Demystifying the Michigan Merit Exam

October 9, 2006

Agenda

Welcome Purpose ACT and Michigan Developed Overview WorkKeys Overview Sample Items/Processing Debrief Q & A Next Steps Evaluation

Purpose

Provide a clear understanding of the components of the new Michigan Merit Exam

Provide an opportunity to read and discuss sample assessments

Provide an opportunity to discuss implications of the MME on classroom assessment and instructional practices

Share quality resources

Michigan Merit Exam

Test

All Grade 11

Spring

2007

ACT plus ACT Writing

WorkKeys and

Michigan Math

Michigan Science and Michigan Social Studies

Test

Subject Session

Components Contributing to MME Score

ELA Reading Writing Math Science

Social

Studies

ACT plus

ACT Writing

English X X

Math X

Reading X X

Science X X

Writing X X

WorkKeys

Reading For Information

X X

Applied Math

X

Michigan Math X

Michigan

Science X

Social Studies

X X X

MME – ELA Score Components

Reading ACT Reading WorkKeys Reading for Information Items

Writing ACT English ACT Writing Michigan Developed Social Studies

ELA – Reading

Measures students’ reading comprehension Referring to what is explicitly stated

Main idea Significant details Relationships

Reasoning to determine implicit meanings and draw conclusions, comparisons and generalizations Infer main ideas or purposes Demonstrate understanding of the text Determine word meanings

ELA – ACT Reading (40 MC items)

Content Area Number of Items

Prose Fiction 10

Humanities 10Social Studies 10

Natural Sciences 10

ELA –ACT English (75 MC items)

Content/Skills Number

of Items

Usage/Mechanics 40

Punctuation (10)

Grammar and Usage

Sentence Structure

(12)

(18)

Rhetorical Skills 35

Strategy (12)

Organization (11)

Style (12)

ELA –ACT Writing

30-minute essay test A prompt that defines an issue and describes

two points of view on that issue Essays are evaluated based on the student’s ability to:

Express judgments by taking a position Maintain a focus on the topic throughout the essay Develop a position by using logical reasoning and

supporting ideas Organize ideas in a logical way Use language clearly and effectively

ELA Components (cont.)

Michigan Developed Items Social Studies – Prompt

Persuasive Writing Scoring Guide (6 point rubric) Quality of the writing

MME Mathematics Score Components

ACT Mathematics

WorkKeys Applied Mathematics

Selected ACT Science Items

Michigan Developed Items

ACT – Mathematics

Requires knowledge of basic formulas and computation skills.

Requires students to use reasoning skills to solve practical problems in mathematics.

Tests students’ abilities to transfer quantitative reasoning and problem solving skills from one context to another.

ACT – Mathematics

Knowledge and skills: solve problems that are presented in purely mathematical terms.

Direct application: solve straightforward problems set in real-world situations.

Understanding concepts: reasoning from a concept to reach an inference or a conclusion.

Integrating conceptual understanding: achieve an integrated understanding of two or more major concepts to solve non-routine problems.

ACT – Mathematics(60 MC items)

Content Area Number

of Items

Pre-Algebra 14

Elementary Algebra 10

Intermediate Algebra 9

Coordinate Geometry 9

Plane Geometry 14

Trigonometry 4

Math Components (cont.)

Selected ACT Science Items (MC)

Michigan Developed Math Items (13 MC) Currently based on MCF Starting in the Spring 2008 based on HSCE

MME Science Score Components ACT Science

40 MC items

Michigan Developed Science Items 52 MC items Currently based on MCF Starting in Spring 2008 based on HSCE

ACT – Science

Measures skills in these areas: Interpretation Analysis Evaluation Reasoning Problem Solving

ACT – Science

Scientific information in three formats: Data Representation Research Summaries Conflicting Viewpoints

Test items require students to: Examine the relationships between the information

provided and the conclusions drawn or hypotheses developed

Generalize from information provided to gain new information, draw conclusions or make predictions

ACT – Science (40 MC items)

Number of ItemsContent Area Format

Biology Data Representation 15Chemistry

Earth/Space Sciences

Research Summaries 18

Physics Conflicting Viewpoints 7

Science Components (cont.)

Michigan Developed Items 52 MC Items

Currently based on MCF

Starting in Spring 2008 based on HSCE

MME Social Studies Score Components

Michigan Developed Social Studies 57 MC items

2 Prompts, social studies content rubric (5 pts)

Currently based on MCF

Starting in Spring 2008 based on HSCE

HST … MME

What’s new…

Reading – ACT & WorkKeys Writing – ACT & Social Studies

prompt Math – ACT & WorkKeys Science – ACT Items Counted in two Content

Areas Social Studies prompt (SS & ELA) Selected ACT Science Items

(Math & Science) Less writing/fewer constructed

response items

What’s the Same…

Math – Michigan developed items

Science – Michigan developed Items

Social Studies Test

Things to Keep in Mind – MME

For students… Timed test

ACT college-reportable score

Obtain information about skills needed for a job, technical training or college success

WorkKeys® Information

WorkKeys Applied Mathematics MC – 33 Items – 45 Minutes

WorkKeys Reading for Information MC – 33 Items – 45 Minutes

WorkKeys Information

What is WorkKeys? WorkKeys is a job skills assessment system

measuring “real world” skills that employers believe are critical to job success.

