New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge Science NJ ASK Coordinator Orlando Vadel Science Coordinator Stephen Goldman

NJ ASK – Science Scientific Processes Science and Society Mathematical Applications Nature and Process of Technology Characteristics of Life ChemistryPhysics Earth Science Astronomy and Space Science Environmental Studies The NJ ASK Science assesses 10 core curriculum content standards – with a focus on the Life, Physical and Earth clusters.

NJ ASK – Science Standard 1 – Scientific Processes Strand Habits of Mind Inquiry and Problem Solving Safety

NJ ASK – Science Standard 2 – Science and Society Strand Cultural Contributions Historical Perspectives

NJ ASK – Science Standard 3 – Mathematical Applications Strand Numerical Operations Geometry and Measurement Patterns and Algebra Data Analysis and Probability

NJ ASK – Science Standard 4 – Nature and Process of Technology Strand Science and Technology Nature of Technology Technological Design

NJ ASK – Science Standard 5 – Characteristics of Life Strand Matter, Energy and Organization in Living Systems Diversity and Biological Evolution Reproduction and Heredity

NJ ASK – Science Standard 6 – Chemistry Strand Structure and Properties of Matter Chemical Reactions

NJ ASK – Science Standard 7 – Physics Strand Motion of Forces Energy Transformations

NJ ASK – Science Standard 8 – Earth Science Strand Earth’s Properties and Materials Atmosphere and Water Processes that Shape the Earth How We Study the Earth

NJ ASK – Science Standard 9 – Astronomy and Space Science Strand Earth, Moon, Sun System Solar System Stars Galaxies and Universe

NJ ASK – Science Standard 10 – Environmental Studies Strand Natural Systems and Interactions Human Interactions and Impact

NJ ASK – Science Concentration by Percentage 40% Life Science – Life / Environmental 30% Physical – Chemistry / Physics 30% Earth – Geographical systems / Astronomy

NJ ASK – Science Operational in sections – M/C & OE Each section consists of 10 M/C items and 1 OE item Total number of items – 40 M/C and 4 OE Time - 1 hour

NJ ASK – Science Content Coordinator for New Jersey’s five science assessments – NJ ASK, GEPA, HSPA, SRA, and APA Coordinate meetings with teacher groups Collaborate with test contractors – ETS and Riverside (NJ ASK4), NCS Pearson (GEPA), Measurement Incorporated (HSPA)

NJ ASK – Science Made up of NJ certified science teachers, curriculum supervisors, and college professor Teacher Committees

NJ ASK – Science Item Development Review of items (M/C & OE) that have been supplied by the test contractor Questions are reviewed for age and grade appropriateness, science content errors, and grammar and punctuation correctness

NJ ASK – Science LifePhysicalEarth Standard 5.5 and 5.10 Standard 5.6 and 5.7 Standard 5.8 and 5.9 Item Development Three testing clusters

NJ ASK – Science Preparing for the NJ ASK Knowledge of the CCCS Test Specifications (on NJDOE web site) Curriculum Mapping Utilize sample science items for each cluster (i.e. M/C & OE)

NJ ASK – Science Standards/Test Specifications/Matrix Standards – reflect fundamental basis for learning science Test Specifications – an outline of specific content knowledge and application Matrix – a flow chart for designing assessment items

NJ ASK – Science Standards & Strands/Test Specifications Standard : 5.5 – pg. 181, B1 B. Diversity and Biological Evolution 1. Develop a simple classification scheme for grouping animals

NJ ASK – Science Standards & Strands/Test Specifications Test Specifications : 5.5, pg. 7, B1, 2, 3 Explains how organism can be classified – observable characteristics (i.e. size, color, shape)

NJ ASK – Science Classification Activities Grouping Things 1. stamps 2. coins 3. nails 4. buttons

NJ ASK – Science Standards & Strands/Test Specifications Standard : 5.6 – pg. 184, B1 Chemical reactions “Combine one or more materials and show that the new material may have properties different from the original material.”

NJ ASK – Science Standards & Strands/Test Specifications Test Specifications Give specific examples of different chemical reactions (Standard 5.6, p9, B1, 2, 3)

NJ ASK – Science Chemical Reaction Activities 1. Cooking an egg 2. Making a cake 3. Bubble/Bubble (baking soda) CO 2 –Vinegar –Lemon juice –Buttermilk –Orange Juice

NJ ASK – Science Item Development Matrix Non-content (knowledge & application) areas of the matrix Content (life, physical, & earth) areas of the matrix Arranged into cells

NJ ASK – Science Item Development Matrix Factual Knowledge – contain only knowledge (based on 5.2 & 5.4) embedded in content Standards 5.5 – 5.10 Application – contain skills (based on 5.1 & 5.3) embedded in content Standards 5.5 – 5.10

NJ ASK – Science Sun grass rabbit fox The direction of arrows in the food chain above illustrates the A. age of the animals B. flow of energy C. requirements for life D. diversity between organisms * NJ ASK test matrix cell A1; test specification A5; standards - knowledge statement based on A.5

NJ ASK – Science Celestial objects like stars can be seen on a clear night using A. a microscope B. binoculars C. a graduated cylinder D. a thermometer * NJ ASK test matrix cell B10; test specification D1; standards - skills statement D.1 and knowledge statement in content area D.1

NJ ASK – Science You do experiments to decide whether you have a toy duck or a real duck. Which of the following did the living duck do, that the toy duck did not do? It A. floated in water B. breathed air C. made a sound D. remained still * NJ ASK test matrix cell C1; test specification A.1 & A.6 ; standards - skill statement from A.1 and knowledge statement from A.1 Inquiry Problem-Solving Cell

NJ ASK – Science Item Specific Rubric Victor has two glasses. One glass has ice cubes and the other is filled with water. Give three ways the ice and water are different. Differences Ice cubes Water

NJ ASK – Science Mathematics Cells Data table Graphs Simple computation Drawings

NJ ASK – Science Open-Ended Questions Five minutes to answer each OE question Responses may be written, in tables, or as graphs or drawings Responses must be in English

NJ ASK – Science General Scoring Guide Hand scored on a scale of 0 – 3 3-points: Student response is reasonably complete, clear and satisfactory 2-points: Student response has minor omissions and some incorrect information

NJ ASK – Science General Scoring Guide – cont’d 1-point: Student response includes correct information, but most is incorrect or not relevant 0-points: Task attempted, but is incorrect

Designing Tests in Your Classroom Step 1 – Decide which local and state standards your activity encompasses. Step 2 – Decide which CPI are involved with the activity. Step 3 – Group the CPI’s to enable a big picture view. Target specific CPI’s involved in each standard. Step 4 – Develop questions for each CPI.

Designing Tests in Your Classroom Step 5 – Examine the test specifications. Step 6 – Combine and/or re-word the questions developed in Step 4. Decide on the use of multiple choice and/or open- ended questions. Step 7 – Examine the test specifications- especially knowledge statements related to activity and skill statements for the particular grade level. Step 8 – Combine and/or re-word the questions developed in Step 7.

Instructional Implications Review the test results when they arrive; Analyze for strengths and weaknesses; Review the state standards and be sure your district’s curriculum and classroom instruction are aligned to it; Use the Frameworks for developing instructional practices; Familiarize yourself with the scoring rubrics; and Use the scoring rubric for scoring your students’ work.

Contact Information Director of Evaluation and Assessment Brian Robinson Office #: NJ ASK Coordinator Orlando Vadel Office #: Science Coordinator Stephen Goldman Office #:

Contact Information Mathematics Coordinator Timothy Giordano Office #: Language Arts Literacy Coordinator Roseanne Harris Office #: