Demystifying the Michigan Merit Exam

1. Demystifying the Michigan Merit Exam October 9, 2006

2. Agenda • Welcome • Purpose • ACT and Michigan Developed Overview • WorkKeys Overview • Sample Items/Processing • Debrief • Q & A • Next Steps • Evaluation

3. Purpose • Provide a clear understanding of the components of the new Michigan Merit Exam • Provide an opportunity to read and discuss sample assessments • Provide an opportunity to discuss implications of the MME on classroom assessment and instructional practices • Share quality resources

4. Michigan Merit Exam

6. MME – ELA Score Components • Reading • ACT Reading • WorkKeys Reading for Information Items • Writing • ACT English • ACT Writing • Michigan Developed Social Studies

7. ELA – Reading • Measures students’ reading comprehension • Referring to what is explicitly stated • Main idea • Significant details • Relationships • Reasoning to determine implicit meanings and draw conclusions, comparisons and generalizations • Infer main ideas or purposes • Demonstrate understanding of the text • Determine word meanings

8. ELA – ACT Reading (40 MC items)

9. ELA –ACT English (75 MC items)

10. ELA –ACT Writing • 30-minute essay test • A prompt that defines an issue and describes two points of view on that issue • Essays are evaluated based on the student’s ability to: • Express judgments by taking a position • Maintain a focus on the topic throughout the essay • Develop a position by using logical reasoning and supporting ideas • Organize ideas in a logical way • Use language clearly and effectively

11. ELA Components (cont.) • Michigan Developed Items • Social Studies – Prompt • Persuasive Writing Scoring Guide (6 point rubric) • Quality of the writing

12. MME Mathematics Score Components • ACT Mathematics • WorkKeys Applied Mathematics • Selected ACT Science Items • Michigan Developed Items

13. ACT – Mathematics • Requires knowledge of basic formulas and computation skills. • Requires students to use reasoning skills to solve practical problems in mathematics. • Tests students’ abilities to transfer quantitative reasoning and problem solving skills from one context to another.

14. ACT – Mathematics • Knowledge and skills: solve problems that are presented in purely mathematical terms. • Direct application: solve straightforward problems set in real-world situations. • Understanding concepts: reasoning from a concept to reach an inference or a conclusion. • Integrating conceptual understanding: achieve an integrated understanding of two or more major concepts to solve non-routine problems.

15. ACT – Mathematics(60 MC items)

16. Math Components (cont.) • Selected ACT Science Items (MC) • Michigan Developed Math Items (13 MC) • Currently based on MCF • Starting in the Spring 2008 based on HSCE

17. MME Science Score Components • ACT Science • 40 MC items • Michigan Developed Science Items • 52 MC items • Currently based on MCF • Starting in Spring 2008 based on HSCE

18. ACT – Science • Measures skills in these areas: • Interpretation • Analysis • Evaluation • Reasoning • Problem Solving

19. ACT – Science • Scientific information in three formats: • Data Representation • Research Summaries • Conflicting Viewpoints • Test items require students to: • Examine the relationships between the information provided and the conclusions drawn or hypotheses developed • Generalize from information provided to gain new information, draw conclusions or make predictions

20. ACT – Science (40 MC items)

21. Science Components (cont.) • Michigan Developed Items • 52 MC Items • Currently based on MCF • Starting in Spring 2008 based on HSCE

22. MME Social Studies Score Components • Michigan Developed Social Studies • 57 MC items • 2 Prompts, social studies content rubric (5 pts) • Currently based on MCF • Starting in Spring 2008 based on HSCE

23. What’s new… Reading – ACT & WorkKeys Writing – ACT & Social Studies prompt Math – ACT & WorkKeys Science – ACT Items Counted in two Content Areas Social Studies prompt (SS & ELA) Selected ACT Science Items (Math & Science) Less writing/fewer constructed response items What’s the Same… Math – Michigan developed items Science – Michigan developed Items Social Studies Test HST … MME

24. Things to Keep in Mind – MME • For students… • Timed test • ACT college-reportable score • Obtain information about skills needed for a job, technical training or college success

25. WorkKeys® Information • WorkKeys Applied Mathematics • MC – 33 Items – 45 Minutes • WorkKeys Reading for Information • MC – 33 Items – 45 Minutes

26. WorkKeys Information • What is WorkKeys? • WorkKeys is a job skills assessment system measuring “real world” skills that employers believe are critical to job success. • WorkKeys predicts career/workplace success • WorkKeys connects learning to career success. Educators and workforce developers use it to translate a vague statement like "we need more math" into a precise set of teachable skills really used in a workplace.

27. Establishing SkillCriterion Job or Occupational Profiles identify the skills required for a job or program. This sets the “Bar.”

28. Profiling Individual’s Skills Assessments show how an applicant, employee or student performed. This establishes a skill profile of the individual.

29. Skill Gap Analysis Gap analysis shows how the person performed relative to the “bar.” Training is available to close any gap.

30. WorkKeys Information • Applied Mathematics • AM is the skill people use when they use mathematical reasoning and problem-solving techniques to solve work-related problems. • Employees may use calculators and conversion tables to help with the problems, but they still need to use math skills to think them through.

31. ComparisonACT – WorkKeys - HSCE

32. WorkKeys Information • Reading for Information • RFI is the skill people use when they read and use written texts in order to do a job. The written texts include memos, letters, directions, notices bulletins, policies and regulations. • It is often the case that these workplace communications are not well written or targeted to the appropriate audience.

33. ComparisonACT – WorkKeys - HSCE

34. Take the Tests …ACT & WorkKeys

35. Debrief • As I went through the ACT/WorkKeys subtests, what surprised me was… • As I took this test from a student’s perspective, the strategies I used were… • Now that I have “taken” the ACT/WorkKeys, these are some of the implications I see for instruction in my classroom… • Now that I have “taken” the ACT/WorkKeys, these are some of the implications I see for assessment in my classroom…

36. Questions & Answers

38. Evaluation

39. Contact Information • Denise Brady, Shiawassee RESD • brady@sresd.k12.mi.us or 989/743-3471 • Theron Blakeslee, Ingham ISD • tblakesl@inghamisd.org or 517/244.1201 • Nancy Fahner, Ingham ISD • nfahner@inghamisd.org or 517/244.1225 • Cindy Leyrer, Ingham ISD • cleyrer@inghamisd.org or 517/244.1338 • Sue Stephens, Shiawassee RESD • stephens@sresd.org or 989/743.3471 • Kelly Trout, Ingham ISD • ktrout@inghamisd.org or 517/244.1261