WorkKeys predicts career/workplace success WorkKeys connects learning to career success.

Educators and workforce developers use it to translate a vague statement like "we need more math" into a precise set of teachable skills really used in a workplace.

Job or Occupational Profiles identify the skills required for a job or program. This sets the “Bar.”

Establishing Skill Criterion

Assessments show how an applicant, employee or student performed.This establishes a skill profile of the individual.

Profiling Individual’s Skills

Gap analysis shows how the person performed relative to the “bar.” Training is available to close any gap.

Skill Gap Analysis

WorkKeys Information

Applied Mathematics AM is the skill people use when they use

mathematical reasoning and problem-solving techniques to solve work-related problems.

Employees may use calculators and conversion tables to help with the problems, but they still need to use math skills to think them through.

ComparisonACT – WorkKeys - HSCE

Skill Group ACT Mathematice Test College Readiness

Standards (20-23 Range)

WorkKeys Applied MathematicsTest

Skills (Level 5)

Possible Alignment to HSCE (Michigan) For discussion purposes only

Geometry and Geometric Thinking

Compute the area and perimeter of triangles and rectangles in simple Problems Use geometric formulas when all necessary information is given Locate points in the coordinate Plane Comprehend the concept of length on the number line Exhibit knowledge of slope Find the measure of an angle using properties of parallel lines Exhibit knowledge of basic angle properties and special sums of angle measures (e.g., 90°, 180°,and 360°)

Solve geometric problems that include a considerable amount of extraneous information Calculate using several steps of Logic Calculate perimeters and areas of basic shapes (rectangles and circles) Look up and use a single formula Decide what information, calculations, or unit conversions to use to solve the problem

G1.2.1 Prove that the angle sum of a triangle is 180° and that an exterior angle of a triangle is the sum of the two remote interior angles. G1.2.2 Construct and justify arguments an solve multi-step problems involving angle measure, side length, perimeter, and area of all types of triangles G1,.2.3 Know a proof of the Pythagorean Theorem and use the Pythagorean Theorem and its converse to solve multit-step problems. G1.4.1 Solve multi-step problems and construct proofs involving angle measure, side length, diagonal length, perimeter, and area of squares, rectangles, parallelograms, kites and trapezoids

WorkKeys Information

Reading for Information RFI is the skill people use when they read and

use written texts in order to do a job. The written texts include memos, letters, directions, notices bulletins, policies and regulations.

It is often the case that these workplace communications are not well written or targeted to the appropriate audience.

Skill Group ACT Reading Test

College Readiness Standards (20-23 Range)

WorkKeys Reading for Information Test

Skills (Level 5)

Possible Alignment to HSCE (Michigan) For discussion purposes only

Main Ideas and Supporting Details

Infer the main idea or purpose of straightforward paragraphs Understand the overall approach taken in a passage (e.g., point of view, kinds of evidence used)

Locate important details

Make simple inferences about how details are used in a passage

Understand main ideas, topic sentences, and the relationships among sentences in a paragraph Correctly use technical terms when describing the main idea and supporting details in a passage. Recognize organizational structures of passages to identify pertinent details and recognize appropriate applications. Select important details to clarify meaning

2.1.4 Identify and evaluate the primary focus, logical argument, structure, and style of a text or speech and the ways in which these elements support or confound meaning or purpose. 2.1.5 Analyze and evaluate the components of multiple organizational patterns (e.g., compare/contrast, cause/effect, problem/solution, fact/opinion, theory/evidence).

ComparisonACT – WorkKeys - HSCE

Take the Tests …ACT & WorkKeys

Debrief

As I went through the ACT/WorkKeys subtests, what surprised me was…

As I took this test from a student’s perspective, the strategies I used were…

Now that I have “taken” the ACT/WorkKeys, these are some of the implications I see for instruction in my classroom…

Now that I have “taken” the ACT/WorkKeys, these are some of the implications I see for assessment in my classroom…

Questions & Answers

Next Steps

Share information with the rest of your

department/ staff Review the materials in notebook

making copies for others Visit the ACT or MME websites for

additional samples you can use

Provide opportunities in assignments for

students to do the kind of thinking/ writing that will prepare them to be successful

Provide many opportunities for students to

engage in real-word problem solving contexts

Continue quality instruction/ assessment

practices

Evaluation

Contact Information

Denise Brady, Shiawassee RESD brady@sresd.k12.mi.us or 989/743-3471

Theron Blakeslee, Ingham ISD tblakesl@inghamisd.org or 517/244.1201

Nancy Fahner, Ingham ISD nfahner@inghamisd.org or 517/244.1225

Cindy Leyrer, Ingham ISD cleyrer@inghamisd.org or 517/244.1338

Sue Stephens, Shiawassee RESD stephens@sresd.org or 989/743.3471

Kelly Trout, Ingham ISD ktrout@inghamisd.org or 517/244.1261