From Peter.Bernard at maine.gov Thu Apr 2 11:50:09 2009 From: Peter.Bernard at maine.gov (Bernard, Peter) Date: Thu, 2 Apr 2009 11:50:09 -0400 Subject: [PAAP] NECAP Workshops Message-ID: <32E5C6B0B949584D9B6168C5F727916B05291B15@SOM-TEAQASMAIL1.som.w2k.state.me.us> Please note the PAAP-specific workshop, listed with the NECAP Introductory session descriptions below. We hope you'll join us for these important informational web conferences! The Maine Department of Education Invites You to Join Us For: Introduction to NECAP A Live Online Interactive Workshop The Maine Department of Education will be hosting a series of one hour sessions designed to orient educators to the New England Common Assessment Program (NECAP). MDOE Specialists will facilitate PowerPoint presentations as indicated in the Sessions section below. Session descriptions are located at the end of this notice. Virtual seats in these workshops are limited to 100 per session, so we request that schools join as a group in one location, securing only one virtual seat, using a speaker phone and projecting the Web image in order to maximize participation. Each session will be recorded and posted on the MDOE website within 48 hours of the presentation. If, after participating in the workshop or viewing the recording, you have remaining questions, email Sandra McKechnie or the session presenter. To join, you will need to follow the instructions below in order. All sessions begin at 3:15. There is no pre-registration for these sessions. We suggest that you log on 10 minutes ahead of time. SESSIONS NECAP overview with Susan Smith: Monday, April 13 http://stateofmaine.na4.acrobat.com/necap99/ Phone Dial-In: 1-866-910-4857 Passcode: 140893 Math, grades 3-5 with Dan Hupp: Tuesday, April 14 http://stateofmaine.na4.acrobat.com/necap4/ Phone Dial-In: 1-866-910-4857 Passcode: 985399 Reading and Writing, grades 6-8 with Patsy Dunton: Tuesday, April 14 http://stateofmaine.na4.acrobat.com/necap1/ Phone Dial-In: 1-866-910-4857 Passcode: 140893 PAAP with Kim Schroeter: Wednesday, April 15, 2009 http://stateofmaine.na4.acrobat.com/necap5/ Phone Dial-In: 1-866-910-4857 Passcode: 985399 Math, grades 6-8 with Dan Hupp: Wednesday, April 15 http://stateofmaine.na4.acrobat.com/necap2/ Phone Dial-In: 1-866-910-4857 Passcode: 140893 Reading and Writing, grades 3-5 with Diana Doiron, Thursday, April 16 http://stateofmaine.na4.acrobat.com/necap3/ Phone Dial-In: 1-866-910-4857 Passcode: 140893 INSTRUCTIONS To join a session, please follow these steps. 1. Go online to the URL listed above for each session. Use Internet Explorer or Safari for best results. 2. Enter your name in the box when prompted. 3. In order to listen and speak during the meeting, you will need to be connected by telephone as well as the Internet. To help you connect by phone, a box will appear asking for your phone number so the Connect conference room can call you back. * If you have a telephone with a direct-dial phone number, please accept this option, enter your phone number, and we will call you right back. * If you have a telephone with no direct-line phone number (if your phone is only reached by a switchboard), please click on CANCEL when the call-back box appears, then dial-in to the meeting using this access combination: Dial-In: see above for session information Passcode: see above for session information To participate in the web conference, you will need... * A computer with a broadband connection to the internet (Cable, DSL, or WiFi); Dial-Up will not work! * Adobe Flash Player (Flash 7 or later) installed on your computer; most computers already have the Flash Player installed - however, if yours does not, or if your Flash Player is in need of updating (version 6 or older), you can download the player for free from Adobe by clicking on this link: http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/?promoid=BUIGP; this is a safe and quick download. * An open phone line; we recommend using a hands-free headset or speakerphone. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Sandra McKechnie: sandra.mckechnie at maine.gov, 207-624-6770 If you have never attended a Connect Pro meeting before, test your connection: http://stateofmaine.na4.acrobat.com/common/help/en/support/meeting_test. htm Get a quick overview: http://www.adobe.com/go/connectpro_overview Adobe, the Adobe logo, Acrobat and Acrobat Connect are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United States and/or other countries. SESSION DESCRIPTIONS NECAP overview with Susan Smith: In October 2009, Maine students in grades 3-8 will take part in the New England Common Assessment Program, known as NECAP, in reading, mathematics and a field test in writing. This presentation is designed for principals and test coordinators and will provide an overview of the NECAP standards, administration dates, test design, session lengths, accommodations, administration policies, reporting, etc.susan.smith at maine.gov Math, grades 3-5 or 6-8, with Dan Hupp: The mathematics sessions will focus on the NECAP math standards and the design/ structure of the math tests. Other topics addressed in the math sessions include testing resources, calculator use, released items and reports. Instructional strategies will be featured throughout the presentation. dan.hupp at maine.gov Reading, grades 6-8 with Patsy Dunton or grades 3-5 with Diana Doiron: In these sessions, we will introduce the NECAP standards which are referred to as grade level expectations and articulated with much greater specificity than our MLR's. Vocabulary, literary text and informational text standards are divided into initial understanding and analysis categories. Grades 3 and 4 also include a standard articulating word identification and decoding strategies. Grades 5-8 do not include this standard. We will discuss how test items measure the NECAP standards and suggest possible strategies or focus areas for instruction. patsy.dunton at maine.gov or diana.doiron at maine.gov Writing, 6-8 with Patsy Dunton or grades 3-5 with Diana Doiron: Writing is assessed quite differently on NECAP. In both grade 5 and grade 8, there are 10 multiple choice items which measure