1 / 32

PSSA Science

PSSA Science. Fall 2008. Sunny Minelli Weiland. Questions to Consider?. What do you know about Science Assessment Anchors and Assessment? What are your pressing questions?. No Child Left Behind. 2 Primary Goals : Improve student achievement overall

amergin-hone
Download Presentation

PSSA Science

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. PSSA Science Fall 2008 Sunny Minelli Weiland

  2. Questions to Consider? • What do you know about Science Assessment Anchors and Assessment? • What are your pressing questions?

  3. No Child Left Behind 2 Primary Goals: • Improve student achievement overall • Narrow the achievement gap between students of different backgrounds

  4. Pennsylvania Academic Standards The STEE Standards Act 24 - January 22, 1993 (The Environment Act), stipulated that the Department of Education conduct a periodic evaluation of school-based environmental education in this Commonwealth Chapter 4 - January 16, 1999, established the Academic Standards and Assessments

  5. PA STEE Standards • PA Academic Standards for • Science and Technology, July 12, 2001 • Environment and Ecology, January 5, 2002 • These standards describe what students should know and be able to do by the end of fourth, seventh, tenth and twelfth grade

  6. Pennsylvania Academic Standards Act 16 (Senate Bill 652) - May 3, 2000, defined the PSSA as a test developed and implemented by the Department of Education to determine only academic achievement relating directly to objective academic standards in the areas of Reading, Mathematicsand Science No Child Left Behind – January 8, 2002 September 19, 2002- State Board Adoption of NCLB House Bill 35 – January 4, 2007

  7. Pennsylvania Academic Standards Define what each student should know and do in a core set of subjects Provide consistent targets for students, teachers, and districts Allow districts to measure student achievement

  8. Assessment Anchor Content Standards Support for inquiry-based learning, investigative, experimental, multisensory instruction Core knowledge of the PSSA content

  9. Test Design and Blueprint

  10. Test Composition 50%Nature of Science (Inquiry) 50%Biological Sciences, Physical Sciences, Earth and Space Sciences (Content)

  11. 2008 Test Blueprint

  12. Getting to know the Multiple Choice • 4th Grade Assessment • Multiple Choice ~ 1 point • 8th Grade Assessment • Multiple Choice ~ 1 point • Also contains Scenario with 4 Multiple Choice ~ 1 point each • 11th Grade Assessment • Contains 3 Scenarios (4 MC each) • 1 EOE with each Scenario ~ 4 points each

  13. Getting to know the “Short Open Ended” • 4th Grade Assessment • Short Open Ended ~ 2 points • 8th Grade Assessment • Short Open Ended ~ 2 points • 11th Grade Assessment • Extended Open Ended – 4 Points

  14. Science Assessment Anchors

  15. PA STEE Standards (minimum requirement for the Local Assessment Plan) District Curriculum (Strategic Plan) Assessment Anchor Content Standards and Eligible Content ( PSSA)

  16. 3.1 Unifying Themes 3.2 Inquiry and Design 3.3 Biological Sciences 3.4 Physical Science, Chemistry and Physics 3.5 Earth Sciences 3.6 Technological Education 3.7 Technological Devices 3.8 Science, Technology and Human Endeavors Glossary Science and Technology

  17. 4.1 Watersheds and Wetlands 4.2 Renewable and Nonrenewable Resources 4.3 Environmental Health 4.4 Agriculture and Society 4.5 Integrated Pest Management 4.6 Ecosystems and their Interaction 4.7 Threatened, Endangered and Extinct Species 4.8 Humans and the Environment 4.9 Environmental Laws and Regulations Glossary Environment and Ecology

  18. Science Assessment Anchors • Incorporate PA Academic Standards for Science & Technology and Environment & Ecology • Assessment Anchors Content Standards are Intended to Simplify

  19. Assessment Anchors Provide… • Clear focus of the non-negotiable • Core knowledge of the “must know” • Design for the PSSA • Connections between the PSSA and classroom instruction • Standards-based school district curriculum • Support for inquiry-based learning, investigative, experimental, multi-sensory instruction

  20. Assessment Anchors are Okay!! • Clarity • Focus • Alignment • Grade appropriate skills • Curricular flow • Rigor • Manageability

  21. The KEYS to Assessment Anchors • Reporting Category • Subcategory • Assessment Anchor • Reference to PA Standard • Eligible Content • Sample Items

  22. SA The Nature of Science SB Biological Science SC Physical Sciences SD Earth & Space Sciences Science Reporting Categories

  23. With Subcategories • A The Nature of Science • Reasoning and Analysis • Processes, Procedures and Tools for Scientific Investigation • Systems, Models, and Patterns

  24. With Subcategories • B Biological Sciences • Structure and Function of Organisms • Continuity of Life • Ecological Behavior and Systems

  25. With Subcategories • C Physical Sciences • Structure, Properties, and Interactions of Matter and Energy • Forms, Sources, Conversions, and Transfer of Energy • Principals of Forces and Motion

  26. With Subcategories • D Earth and Space Sciences • Earth Features and Processes that Change Earth and Its Resources • Weather, Climate, and Atmospheric Processes • Composition and Structure of the Universe

  27. Pennsylvania Science Biological Sciences Physical Sciences The Nature of Science Reasoning Analysis Processes Procedures Patterns Models Systems Designs Earth and Space Sciences

  28. PA Academic Standards Reporting Categories Subcategories Assessment Anchors Descriptors Eligible Content Standard Reporting Category: S8.A The Nature of Science Anchor Standard Strand 3.2 Inquiry and Design 3.2.7. (Grade 7) A. Explain and apply scientific and technological knowledge. • Distinguish between a scientific theory and a belief. • Answer “What if” questions based on observation, inference or prior knowledge or experience. • Explain how skepticism about an accepted scientific explanation led to a new understanding. • Explain how new information may change existing theories and practice. Subcategory : S8.A.1 Reasoning and Analysis ASSESSMENT ANCHOR S8.A.1 1 Explain, interpret and apply scientific, environmental, or technological knowledge presented in a variety of formats (e.g., visuals, scenarios, graphs). ELIGIBLE CONTENT S8.A.1.1.1 Distinguish between a scientific theory and an opinion, explaining how a theory is supported with evidence, or how new data/ information may change existing theories and practice. Reference: 3.2.7.A, 3.2.7.B

  29. Assessment Anchor Coding with Eligible Content Reporting Category S4.A.1.1.1 Science Eligible Content Grade Level Assessment Anchor Sub-Category

  30. Eligible Content • The Eligible Content is often known as the “assessment limits” and helps teachers identify how the anchor will be assessed. • Not all of the Eligible Content will be assessed on the PSSA each year, but it shows the range of knowledge drawn upon to design the test.

More Related