YOUR STUDENTS CAN BE SUCCESSFUL!

PURPOSE  The purpose of the FCAT Science Lessons Learned report on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test* (FCAT) is to provide a summary and analysis of the trends in student achievement of the Sunshine State Standards (SSS) in science. (Grades 5, 8, 11)

GOALS  To inform education stakeholders of the academic progress made by Florida students in science.  To provide guidance for educators that can be used to effect positive change and enhance program effectiveness.  Give insight to parents, students, legislators, media representatives and business organizations of the comprehensive view of student achievement.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND  In 1996, the Florida educational community identified a core body of knowledge and skills that all Florida students should acquire. This body of knowledge, called the Sunshine State Standards spanned seven content areas (language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, health, physical education, foreign language and the arts). For accountability, the development of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test* (FCAT) was established.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND  The legislation called for the A+ Plan for education that required that testing for reading and mathematics be developed. Science test items began in 2000 for grades 5, 8, and 10. Beginning in spring 2005, FCAT Science was administered in Grade 11 instead of 10 to allow for additional high-school-level science instruction.

THE GUIDING PRINCIPLE  Place emphasis on the importance of “teaching to the standards” (SSS) rather than “teaching to the test” (the FCAT).  In support, Lessons Learned is organized in reporting clusters assessed on the FCAT. Cluster 1: Physical and Chemical Sciences Cluster 2: Earth and Space Sciences Cluster 3: Life and Environmental Sciences Cluster 4: Scientific Thinking

RESULTS BY CLUSTERS  Analysis of student performance data reveals students who are successful and identifies their strengths for each cluster.  Data shows students who are unsuccessful and identify the areas of greatest difficulty in each cluster.

SCIENTIFIC THINKING Successful Student is able to:  Recognize that repetition increases the validity of an experiment and that the experimental procedures should be provided to other researchers to allow for replication.  Recognize that technological advances can benefit society. Unsuccessful Student has difficulty with:  Explaining the roles of variables and controls in experiments.  Designing an experimental procedure when given a hypothesis.  Analyzing an experiment design for validity.

SAMPLE ITEM Michael studied the effects of temperature and pressure on the expansion rate of gases. When publishing the results of the experiment for others to study, which of the following would be most important for Michael to include? A. Detail steps in the procedures used B. Cost of the material used in the study C. Acknowledgement of family members D. Name of the building where the experiments were performed

Data Analysis 83% chose A 6% chose B 6% chose C 5% chose D