conventions and structures. There are 3 short constructed response items and one extended response item. We will discuss test design, types of writing, the difference between a reading CR and a writing CR, and suggest some strategies for instruction. patsy.dunton at maine.gov or diana.doiron at maine.gov PAAP with Kim Schroeter: This important session will address revisions to Maine's 2009-2010 Alternate Assessment Standards for Reading, Writing and Mathematics (PAAP) due to the adoption of NECAP standards. This online meeting will discuss changes to: * the PAAP process and materials, * grade levels appropriate for the PAAP, * the revised time-line of the PAAP, * the Task Bank, and * materials for this spring's IEP development. kimberly.schroeter at maine.gov -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mailman.informe.org/pipermail/paap/attachments/20090402/219f1a04/attachment-0001.html From Peter.Bernard at maine.gov Thu Apr 2 15:54:43 2009 From: Peter.Bernard at maine.gov (Bernard, Peter) Date: Thu, 2 Apr 2009 15:54:43 -0400 Subject: [PAAP] NECAP Accommodations Review Message-ID: <32E5C6B0B949584D9B6168C5F727916B05291B1D@SOM-TEAQASMAIL1.som.w2k.state.me.us> Review of NECAP Accommodations - Time Sensitive Request Maine has joined the states of New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont in the New England Common Assessment Program (NECAP) in reading, mathematics and writing. The first NECAP test administration will begin on October 1, 2009. Fall 2009 will also mark five years since the initial administration of the NECAP pilot tests in the fall of 2004. As part of the ongoing development of the program, the NECAP states conduct periodic reviews of all aspects of the assessment program. This spring and summer, all the NECAP states are conducting a review of the NECAP Accommodations, Guidelines, and Procedures: Administrator Training Guide and the "Table of Standard Test Accommodations" included on page 5 of the Guide. This material is located at: http://www.maine.gov/education/lsalt/necap/materials.html. Since Maine is now part of NECAP, and Maine educators have not previously used the NECAP accommodations materials, this will be an opportunity to share our input for consideration. There are some differences between allowable NECAP and Maine accommodation policies, so we would very much appreciate Maine educator feedback. Following this review, an updated version of the NECAP Guidelines and Table of Standard Test Accommodations will be available prior to October testing. Please note that Maine educators will continue to use the 2008-09 Policies and Procedures for Accommodations and Alternate Assessment for IEP meetings this spring. A crosswalk linking NECAP accommodation codes with the new NECAP codes will be provided following this review. All 2008-09 approved MEA accommodations will be allowable for Fall 2009. Data on use of accommodations on the NECAP tests, current research on the use of accommodations, and feedback from educators will all be considered. Therefore, to inform the review, please read the existing NECAP accommodations materials at the site listed above, then log onto: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=xwczV6YLogCosDEfS_2bf5ow_3d_3d and answer the six open-ended questions regarding NECAP accommodations by April 17, 2009. Thank you for your help. Kim Schroeter PAAP Coordinator Maine Department of Education kimberly.schroeter at maine.gov 207-624-6774 Peter Bernard PAAP Assistant Maine Department of Education peter.bernard at maine.gov 207-624-6678 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mailman.informe.org/pipermail/paap/attachments/20090402/e619da08/attachment.html From Peter.Bernard at maine.gov Fri Apr 17 08:21:47 2009 From: Peter.Bernard at maine.gov (Bernard, Peter) Date: Fri, 17 Apr 2009 08:21:47 -0400 Subject: [PAAP] "Important Changes to the 2009-2010 PAAP" Online Presentation Message-ID: <32E5C6B0B949584D9B6168C5F727916B05291B78@SOM-TEAQASMAIL1.som.w2k.state.me.us> Recording of Web Conference Outlining Changes to the 2009-10 PAAP is Now Available Online On Wednesday, April 15, Kim Schroeter hosted and online conference in which she detailed significant changes to the 2009-2010 PAAP - changes that are due, in part, to Maine's decision to join the New England Common Assessment Program (NECAP). The 'webinar' was well received by the 80 people from around the state who went online and called-in to participate. For those who could not take part in the conference, or who did and would like to review the material Kim presented, an audio/visual recording of the conference is available online at: http://stateofmaine.na4.acrobat.com/p47871431/ * The PowerPoint presentation Kim used in that web conference is also available (slides only, and without audio narration), at: http://www.maine.gov/education/lsalt/paap/index.html It is titled "Important Changes to the 2009-2010 PAAP", and can be found under the "What's New" heading. About Web Conferencing The web conferencing tool utilized by the Maine Department of Education is Adobe's Acrobat Connect Pro. It is a new technology to us, but one we hope to put to considerable use in the future, as the department seeks ways of delivering important information in a timely manner, and yet save on costs both to us as well as educators, administrators, parents, and students throughout Maine, by reducing travel time and expenses. We welcome your feedback: please feel free to contact either Kim Schroeter (kimberly.schroeter at maine.gov) or Peter Bernard (peter.bernard at maine.gov) and tell us what you think. Thank you! * Note: The recording of the web presentation is in Flash format. In order to view the presentation, you will need to have the Adobe Flash Player loaded on your computer. Most computers are already equipped with this program; if your computer does not have the Flash Player, or you wish to upgrade, you can download the program for free by going online to: http://www.adobe.com/products/flashplayer/. This is a safe and quick download. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://mailman.informe.org/pipermail/paap/attachments/20090417/40a4bb58/attachment.html