Evaluating the Effectiveness of Reading Plus Assessment System

Presented by Merlin Hahn

Mission StatementDedicated to excellence and student achievement

St Charles East High School is committed to equipping students with the tools they need for academic, personal and social achievement.

St Charles East High School enables every student to reach their highest potential by establishing a curriculum that meets or exceeds government standards for education; providing extracurricular programs that develop children’s’ mental, physical and social skills; and partnering with parents and the community to create an environment geared to the success of all students.

Problem Statement

Identifying the trends and effectiveness of the current assessment of Reading Plus system of Special Education 9th Graders at St Charles East High School.

Executive Summary

• This Benchmark study will observe the growth rates since the start of the current school year as well as looking at data from the previous year.

• Along with intervention reports to help determine the effects of tests scores and will eventually guide course recommendation for future 9th graders.

• Reading Plus assessments identify visual and perceptual skill inefficiencies that can impede silent reading development and determine individualized instructional paths.

What does Reading Plus System do? Assess and adjust intervention and monitor

classroom technology needed to identify struggling students by using adaptive systems.

Collins contends “Great organizations simplify a complex world into a single organizing idea, a basic Principle or concept that unifies and guides everything”

Needs AssessmentThe main objective of training is to evaluate,

analyze, and improve the performances of both the individuals and the organization.

Therefore, training needs analysis must be a systematic method for determining what the needs are to done in order to improve the current situation.

A organizational analysis is defined as the appropriateness of specific training given the organizations business strategy, available resources and managerial as well as peer support.

Needs Assessment A task analysis this involves the identification

of the important tasks that will be performed as well as the knowledge and skills that will be acquired to perform such tasks.

The personal analysis this depicted as to what is determined from performance deficiencies and who needs training thus determining employee readiness.

Organizational Survey Questionnaire In your opinion, did the on-line computerized training program help to improve the student’s fixations of words? In your opinion, did the on-line computerized training program help to provide cognitive ability to functional teaching skills? In your opinion, did the on-line computerized training program help decrease the student’s regressions? In your opinion, did the on-line computerized training program help improve the students Span of Recognition? In your opinion, did the on-line computerized training program help improve the student’s duration of fixation? In your opinion, did the on-line computerized training program help improve the student’s duration of fixation? In your opinion, did the on-line computerized training program help improve the students rate of comprehension? In your opinion, did the on-line computerized training program help improve the students improve the number of correct answers? In your opinion, did the on-line computerized training program help improve the levels?? In your opinion, is the on-line computerized training program helping students use their time effectively outside the class room?

Recommended Training Strategy and Design

Reading Placement Appraisal The RPA is comprised of content level rate

determination, comprehensive level and the vocabulary level.

The guided reading assures proper development of the basic visual as well as perceptual process.

Lezotte states “The premise that every teacher must know what he or she must teach and what Students must learn is found in virtually every credible school improvement model.”

Methods

The RPA is defined as a three section computerized program that determines the correct appropriate level of reading and automatically advances or digresses each subjects performance.

PANE - Perceptual Accuracyl Visual Efficiency

PAVE TM (All levels)- Develops perceptual accuracy/visual efficiency, the basic requisites for fluent silent reading.

Perceptual Accuracy (Flash) Training

MethodsVisual Efficiency (Scan) Training this

training develops effective left-to-right directional attack and ocular motility as well as improves binocular coordination and accuracy of fixation.

Guided Reading ensures development of basic visual and perceptual processes resulting in ease and comfort, increased reading rates and improved comprehension.

Training Evaluation

I. Literal Understanding I-1 Recalling Information and Details 1-2 Following Sequence of Ideas or Events 1-3 Identifying Speakers

2. Interpretation 2-1 Main Idea 2-2 Making Inferences 2-3 Predicting Outcomes 2-4 Drawing Conclusions 2-5 Interpreting Figurative Language 2-6 Visualizing 2-7 Paraphrasing

3. Analysis 3-1 Comparing and Contrasting 3-2 Recognizing Cause and Effect 3-3 Classifying 3-4 Reasoning 3-5 Identifying Analogies

4. Evaluation 4-1 Detecting Author's Purpose 4-2 Understanding Persuasion 4-3 Recognizing Slant and Bias 4-4 Distinguishing Between Fact and Opinion 4-5 Judging Validity 4-6 Determining Relative Importance   5. Appreciation 5-1 Interpreting Character 5-2 Recognizing Emotional Reactions 5-3 Identifying Mood and Tone 5-4 Identifying Setting

ROI Pre-Post Measures Pre-and Post tests can alleviate some issues in training programs. Pre-Tests establish a base line of knowledge. Measure the Initial Reactions to the Training This will represent the most fundamental level. Provide feedback on technical and qualitative aspects. Analyze The Training Testing for Two Purposes Testing is used for confirming training Testing is used to reinforce the learning process. Analyze Skills Gained Over an Extended Period The purpose is to determine if the behavior has changed Important to understand if a reasonable time was sufficient. Cost-Benefits Analysis/Break-Even Analysis(Total Saving/Cost of the Program) Cost-benefit tool is used to justify the developing and implementing programming Break-Even analysis measures at which the money invested is equal to the cost. Annual Cost/ Savings in Months Evaluate Actual ROI for Overall Training of the Program Calculations that show the value of the expenditures. Calculations that are used to show how long it will take to payoff.

Discussion

Drucker stated that “If you cannot measure if ,you cannot measure it”

Decision makers want to know whether training was effective in hopes of making a case that will ensure the success of the training.

Reading involves a synergistic plan that stems from a specific set of neurological responses. This current bench mark study was designed to investigate the trends and effectiveness to increase the level of grade level gain.

Reading should inspire ones imagination, help formulate a plan of action, reflect and redefine in order to evaluate. As well as foster persistence to explore options to communicate and learn to listen actively and problem solve accordingly.

ConclusionAs a training and development professional and after

reviewing the compelling data I would continue to endorse the usage of the program as well as taking advantage of any future upgrades to the system.

After all the children are our future and we must act as mentors and coaches to provide the necessary tools they need to be successful in a learning environment.

Reading plus program has a proven success rate and has been recognized in the industry for its unparallel efforts to improve the students’ skills in learning and comprehension.

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