WESTEST 2 Online Writing

1. WESTEST 2Online Writing Examiner’s Responsibilities

2. Prior to the Assessment Session

3. An examiner must Examiner’s Responsibilities Prior to Assessment Session - Definition of Examiner • be a currently employed educator and/or approved employee of the state, county or RESA, or a currently employed educator of a nonpublic school; • hold a valid West Virginia teaching license or certification granted by the Office of Professional Preparation;

4. Who else can be an examiner? Examiner’s Responsibilities Prior to Assessment Session – Who Can Be Examiner • Substitute teachers • Aides serving as examiners for special needs students • must be instructionally assigned • must be pre-approved by WVDE • must be trained as examiners

5. Who cannot be an examiner? Examiner’s Responsibilities Prior to Assessment Session – Who Can’t Be Examiner • Student teachers • Aides or other personnel who have not been pre-approved by WVDE • Parent volunteers • Anyone who has not been properly trained and who has not signed the Examiner’s/Scribe’s Secure Materials and Test Procedures Agreement (Appendix E)

6. Special Note Examiner’s Responsibilities Prior to Assessment Session – Special Note • An examiner may not administer WESTEST 2 Online Writing to his/her child(ren).

7. Examiner’s Responsibilities Prior to Assessment Session - Training • Each year prior to the administration of the WESTEST 2 Online Writing, your principal/building level coordinator is required to train individuals who will serve as examiners. • You must be trained to be allowed to serve as an examiner.

8. Policy 2340 Examiner’s Responsibilities Prior to Assessment Session – Policy 2340 • Read and become familiar with Policy 2340: West Virginia Measures of Academic Performance, which establishes rules governing the administration and operation of assessments that are part of WV-MAP, including WESTEST 2. • Policy 2340 can be found by clicking on the following link and scrolling down to find the link for Policy 2340 under the heading “Educational Program Development”: http://wvde.state.wv.us/policies/

9. Read the WESTEST 2 Online Writing Administration Manual Examiner’s Responsibilities Prior to Assessment Session – Administration Manual

10. Read Appendix A: Testing Code of Ethics Examiner’s Responsibilities Prior to Assessment Session – Testing Code of Ethics

11. Sign Examiner’s/Scribe’s Secure Materials and Test Procedures Agreement (Appendix E) Examiner’s Responsibilities Prior to Assessment Session – Security Agreement

12. Sign Verification of Training (Appendix G) Examiner’s Responsibilities Prior to Assessment Session – Verification of Training

13. Caution Examiner’s Responsibilities Prior to Assessment Session – Important Reminder • Read all documents carefully and thoroughly. • Read all statements on the forms you sign. • Understand the consequences of violating testing administration procedures and test security. • Remember: Violations could result in possible suspension/termination and/or revocation of teaching license.

14. Informing Students Examiner’s Responsibilities Prior to Assessment Session - Preparing Students • Inform students of the date and general process of the assessment • Explain that student scores for the WESTEST 2 Online Writing session will be combined with student scores on the multiple choice sessions of WESTEST 2 RLA to obtain an overall RLA scale score and performance level • Provide testing schedule to students • Encourage students • Maintain a positive attitude

15. Examiner’s Responsibilities Prior to Assessment Session - Preparing Students • Demonstrate the online assessment by using the Video and/or the PowerPoint presentation: “Administering the WESTEST 2 Online Writing Assessment”

16. Examiner’s Responsibilities Prior to Assessment Session - Preparing Materials • Check class rosters • Inform the principal/building level coordinator of the names of students who are not listed on the class roster • Follow proper procedures for reviewing the WVS.326 Accommodations Provision Monitoring Forms to document that all proper accommodations have been provided during the test according to their IEPs, 504 Plans, or LEP Assessment Participation Forms.

