1. WAMSE Society and Environment 7 and 9 Western Australian Monitoring Standards in Education (WAMSE) SOCIETY AND ENVIRONMENT Years 7 and 9

2. WAMSE Society and Environment 7 and 9 The WAMSE assessment program: measures the performance of students in aspects of Science and Society and Environment complements information from the National Assessment Program - Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN).

3. WAMSE Society and Environment 7 and 9 Presentation outline The benefits of the assessment What is assessed? Sample questions Problem areas Reporting Educational Measurement website WAMSE Marking Important Dates for 2012 Power point outline

4. WAMSE Society and Environment 7 and 9 Benefits of WAMSE Benefits of the WAMSE assessment Performance of each student can be: compared to that of other students in the state monitored over time. Results: provide teachers with additional information to identify students who require extension or support assist schools in identifying strengths and weaknesses in teaching and learning programs added to NAPLAN results give a holistic view of student achievements.

5. WAMSE Society and Environment 7 and 9 What is assessed Year 5Year 7Year 9 Phase of learning Middle childhood Early adolescence Attribute Place and Space20% Resources20% Culture20% Time, Continuity and Change20% Natural and Social Systems20% ICP within context of conceptual outcomes 70% Multiple-choice/open-response ratio70%/30%60%/40%50%/50%

6. WAMSE Society and Environment 7 and 9 The assessment consists of two independent parts: Part A assesses student achievement in all outcomes with students using a magazine as the stimulus. Part B assesses student achievement in all outcomes with students using a magazine and DVD as the stimulus. The same magazine is used for both parts of the assessment. Schools are provided with one DVD per class. Assessment design

7. WAMSE Society and Environment 7 and 9 About the assessments WAMSE tests:  assess the full range of student abilities  cover concepts, skills and understandings indicative of the phase of learning for each year group.  do not require prior knowledge or experience  rely on research and understanding of the stimulus material provided. This ensures that no group of students is unfairly advantaged over another.  questions are chosen from a variety of contexts that reflect the diversity of Western Australia  influenced by the case studies included in the Australian Curriculum: History.

8. WAMSE Society and Environment 7 and 9 The following examples show the style of the most common types of questions that students will encounter in the tests. Multiple-choice questions Each question will have only one answer. Only the bubble next to the correct answer should be shaded. Sample questions

9. WAMSE Society and Environment 7 and 9 For many questions:  students will need to write one to three sentences to explain their answers fully.  the number of lines provided gives an idea of the amount of detail expected. Students should be encouraged to :  write comprehensive answers. These types of questions allow markers to measure students’ understandings.  pay particular attention to any words in bold. Open-Response

10. WAMSE Society and Environment 7 and 9 Each question has multiple correct answers. These questions allow: students to demonstrate their understanding for their choice of answer that will be marked, not the choice. markers to award marks for partial demonstration of the skills/ understandings. Students should attempt questions even if they do not feel they can fully answer the question. Combined multiple-choice and open-response questions

11. WAMSE Society and Environment 7 and 9 Speech Bubble For these questions: students are required to place a response in the speech bubble. the number of lines in the speech bubble is an indication of the length of the expected response not the number of responses.

12. WAMSE Society and Environment 7 and 9 Insights into 2011 Year 7 identifying and justifying a research method selecting relevant and accurate information and discarding irrelevant information justifying an opinion using evidence developing an informed opinion and communicating it to a particular audience understanding that culture influences people’s values and actions understanding that historical sources reflect the perspective/attitude of their creator understanding why laws change over time For Society and Environment, the 2011 data showed that Year 7 students at or below the WAMSE standard may have had difficulty with the following skills:

13. WAMSE Society and Environment 7 and 9 Insights into 2011 Year 9 justifying an opinion using evidence providing a valid reason for selecting a specific research question understanding the connection between people’s values and actions recognising that the government makes decisions in order to be efficient and enterprising in resource use interpreting and analysing information presented in a map understanding the need for using multiple sources when researching to get different perspectives on the topic understanding that representations of historical figures and that opinions of people, events and ideas can change over time understanding the difference between economic and environmental concepts For Society and Environment, the 2011 data showed that Year 9 students at or below the WAMSE standard may have had difficulty with the following skills:

14. WAMSE Society and Environment 7 and 9 Reporting The WAMSE results will be available in mid-November. Schools receive electronic copies of their results using the Educational Assessment Reporting System (EARS). SectorDistribution of EARS PublicDownload from the Department’s Schools Online website. Catholic Independent (AISWA) See your sector for further details.

15. WAMSE Society and Environment 7 and 9 Reporting (cont.)

16. WAMSE Society and Environment 7 and 9 Reporting (cont.) Results are provided at the Year group level class group level, there is the ability to create other groups. From EARS teachers can: list students (vertically down the page) and their individual scores on questions (horizontally across the page) list the questions and their class/school and state mean (vertically down the page) list the questions from most difficult to least difficult, with a description of the skills and understandings underlying each question identify questions where the class/school performance were significantly different from the state performance use the ‘Individual Profile’ to examine each student’s strengths and weaknesses.

17. WAMSE Society and Environment 7 and 9 Reporting (cont.) Individual reports Schools receive individual reports for distribution to parents/caregivers. Student’s performance is reported in Science and Society and Environment. Information includes the student’s achievements in relation to the State mean and the range of performance of all students in the year level assessed.

18. WAMSE Society and Environment 7 and 9 Resources on Website Educational Measurement website det.wa.edu.au/educationalmeasurement WAMSE resources: Information for teachers 2012 Sample test papers with answers 2011 test papers and marking guides WAMSE marker expression of interest 2012 WAMSE contact details: Phone:08 9264 4514 Fax:08 9264 4045 Email:wamse@det.wa.edu.au

19. WAMSE Society and Environment 7 and 9 Marking the assessments Approximately 60,000 assessments from each learning area are scanned and marked on screen. Markers work in groups of six including a team leader. Strict reliability and comparability measures are adopted and monitored by the team leader. Markers may choose to attend either a day or evening session: Day - 8.30am to 3.00pm Evening - 4.00pm to 9.00pm. Primary and secondary teachers are encouraged to apply. Teachers who are currently employed at a school will need to obtain the principal's endorsement to participate in the marking.

20. WAMSE Society and Environment 7 and 9 Marking the assessments (cont.) The 2012 marking of the WAMSE assessment tasks is scheduled for 25 August to 7 September 2012. Participation in the marking is recognised by the Professional Learning Institute as system-endorsed professional development that contributes to attainment of Senior Teacher status. Marking satisfies professional learning requirements for WACOT membership renewal. The last date of submission of the WAMSE marker expression of interest form (downloaded from Educational Measurement website) is Friday 22 June 2012. Interested markers should access the WAMSE website for more information.WAMSE website

21. WAMSE Society and Environment 7 and 9 Important dates 2012 May Information about WAMSE marking published online and in School Matters. 22 June Last date for submission of Markers expressions of interest. 1 AugustAll test materials delivered to principals by registered mail. 6 - 10 August Test week 13 - 14 AugustReturn test materials 25 Aug. - 7 Sept. Marking of WAMSE tests. NovemberEARS and WAMSE student reports distributed to schools.