FCAT Explorer Science Station: 5 th Grade Benchmarks Program Overview.

FCAT Explorer

Science Station: 5th Grade Benchmarks

Program Overview

FCAT Explorer From the Florida Department of Education

www.fcatexplorer.com

FCAT Explorer

FCAT-like practice on all FCAT-tested strands and benchmarks

Reinforces important science concepts

Available at no cost to all Florida public schools

Accessible from any computer connected to the Internet

Interactive practice program


FCAT Explorer

Fidelity with the Official FCAT

Strict adherence to the Sunshine State Standards and DOE’s Test Item and Performance Task Specifications

Rigorous item development process

Items drafted by science teachers and professional item writers

Items reviewed by instructional designers, testing specialists, science teachers, and subject matter experts

SR item in Strand G: Life and Environment


FCAT Explorer

FCAT-like Practice

FCAT-like practice on all tested strands and benchmarks A: Nature of Matter B: Energy C: Force and Motion D: Processes that Shape the Earth E: Earth and Space F: Processes of Life G: How Living Things Interact with Their

Environment H: Scientific Thinking

MC item in Strand G: Life and Environmental

215 FCAT-like practice items 125 Multiple Choice (MC)

45 Context Dependent (CD)

24 Short Response (SR)

6 Extended Response (ER)

15 Open Response (OR)


FCAT Explorer

FCAT-like Practice

Same style, format, scope and cognitive level as FCAT

Reviewed by teachers for interest and difficulty

Number of items per benchmark based on teacher recommendation

Difficulty of benchmark

Difficulty for struggling students

ER item in Strand H: Scientific Thinking


FCAT Explorer

Instructional Support


FCAT Explorer

1ST ATTEMPT

CORRECT

Learning Guidance

Congratulations!

Correct Answer Explanation (CAE)

Confirms the elements that make an answer correct

Reinforces effective skill application


FCAT Explorer

1ST ATTEMPT INCORRECT

Learning Guidance

Includes hints to clarify the question without giving away the answer

Immediate second chance to apply the skill correctly

Click on Glossary Terms for definitions of more difficult science concepts.


FCAT Explorer

2nd ATTEMPT

For CORRECT answer, CAE confirms and reinforces accurate skill application

For INCORRECT answer, the explanation

Learning Guidance

Identifies correct answer

Explains why the answer the student chose was incorrect


FCAT Explorer

Practice Items


FCAT Explorer

FCAT-like Practice Items

Same formatting details as on the FCAT

Same notation conventions as on the FCAT

MULTIPLE CHOICE (MC)

MC in Strand G: Life and Environmental


FCAT Explorer Science Station: 5th Grade Benchmarks


CONTEXT DEPENDENT MULTIPLE CHOICE (CD)

Students read a short passage

Answer three multiple choice items based on passage content

Students can review passage at any time

CD in Strand G: Life and Environmental

FCAT Explorer

Students are presented with two sample student responses and are asked to select the high scoring answer

Reinforces critical thinking by asking students to compare two sample answers

SHORT-RESPONSE (SR)

SR in Strand E: Earth and Space



FCAT Explorer

Student reads a response and assigns it a high or partial score.

Simulation strategies recommended by teachers

EXTENDED-RESPONSE (ER)



Based on classroom instructional practices

Requires student to compare and assess critical attributes

ER in Strand E: Earth and Space

FCAT Explorer


OPEN-RESPONSE (OR)


Students compose original answers

Read high-score sample response

Read explanation of attributes that earn sample response a high score

Compare student’s original

composition to high-score sample response

Option to print

OR in Strand A: Nature of Matter

FCAT Explorer

Special Features



Linked (blue) words in first incorrect response

Click speaker icon to hear word pronounced

Definition

Spanish and Haitian Creole translations

GLOSSARY

Special Learning Features

FCAT Explorer

READ/INQIRE/EXPLAIN (RIE) ICON

Available on SR, ER, and OR items

Students click on the RIE icon to view rubric

Rubric helps students identify elements included in high scoring answers




Science Vocabulary Exercises


Before each item set, students work with science terms important to that benchmark

Frayer model approach


Science Vocabulary Exercises


Summary screen at completion of set

Same words appear in vocabulary games at end of benchmark sequence


Animated Vocabulary Games


Play one of four vocabulary games upon completing a group of benchmarks

Includes repetition of question for incorrect responses


Remedial Lessons


Provided when students miss 3 or more items per benchmark sequence

Each annually assessed benchmark offers a lesson


Remedial Lessons


Interactive

Students control pace

Learning checks spaced throughout

Reinforcement of key concepts


Remedial Lessons: Super SRs


Students build answer by dragging sentences

Focus on key ideas needed to answer question

FCAT Explorer


Links directly to items answered incorrectly

Helps students focus on skill improvement

Displays corresponding strand

CHALLENGE LIST


FCAT Explorer

Educators’ Tools


FCAT Explorer

Educators’ ToolsClassroom Teacher’s Desk

Vocabulary Exercise Review

Curriculum resourcesTable of Strands and

Benchmarks

Item Review

Open Response Items

Vocabulary activities review

Letter to Parents

Lesson Review

Fluency List


FCAT Explorer

Check progress on individuals or classes

View science data by Benchmark

Compare percentage correct before and after instructional support

Student Performance ReportsAT THE CLASSROOM TEACHER’S DESK


FCAT Explorer

The Parent & Family Guide

Accessible from the home page without a password

Available in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole

Helps parents, guardians, and mentors understand the Sunshine State Standards and the FCAT


FCAT Explorer

Linked from the home page

Download this PowerPoint presentation

Download the School Administrator’s Desk Manual

Download the Teacher’s Desk Manual

Program-specific presentations

Download other presentations

Visit the Educator Resources Page


FCAT Explorer

Toll-Free Help Desk

Accessible from the home page without a password

1-888-750-FCAT

1-888-750-3228

Weekdays from

7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.


FCAT Explorer

To get sign-in names and passwords

School Principals:

Contact your District

Office and speak to the

FCAT Explorer District

Administrator

Teachers:

Contact your FCAT

Explorer School

Administrator

FCAT Explorer Home Page (www.fcatexplorer.com)


FCAT Explorer

Sneak Preview!

8th Grade Science

FCAT Explorer

FCAT Explorer

Same Instructional Features as 5th Grade Science

Vocabulary exercises and games

All item types

Strand-based remedial lessons

Super SRs—Mini Lessons within item sequence

FCAT Explorer

Super SR—Mini Lessons: Step 1

FCAT Explorer


FCAT Explorer

Delivery Schedule: Science

8th Grade Science—December 31, 2007

11th Grade Science—June 2008

Focus Mini Assessments—2008-2009

FCAT Explorer

Log on to FCAT Explorer!

www.fcatexplorer.com


FCAT Explorer Science Station: 5 th Grade Benchmarks Program Overview.

Documents

Transcript of FCAT Explorer Science Station: 5 th Grade Benchmarks Program Overview.