17. Examiner’s Responsibilities Prior to Assessment Session - Handling Passwords • Your school’s principal/building level coordinator will have a system for providing one examiner per testing room/lab with Passwords of the Day. • Passwords of the Day are secure material and must be kept in a locked, secure location for the duration of the testing window. • Remember: Security violations could result in possible suspension/termination and/or revocation of teaching license.

18. Examiner’s Responsibilities Prior to Assessment Session - Preparing the Lab • Create an effective atmosphere for assessment in the testing room/lab • Ensure the testing room/lab is comfortable • Remove or cover any writing posters, graphic organizers, transitional expressions, etc., on display in the testing room/lab

19. On the Day of Testing Before Students Enter Testing Room/Lab

20. Examiner’s Responsibilities Day of Testing: Before Students Enter - Procedures • Review the instructions in the WESTEST 2 Online Writing Administration Manual.

21. Examiner’s Responsibilities Day of Testing: Before Students Enter - Materials • Have all materials readily on hand: • 1. WESTEST 2 Online Writing Administration Manual • 2. Password of the Day (assigned examiner) • 3. Student Rosters • 4. Testing Schedule • 5. WVS.326 Forms • 6. Steps for Completing the WESTEST 2 Online Writing • 7. Writing Checklist • 8. Appropriate Grade-Level WV Writing Rubric • 9. Pens and Pencils • 10. Blank Scratch Paper

22. Examiner’s Responsibilities Day of Testing: Before Students Enter - Computers • Have all usable computers turned on and ready for use. • Launch the secure website by clicking on the WESTEST 2 Online Writing icon on each computer’s desktop.

23. Examiner’s Responsibilities Day of Testing: Before Students Enter - Computers

24. Examiner’s Responsibilities Day of Testing: Before Students Enter - Password **********

25. On the Day of Testing As Students Enter Testing Room/Lab and Before Beginning Test

26. Examiner’s Responsibilities Day of Testing: As Students Enter - Monitor Material • 1. Make sure students do not bring any materials with them into the testing room/lab, including: • Textbooks • Notebooks • Dictionaries • Thesauruses • Classroom handouts • Pre-prepared graphic organizers • Pre-prepared rough drafts • PDAs • MP3 players • Cell phones • And other such items

27. Examiner’s Responsibilities Day of Testing: As Students Enter - Monitor Material • Remind students that the use of personal cell phones and other electronic devices during testing and breaks is strictly prohibited. • Remember that examiners also may not use their personal cell phones or other electronic devices during testing and breaks.

28. Examiner’s Responsibilities Day of Testing: As Students Enter - Procedures • 1. Seat students at computer stations in a manner that limits potential disruptions or distractions. • 2. Use student rosters to take attendance. • 3. Double check WVS.326 forms to determine if students who are present for testing require accommodations.

29. Examiner’s Responsibilities Day of Testing: Before Beginning Test - Materials • Distribute to students: • 1. Pens and/or Pencils for pre-writing and writing rough draft • 2. At least three pieces of blank scratch paper for pre-writing and writing rough draft. (Note: Students may use this paper to create their own graphic organizers, but pre-prepared graphic organizers are not allowed.) • Remember: All scratch paper, pre-writing and rough drafts must be collected after student has tested. These items must be shredded.

30. Examiner’s Responsibilities Day of Testing: Before Beginning Test - Materials • Distribute Steps for Completing the WESTEST 2 Online Writing (Form 1)

31. Examiner’s Responsibilities Day of Testing: Before Beginning Test - Materials • Distribute Writing Checklist (Form 2)

32. Examiner’s Responsibilities Day of Testing: Before Beginning Test - Materials • Distribute appropriate grade-level WV Writing Rubric (available in the WESTEST 2 Online Writing File Cabinet, http://tinyurl.com/OWA-File-Cabinet)

33. Examiner’s Responsibilities Day of Testing: Before Beginning Test - PowerPoint • After students have been seated and materials have been distributed, examiners may choose to show the video and/or the PowerPoint “Administering the WESTEST 2 Online Writing Assessment” (if not shown previously during class time).

