ODE News Mathematics

April 2013 Mathematics Teacher Update Released

Wed, 3 Apr 2013 17:18:00 GMT

In the April 2013 Mathematics Teacher Update you will read about professional development opportunities, teacher and student competitions and awards, and much more. To learn about subscribing to the Mathematics Teacher Update, please visit the Content Area Teacher Newsletters web page.

Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium Updates

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 16:16:00 GMT

Technology Clarification to the Field

During the first year of the operational Smarter Balanced testing (which will be spring of the 2014-15 school year) districts will need to have headphones for each student during the English Language Arts/Literacy assessments in order to engage with the listening test items, and for students requiring the text-to-speech option for the math assessments.

However, during 2014-15 districts should not need any additional technology devices for the online assessments. Technology evolution continues to generate smaller, faster, cheaper computers and accessories.

As these devices evolve, schools and districts will need to make the best possible decisions about which technology (platform, operating system and peripherals) will best serve students today and in the future for both instructional and assessment purposes.

As these devices evolve, Smarter plans to also develop their assessments to be ...MORE

Smarter Balanced Pilot Test (Scientific Sample) Replacement Schools

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 00:03:00 GMT

In mid-December 2012, ODE received the initial list of schools from Oregon that were randomly selected to participate in the scientific sample of the Smarter Balanced Pilot Test. Data Recognition Corporation (DRC) has been recruiting schools since that time. As anticipated, some of the schools have declined participation, and so Smarter Balanced is required to replace these schools with comparable ones in order to meet the requirements of the sample plan. Smarter Balanced is still in the process of randomly selecting schools to participate in the Smarter Balanced Pilot Test (Scientific Sample) and ODE receives an updated list each two weeks of schools that have been picked as replacement schools.

ODE will contact district test coordinators from each of the districts that had schools selected as replacements for the scientific sample of the Pilot test via email. Districts that receive an email from ODE in regard to being selected to participate in the scientific sample of the pilot tes ...MORE

Smarter Balanced Pilot Test (Scientific Sample) Update

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 23:55:00 GMT

The Scientific Sample Pilot testing will take place between February 20 and May 10, 2013. Tests at different grade levels and content areas will be available during different specific testing windows within this broader window and this will determine when each school will administer the pilot. Each school will be assigned a specific testing window.

Grades 3-11 will be assessed in the content areas of English language arts/literacy and mathematics. Schools will be assigned one or two grades to administer either an ELA or mathematics assessment in each designated grade.

The assessment is computer based and will feature the new selected-response and performance task item types. The Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium's website is an excellent resource to learn more about the item types and content specifications: www.smarterbalanced.org. Most testing times will range anywhere from 2 t ...MORE

Smarter Balanced Accessibility and Accommodation Guidelines

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 20:16:00 GMT

The Accessibility and Accommodation Guidelines for the Smarter Balanced Pilot Tests are now posted to the Smarter Balanced portal. They are under “Additional Resources” on the Resources and Documentation page:

http://sbac.portal.airast.org/Pilot_Test/resources.html?pilot#additional

January 2013 Mathematics Teacher Update Released

Thu, 3 Jan 2013 19:53:00 GMT
In the January 2013 Mathematics Teacher Update you will read about professional development opportunities, teacher and student competitions and awards, and much more. To learn about subscribing to the Mathematics Teacher Update, please visit the Content Area Teacher Newsletters web page.

Nominate an Outstanding Science Teacher for the Presidential Award!

