Tell Them From Me A Canadian Enterprice CRISP inc. University of New Brunswick

Main features A web-based evaluation system for students (Grades 5-12) and Teachers. Conducting the Student Survey over the course of the school year allow results to be frequently updated, creating a System for Continuous Feedback.Student SurveySystem for Continuous Feedback The student survey provides data on 20 separate indicators in three domains or Composite Measures: Student engagement Student health and wellness School and classroom climate as well as their responses to open-ended questions. An optional Teacher SurveyTeacher Survey An optional Parent Survey

Main features Allows students, teachers and parents to participate in the evaluation of their school. An online survey whereby data are collected and stored on a secure server. Data are collected with a "double-blind" procedure. When students or teachers complete a survey neither TTFM staff nor the district and school coordinators can link individuals' responses to their names. Information pertaining to individual students and teachers is not accessible by anyone outside the school district. Schools can see how well they fare on certain indicators without being compared to particular schools. The evaluation focuses on each school's own progress, rather than on differences among schools. Comparisons are also possible with national norms for similar-type schools.

Overview Tutorial

Secure web technology The TTFM system relies on industry strength SSL technology for transmission encryption. In this process, the web browser communicates with a secure web server (https). Digital certificates encrypt data using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) technology, the industry-standard method for protecting web communications. The SSL security protocol provides data encryption, server authentication, message integrity, and client authentication for a TCP/IP connection. All reported information is based on aggregates of at least ten teachers or students, so that the responses of an individual survey participant can never be identified.

Procedure Student surveys are administered on-line requiring no input from their teachers. A random group of students completes the survey every week. Each sample is created automatically. A designated contact within the school receives the sample list by and provides students with internet access and log-in information. The system updates reports on the school´s secure site automatically as soon as all students have answered. Teacher surveys are administered on-line twice during the school year. Both surveys take about 30 minutes to complete each time.

Categorisation Principals can compare their school's progress with national norms, and to break down results by gender, socioeconomic status, grade level and other factors of interest to the school or school district. Used to evaluate for example programs aimed to bolster the self-esteem of girls, to increase school participation of boys, or raise aspirations of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds. There must be at least 25 students in a given category for the trajectory line to be displayed.

Teacher survey The school is the unit of analysis for analyzing teacher survey results. One scaling is for gauging the strength of teachers' views in an absolute sense, based on the response categories presented for each item (e.g., strongly disagree to strongly agree; very inadequate to outstanding). Another method is for comparing the school's results to the district average and the average for all participating schools.

Graphic web presentation: Student Trajectory Report The Student Trajectory Report displays a school's or district's trend (red line) for each of the indicators (or topic areas) derived from the student data, plotted against a replica school or the mean for same type schools nationally. Trend lines are based on the "running average" of completed survey responses from the preceding four weeks, and therefore are responsive to changes in school policy and practice. The reports are available online at any time to participating schools and districts.

Graphic web presentation: Student Trajectory Report Trajectory Reports enable staff to see immediately the areas where a school is improving, staying the same, or getting worse, as a school year progresses. Schools will also have regular, online access to unedited student comments, derived from their responses to the survey's open- ended questions. These, too, will be anonymous. Each of the student outcomes and schooling processes is rated on a scale that has a range from 0 to 10. The results for each school and district are updated with each submission of a new survey.

Graphic web presentation: Student Trajectory Report

Student Survey The student survey provides data on 20 separate indicators in three domains or Composite Measures: 1. Student engagement 2. Student health and wellness 3. School and classroom climate

1. Student Engagement The extent to which students identify with and value schooling outcomes, and participate in academic and non-academic activities. It embodies a disposition towards learning, working with others, and functioning in a social institution. Comprised of the following indicators: Sense of belonging at school, pertains to students’ “attachment to school, which has to do with feelings of being accepted and valued by their peers, and by others at their school” Participation in school clubs and sports, an important element of school life for many students. Students’ long-term aspirations and expectations, shaped by their perceptions of their ability, their experiences at home and at school, and the opportunities presented to them. School and class attendance, an important indicator of student engagement. The value placed on schooling outcomes, another key component of student engagement.

2. Student Health and Wellness Emotional, social, spiritual and physical health of children and youth is closely tied to their engagement in school life and their learning outcomes. Comprised of the following indicators: Self esteem, refers to how much a person likes and accepts herself or himself. In many respects, it is a measure of self respect. Time Spent on Physical Activity, measured in hours per week. Student Bullying, refers to situations when a person tries to hurt another person, and does it more than once. Bullying can be physical, verbal, or social. Depression, a mental state characterized by feelings of sadness, discouragement and inadequacy that persist for long periods, from two or three weeks to several years. Anxiety, involves feelings of fear, intense anxiety, and worry about particular events or social situations. Smoking habits.

3. Classroom and school climate The rate at which students learn new a new set of skills depends on several factors: students’ aptitude for learning skills at a particular level of difficulty, their motivation and perseverance, the level and quality of instruction, the amount of instructional time devoted to learning the new skills, and the quality of instructional resources. Comprised of the following indicators: Effective learning time, measures three important aspects of classroom teaching: the extent to which important concepts are taught and understood, the efficiency with which class time is used, and the degree to which course objectives are aligned with homework assignments and evaluation. The Disciplinary Climate of the Classroom, refers to the extent to which pupils internalize norms and values of the classroom, and conform to them. Expectations for Academic Success, refers to the extent to which school staff value academic achievement and hold high expectations for students. Teacher-Student Relations assesses students’ perceptions about how they are treated by their teachers, whether they feel supported by them. Student Advocacy is based on the premise that every child needs an advocate, someone to turn to for advice and someone who consistently provides encouragement.