Student Technology Assessments - Knowledge-Based Assessments

	Student Technology Assessments
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	CAT1 Computer Assisted Tutorial Online i-Safe Library Card Assessment Summit Public Schools-Middle School Student Technology Competencies Assessing Technology Integration

	CAT1 Computer Assisted Tutorial Online
	Organization:	Technological Fluency Institute; www.techfluency.org
	Contact:	http://www.cat1.org George Yaghmour, TFI National Sales Manager Phone: 1.866.277.5061 Email: gyaghmour@techfluency.org
	Fee:	$15 per user. Consortia purchasing available.
	Purpose:	To provide students and teachers with an online assessment and instruction program. A key benefit of this tool is that assessment is only one part of the system. Online tutorials guide users through learning modules to introduce or reinforce key skills so that users will be successful on the assessment portion.
	Description:	CAT1 is a diagnostic-prescriptive program covering the fundamental computer productivity skills necessary for success in school, business, and industry. This online computer assessment program, created by the Technological Fluency Institute, has four basic components: assessment, learning, management, and certification. Students engage in assessment experiences that are performance based and completed in a simulated computer desktop environment.
	Standards Addressed:	Connecticut Student Standards addressed: 1. Basic Operations and Concepts: Students are proficient in the use of technology. 3. Technical Productivity Tools: Students use technology tools to enhance learning, increase productivity, and promote creativity. 4. Technology Communication Tools: Students use telecommunications to collaborate and interacts with peers and other audiences. 5. Technology Research Tools: Students use technology tools to process data and report results. 6. Technology Problem Solving and Decision Making Tools: Students use technology resources for solving problems and making informed decisions. CAT1 is built around six essential standards that closely align with the ISTE standards for teachers and students. They are: Operate common technology devices Perform basic file management tasks Apply troubleshooting strategies for solving routine hardware and software problems Use software productivity tools Use technology to communicate and collaborate through e-mail, Internet, and discussion groups Use technology to locate and collect information from a variety of sources
	Skills Addressed:	Application skills are assessed in the following areas: word processing, creating a presentation, using a Web browser,, using a spreadsheet, and using e-mail. Along with the names of each assessment and the application skills used, is an indicator about the ISTE NETS ∙ S performance indicators they can help to measure.
	Format:	Users log into the assessment portal and work through a series of six assessment tasks. Each task has multiple performance measures. A brief summary of each component is listed below Assessment Self- directed assessment for six standards 24 objectives with performance measures Access to personal progress report Learning Learn in units or individual activities 100+ tutorials with step-by-step directions Technical terms link to an extensive glossary Management Access 20+ helpful reports and forms Enroll one person or an entire group Customize certain elements of the program Certification Granted upon completion of the program Include list of accomplished tasks Issued by TFI
	Reporting Level:	Application skills: word processing, spreadsheets, creating a presentation, web browser, email with attachments, file management.
	Advantages:	Performance based; not self-assessment. Actually working in PC or Mac platform environment to accomplish assigned tasks. Excellent data provided to district coordinators on individuals and groups of users.
	Disadvantages:	User must follow directions to change display resolution, or important navigational buttons may not be visible. Some users report frustration with time required to load graphics for simulated desktop.
	Comments:	Uses a simulated desktop environment, so the user is actually working on the computer performing tasks assigned under each module. District coordinators can download a graphics package so that screens load more quickly. Demo license available upon request to TFI.
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	i-Safe Library Card Assessment
	Organization:	i-Safe America
	Contact:	http://www.isafe.org/ i-Safe America, Inc. 5963 La Place CT. # 309 Carlsbad, CA. 92008 Phone: 1.760.603.7911 Fax: 1.760.603.8382 Email: education@isafe.org
	Fee:	There is no cost for the i-Safe Library Card assessment. However, districts must sign a Library Safe Card Program Implementation Plan, committing them to adopt the i-Safe America Library Safe Card Program.
	Purpose:	To promote Internet safety in upper elementary, middle, and high school students by teaching students through a self-guided tutorial and assessing their technology proficiency in using the Internet safely and ethnically.
	Description:	The i-Safe Library Card program comes on a CD-ROM, which contains files for both the Mac and the PC. In a self-guided tutorial format, students view a Shockwave Flash presentation with images and descriptions of issues related to Internet safety. After reviewing the tutorial, students take a 10 question multiple choice assessment specifically related to safe behavior on the internet. If they pass the assessment, they are awarded a Library Safe Card sticker to attach to their library card or student id. If the school doesn't issue library cards, students can be issued i-Safe Library Safe Cards. This i-Safe Library Card serves as an assurance that students understand safe and ethical behavior on the Internet.
	Standards Addressed:	The following CT Student Technology Competencies are addressed: 2. Social, Ethnical and Human Issues: Students understand the ethical, cultural, and societal issues related to technology. 4. Technology Communication Tools: Students use telecommunications to collaborate and interacts with peers and other audiences. 5. Technology Research Tools: Students use technology tools to process data and report results.
	Skills Addressed:	The i-Safe Library Card is specifically geared toward student knowledge about acceptable and unacceptable behavior on the Internet. It addresses content knowledge and skills in a multiple choice format.
	Format & Logistics:	The i-Safe Library Card CD-ROM provides a Shockwave presentation with descriptions of terms and issues related to Internet safety. It culminate with a 10 question multiple choice quiz at the end of the student tutorial. All questions are related to safe and ethical behavior on the Internet. Time Commitment Approximately 15-30 minutes. NOTE: The files on this CD-ROM can be copied onto a standalone computer or a network server and run from the computer rather than the CD-ROM. Since this material was created using federal funds, the materials are considered to be in the public domain.
