Pam Reising Laura Moore-Mueller Green River Community College (WA)

1. Assessment & PlacementAlternatives Pam Reising Laura Moore-Mueller Green River Community College (WA)

2. Placement Options • COMPASS • Entrance Exams • High School Transcript Current research strongly in favor of multiple measures for placement (Hughes & Scott-Clayton, 2010)

3. Entrance Exams & HS Transcript Tables • What do they look like? • How do they work? • Lessons learned • The data – does alternative placement work?

4. COMPASS Pro’s Con’s Four subject areas Diagnostic without initial guidance Multiple choice $$ cost • ACT test • Immediate Feedback • Cut-off scores adjustable • Accessible Campus Testing Facility

5. COMPASS (ctd). Pro’s Con’s 30% inaccurate placement Diagnostic without initial guidance $$ cost (re-testing)

6. Entrance Exams • Exams developed by GRCC Math Faculty (1997) • Exam questions developed based on Course Content Learning Objectives (CCLO) of prior course

7. Entrance Exams • 7 Exams and Sample Exams developed for: • Four developmental level courses • First college level courses • Second college level course • Calculus

8. Written Entrance Exam Benefits • Advising tool • Free • Self-diagnosis of content knowledge gaps (self-study or 2 credit Review Modules before reassessing)

9. Written Entrance Exam Challenges • Administering the exam (Math faculty as proctors) to: • New students NOT currently registered • Students testing during breaks • Students at branch campuses • Students testing during first week of classes

10. Written Entrance Exam Challenges • Time!! • Scheduling test for individual on-demand or group sessions • Grading exams • Data entry of exam scores (registration system and pre-requisite system)

11. Example of CCLO from Intermediate Algebra COURSE CONTENT LEARNING OUTCOMES: 1. Define a function; 2. Graph linear, quadratic, and other functions; 3. Solve linear equations and inequalities; 4. Solve simultaneous systems of linear equations; (etc.)

13. Improving the Entrance Exams • Emulate COMPASS’s strengths: • Computerized assessment with immediate feedback • Offered at all campus Assessment Centers • Scores entered into Student Management System (by Assessment Center staff) • Scores fulfill prerequisite checks

14. Assessment Platform • Washington Mathematics Assessment and Placement (WAMAP) • A web based mathematics assessment and course management platform • Test questions are algorithmically generated with numerical and algebraic expressions

15. Assessment Platform • Questions can include graphs and images • Answers can be in various formats (numerical, algebraic, multiple choice, matching, etc.) • Tests are automatically scored • Sample Tests available online

17. IMathAS www.imathas.com

18. Algorithmic Regeneration • Student B’s problem • Student A’s problem

19. Computer Graded Answer Formats: • Numerical to a certain tolerance • Numerical expressions (ex: 3/5) • Algebraic Expressions • Multiple Choice

20. Computer Graded Answer Formats: • Multiple Answer • Matching • Interval Notation • Multiple Answer

21. Calculator Style Entry of Answers Algebraic examples

22. Preview Option for Syntax of Answer

23. Graph Display in Questions

24. Libraries of Questions

25. Example of Scored Result

26. Scored Result by Category

27. Sample Exams Availablehttp://www.wamap.org/diag

28. Exam Tracking System

29. GRCC High School Math Transcript Placement: • Began in September, 2004 • Rubrics developed for 7 School Districts • Process included advisors, teachers, & administrators (all both CC & HS)

30. Why Use Transcripts? • College Perspective • Successful placement • Multiple measures • Increasing population of hs graduates at CC’s

31. Why Use Transcripts? • High School Perspective • Student motivation • Higher standards • Increased communication of College level expectations

32. SAMPLE Math Transcript Table

33. HS Transcript Tracking System On campus registration • Training required

34. Entrance Exam – Lessons Learned • Platform for delivery must have: • Stability • Longevity • Low cost • Ease of use for students, exam creator, assessment staff • Scores need to ‘work’ with advising and prerequisite check systems, data analysis

35. HS Transcript- Lessons Learned • Different operating systems • Changing state requirements • Time commitment • Record of placement needs to ‘work’ with advising and prerequisite check systems, data analysis

36. THE Lesson Involvement across institution is key! • Faculty • Deans • Advisors • Enrollment Services staff

37. THE Lesson Involvement across institution is key! • Assessment Center staff • Information Technology staff – programmers for SMS and prerequisite system • Institutional Research staff

38. Data • 40% passed the Entrance Exam they selected • 50% of those were students at lowest developmental level or first college level • 74% of all who passed an Entrance Exam passed the class they placed into

42. Questions?? • Pam’s email (Entrance Exams): preising@greenriver.edu • Laura’s email (HS Transcripts): lmooremueller@greenriver.edu • Webinar on Dec 5th! • David Lippman – WAMAP/IMathAS contact: dlippman@pierce.ctc.edu • Green River’s website: http://www.greenriver.edu

43. Placement Website

44. Thank You!