From the Florida Department of Education FCAT Explorer BRIEF OVERVIEW Florida Department of Education’s FCAT Explorer

From the Florida Department of Education FCAT Explorer Interactive, benchmarks- based practice programs Available at no cost to all Florida public schools Accessible from any computer connected to the Internet Students automatically enrolled Includes Educator Resources and a Parent & Family Guide FCAT Explorer

From the Florida Department of Education FCAT Explorer A student’s sign-in name and password provides access to all programs Struggling students can experience success in easier programs and work their way up Access to all programs

From the Florida Department of Education FCAT Explorer Practice Programs

From the Florida Department of Education FCAT Explorer Galactic Library: 3 rd Grade Benchmarks Reading Odyssey: 4 th Grade Benchmarks Reading Island: 6 th Grade Benchmarks Reading Boardwalk: 8 th Grade Benchmarks Reading Timeline: 10 th Grade Benchmarks Math Station: 5 th Grade Benchmarks Math Navigator: 8 th Grade Benchmarks Math Timeline: 10 th Grade Benchmarks MATH PROGRAMSREADING PROGRAMSSCIENCE PROGRAMS Science Station: 5 th Grade Benchmarks Science Voyager: 8 th Grade Benchmarks Science Mission: 11 th Grade Benchmarks

From the Florida Department of Education FCAT Explorer Reading Boardwalk: 8 th Grade Benchmarks Reading, Math, and Science Practice Developed with strict adherence to the Sunshine State Standards and DOE’s Test Item & Performance Task Specifications Practice items provide explicit reinforcement of the FCAT-tested benchmarks

From the Florida Department of Education FCAT Explorer Designed with the help of teachers and testing specialists Graphics explicitly illustrate science and math concepts or reading content Reading and math practice is set in the context of other subject areas from the Sunshine State Standards Math Navigator: 8 th Grade Benchmarks Reading, Math, and Science Practice

From the Florida Department of Education FCAT Explorer Science Practice Reviewed by teachers for difficulty level, age- appropriate content, and student interest Science Station: 5 th Grade Benchmarks Struggling students are directed to remedial lessons to explore more difficult science concepts.

From the Florida Department of Education FCAT Explorer FCAT Explorer Science Programs Science Station: 5 th Grade Benchmarks Vocabulary exercises reinforce important science concepts 15 remedial lessons on annually assessed benchmarks Annually assessed benchmarks include context dependent items 215 multiple-choice, short-, extended-, and open-response items

From the Florida Department of Education FCAT Explorer Science Station: 5 th Grade Benchmarks From the Florida Department of Education Program Overview

From the Florida Department of Education FCAT Explorer FCAT-like practice on all FCAT-tested strands and benchmarks Reinforces important science concepts Available at no cost to all Florida public schools Accessible from any computer connected to the Internet Interactive practice program Science Station: 5 th Grade Benchmarks

From the Florida Department of Education FCAT Explorer Fidelity with the Official FCAT Strict adherence to the Sunshine State Standards and DOE’s Test Item and Performance Task Specifications Rigorous item development process Items drafted by science teachers and professional item writers Items reviewed by instructional designers, testing specialists, and professional editors SR item in Strand G: Life and Environment Science Station: 5 th Grade Benchmarks

From the Florida Department of Education FCAT Explorer FCAT-like Practice FCAT-like practice on all tested strands and benchmarks A: Nature of Matter B: Energy C: Force and Motion D: Processes that Shape the Earth E: Earth and Space F: Processes of Life G: How Living Things Interact with Their Environment H: Scientific Thinking MC item in Strand G: Life and Environmental 215 FCAT-like practice items 125 Multiple Choice (MC) 45 Context Dependent (CD) 24 Short Response (SR) 6 Extended Response (ER) 15 Open Response (OR) Science Station: 5 th Grade Benchmarks

From the Florida Department of Education FCAT Explorer FCAT-like Practice Same style, format, scope and cognitive level as FCAT Reviewed by teachers for interest and difficulty Number of items per benchmark based on teacher recommendation Difficulty of benchmark Difficulty for struggling students ER item in Strand H: Scientific Thinking Science Station: 5 th Grade Benchmarks

From the Florida Department of Education FCAT Explorer Instructional Support Science Station: 5 th Grade Benchmarks

From the Florida Department of Education FCAT Explorer 1 ST ATTEMPT CORRECT Learning Guidance Congratulations! Correct Answer Explanation (CAE) Confirms the elements that make an answer correct Reinforces effective skill application Science Station: 5 th Grade Benchmarks

From the Florida Department of Education FCAT Explorer 1 ST ATTEMPT INCORRECT Learning Guidance Includes hints to clarify the question without giving away the answer Immediate second chance to apply the skill correctly Click on Glossary Terms for definitions of more difficult science concepts. Science Station: 5 th Grade Benchmarks

