded Learning On-Demand webinar sessions.

Dates for the 2015 Learning On-Demand sessions have recently been released.

Galileo K-12 sessions begin in early February and will cover a variety of topics including “Building a Test Using Galileo’s Item Banks,” “Differentiating Instruction for Groups of Students Based on the Aggregate Multi-Test Reports,” “Building a Test Using Teacher-Created Test Items,” and more. Select the topic and date that works best with your schedule. Read about the sessions and register.
 
 
For the first time, Galileo Pre-K sessions are now available. Galileo Pre-K sessions begin January 29  and will cover topics such as "Entering Ongoing Observations," "Monitoring Tools," "Outcomes Analysis Report," and more. Select the topic and date that works best with your schedule. Read about the sessions and register.

Monday, January 12, 2015

Galileo Early Childhood Assessments for Kindergarten and First Grade

The ATI Early Childhood Assessments are designed to meet the unique assessment needs of children in kindergarten and first grade. ATI currently has one-on-one offline kindergarten assessments in English language arts, math, and science. Multiple choice tests are also available in kindergarten, first, and second grade.

Galileo online benchmark assessment series in early literacy and early math are available for kindergarten and first grade. The computer-presented assessments are aligned to Common Core and local state early elementary standards. Students are assessed on items aligned to the most up-to-date standards in a friendly, early elementary environment involving sounds and images. The early math assessments contain Technology Enhanced (TE) items designed to measure early math skills (e.g. adding and shape recognition). The use of TE items allow for easy assessment and quick intervention to ensure students are progressing in the development of their mathematical knowledge and skills.


http://www.ati-online.com/testnew/MD3RedFruit5/MD3RedFruit5.html
EM-BAS assessments use technology enhanced items designed to measure students’ early math skills (e.g. adding, counting objects, shape recognition)
Contact ATI to learn more about early childhood assessments and to schedule a Galileo Overview.

Monday, January 5, 2015

Technology Exceeds Our Greatest Expectations

Common Core State Standards and student assessments including those created by consortiums (i.e., Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers [PARCC] and Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium [SBAC]) have increased the deployment of technology in schools.  You may find the technology facts below interesting.









What are some other technology changes that have occurred in your lifetime? 

Have a great 2015!

Brandon Smith, B.A., MCSE
Information Technology Director