Mon, 31 Dec 2012 16:38:00 GMT
The Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) is the highest recognition that a kindergarten through 12th grade mathematics or science teacher may receive for outstanding teaching in the United States. The 2012-2013 nomination period for 7-12 grade mathematics and science teachers for the PAEMST program is currently open. Anyone--principals, teachers, parents, students, or members of the general public--may nominate exceptional math or science teachers teaching grades 7-12 for the 2012-13 Award Year. Teachers may also apply directly at www.paemst.org. The Nomination Deadline is April 1, 2013. The Application Deadline is May 1, 2013 for secondary school teachers (Grades 7-12). Elementary school teachers (Grades K-6) are eligible to apply in the next cycle in 2013-14. For more information about the PAEMST, visit www.paemst.org. For questions about the nomination or application process, contact: ...MORE

Smarter Balanced Update on Assessment Report Design

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 00:06:00 GMT

The Oregon Department of Education would like to share the following update from Smarter Balanced regarding a progress update about the data reports that will be developed for the assessment.

Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium
WestEd - Project Management Partner
www.smarterbalanced.org

Dear Smarter Balanced K-12 State Leads:

We are excited to announce the posting of a Progress Update from the Smarter Balanced Assessment Reporting Work Group and Wireless Generation (Reporting Development contractor for Smarter Balanced).

The Progress Update serves as a brief introduction to the key concepts and methodology being used to drive the development of stakeholder-focused reporting of assessment results. In addition, the document provides preliminary findings about some of the reporting system's primary user groups and their priorities, as well as a sample us ...MORE

Smarter Balanced Pilot Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Available

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 20:49:00 GMT

The Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (Smarter) will administer a pilot of the Smarter assessments from February 20 - May 10, 2013. As the start of the Pilot approaches, many districts from across the consortium have submitted questions to Smarter. To help address these questions, Smarter has developed a Frequently Asked Questions document .

As Smarter continues to develop training materials and other resources to help districts prepare for the Pilot, ODE will provide additional information to the field. Please continue to submit any questions your district may have about the Pilot to SmarterBalancedHelpDesk@air.org .

Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium Pilot Test Update - December 13, 2012

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 21:50:00 GMT

The Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium will be working with schools from partner states around the country to pilot test items this spring. Smarter Balanced will be conducting both a scientific pilot and a broader, non-scientific pilot. The Oregon schools which will participate in the scientific pilot have been identified and were notified by ODE in late November. Selected schools will also be contacted by the American Institutes of Research’s (AIR) recruiting partner, Data Recognition Corporation (DRC), between early December 2012 and January 2013 to be formally invited to participate in the pilot test.

The schools, approximately 10% in each state, were selected based on predetermined demographic criteria, to ensure that the pilot items are administered to a representative sample of students. These schools will provide critical data about the items developed to date as well as about how the system is functioning.

While the schools participating in the scientific pilo ...MORE

Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium Pilot Test Update

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 21:06:00 GMT

The scientific sample of schools to participate in the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (Smarter) Pilot test in Oregon have been identified, and schools that were selected to participate will be notified by ODE on November 30, 2012 via email (School Principal and District Test Coordinator). The “Scientific” component will impact a representative sample of schools and will provide critical data about the items developed to date as well as about how the system is functioning. Schools (approximately 10% in each state) will be selected to participate in this scientific pilot based on predetermined demographic criteria, to ensure that the pilot items are administered to a representative sample of students. Selected schools will also be contacted by the American Institutes for Research’s (AIR) recruiting partner, Data Recognition Corporation (DRC), between early December 2012 and January 2013 to be invited to participate in the scientific component of the Pilot Test.

All schools that are ...MORE

Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium Pilot Test Participation

Mon, 26 Nov 2012 16:57:00 GMT

In spring 2013, the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (Smarter) will conduct a pilot of the Smarter mathematics and English language arts assessments with students in grades 3 - 11. The attached flyer contains an overview of the pilot and information about the testing window. Within the coming days, the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) will be in contact with Oregon schools selected to participate in the scientific sample of the pilot. Schools that are not recruited for this scientific sample may still volunteer to participate in the pilot using non-secure test items.

To ensure that all Oregon schools understand the purpose and process for the Smarter pilot, ODE encourages you to forward the attached flyer to district and school personnel to inform them of what to expect regarding the pilot and to encourage schools to volunteer to par ...MORE