From the Florida Department of Education FCAT Explorer 2 nd ATTEMPT For CORRECT answer, CAE confirms and reinforces accurate skill application For INCORRECT answer, the CAE: Learning Guidance Identifies correct answer Explains why the answer the student chose was incorrect Science Station: 5 th Grade Benchmarks

From the Florida Department of Education FCAT Explorer Practice Items Science Station: 5 th Grade Benchmarks

From the Florida Department of Education FCAT Explorer FCAT-like Practice Items Same formatting details as on the FCAT Same notation conventions as on the FCAT MULTIPLE CHOICE (MC) MC in Strand G: Life and Environmental Science Station: 5 th Grade Benchmarks

From the Florida Department of Education FCAT Explorer Science Station: 5 th Grade Benchmarks FCAT-like Practice Items CONTEXT DEPENDENT MULTIPLE CHOICE (CD) Students read a short passage Answer three multiple choice items based on passage content Students can review passage at any time CD in Strand G: Life and Environmental

From the Florida Department of Education FCAT Explorer Students are presented with two sample student responses and are asked to select the high scoring answer Reinforces writing skills by comparing two sample answers. SHORT-RESPONSE (SR) SR in Strand E: Earth and Space FCAT-like Practice Items Science Station: 5 th Grade Benchmarks

From the Florida Department of Education FCAT Explorer Student reads a response and assigns it a high or partial score. Simulation strategies recommended by teachers EXTENDED-RESPONSE (ER) FCAT-like Practice Items Science Station: 5 th Grade Benchmarks Based on classroom instructional practices Requires student to compare or assess critical attributes ER in Strand E: Earth and Space

From the Florida Department of Education FCAT Explorer FCAT-like Practice Items OPEN-RESPONSE (OR) Science Station: 5 th Grade Benchmarks Students compose original answers Read high-score sample response Read explanation of attributes that earn sample response a high score Compare student’s original composition to high-score sample response OR in Strand A: Nature of Matter

From the Florida Department of Education FCAT Explorer Special Features Science Station: 5 th Grade Benchmarks

From the Florida Department of Education FCAT Explorer Science Station: 5 th Grade Benchmarks Linked (blue) words in first incorrect response Click speaker icon to hear word pronounced Definition Spanish and Haitian Creole translations GLOSSARY Special Learning Features

From the Florida Department of Education FCAT Explorer READ/INQUIRE/EXPLAIN (RIE) ICON Available on SR, ER, and OR items Students click on the RIE icon to view rubric Rubric helps students to identify elements included in high scoring answers Science Station: 5 th Grade Benchmarks Special Learning Features

From the Florida Department of Education FCAT Explorer Special Learning Features Links directly to items answered incorrectly Helps students focus on skill improvement Displays corresponding strand CHALLENGE LIST Science Station: 5 th Grade Benchmarks

From the Florida Department of Education FCAT Explorer Science Station: 5 th Grade Benchmarks Animated Vocabulary Games Special Learning Features Play one of four vocabulary games upon completing a group of benchmarks Includes repetition of question for incorrect responses

From the Florida Department of Education FCAT Explorer Educators’ Tools Science Station: 5 th Grade Benchmarks

From the Florida Department of Education FCAT Explorer Educators’ Tools Classroom Teacher’s Desk District Administrator’s Desk School Administrator’s Desk Curriculum resources Table of Strands and Benchmarks Item Review Letter to Parents Information management tools Sign-in names and passwords Progress Reports Messages to students Science Station: 5 th Grade Benchmarks

From the Florida Department of Education FCAT Explorer Check progress on individuals or classes View science data by Benchmark or Strand Compare percentage correct before and after instructional support Student Performance Reports AT THE CLASSROOM TEACHER’S DESK Science Station: 5 th Grade Benchmarks

From the Florida Department of Education FCAT Explorer The Parent & Family Guide Accessible from the home page without a password Available in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole Helps parents, guardians, and mentors understand the Sunshine State Standards and the FCAT Science Station: 5 th Grade Benchmarks

From the Florida Department of Education FCAT Explorer Linked from the home page Download this PowerPoint presentation Download the School Administrator’s Desk Manual Download the Teacher’s Desk Manual Program-specific presentations Download other presentations Visit the Educator Resources Page Science Station: 5 th Grade Benchmarks

From the Florida Department of Education FCAT Explorer Toll-Free Help Desk Accessible from the home page without a password FCAT Weekdays from 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Science Station: 5 th Grade Benchmarks

From the Florida Department of Education FCAT Explorer To get sign-in names and passwords School Principals: Contact your District Office and speak to the FCAT Explorer District Administrator Teachers: Contact your FCAT Explorer School Administrator FCAT Explorer Home Page ( Science Station: 5 th Grade Benchmarks

From the Florida Department of Education FCAT Explorer Log on to FCAT Explorer! Science Station: 5 th Grade Benchmarks