Assessment Newsletter (Volume 4, Issue 30)

Wyoming Department of Education sent this bulletin at 11/04/2016 03:47 PM MDT

Update from the Wyoming Department of Education  |  view online |  website

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November 4, 2016  |  WDE Assessment Updates  |  Volume 4, Issue 30

IMPORTANT! ACCESSING PAnext

On Monday, November 7th you will be receiving a login for Pearson Access Next (PAnext); this login will allow you to access the test administration system for the ACT. You will also be receiving two emails prior to receiving your login information to PAnext. The first email is titled “Managing your Participation,” this email will outline your first tasks in PAnext that need to be completed by December 16th, 2016. The second email is titled “Information about Accommodations,” this email will give general information about ACT accommodations and resources for applying for accommodations. You will need to submit applications for ACT approved accommodations by March 10th, 2017.  Please see the Schedule of Events on the Wyoming ACT website (www.act.org/stateanddistrict/wyoming) for a full list of upcoming events. We will be posting training materials, manuals, and guides for PAnext to the Wyoming ACT Website.

ACT SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

ACT has provided a schedule of events, for schools and districts, which outlines the timeline of activities which need to be completed for the 2016-17 ACT administration. Please view the Schedule of Events here. 

IMPORTANT! ACT ASPIRE TEST NAV APP UPDATE

Attention Building Coordinators and Technology Coordinators

Software updates have been made to TestNav for the 2016 - 2017 ACT Aspire test administration. Please visit the link below to download the most current versions of the TestNav Apps: http://download.testnav.com

Click here if you need help installing TestNav, please  call toll-free 888-802-7502 or email at ACTAspire_Implementation@ACTAspire.org.

Save the Date: BUILDING COORDINATOR TRAINING November 30, 2016

Educational Testing Service (ETS) will be hosting a training webinar for all PAWS Building Coordinators to review the Test Operations Management System (TOMS), the demographic collection database to be used for the 2017 PAWS Administration.

Please make sure all key staff who use the TOMS system attend the training. The webinar will be posted to the ETS – TOMS site as well as the WDE homepage to view if staff are unable to attend the live training.

In this training, ETS will review and walk through the current TOMS system.

 Register now!

·         https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5668649123669440772

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

·         View System Requirements

REGISTER NOW! PHASES I & II ASSESSMENT LITERACY AND FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT

The Wyoming Department of Education is pleased to provide Phase I & II in the Professional Development series provided by Jan Hoegh with Marzano Research, LLC. This two-day workshop is an integral part of Wyoming’s Statewide System of Support. These trainings serve as foundational components within the comprehensive instructional framework that is further developed in Phase III -The Art and Science of Teaching. 

Phase I & II participants will: • Gain an awareness of the research regarding classroom assessment • Understand the difference among obtrusive, unobtrusive, and student-generated assessments, and how to use each in the classroom. • Learn data analysis practices related to classroom assessments. • Learn attributes of high-quality performance tasks

Workshop Dates

  • January 30-31, 2017: Casper Wyoming 
  • February 2-3, 2017: Riverton, Wyoming 
  • February 27-28, 2017: Cheyenne, Wyoming 


PTSB/UW credit pending

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ACCESS 2.0 Q&A Series

The ACCESS 2.0 Q&A series provides opportunities for educators to learn more about specific topics to support preparation and administration of ACCESS 2.0.  The focus of the webinars is on pre-testing preparations. Specific topics are listed below.

  • Pre-Testing: Training at WIDA
  • Pre-Testing: Ordering Materials
  • Pre-Testing: Software Updates & Technology Readiness Checklist
  • Pre-Testing: Technology Installations
  • Pre-Testing: Test Scheduling 

To view the full webinar schedule for 2016–17, which includes dates, times, and links to join the sessions, visit the calendar on the WIDA website.

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IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES

  • November 7: ACT - Window to Submit ACT-approved Accommodations Opens
  • November 7: ACT - Window for Testing Online Tech Readiness Opens
  • November 11: Veterans Day - WDE Offices Closed
  • November 24: Thanksgiving Day - WDE Offices Closed
  • November 30: PAWS - TOMS Training - Webinar
  • January 9: Wy-ALT - New Test Administrator Training - Powell
  • January 10: Wy-ALT - New Test Administrator Training - Casper
  • January 11: Wy-ALT - Refresher Test Administrator Training (2 sessions a.m. and p.m.) - Casper
  • January 13: Wy-ALT New Test Administrator Training - Evanston
  • January 16: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - WDE Offices Closed
  • January 18: Wy-ALT New Test Administrator Training (in person) - Cheyenne
  • January 19: Wy-ALT Refresher Test Administrator Training (in person) - Cheyenne
  • January 24: ACT Accommodations Q & A Webinar
  • January 30-31: Phase l and II -  Assessment Literacy and Formative Assessment - Casper
  • January 31: PAWS -  Building Coordinator Training (in person) - Rock Springs
  • February 2: PAWS - Building Coordinator Training (in person) - Powell
  • February 2-3: Phase I and II - Assessment Literacy and Formative Assessment - Riverton
  • February 9: PAWS - Building Coordinator Training (Webinar)
  • February 27-28: Phase I and II - Assessment Literacy and Formative Assessment - Cheyenne