Thinkgate & The Facilitator

1. Thinkgate& The Facilitator Utilizing Thinkgate to Answer Powerful Questions What do we want the students to learn? How will we know they learned it? How will we respond when they do not know it? How will we respond when they already know it? Adapted from original PPT by Tammillye Ward Presenters: Hope McGuire and Tammy Van Cleef

2. What do we want our students to learn? How will we know they learned it?Creating Original Assessments • Select the Curriculum from the second drop down list. • Select the Assessment button. • Select the Add Classroom Assessment menu option icon. (plus sign)

3. Creating Assessments • Grade, Subject and Course default according to the class and curriculum selected on the previous screen. Edit the following criteria: Test Type, Term, Year and Description. • Select Item Bank in the Content Type field. • Select the Save menu option.

4. Creating Assessments • Select the Standards button. • Select the Find Standards button. The Grade, Subject and Standards drop downs default to the class selected when the user is logged in as a Teacher. • Select the Click to add standard check box next to the desired standards for the assessment. • Once the standards have been selected edit the Item Count text field to reflect the desired number of items per standard. • Select Save

5. Creating Assessment • The selected standards and item count for each standard will be displayed. • Select Content button

6. Creating Assessments • Select the Click to Edit Item Stem Text link to open the Item Editor window.

7. Creating Assessments • The Item Type (Question Type) defaults to Multiple Choice but any item (question) type may be selected. • The Item (Question) section is active, indicated by yellow highlighting; Edit icon is pre-selected. • Enter the original item as it should appear on the assessment. • Use the E icon for special math symbols or other special characters.

8. Creating Assessments • Select the “A” distracter Edit icon, which becomes highlighted yellow. • Begin adding answer choices. • Repeat for distracters “B”, “C”, “D” • Select the box next to the correct answer and a green check will populate the box. • Select finished • Select Save • Repeat these steps for each item in each standard. • Select Preview, to view all of the items that were entered.

9. Creating Assessment • An assessment must be proofed before it can be administered to students. Proofing an assessment confirms it has been reviewed and locks the content. • Select Profile • Select Proof-Ready for Print

10. Targeting Teachers (Sharing the assessment) • Select the Targets button in the Left Navigation Pane. If any exist, currently targeted teachers and/or schools display in the search results pane. • Select the Teacher radio button under Target List. • Select the Find Targets button.

11. Targeting Teachers (Sharing the assessment) • The screen should populate with all the teachers on your grade level • Select the teachers that will administer the assessment. • Select Attach Targets • Now the assessment is ready of those teachers that were selected.

12. Obtaining Data Reports • In the Assessment Category select Classroom • Select the correct information in the Portal Criteria Section: Term, Assessment Type • Select Find Results

13. Obtaining Data Reports • The Score Cell will populate • The cell will contain the class and school average • Select the paper icon next to the teacher name and a pop up box with search options will appear • The same will happen if you click on the percentage next to the teacher’s name

14. Obtaining Data Reports • Report types • At – Risk • Progress Report • Proficiency Report • Item Analysis • Standard Analysis • Distracter Analysis

15. At Risk Report • How To Obtain This Report: • Click on: Administrator portal • Click on: Customize Criteria • Click on: Percentage • Click on: At Risk • Choose (one of the following): • Standards by student (Each standard lists the children mastery and non-mastery) • Standard by Test, Student: (comprehensive look at student’s performance) • Standard by domain (anyone below the cut off point) • Students By Standard (each child’s score on the specific standard) • Subgroups by standard (very specific data by various subgroups) • This report allows you to easily identify the subgroups that are considered “at risk” by individual standards. You can view this report from many different perspectives.

16. Progress Report • How to get it: • Click on: Data utilization • Click on: Administrator Portal • Click on: Customize Criteria • Click on: Find Results • Click on: Percentage • Select: Progress Report • This report will assist you to see if you are meeting your School Improvement Plan goals in math over time.