34. Examiner’s Responsibilities Day of Testing: Before Beginning Test – ID Numbers • Provide students with their WVEIS numbers (public school) or their WV Student Assessment Identification Numbers (home-school and nonpublic school) if necessary.

35. During Assessment Session

36. Examiner’s Responsibilities During Assessment Session - Accommodations • Check WVS.326 report and Accommodations Provision Monitoring Forms to make sure all students who require accommodations receive the appropriate accommodations according to their IEPs, 504 Plans and LEP Assessment Participation Forms.

37. Examiner’s Responsibilities During Assessment Session - Accessing Website • Have each student log on to the secure testing website by entering his/her username (WVEIS numbers for public school students; WV Student Assessment ID Numbers for home-instructed and nonpublic school students) Note: Students should not delete or type anything into the spot intended for the Password of the Day.

38. Examiner’s Responsibilities During Assessment Session - Entering Username ********* ***********

39. Examiner’s Responsibilities During Assessment Session - Accuracy of Student Info • Check to make sure the student who is taking the assessment is the student whose name appears on the computer screen and that the student’s grade level is correct. (Note: If either is incorrect, DO NOT allow the student to proceed and DO NOT hit submit. Instead, log off or shut down the computer and notify the principal/building level coordinator.)

40. Examiner’s Responsibilities During Assessment Session - Accuracy of Student Info

41. Examiner’s Responsibilities During Assessment Session - Monitoring • Contact the principal/building level coordinator if a student experiences difficulty logging onto the testing site • Ensure every student is given the time he or she needs within the confines of the testing session

42. Examiner’s Responsibilities During Assessment Session - Monitoring • Monitor the assessment for irregularities. • Monitor students at all times. • Note: During monitoring, examiners should circulate around the lab periodically in a non-distracting manner. Do not engage in other activities that might interfere with close monitoring.

43. Examiner’s Responsibilities During Assessment Session – Assisting with Site Navigation • Assist students who have problems with site navigation, connectivity or computer hardware. • Under no circumstances should the examiner change a student’s composition because it is a violation of the Testing Code of Ethics (Appendix A)

44. Examiner’s Responsibilities During Assessment Session - Monitoring • Record on the WESTEST 2 Online Writing Irregularity Form (Form 4) any irregularities that may affect a student’s or the group’s performance • Assist students who have problems with site navigation, connectivity or computer hardware

45. Examiner’s Responsibilities During Assessment Session - Monitoring Submission

46. Examiner’s Responsibilities During Assessment Session - Monitoring Submission

47. Examiner’s Responsibilities During Assessment Session - Monitoring Submission

48. Examiner’s Responsibilities During Assessment Session - Monitoring Submission The sun glistened on the crystal clear blue ocean water, creating a dazzling array of sparkling flickers on the waves. The dolphins shot up out of the water like a professional basketball player springing up to grab a rebound, and the seemingly infinite beauty of this paradise stretched far beyond the horizon. Looking left and right, all you could see were scantily-clad young ladies relaxing on the beach, buff men surfing and playing beach volleyball, and little children playing in the sand. This appeared to be an ideal place to take a family vacation; at least, that’s what the virtual tour on the Seaside Resort’s website made it out to be.“What do you guys think?” I said. “Sound like a good place to take our summer vacation?” In unison, my parents replied, “It’s beautiful. That looks like a great place to spend our summer.”“Okay, so it’s official. Pack your bags and let’s leave first thing in the morning,” I screamed with excitement.Within the hour of finding our vacation destination on the internet, I was packed and ready to go. It was only 6 P.M. I thought to myself, “What am I going to do till it’s time to leave?” After contemplating some possibilities, I decided to browse the World Wide Web once more just to see what other vacation spots there were; you know, just in case my parents would decide they didn’t want to go to the Seaside Resort for some reason.

49. Examiner’s Responsibilities During Assessment Session - Monitoring Submission

50. After the Assessment Session