Project Based Assessments An Alternative Pathway to Proficiency

Project Based Assessments An Alternative Pathway to Proficiency 2013 Field Test Participants’ Training

Project Based Assessment - Introduction A PBA is an alternative way for a student to demonstrate proficiency on the Keystone Exam end-of-course assessments in order to meet Pennsylvania’s graduation requirements. For the 2013 Field Test, any student currently enrolled in a Keystone course (Algebra I, Literature, or Biology) may participate. When the PBAs become operational, proposed Chapter 4 regulations provide for a student (beginning with the class of 2017) to engage in a PBA after two unsuccessful attempts to reach proficiency on a Keystone Exam; LEA must confirm participation in a satisfactory manner in supplemental instructional services consistent with the student’s educational program. Each PBA is module-specific. For the 2013 Field Test, students will be randomly assigned one of the two modules for the Keystone Exam area in which they are participating. Beginning with the class of 2017, students who do not reach proficiency on a Keystone Exam overall will be required to complete a PBA for each module that is not passed. 2

Project Based Assessment - Overview Created by PA educators with guidance from curriculum experts Based on the Assessment Anchors and Eligible Content of each Keystone course Consist of scaffolded tasks building to the creation and submission of a project based assessment Require approximately five to seven hours to complete actual assessment; time may vary based upon tutoring required Completed by students before, during, or after school in a supervised environment Logistics and locations for project completion determined by district For the 2013 Field Test, the window will open on March 15, 2013, with anticipation that projects will be submitted by May 3, 2013. PSSA accommodations apply 3

PBA Design Online Delivery Secure Site Accessible by Defined Roles Administrator Proctor Tutor Student 4

Roles in the PBA Intermediate Unit District Administrator Site Administrator Proctor Tutor Student Project Evaluator 5

Responsibilities of the District Administrator Serves as liaison with IU regional representatives Communicates PBA concept to stakeholders Oversees the implementation of the PBAs in district schools Supports environment to ensure accuracy and security Recommends educators to serve on statewide review panel 6

Responsibilities of the Site Administrator (Only when PBAs become operational) Ensures that, prior to the PBA, each student has participated in a satisfactory manner in supplemental instructional services consistent with the student’s educational program. Supports environment to ensure security Provides an overview of the PBA concept, the online portal, and the project requirements to stakeholders Identifies project needs for students (only when PBAs become operational) and assigns appropriate projects/modules For the 2013 field test, the administrator should assign students to the appropriate project but may randomly select either module. For those students completing a PBA in the same class setting, it may be most efficient to assign all students to the same module. When the PBAs become operational, the number of modules assigned to a student at any point in time should be based upon each student’s individual circumstances. Determines timeline for completion (i. e. , number of weeks students may work on PBA) For the 2013 field test, the site becomes available for students to begin working on their projects on March 15, with anticipation that projects will be submitted by May 3. Notifies student of PBA start date and previews site with students Assigns proctors and tutors to PBA students Schedules students for supervised sessions in before, during, and/or after school Routinely reviews student progress to ensure completion in a timely manner 7

Responsibilities of the Proctor Logs student onto secure portal Remains in the room to ensure security Each session may include multiple students working on various PBA modules. May be a study hall teacher, a paraprofessional, the assigned tutor, a librarian, etc. Individuals assigned to this role may vary from day to day. 8

Responsibilities of the Tutor Reviews project activities at designated checkpoints for content and quality of work to permit student to continue to the next activity. Supports environment to ensure security Provides remediation on the Eligible Content based upon student need (does NOT tutor or instruct on specific activities in PBA) May explain or clarify directions. Evaluates the project based upon evaluative criteria (Eligible Content); provides remediation on Eligible Content for project revision, as needed; and submits project for statewide review 9

Example of Tutoring Assistance Remediation in Eligible Content such as: John is working on a Literature PBA and is having difficulty identifying the main idea of the sample reading. He requests help from the tutor. The tutor can identify a resource from SAS that addresses main idea or can provide additional tutoring on identifying main idea in samples other than the PBA activity. 10

NON-EXAMPLE of Tutoring Assistance Tutors MAY NOT offer assistance with the activities themselves - only with related Eligible Content. John is working on a Literature PBA and is having difficulty identifying the main idea of the sample reading. He requests help from the tutor. The tutor works with John on the PBA activity to assist him in identifying the main idea. 11

Who is the Tutor? The tutor must be certified* in the content area being assessed: Algebra: Mid-Level Math 7 -9 if taught in 6, 7, 8, 9 th grades OR Math 7 -12 if taught in 6 -12 th OR the new Grades 4 -8 certificate with the concentration being in Math if taught in no higher grade level than 8 th. *PDE will verify appropriate certification. 12

Who is the Tutor? The tutor must be certified* in the content area being assessed: Literature: Mid-Level English 7 -9 if taught in 6, 7, 8, 9 th grades OR English 7 -12 if taught in 612 th OR Communications 7 -12 for grades 612 th Biology: Biology only *PDE will verify appropriate certification. 13

Responsibility of the Student Gains an understanding of PBA portal, project components, and expectations Requests help as needed Communicates with tutor as needed Completes PBA activities online; stops at designated checkpoints to await tutor approval; and completes final project for submission, as appropriate Completes PBA within LEA-prescribed timeline For the 2013 field test, the site becomes available for students to begin working on their projects on March 15, with anticipation that projects will be submitted by May 3. 14

Responsibility of the Evaluator Project Review Panel (Evaluators) Certified in content area; certification will be verified by PDE Participates in PBA evaluation training Evaluates PBAs online using Eligible Content as evaluative criteria Awards satisfactory/unsatisfactory evaluation and provide annotation for unsatisfactory projects 15

Project Based Assessment Overview The student training video can be located at: http: //www. pba. pdesas. org/Help It provides an overview of what students will see and do as they work on the Project Based Assessment. 16

Home Page/Log On www. pba. pdesas. org 17

PBA Design Each user’s access is username and password protected. Each user’s access is role-dependent. Note: You do not need to be logged on to view the Student Training Video on the Help tab. 18

Administrator Access

Admin: Home Page 20

Admin. : Messages Tab 21

Admin. : Student Tab 22

Admin. : Administration Tab 23

Admin. : Administration Tab 24

Admin. : Register Staff, Step 1 Example 25

Admin. : Register Staff, Step 2 26

Admin. : Register Staff, Step 3 27

Admin. : Administration Tab 28

Admin. : Staff Management 29

Admin. : Register Students 30

Admin. : Register Students, Step 1 Example 31

Admin. : Register Students, Step 2 32

Admin. : Register Students, Step 3 Select Area of Study 33

Admin. : Register Students, Step 3 Select Module and Assign Project 34

Admin. : Register Students, Step 3 Next Step (Assign Tutor) 35

Admin. : Register Students, Step 4 36

Admin. : Register Students Completed 37

Admin. : Administration Tab 38

Admin. : Student Listing (Progress) 39

Admin. : Administration Tab 40

Admin: Assign Projects & Tutors 41

Admin. : Dashboard 42

Tutor Access

Tutor: Tutor Code tab 44

Tutor: Messages Tab 45

Tutor: Student Project Page 46

Tutor: Review Student Work 47

Tutor: Comment/Approve/Alert 48

Tutor: Scoring Guide 49

Tutor: Projects Tab 50

Questions? 51

Contact Information Contacts: Project Based Assessments Jean Dyszel jmdyszel@verizon. net Project Based Assessments Rita Perez riperez@pa. gov Keystone Exams Rich Maraschiello c-marasch@pa. gov 52