Workshop

1. Workshop Facilitator:

2. Agenda • Introduction • Overview • Key Benefits • testGEAR Functionality • Enrollment • BrainScan • SMARTCurriculum • Tests • TestSCOPE • Summary • Enrollment • BrainScan • Lesson scores • Practice test results • Student responses • Implementation • Models • Rollout • Professional Tools • testGEAR homepage • Customer support

3. Goals and Outcomes • Understand the purpose and added benefits of the testGEAR resources • Learn the format and functionality of the various features • Recognize some instructional uses for testGEAR • Report and track student progress using TestSCOPE • Consider which Implementation Model(s) best suits your site • Define key Next Steps for implementing testGEAR at your school • Know how to access Bridges support and key tools

4. Purposes of testGEAR • Increase student access to test preparation • 24/7 access • Raise student test scores • Prepares you for multiple high stake exams • ACT, SAT, PSAT, Math, ELA, Social Studies, Science • Improved accountability • Adequate Yearly Progress

5. Added benefits for students • Recognize structure of target test including time allowances • Become familiar with style of questions • Increase self-confidence • Minimize test anxiety • Review of curricular content • Carryover to other tests

6. Enrollment

7. Activity 1 - Enrollment • If you haven’t done so already, using the Site Selector and your PAAK or AC, create a Professional Account (Grants access to both testGEAR and TestSCOPE) • Access testGEAR • Update Graduation Year • Update Keyword field (If you want to divide students by sections, classes, etc., in order to separate the results more easily in testSCOPE)

8. testGEAR BrainScan • 30 minute diagnostic tool • Creates an individualized “SMART Curriculum” for strengthening identified academic weakness • Subjective and objective type questions • Perception, learning styles, content • One time opportunity • Why skip the BrainScan?

9. Activity 2 - BrainScan • Log into your student testGEAR account • Select “Take the BrainScan” and work your way through the questions • You have 10 minutes for this activity, so please don’t spend to much time answering the objective questions • Review the BrainScan results

10. SMART Curriculum An individualized curriculum using a combination of preparation methods to build student skills and confidence on high stake exit exams There are four components to the SMART Curriculum: • Instructions • Your Entire Curriculum: View the organized units • Course Library: View stored elements, definitions and legends • Progress Report

11. Practorials • Focus on specific test taking tips and strategies • 15-25 minutes per Practorial • Fun roadmap format • Quizzes to test students understanding of skills presented in Practorial • Printable summary notes for study review

12. Microcourses • Skill based questions related to a specific subject • Fun road map format, same feel as practorials • 25-35 minute learning segments • Each skills concludes with 3 learning question • Printable summary notes for study review

13. Vocab Lab • Fun, fast paced trivia game show format • Build students vocabulary and sentencecompletion in 20 minutes per game • Play as many games as desired • Points are accumulated and displayed in a top ten list

14. Activity 3 – SMART Curriculum • Select a Practorial from your favorite subject area • Read the instructions and follow the directions • Take the quiz and view your results A B A • Select a MicroCourse from your favorite subject area • Read the instructions and follow the lesson presented • Answer the 3 learning questions

15. Activity 3 - Continued C • Time for a friendly competition.. How are your vocabulary skills? • Enter the Vocab lab • You have 5 minutes to answer 30 questions • Once all 30 questions are answered we will see who has the most right • Don’t take too long on one question

16. Tests • Mirror the look, feel, timing, and questions of the actual exam • Designed to help students become familiar with standardized test questions • Three types: • Practice Tests • Full Tests • Mini Tests (no mini tests with the ACT testGEAR)

17. Practice Tests • Based on actual test sections or question types • 25-30 minutes long • Learner Mode • Not timed • Confirm and review work • Test Mode • Timed • No review until results are generated

18. Full Tests • Simulate the target examination • Same time duration • Same types of sections, distribution of question types • Same number of questions and numbers of questions • Include time breaks

19. Mini Tests • Condensed version of a full test • Allow students to experience range of question type within a compressed time frame • Typically 60 minutes • Included with High School Exit Exams suite

20. Activity 4 – Practice Tests • Select the first practice test from the list • Use learner mode • Answer the first 5 questions • Submit your answers • Review the results

21. TestSCOPE • Summary • Visual overview of classes’ performance • Enrollment • Student enrollment and activity • Brainscan results • Question by question results and students’ perceptions • Lesson Scores • Students’ activity and performance on Practorials and Microcourses • Practice Test Results • Students’ activity and performance on tests • Students • Detailed reports on individual student activity and performance

22. Activity 5 – TestSCOPE • Using Professional Account: _________ and password _________ , log into TestSCOPE • Look through each of the different reports to gain a feel for what information they provide • Compare the BrainScan reports. Evaluate the student perceptions of abilities versus their actual results • Review individual student data.

23. Implementing testGEAR • Traditional test prep • Pressure on schools • Accountability / AYP • Success with test prep What about implementation? How do we roll this program out? Will testGEAR be a success? Who needs to be involved?

24. Making testGEAR a success • Proper Rollout strategy • Getting faculty buy in • Informing Parents • School Newsletter • Host a family night • “Marketing” to your school

25. Implementing testGEAR • Curriculum Enhanced • Programmed Course • After School/Weekend Program • Stand Alone Program

26. Curriculum Enhancement • Integrate testGEAR curriculum into an existing program • Typically used at sites where there are mandated state exit exams • Should possess a faculty receptive to trying new methods and strategies • Must have computers labs available

27. Programmed Course • Intended for schools that offer or intend to offer a test prep course • Variations on models (crash course, semester course, scheduled course) • Credits can be offered for this program to ensure completion of the course • School must have sufficient internet access

28. After School/Weekend Program • Intended for schools that have a group of motivated kids to take the program after normal school hours • Typically these schools have a high volume of college bound students • Schools are flexible with after schools hours for student access • Must have staff willing to commit to after hours program

29. Stand Alone Program • Intended for students to take the testGEAR program at their own pace and time • Ideal for smaller groups of students who are committed to preparing for high stakes exams • Schools should be confident students are motivated to direct their own learning • Students must have access to computers and internet • Parent involvement is key

30. Activity 7 – Implementation • Divide yourselves into groups of 3-4 • Read through the site selected case study • Discuss and list the pros/cons of this implementation strategy • List the steps to reach successful implementation • Prioritize the steps • Plot a timeline for completion of steps • Assign responsibilities • Record plan on Implementation Worksheet • Be sure to designate a follow up contact personand contact date

31. Wrap Up • 5 minute review • Questions? • Evaluation survey • Did you fill out your follow up contact information?