1. Presented by: Keyuana Bass-Lone Star College Carita hayes-San Jacinto College Shannon Seibler-NWARCC Karen Stowe-UT Brownsville Don Pitchford- ACT Post Secondary Consultant Placement and Diagnostic Testing Directly in the High Schools? How to Get Started

2. Placement vs. Diagnostic Measures Placement scores help schools more accurately place students into courses appropriate for their skill levels. Diagnostic scores help target developmental instructions where each student needs it most. The scores can pinpoint the strengths and weaknesses of individual students in specific content areas.

3. How COMPASS Can Assist With College Readiness and Persistence High school outreach -placement testing for dual/concurrent enrollment(11-12), diagnostic testing to assist with college readiness (8-12) College assessment -reliable course placement, diagnostic testing to assist with advanced placement and retention, assist with course redesign, and to measure learning outcomes (pre/post test)

4. Goals for COMPASS Diagnostic Measures: To gather information to improve instructional plan for individual students and for course content To provide a narrowly focused, efficient means of determining each student’s skill deficiencies in math, writing and reading

5. Math Diagnostic Scores : PreAlgebra Integers Fractions Decimals Exponents, square roots, scientific notation Ratios and proportions Percentages Averages

6. Math Diagnostic Scores : Algebra Substitution Setting up Equations Basic Operations / Polynomials Factoring Polynomials Linear Equations / One Variable Exponents and Radicals Rational Expressions Linear Equations / Two Variables

7. Writing Diagnostic Scores Punctuation Spelling Capitalization Usage Verb formation / agreement Relationship of clauses Shifts in construction Organization

8. Reading Diagnostic Scores Vocabulary Reading Comprehension Reader Profile

9. Diagnostic Scores Range from 0 – 99 Based on the individual’s performance on the items completed Represents the percentage of that particular item pool the individual would be expected to answer correctly if they were to take all of the items in that item pool

10. How to use Diagnostic Scores Review profile of diagnostic scores with students, indentify both strengths and weaknesses Determine acceptable levels of achievement based on expectations of the student and difficulty level of the course Prescribe instructional intervention via your student success center

11. Message Capability Allows instructional messages for each diagnostic area Can have multiple messages per diagnostic measure Helps connect student directly to specific tutoring centers and instructional resources: PLATO, MY MATHLAB….

12. Standard Individual Score Report Student background and plans Responses to local items Where to get help on campus Test scores and testing times with customized course placement messages Diagnostic scores

13. Suggestions for Diagnostic Messages Low (0-40): Fully work through related chapter(s); use college learning center tutoring services Mid-range (41-65): Take chapter quiz and work on weak sections; use college tutoring services Upper-range (66-99): Congratulations: You need no additional work in this area

14. Models for Implementing Diagnostic Testing High School Outreach: improve overall college readiness (when,who,how) On campus Diagnostic testing: assist with retention efforts Pre test-Post test: learning outcomes measurement Test prep: help increase test scores Course redesign: assist with instructional effectiveness Combined with Placement Testing: student can retest after receiving diagnosed instruction

15. Diagnostic Testing Options Automatic and instant via routing rules (for students low or close to next level cutscores) Delayed “come back” model (embed message in placement results message) Delayed in developmental course (instructor takes students to testing labs in first days of class)

16. High School Outreach: the experts! Why test in the high schools? How to get started? Are the high schools receptive? How much will it cost me? Do the high schools share the cost? Is it hard to setup the tests in the schools? Do I have enough staff? WHO benefits?

17. 14 th Annual ACT Southwest Postsecondary Conference W Hotel April 28 – April 30, 2010 New Orleans, La