Curriculum Connection
Updates, Information, and Ideas for DCSC Staff
August 13, 2019
In order to be respectful of everyone's time, I have broken the newsletter down into information that staff "Have To Know" and information that is "Nice to Know." In addition, I have tried to break things down further by grade level or subject area. Please ensure you read and/or respond to anything in the "Have To Know" section that applies to a grade level or subject area you teach.
If you find any ideas, websites, books, etc. that you think are worth sharing out, please send them my way and I am happy to include them!
Morgan Walker
Director of Academic Services
K-12 Teachers, Instructional Coaches, and Building Administrators
Updated Assessment Committee Participant Survey
Any staff that administers NWEA
New student test engagement features available
NWEA had previously added in a "rapid-guessing" feature that would wipe out a student's NWEA test score if the computer detected they were guessing too much throughout the assessment. This understandably caused issues so they removed the feature in order to slow down the roll-out and provide additional features. The July release is finally here, adding the following new student test engagement features to MAP Growth to prevent, reduce, and respond to rapid-guessing behavior. Please make note of these changes as you will see them on the first round of NWEA testing:
- Auto-pause: most MAP Growth tests will auto-pause (up to three times) when students rapid-guess on multiple questions allowing the proctor to reengage students
- Proctor console enhancements: rapid-guessing tips and information will be available on the proctor console before, during, and after a test session
- Retest Recommended – Rapid-Guessing report: new report identifying students with completed tests that reached the rapid-guessing threshold
- New Test History Search option: easily generate a list of students with completed tests that reached the rapid-guessing threshold and then create a test session from that list
- New rapid-guessing criterion: new criterion added to the “district’s retesting rules (definition of tested)” to allow students who reach the rapid-guessing threshold to retest
The fall NWEA window is August 13-August 30 (winter and spring windows are TBD)
Accessing the student NWEA app
To NWEA test on the Chromebooks, the student needs to log out of their Chromebook, and the app will then show up in "kiosk mode." Testing should be accessible from there.
Helpful doc created by Ronda if students are still having trouble:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1A29YMjOTfapwA0WRE5BLFhkmI69RAV2TTAACQu6eUBY/edit?usp=sharing
All Corporation Staff
List of Required Trainings for School Employees
All teaching staff, K-12
From Connie Hamilton Ed.S on Twitter (@conniehamilton)
Try This Tech! (LAUNCH presentation)
Hot Keys and Hot Tips
Did You Miss A Previous Edition?
DCSC Curriculum Connection
Contact: Morgan Walker, Director of Academic Services
Email: mwalker@danville.k12.in.us
Website: www.danville.k12.in.us
Location: 200 Warrior Way, Danville IN 46122
Phone: (317) 745-2212
Twitter: @walker8208