	Reporting Format:	The i-Safe Library Card assessment give students instant feedback after each question. In fact, They cannot go to the next question until they have checked to see whether their answer is correct. It also give the student the opportunity to go back and review at any time during the final assessment and at the end of the assessment.
	Advantages:	Free Simple to administer Cross platform compatible (runs on Mac and PC) Self-paced tutorial format allows students to work independently. The Shockwave Flash presentations engaging and informative. Students are given immediate feedback on how well they have done Students who do not pass the assessment are given an opportunity to review the materials and take the assessment again. The CD-ROM contains a PDF version of the quiz that can be printed and administered without the need for a computer. Aligned with the Connecticut Pre-kindergarten Through Grade 12 Computer Technology Competency Standards For Students and the International Society for Technology in Education Technology Foundation Standards for All Students
	Disadvantages:	Limited scope - does not address all six CT Student Technology Competencies strands Multiple choice format with only 10 questions may not ensure that students have mastered the content Scheduling problems could occur if administering the assessment using a computer lab`
	Comments:	According to the i-Safe Web site, "The United States Congress has designated i-Safe America Inc, a non-profit Internet safety foundation, to bring Internet safety education and awareness to the youth of this country. Founded in 1998, i-Safe is a proactive prevention-oriented Internet safety awareness program." No training is necessary to participate in the i-Safe Library Card program. In order to get a copy if the CD-ROM, district need to register with the i-Safe Web site at http://www.isafe.org/. Once the registration process is complete, districts need to submit an online Implementation plan. i-Safe also offers a Training-of-Trainers. Through the i-Safe Training of Trainers, teachers receive access to curriculum materials that are appropriate for grades K-12. The i-Safe curriculum includes lessons on suck topics as: Cyber Citizenship, Personal Safety, Cyber Security, Intellectual Property, Cyber Bullying, and Predator identification. If teachers present the curriculum, students are asked to take pre and post online assessments to determine how effective the curriculum was in teaching the concepts.
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	Summit Public Schools Middle School Student Technology Competencies
	Organization:	Summit Public Schools, New Jersey
	Contact:	Catherine Hathaway, Supervisor of Technology, K-12 http://www.summit.k12.nj.us/sps/Admin/Tech/sps_tech_office.htm
	Purpose:	To provide students with a checklist to self-assess their skills in technology. Could also be used as a baseline for staff to assess student's technology skills.
	Description:	There are three checklists in the series: grade 6, grade 7, and grade 8. the web site listed above also has checklists in for Elementary and High School students. Each checklist is arranged by the National Education Technology Standards for Students and as such aligns with Connecticut's Technology Competencies for Students. Each category in the checklist has several bulleted skills and students self-assess their technology skills.
	Standards Addressed:	All strands of CT Student Technology Competencies are addressed 1. Basic Operations and Concepts: Students are proficient in the use of technology. 2. Social, Ethnical and Human Issues: Students understand the ethical, cultural, and societal issues related to technology. 3. Technical Productivity Tools: Students use technology tools to enhance learning, increase productivity, and promote creativity. 4. Technology Communication Tools: Students use telecommunications to collaborate and interacts with peers and other audiences. 5. Technology Research Tools: Students use technology tools to process data and report results. 6. Technology Problem Solving and Decision Making Tools: Students use technology resources for solving problems and making informed decisions. Please refer to Connecticut Student Technology Standards.
	Skills Addressed:	Application skills are assessed in the following areas: keyboarding, file storage, citation of sources, ethics, word processing, graphics, graphic organizers, creating a presentation, using a Web browser, using a spreadsheet, solving technical problems, and using e-mail.
	Format & Logistics:	One to two pages of skills in a checklist format. Total time to self-assess would probably be less than 10 minutes.
	Advantages:	Follows the Connecticut Student Technology Standards and is a quick assessment of students' skills.
	Disadvantages:	Student self-assessment provides a great baseline for students and teachers to know what skills need to be learned/taught. However, does it equate to "technology literacy?"
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	Assessing Technology Integration
	Organization:	Northwest Educational Technology Consortium (NETC)
	Contact:	http://www.netc.org/assessing/home/integration.php
	Fee:	Free
	Purpose:	Designed to provide a system-wide view of a school or district's use of technology for teaching and learning. Tools are to help a system look at a comprehensive view of six critical factors in the education system that influence effectiveness of learning technology.
	Description:	The online assessment is comprised of surveys for nine different school stakeholders. Once a project has been set up and participants complete survey, several types of reports or profiles are generated. Data submitted is anonymous and confidential.
	Standards Addressed:	All strands of CT Student Technology Competencies are addressed 1. Basic Operations and Concepts: Students are proficient in the use of technology. 2. Social, Ethnical and Human Issues: Students understand the ethical, cultural, and societal issues related to technology. 3. Technical Productivity Tools: Students use technology tools to enhance learning, increase productivity, and promote creativity. 4. Technology Communication Tools: Students use telecommunications to collaborate and interacts with peers and other audiences. 5. Technology Research Tools: Students use technology tools to process data and report results. 6. Technology Problem Solving and Decision Making Tools: Students use technology resources for solving problems and making informed decisions. Please refer to Connecticut Student Technology Standards.
	Skills Addressed:	None specifically
	Format & Logistics:	Each participant registers with login and password. reports are aggregated.
	Reporting Format:	The report presents the questions students answered and percentage chosen for each specific answer. It is a self-assessment and attitudinal in nature.
	Advantages:	Looks directly at application of technology skills to learning.
	Disadvantages:	Not competency based Not easy to compare with other tools as questions are unique. May be too subjective.
	Comments:	Group case studies on the Web site assists with understanding how use of the tool will help transform learning and professional development.
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A Collaborative Project from the Alliance of RESCs and CT. State Department of Education