Web-Based Writing/Scoring Options August 4, 2005 Mary Hall Classroom Teacher, Warwick HS Janet Dubble Technology Coordinator, IU 13

The Challenge To improve student writing proficiency and PSSA writing scores To provide more frequent opportunities for writing with immediate feedback To improve ELL students’ ability to write in English

The Power of Technology Allows for immediate scoring and instantaneous reporting to students, teachers, and administrators Provides teacher reports that point out areas of needed instruction Frees teachers from initial edit work Available anywhere, anytime with a computer and an Internet connection

The Power of Technology Provides feedback for revisions before teacher scoring (eliminates “red marks”) Allows administrators to track writing assignments in classes (volume, type) Individualized feedback in native language (Spanish, Chinese, Japanese)

One Solution: My Access! A web-based writing environment that scores student essays instantly and provides individualized feedback and instruction Provides teachers with tools to help all students improve their writing skills Identifies students most in need of direct instruction

My Access! Features Analyzes more than 300 semantic, syntactic, and discourse characteristics Provides a holistic score, as well as scores within the 5 major domains tested on the PSSA: Focus & Meaning Organization Content & Development Language Use & Style Mechanics & Conventions

One district’s experience with My Access! Warwick High School Lititz, PA “Write more, better!” Funded by Warwick Education Foundation

The Learners Writing Skills Classes Basic or below basic on PSSA Recommended by prior-year teacher ESL/ELL IEP

The Setting Class meeting 1 49-minute period per day, 5 days per week for 1 semester Averaged 2.5 days per week in computer lab with 1 MAC OSX and MS Explorer / student for monitored use of My Access! Website

Performance Results

Results of Initial Testing: Holistic and Domain Scores Timed test with no available tools

Results of Initial Testing: Errors Made

Errors Made Continued

Errors Made Total Grammar 42 Mechanics146 Style 88 Usage105 Total 381

Results of Final Testing: Holistic and Domain Scores Timed test with no available tools

Errors Made

Results of Final Testing: Errors Made Grammar 2 Mechanics16 Style10 Usage31 Total 59

Interpretation of Results 85 % decrease in grammar errors 100% increase in holistic scoring (from 0 to 6 100% increase in domains of focus and language 83% increase in domains of content, organization, and conventions

PSSA Results????? To be announced

My Access! From the Student Perspective

Student Tools

Writer’s Guide Word Bank Rubrics Check List NotePad Graphic Organizers Thesaurus/Dictionary Writer’s Model

Student Tools My Tutor Comments from teacher imbedded in essay Spelling Checker My Editor Word Count Print Essay Submit Essay

Student Demo and Reaction

Special Needs Students

Student Benefits More frequent writing opportunities Immediate scoring and feedback Access to diverse writing tools that support the writing process Higher level thinking skills

More Student Benefits 24/7 accessibility It’s fun to write! More skills More confidence

Student Comments “…my grades on English essays have improved too.” “…I would have been lost, if I had not taken this class.” “…and it is also very fun.” “Now that I have taken this class, I am well prepared to take the PSSAs and SATs.”

Teacher Tools Set up Groups Set up Assignments View, comment on, and grade student writing Create writing prompts (across the curriculum Print writing prompts Create and view reports Communicate with students and parents

Administrator Tools All of teacher tools Monitor student writing Frequency Type Scores Special groups/programs

Administrative Tools

Contacts Mary S. Hall Warwick High School Maria Tracy Vantage Learning ext