1. A grant funded by the USDOE and awarded by the FLDOE Mathematics and Science Partnership Initiative. Presentation developed by Florida PROMiSE Partnership to Rejuvenate and Optimize Mathematics and Science Education

4. The original Sunshine State Standards were developed in 1996. The current FCAT is based on these standards. Next Generation Sunshine State Standards were developed in 2007. The FCAT will be based on these new standards in 2010.

5. The Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test ® (FCAT) is:  Part of Florida’s overall plan to increase student achievement by implementing higher standards.  Administered to students in all grades 3-11. Science (grades 5,8, & 11)  Criterion-referenced tests (CRT), measuring selected benchmarks in Mathematics, Reading, and Writing from the Sunshine State Standards (SSS).

6. Allowed Resources  Four-function Calculators (Grade 7 and higher for both mathematics and science)  Reference Sheet of appropriate formulas and conversions (Grades 6–10). Note: Dictionaries and other reference materials are not allowed on any test at any grade level.

7. The “Fair Game” Principle means that whatever was taught in a previous grade is “fair game” for assessment in later years.

8. FCAT is designed to measure the eight strands of the Sunshine State Standards (1996) for science. The eight science strands found in the Standards are grouped into four reporting clusters: (1) Physical and Chemical Sciences; (2) Earth and Space Sciences; (3) Life and Environmental Sciences; (4) Scientific Thinking.

9. FCAT contains the following types of items:  Multiple choice questions  Gridded-response questions  Performance items (short and extended responses) Note: In 2011, FCAT will measure the standards in the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards

10. Multiple choice questions enable students to demonstrate science achievement by selecting a response from correct and incorrect options. Example: Natural diamonds are formed when carbon (C) atoms are forced into a crystal structure under conditions of high temperature and pressure. Nitrogen (N) atoms are sometimes trapped in the carbon crystal spaces. Which property of nitrogen atoms makes it possible for nitrogen to occupy spaces in the crystal structure? A) Nitrogen atoms are colorless. B) Nitrogen is plentiful in Earth’s crust. C) Nitrogen is a gas at room temperature. D) Nitrogen atoms are similar in shape and size to carbon atoms.

11. Enable students to demonstrate science achievement by writing and gridding a correct answer.

13. 13 Gridded Response Items

14. 14 34% of 8 th grade students gridded the correct response.

15. Performance tasks enable students to demonstrate through their own words and work their understanding of the science embodied in the task. The FCAT has two types of performance items: Short Response and Extended Response

16.  These questions enable students to show their work.  A complete and correct answer to each of these questions is worth 2 points. A partially correct answer is worth 1 point.  Items are designed to take about 5 minutes.

18. 18 Short Response Items

19. 19

20. 20 Analyzing Student Work

21. 21 Analyzing Student Work

22. 22 Analyzing Student Work

23. 23

24.  These questions enable students to show their work.  A complete and correct answer to each of these questions is worth 4 points. A partially correct answer is worth 3, 2, or 1 point.  Items are designed to take about 15 minutes.

26. In 1999, some astronomers thought they observed a Jupiter-sized planet outside our solar system orbiting a young star 63 light years from Earth. Later, other astronomers concluded that the planet was actually a giant sunspot rotating around the surface of the young star. Part A: What kind of instruments would the astronomers have used to investigate the star and phantom planet? Describe what kind of research they most likely would have don’t before concluding they were observing a giant sunspot rather than a large planet. Part B: Based on the scientific method, why did the later astronomers probably choose to challenge the first group of astronomers’ finding of the new planet rather than accept it? What had the first group of astronomers most likely done to make it possible for others to disprove the discovery?

27. Part A: Astronomers would use instruments such as telescopes, spectroscopes, and computers to observe and analyze stars and planets that are many light years away from Earth. In order to challenge the discovery of the planet, other scientists would need to take the data from the original astronomers and compare it to previously collected data from distant planets and sunspots. From this, the scientists could determine that the object was not really a planet at all, but the pattern was more similar to a sunspot. Part B: When the later scientists checked the data against previously collected sunspot data and the additional observations they made, they found that a giant moving sunspot was much better represented. The reason that the scientists were able to disprove the discovery was probably because the original astronomers kept very accurate records. The other scientists were able to go back and compare the old data with the new to create a better hypothesis. The original data were probably published for easy access.

28. FCAT Science tests at grades 8 and 11 consist of approximately:  40-45 multiple-choice  3 – 6 gridded response  5- 7 short response and extended response

29. Based on Webb, N. L., 1999

30. ► Low ◦ Recall, recognition, specifies what student is to do, student not asked to come up with original method or solution ► Moderate ◦ Require flexible thinking, requires multiple thought processes, student must decide what to do, reasoning, problem-solving, bring together knowledge and skills from different domains ► High ◦ Reasoning, analysis, planning, judgment, investigation design

31. High Complexity Moderate Complexity Low Complexity EasyChallengingAverage Based on percentage of students likely to respond correctly Tasks can be anywhere in this graph Any one task will be in one row only, but can be in any column

32. Sea water contains dissolved salts and is not suitable for drinking. Describe a procedure that can be used for obtaining a cup of drinking water from a bucket of sea water. ► Low ◦ Recall, recognition, specifies what student is to do, student not asked to come up with original method or solution ► Moderate ◦ Require flexible thinking, requires multiple thought processes, student must decide what to do, reasoning, problem-solving, bring together knowledge and skills from different domains ► High ◦ Reasoning, analysis, planning, judgment, investigation design

33. Describe a method for determining the boiling temperatures of pure water and salt water. Be sure to include descriptions of what you will measure and how you will measure. ► Low ◦ Recall, recognition, specifies what student is to do, student not asked to come up with original method or solution ► Moderate ◦ Require flexible thinking, requires multiple thought processes, student must decide what to do, reasoning, problem-solving, bring together knowledge and skills from different domains ► High ◦ Reasoning, analysis, planning, judgment, investigation design

34. What is the boiling temperature of pure water? ► Low ◦ Recall, recognition, specifies what student is to do, student not asked to come up with original method or solution ► Moderate ◦ Require flexible thinking, requires multiple thought processes, student must decide what to do, reasoning, problem-solving, bring together knowledge and skills from different domains ► High ◦ Reasoning, analysis, planning, judgment, investigation design

35. http://fcat.fldoe.org

36. http://fcat.fldoe.org/handbk/fcathandbook.asp

38. FSU and FCR-STEM is charged with enhancing the Florida Standards Database to: Florida Standards Database  Increase access of all teachers to high quality information and resources aligned with the standards  Support the delivery of teacher professional development  Support teacher application of new content and pedagogical knowledge in the classroom

39. Things to remember: The FCAT is administered to students in Grades 3-11. It is a criterion-referenced tests (CRT), measuring selected benchmarks in Mathematics, Reading, Science, and Writing from the Sunshine State Standards (SSS). Your district will supply you with an assessment calendar that will include the dates of the FCAT. The best thing you can do to prepare your students for the FCAT is to make higher order thinking questions the norm in your classroom.