17. Proficiency Report • How to obtain this report: • Click on: Data utilization • Click on: Administrator Portal • Click on: Customize Criteria • Click on: Find Results • Click on: Percentage • Click on: Proficiency Report • This provides a color coded system similar to Dibels. • It shows proficient, exceeds, meets, does not meet. • The percentage box lists the students who fall in that group. • It shows the percentage that the student earned to be in the category- this helps identify students that are “on the bubble”. • It will identify those needing enrichment as well as remediation. • Can be exported to an EXCEL worksheet if you need to make any data presentations.

18. Item Analysis • How to obtain this report: • Click on: Data utilization • Click on: Administrator Portal • Click on: Customize Criteria • Click on: Find Results • Click on: Percentage • Select: Item Analysis • This report shows: • Percent of mastery based on your school, teacher, or district • When you click on a hyperlinked number, the exact question will appear.

19. Standard Analysis Report • How to obtain this report: • Click on: Data utilization • Click on: Administrator Portal • Click on: Customize Criteria • Click on: Find Results • Click on: Percentage • Select: Standard Analysis • What it shows you: • Individual classroom scores • Grade level scores • Sub groups on the grade level • Compare your school with district • Can compare results by terms

20. Distractor Analysis • How to obtain this report: • Click on: Data utilization • Click on: Administrator Portal • Click on: Customize Criteria • Click on: Find Results • Click on: Percentage • Select: Distractor Analysis • This report will: • Break down each individual student and their answers for every question and highlights what they got correct or incorrect. • Press on hyperlink numbers to see the exact question.

21. Situation “Possible” • You will work in groups of 4 to 5 people. • Your group is determined by the color under your keyboard. • Read the situation provided. • Discuss how you can address the situation based on your role as a facilitator and the data utilization function of Thinkgate. • Appoint a recorder and 2 presenters to share your groups’ thoughts.

22. Situation A • The most recent EOG scores for Elementary School A indicated that the 4th grade students scored significantly lower in math than the students in 3rd and 5th grade at the same school. *How can the teachers, facilitators, and administrators at Elementary School A utilize CMS’ Thinkgate data to help drive instruction? *What report would you look at? *How would that particular report help you?

23. Situation B • The teachers at Elementary School B are upset that the formatives test the students on concepts they aren’t going to cover until next semester. How can you guide the teachers to embrace this type of data and utilize it to drive instruction? *What reports on Thinkgate would you suggest they look at? *What type of information can they get from the report? *Should they look at the reports as a team? As individual teachers? What is the advantage of each approach?

24. Situation C • Elementary School C has set a goal to become a high growth school. The school knows that an increase in EOG scores at the conclusion of the school year is key to earning this status. The school has determined that their subgroups will be instrumental in earning this status as well. *Can Thinkgate provide your teachers with any relevant data to help achieve your year-long goal? *Which reports would you use in your planning sessions? *Thinkgate allows the user to customize the reports. What types of customization would you suggest the teachers look at?

25. Situation D • Elementary School D is quite concerned because their EC population hasn’t shown any growth in the past 3 years on their EOGs. *How can Thinkgate help you facilitate a discussion between the EC team and your regular education teachers. *Which reports would help you the most? *How would you choose to disaggregate the data?

26. Situation E • You are a facilitator at Elementary School E. When you look at the Thinkgate math scores for all of your teachers in grade 5 you notice a disturbing trend. Teacher X consistently has lower scores than his colleagues. You also note that Teacher Z consistently does better than the other colleagues on his team. *How can you utilize Thinkgate data to open dialog with Teacher X? *What reports will help you constructively create a plan for instruction to help Teacher X increase his math scores? *Alternatively, how can you use Thinkgate to help teachers openly examine data from Teacher Z and have Teacher Z share instructional strategies he uses to obtain this data?

27. Situation F • You are a facilitator at Elementary School F. You are working with a teacher in grade 4 that is new to the district and very distrustful of the Investigations curriculum. *How can Thinkgate assist you with reassuring this teacher that Investigations will successfully prepare a student for the EOG test at the end of the year? *What reports will you pull? Would you want to disaggregate data by subgroups? If so, explain why.

28. Questions? • We will try to assist you in any way we can…….. • Hope McGuire • (Hidden Valley Elementary) • Hope.McGuire@cms.k12.nc.us • Tammy Van Cleef • (Long Creek Elementary) • Tammy.Vancleef@cms.k12.nc.us