1. Future Ready Schools 1 S 2 + Student Success Utilizing Student Surveys Equals Student Success Iris Garner, Education Consultant, Testing Policy and Operation Fay Gore, Social Studies Consultant Curriculum and School Reform Services Brian Swiger, Educational Consultant NCSU/TOPS

2. Future Ready Schools 2 History Survey Purpose Survey Design Question Dimensions Teaching Strategies Future Demonstration Presentation Overview

3. Future Ready Schools 3 History Been in existence for more than a decade Joint effort between Curriculum, Test Development, and Testing, Policy, and Operations Greenbook used to distribute results Recently revised survey questions to include more up-to-date information

4. Future Ready Schools 4 The North Carolina Student Survey (NCSS) is a high-quality, structured, personal interview survey of North Carolina’s students conducted by NC testing program. What is the student survey?

5. Future Ready Schools 5 NCSS Purpose To generate systematic data on the North Carolina student body To provide date to education that would assist them make informed discussions about instruction.

6. Future Ready Schools 6 NCSS Design Each NCSS has a series of questions on a special topic and a set of background, behavioral, and attitudinal items that are asked in successive surveys.

7. Future Ready Schools 7 NCSS Dimensions The questions on the NCSS include the following dimensions: 1.Extracurricular Participation 2.Instructional Participation 3.Educational Practices 4.Learning Styles 5.Demographic Information 6.Technology Usage

8. Future Ready Schools 8 Question Dimensions Learning Styles: questions provide educators with blueprints of students’ learning behaviors. This dimension will allow teachers to develop lessons that are fashioned to meet the cognitive demands of the students. Demographical Information: questions provide educators with students’ demographic trends such as education. This dimension allows educators to better understand the student population and their family units.

9. Future Ready Schools 9 Question Dimensions Extracurricular Participation: questions provide information to educators on students’ personal interests and goals. This dimension will allow teachers to craft instructional strategies that capture and maintain students’ attention. Instructional Participation: questions provide educators with a bank of typical instructional strategies customarily implemented. This dimension will allow teachers to develop multi-dimensional instructional activities that cater to diverse learning styles.

10. Future Ready Schools 10 Question Dimensions Technology Usage: questions provide educators with knowledge that certifies the students’ degree of technology awareness and availability. This dimension will allow teachers to promote and improve a key component of 21st century skills. Additionally, this dimension will inform the Information Technology staff on technical requirements and technology-based needs.

11. Future Ready Schools 11 Teacher Efficacy Curriculum Development & Alignment Aligned & Balanced Assessment Practices Aligned Instructional Strategies Professional Development

12. Future Ready Schools 12 Curriculum Development My school and/or district has a written curriculum for U.S. History and Civics & Economics. A. Yes B. No C. I don’t know

13. Future Ready Schools 13 Curriculum Development My school/district’s curriculum is aligned to the NC Standard Course of Study. A. Yes B. No C. I don’t know

14. Future Ready Schools 14 Curriculum Development My school/district’s curriculum is vertically aligned. A. Yes B. No C. I don’t know

15. Future Ready Schools 15 Assessment Practices My school/district has a balanced assessment system that includes both formative/summative assessments. A. Yes B. No C. I don’t know

16. Future Ready Schools 16 Assessment Practices My school/district assessments are aligned to the written curriculum. A. Yes B. No C. I don’t know

17. Future Ready Schools 17 Effective Teaching Strategies Makes work meaningful to students – authenticity Engages students’ intellect Incorporates use 21 st Century skills Reflects content-specific methods of instruction

18. Future Ready Schools 18 Effective Teaching Strategies Integrating Technology – computers, web 2.0 Reading – various texts: primary resources, news magazines and journals, daily/weekly newspapers, fiction, drama, poetry Independent research, portfolios, collaborative group projects, educational field trips/travel, community service activities, social studies organizations

19. Future Ready Schools 19 Instructional Strategies My school/district uses instructional strategies that involve current trends in effective instruction for Social Studies. A.Always B.Sometimes C.Hardly ever D.I don’t know

20. Future Ready Schools 20 Professional Development Discipline-specific –Knowledge –Understanding Pedagogical –Teaching in general –Content-specific Sustainability – Follow-up –On-going evaluation

21. Future Ready Schools 21 Roles and Responsibilities Test coordinators contribute to student success by: A.Facilitating test administrations B.Training personnel for test administration C.Creating an awareness of related resources D.All of the above

22. Future Ready Schools 22 Roles and Responsibilities Who is the key player in fostering student success? A.Testing Policy and Operations B.Test Development C. Curriculum and Instruction D.All of the above

23. Future Ready Schools 23 Future New Web Page Web Page Components: 1.General purpose 2.Types of questions asked 3.Overview of the findings 4.Standards course of study 5.Teaching strategies

24. Future Ready Schools 24 Demonstration Interactive PDF now online Springboard for ideas Feedback encouraged

25. Future Ready Schools 25 Surprise !

26. Future Ready Schools 26 Thank You We appreciate your attendance and continued support of the North Carolina Testing Program.