Demystifying the Michigan Merit Exam October 9, 2006
Jan 11, 2016
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 [email protected] or 989/743-3471
Theron Blakeslee, Ingham ISD [email protected] or 517/244.1201
Nancy Fahner, Ingham ISD [email protected] or 517/244.1225
Cindy Leyrer, Ingham ISD [email protected] or 517/244.1338
Sue Stephens, Shiawassee RESD [email protected] or 989/743.3471
Kelly Trout, Ingham ISD [email protected] or 517/244.1261