Return-Path: <nifl-assessment@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id i1JFVBI03371; Thu, 19 Feb 2004 10:31:11 -0500 (EST) Date: Thu, 19 Feb 2004 10:31:11 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <412DE4E762CE6C42B44061AB813824B603C83885@PRODMAIL1.prod.root> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-assessment@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-assessment@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-assessment@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: "Kroeger, Miriam" <MKroege@ade.az.gov> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-assessment@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-ASSESSMENT:344] Re: Intake/Informal Assessment Ideas X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Content-Type: text/plain; Status: O Content-Length: 5548 Lines: 120 One thing we must remember, we have the mandates of "valid and reliable"when it comes to testing, as well as "standardized". If I'm reading the directives correctly , "standardized" refers to a process, and that process must be "standardized" statewide. The question of validity and reliability pertains to the instrument, and the cost of determining the validity and reliability of an instrument can be great. Hence, we are almost forced into using instruments that don't quite fit our populations, or our curriculum guidelines, but are "valid and reliabile". Without throwing stones - is the BEST the best? - No, but it is standardized, has been determined to be "valid and reliable", its scores have been correlated to the NRS placement, and is relatively time efficient to give. As for the TABE - again it's the requirement of "standardized, validity and reliability"- nothing's perfect. We do need to examine the tools we may be placed in the position of having to use. In AZ we look at test level and scale score, have identified "out of range" scores for initial placement within the NRS system, and developed some business rules to deal with these situations. I would think that what people are looking for is a tool and/or a process that gives them the information to identify the students strengths and needs, places the students within the system, and provides meaningful information to inform instruction. Maybe I'm talking about the non-existent "magic pill". -Miriam Kroeger Arizona -----Original Message----- From: nifl-assessment@nifl.gov [mailto:nifl-assessment@nifl.gov]On Behalf Of Marie Cora Sent: Thursday, February 19, 2004 1:01 AM To: Multiple recipients of list Subject: [NIFL-ASSESSMENT:343] Re: Intake/Informal Assessment Ideas Dear everyone, It sounds as if there might be reasons to wait on formal testing (i.e.: not wanting to discourage a student), but other reasons to not wait for very long (i.e.: possibly losing some important information/data). How do programs determine their testing policy? The posts also describe an array of experiences: some appear quite informal (can the student fill out an in-take form), others quite formal (a series of tests including multiple choice/writing/reading/interview etc.). What differences are there between formal and informal testing for placement? How about for identifying initial student levels? How about combining formal and informal tests or tools? Are folks doing that? What does that look like? I'm throwing the TABE topic in here: here's a formal assessment that you need to use the locator for in order to use it correctly - but this test and the locator have some difficulties. What do you do about that? -marie cora NIFL Assessment Discussion Moderator >From: "Virginia Tardaewether" <tarv@chemeketa.edu> >Reply-To: nifl-assessment@nifl.gov >To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-assessment@literacy.nifl.gov> >Subject: [NIFL-ASSESSMENT:342] Re: Intake/Informal Assessment Ideas >Date: Mon, 16 Feb 2004 13:35:34 -0500 (EST) > >Krisy >Mcuh academic and personal growth data is the disadvantage of waiting >too long into your contact with students to complete assessements. How >will you place students or are all your sections, multilevel? Many >informal assessment tools are available such as a simple enrollment >form. >Va > >-----Original Message----- >From: nifl-assessment@nifl.gov [mailto:nifl-assessment@nifl.gov] On >Behalf Of ttweeton@comcast.net >Sent: Saturday, February 14, 2004 03:18 >To: Multiple recipients of list >Subject: [NIFL-ASSESSMENT:341] Re: Intake/Informal Assessment Ideas > > > Maria ,here is an answer from Dr.Eric Dwyere at FIU ESOL department in >Miami. > >"I'm afraid I'm not too familiar with these exams, but I know the intact > >procedures at language institutes are usually two- or three-fold--a >combination of a multiple choice test with listening and reading, a >writing sample, and then an interview. > >A number of schools are then flexible at the beginning of their terms, >if >that's their format, with placement, naming say 90 folks to go into >classes of 15, dividing them up based on their economics, their number >of teachers, number of desks, and so forth. Then the teachers are put on > >lookout to see if any of the students were poorly placed" > >Perhaps his second paragraph can be of help. >Tanya Tweeton >GED and ESOL Programs >Fort Lauderdale ,Florida > > Dear List Members, > > > > I am posting the following query from Kristy Klaus: > > > > > > I am extremely interested in possibly changing our program's intake > > procedure so that students are not given the assessment test until a > > few weeks after they have begun classes. I wanted to know what type of > > > informal reading, math, language assessments can be given to students > > when they go through the intake to judge their skill levels? > > > > Kristy A. Klaus > > Pascua Yaqui Tribe Adult Education Instructor/Coordinator 7474 S. > > Camino De Oeste Tucson, AZ 85746 > > (520) 879-5729 > > > > > > Marie Cora > > NIFL Assessment List Moderator > > > > _________________________________________________________________ > > Optimize your Internet experience to the max with the new MSN Premium > > Internet Software. >http://click.atdmt.com/AVE/go/onm00200359ave/direct/01/ > > _________________________________________________________________ Find and compare great deals on Broadband access at the MSN High-Speed Marketplace. http://click.atdmt.com/AVE/go/onm00200360ave/direct/01/
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