Bellingham School District 5^th Grade Technology Performance Assessment

Directions for the Assessment Coordinator (Library Media Specialist)

Part 1 - Prior to the Project:

Teams Assigned to the Project

You will receive from Library Media Services the names of fifth graders randomly selected from your building. You will place these students in 3-person teams. Students who would ordinarily be exempt from standardized testing will not be included. Check to be sure that no more than one student from the following groups is included in the assessment: Special Ed, ESL, HCL.

Inform Students

Students should know that they are going to be involved in this project 1-2 days in advance. To diffuse anxiety that might develop, emphasize that this is more of a project than a test: "You have been selected to work on a technology project." Tell students that there will, however, be some rules to work with to make the project uniform for all district 5th graders.

Train Teacher Observers

Teachers should know that they will be closely observing each team for a period of 5 minutes at a time, and three times over the course of the day. Share the rubrics that they will use for observation of Teamwork, Analysis and Persuasion, and discuss procedures for scoring and making anecdotal comments.

Project & Team Folders

Prior to the assessment, check to be sure that the "National Parks" directory is set up on P or T drive, as well as subdirectories labeled Team 1, Team 2, Team 3, and Team 4. Note: Since these are shared drives, these files should be set up only a day or two before the assessment, and should be removed for storage on a more private drive immediately after the assessment.

Files to Use

Check to be sure the following files are in each team folder:

ð National Parks Task.doc (the scenario which describes the task)

ð StudentDirections.doc (step-by-step directions)

ð Note-taking grid.doc

ð Parks Data.xls (the spreadsheet students will use to create a chart)

ð Parks.ppt

ð PresentationGuidelines.doc (for teams creating their own PowerPoint presentations instead of using the template)

Place a link to Parks Resources.htm (the list of Internet resources) on your school web page

Take time to troubleshoot prior to the actual assessment day. Check the permissions in the folders. Be sure that students will be able to open files and save their work in the folders on Drive P or T.

Make Poster

Create a schedule of the assessment day. Post it in the computer lab so that students and observers can read it easily during the project.

Print Directions

Provide each team with a print copy of

ð Student Directions

ð National Parks Task

ð Presentation Guidelines (if students will be creating their own PowerPoint presentations)

Prepare Observation Materials

Each observer needs copies of the Analysis Rubric, the Observation of Teamwork Skills, and the Persuasiveness Rubric for each team. Include extra sheets of plain paper for recording comments.

Suggestions:

· Copy rubrics sets on a different color of paper for each team, matching the colors to the nametags that students wear on their backs. Place a set of each color on a clipboard for each observer.

· Or provide each observer with a set of colored folders: one folder for each team. Inside the folder, staple the Analysis Rubric on one side and the Observation of Teamwork Skills on the other side. On the back of the folder, staple the Persuasiveness rubric.

Part 2 - Introduction:

Read the scenario to the students

Unlike standardized tests, this part is not closely scripted. Students may ask lots of questions. You should guide them through the opening of the files in their team folders and clarify directions. Hand out copies of Student Directions, National Parks Task and Presentation Guidelines.

Go over the following rules:

1. There should be no communication between teams during the project work time.

2. The administrator will help with technical questions and directions only.

3. Student performance will be measured by their team's ability to work with each other, their ability to gather information, analyze it and then present it in a way that persuades others.

4. Students should frequently save their work to their team folder, especially before each break and 5 minutes before final presentations are to begin.

Administrator log:

The test administrator should keep a log of observations throughout the assessment process.

Part 3 – Completion

Student Feedback

After the presentations, students should log on to computers and email their comments about doing this assessment to the Library Media Specialist.

Analysis of Student Performance

· After reflecting on the comments they have recorded during the assessment, observers should also email the Library Media Specialist.

· Observers will use the Persuasiveness Rubric to evaluate the oral and visual presentations of completed projects. They will meet with the Library Media Specialist to discuss the results, review the presentations and average the team scores.

5^th Grade Performance Task

Schedule

Before School: LMS and observers meet to preview materials and procedures (Observation sheets, Rubrics)

9:00 – 9:45 Assessment administrator gives introduction and guidelines to students. Students begin task.

9:45 – 10:30 Students gather information in note-taking grid, complete table, and create chart.

Note: Observers begin observations of Analysis and Teamwork Skills

10:30-10:45 Snack Break

10:45 – 12:15 Students analyze data, make their decision, create and practice. PowerPoint presentation. Observers complete observations.