For those interested this is the email I received from the technology
integration strategist at Boone.
Karl H. Hehr
Technology/Curriculum Director
South Hamilton CSD
www.s-hamilton.k12.ia.us
515.827.5418 (W)
515.209.9767 (C)
515.827.5368 (F)
Begin forwarded message:
From: "Dr. Melinda Gallagher" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: October 18, 2007 11:38:55 AM CDT
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Learning.Com
I was forwarded your message from our Middle School Principal, Nate
Heying.
This is our third year for using Learning.com TLA. The first year
we ONLY assessed our 8th grade students and then year two added
grade 5 as well. This year and subsequent years we will assess BOTH
grade levels.
My thoughts. I was really happy to find ANYTHING that assessed
technology and gave us numbers to report. However, I would error on
the side of caution. We structured our 7th and 8th grade computer
course to this test. We are not "teaching to the test" but hit on
many of the skills the students will need to successfully pass this
test.
There are 48 questions. There is NOT MUCH differentiation between
the 5th and 8th grade test and currently this test does NOT assess
or address the NEW ISTE NETS standards as they said it would. Their
response to why they didn't do what they said they would do is that
ISTE was too late in releasing the new standards and they had to
launch their test.
I would say 70% of the test is task oriented and has the students
actually complete something that thee company created using flash
animation. I like this. I like the reports and I like how quickly
they get the final reports to you. I like the look of the test to
some degree. The people I have worked with within the company have
been really good to work with.
I don't care for the questions or what they assess. I like the
"areas" ie. multimedia, word processing, ethics, however these do
NOT align with the NEW standards. I don't believe they assess the
most important things that kids need to know by 8th grade. I was
disappointed, to say the least, that the test this year does NOT
address the new ISTE NETS standards. Not a HUGE deal as we haven't
implemented them in our District but we were headed this way AND we
ONLY assess in the spring.
I don't like that at least ONE of the question is a multi-tier
question that asks the student to do TWO things and if they miss
part of the question and get the other part right it counts it
COMPLETELY wrong. Now, they may have changed this on this years
test. And again, there is hardly a difference between 5th and 8th
and our 5th grade class last year failed at like a 64% rate. We did
notice a significant increase in our 8th grade scores BUT we worked
on skills that the test asked and the tested revised teaching so I
am sure we can attribute the growth in change of content/skills
that was changed and taught by our 7th and 8th grade computer teacher.
Overall....I would rate this assessment as "OK" as there really is
nothing there to compare it to. This is MY personal opinion but I
do have experience with this test and how our technology standards
are included in our K-12 curriculum.
What are your thoughts or what has the company told you about their
test?
Again, I am just providing you ONE perspective but I really don't
think anyone else in the state of Iowa is using it .....at least
they were not last year.
If you have any other questions, please contact me. Year 3 for us
cost 1200.00 (that is their minimum) and so you pay that even if
you do not meet the student seats, which we did not so we were
stuck paying their minimum. That is pretty standard for many online
assessments (minimum)
melinda
Hello, I just spoke with a representative from Learning.com and we
are looking at implementing the technology assessment here at South
Hamilton. THey person I spoke with said that the Boone schools are
currently using it. I am interested in know how the implementation
is going and what are your thoughts and feelings about the
assessment. If you are not the person that I need to talk to about
this please forward it to someone that might be able to help, thanks!
Dr. Melinda A. Gallagher
Education Technology Specialist
Boone Community School District
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
515-298-0809 (Cell)
515-433-0020 Ext 150
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