Demystifying the Michigan Merit Exam October 9, 2006

Agenda Welcome Purpose ACT and Michigan Developed Overview WorkKeys Overview Sample Items/Processing Debrief Q & A Next Steps Evaluation

Purpose Provide a clear understanding of the components of the new Michigan Merit Exam Provide an opportunity to read and discuss sample assessments Provide an opportunity to discuss implications of the MME on classroom assessment and instructional practices Share quality resources

Michigan Merit Exam Test All Grade 11 Spring 2007 ACT plus ACT Writing WorkKeys and Michigan Math Michigan Science and Michigan Social Studies

Test Subject Session Components Contributing to MME Score ELAReadingWritingMathScience Social Studies ACT plus ACT Writing English XX Math X Reading XX Science XX Writing XX WorkKeys Reading For Information XX Applied Math X Michigan Math X Michigan Science X Social Studies XXX

MME – ELA Score Components Reading  ACT Reading  WorkKeys Reading for Information Items Writing  ACT English  ACT Writing  Michigan Developed Social Studies

ELA – Reading Measures students’ reading comprehension  Referring to what is explicitly stated Main idea Significant details Relationships  Reasoning to determine implicit meanings and draw conclusions, comparisons and generalizations Infer main ideas or purposes Demonstrate understanding of the text Determine word meanings

ELA – ACT Reading (40 MC items) Content Area Number of Items Prose Fiction10 Humanities10 Social Studies10 Natural Sciences10

ELA –ACT English (75 MC items) Content/Skills Number of Items Usage/Mechanics40 Punctuation(10) Grammar and Usage Sentence Structure (12) (18) Rhetorical Skills35 Strategy(12) Organization(11) Style(12)

ELA –ACT Writing 30-minute essay test  A prompt that defines an issue and describes two points of view on that issue Essays are evaluated based on the student’s ability to:  Express judgments by taking a position  Maintain a focus on the topic throughout the essay  Develop a position by using logical reasoning and supporting ideas  Organize ideas in a logical way  Use language clearly and effectively

ELA Components (cont.) Michigan Developed Items  Social Studies – Prompt Persuasive Writing Scoring Guide (6 point rubric)  Quality of the writing

MME Mathematics Score Components ACT Mathematics WorkKeys Applied Mathematics Selected ACT Science Items Michigan Developed Items

ACT – Mathematics Requires knowledge of basic formulas and computation skills. Requires students to use reasoning skills to solve practical problems in mathematics. Tests students’ abilities to transfer quantitative reasoning and problem solving skills from one context to another.

ACT – Mathematics Knowledge and skills: solve problems that are presented in purely mathematical terms. Direct application: solve straightforward problems set in real-world situations. Understanding concepts: reasoning from a concept to reach an inference or a conclusion. Integrating conceptual understanding: achieve an integrated understanding of two or more major concepts to solve non-routine problems.

ACT – Mathematics (60 MC items) Content Area Number of Items Pre-Algebra14 Elementary Algebra10 Intermediate Algebra9 Coordinate Geometry9 Plane Geometry14 Trigonometry4

Math Components (cont.) Selected ACT Science Items (MC) Michigan Developed Math Items (13 MC)  Currently based on MCF  Starting in the Spring 2008 based on HSCE

MME Science Score Components ACT Science  40 MC items Michigan Developed Science Items  52 MC items  Currently based on MCF  Starting in Spring 2008 based on HSCE

ACT – Science Measures skills in these areas:  Interpretation  Analysis  Evaluation  Reasoning  Problem Solving

ACT – Science Scientific information in three formats:  Data Representation  Research Summaries  Conflicting Viewpoints Test items require students to:  Examine the relationships between the information provided and the conclusions drawn or hypotheses developed  Generalize from information provided to gain new information, draw conclusions or make predictions

ACT – Science (40 MC items) Number of Items Content AreaFormat BiologyData Representation 15 Chemistry Earth/Space Sciences Research Summaries 18 PhysicsConflicting Viewpoints 7

Science Components (cont.) Michigan Developed Items  52 MC Items  Currently based on MCF  Starting in Spring 2008 based on HSCE

MME Social Studies Score Components Michigan Developed Social Studies  57 MC items  2 Prompts, social studies content rubric (5 pts)  Currently based on MCF  Starting in Spring 2008 based on HSCE

HST … MME What’s new…  Reading – ACT & WorkKeys  Writing – ACT & Social Studies prompt  Math – ACT & WorkKeys  Science – ACT  Items Counted in two Content Areas Social Studies prompt (SS & ELA) Selected ACT Science Items (Math & Science)  Less writing/fewer constructed response items What’s the Same…  Math – Michigan developed items  Science – Michigan developed Items  Social Studies Test

Things to Keep in Mind – MME For students…  Timed test  ACT college-reportable score  Obtain information about skills needed for a job, technical training or college success

WorkKeys ® Information WorkKeys Applied Mathematics  MC – 33 Items – 45 Minutes WorkKeys Reading for Information  MC – 33 Items – 45 Minutes

WorkKeys Information What is WorkKeys?  WorkKeys is a job skills assessment system measuring “real world” skills that employers believe are critical to job success.  WorkKeys predicts career/workplace success  WorkKeys connects learning to career success. Educators and workforce developers use it to translate a vague statement like "we need more math" into a precise set of teachable skills really used in a workplace.

Job or Occupational Profiles identify the skills required for a job or program. This sets the “Bar.” Establishing Skill Criterion

Assessments show how an applicant, employee or student performed. This establishes a skill profile of the individual. Profiling Individual’s Skills

Gap analysis shows how the person performed relative to the “bar.” Training is available to close any gap. Skill Gap Analysis

WorkKeys Information Applied Mathematics  AM is the skill people use when they use mathematical reasoning and problem-solving techniques to solve work-related problems.  Employees may use calculators and conversion tables to help with the problems, but they still need to use math skills to think them through.

Comparison ACT – WorkKeys - HSCE

WorkKeys Information Reading for Information  RFI is the skill people use when they read and use written texts in order to do a job. The written texts include memos, letters, directions, notices bulletins, policies and regulations.  It is often the case that these workplace communications are not well written or targeted to the appropriate audience.

Comparison ACT – WorkKeys - HSCE

Take the Tests … ACT & WorkKeys

Debrief As I went through the ACT/WorkKeys subtests, what surprised me was… As I took this test from a student’s perspective, the strategies I used were… Now that I have “taken” the ACT/WorkKeys, these are some of the implications I see for instruction in my classroom… Now that I have “taken” the ACT/WorkKeys, these are some of the implications I see for assessment in my classroom…

Questions & Answers

Evaluation

Contact Information Denise Brady, Shiawassee RESD  or 989/ Theron Blakeslee, Ingham ISD  or 517/ Nancy Fahner, Ingham ISD  or 517/ Cindy Leyrer, Ingham ISD  or 517/ Sue Stephens, Shiawassee RESD  or 989/ Kelly Trout, Ingham ISD  or 517/