PSSA Science

Fall 2008

Sunny Minelli Weiland

• What do you know about Science Assessment Anchors and Assessment?

• What are your pressing questions?

Questions to Consider?

No Child Left Behind

2 Primary Goals:

1. Improve student achievement overall

2. Narrow the achievement gap between students of different backgrounds

Pennsylvania Academic Standards

The STEE StandardsAct 24 - January 22, 1993 (The

Environment Act), stipulated that the Department of Education conduct a periodic evaluation of school-based environmental education in this Commonwealth

Chapter 4 - January 16, 1999, established the Academic Standards and Assessments

PA STEE Standards

• PA Academic Standards for – Science and Technology, July 12, 2001– Environment and Ecology, January 5,

2002

– These standards describe what students should know and be able to do by the end of fourth, seventh, tenth and twelfth grade

Pennsylvania Academic Standards

Act 16 (Senate Bill 652) - May 3, 2000, defined the PSSA as a test developed and implemented by the Department of Education to determine only academic achievement relating directly to objective academic standards in the areas of Reading, Mathematics and Science

No Child Left Behind – January 8, 2002

September 19, 2002- State Board Adoption of NCLB

House Bill 35 – January 4, 2007

Pennsylvania Academic Standards

Define what each student should know and do in a core set of subjects

Provide consistent targets for students, teachers, and districts

Allow districts to measure student achievement

Assessment Anchor Content Standards

Support for inquiry-based learning,

investigative, experimental, multisensory

instruction

Core knowledge of the PSSA content

Test Design and Blueprint

Test Composition

50% Nature of Science (Inquiry)

50% Biological Sciences, Physical Sciences, Earth and Space Sciences (Content)

2008 Test Blueprint

Reporting Category

Grade 4 Grade 8 Grade 11

The Nature of Science 33 33 36

Biological Sciences 11 11 12

Physical Sciences 11 11 12

Earth and Space

Sciences11 11 12

Total Points 66 points 66 points 72 points

2008 PSSA Science Test Format

Total Number of Multiple Choice Items per Student

Total Number of Open-Ended Items per Student

Total Number of points (Common

Items Only)

GradeApprox.

LengthCommon Items

Common Scenario

Items

Matrix Items

Field Test Items

Common SOE

Items

(2 points each)

Common Scenario Items ( 4 points

each)

Matrix Items

Field Test items

Number of Score Points per Student

4

95-100 Minutes

2 Sections

56 No Scenario 3 3 5 No

Scenario 1 156+10=6

6

8

105-110 Minutes

2 Sections

52 4 3 7 5No OE

Scenario Item

1 156+10=6

6

11

155-160 Minutes

3 Sections

36 12 5 8 6 3 EOE

0 248+12+1

2=72

Getting to know the Multiple Choice

• 4th Grade Assessment– Multiple Choice ~ 1 point

• 8th Grade Assessment– Multiple Choice ~ 1 point – Also contains Scenario with 4 Multiple

Choice ~ 1 point each

• 11th Grade Assessment– Contains 3 Scenarios (4 MC each)

• 1 EOE with each Scenario ~ 4 points each

Getting to know the “Short Open Ended”

• 4th Grade Assessment– Short Open Ended ~ 2 points

• 8th Grade Assessment– Short Open Ended ~ 2 points

• 11th Grade Assessment– Extended Open Ended – 4 Points

Science Assessment Anchors

Assessment Anchor Content Standards andEligible Content

( PSSA)

PASTEEStandards(minimum requirementfor the Local Assessment Plan)

DistrictCurriculum(Strategic Plan)

Science and Technology

3.1 Unifying Themes

3.2 Inquiry and Design

3.3 Biological Sciences

3.4 Physical Science, Chemistry and Physics

3.5 Earth Sciences

3.6 Technological Education

3.7 Technological Devices

3.8 Science, Technology and Human Endeavors

Glossary

Environment and Ecology

4.1 Watersheds and Wetlands4.2 Renewable and Nonrenewable Resources4.3 Environmental Health4.4 Agriculture and Society4.5 Integrated Pest Management

4.6 Ecosystems and their Interaction4.7 Threatened, Endangered and Extinct Species4.8 Humans and the Environment4.9 Environmental Laws and RegulationsGlossary

Science Assessment Anchors

• Incorporate PA Academic Standards for Science & Technology and Environment & Ecology

• Assessment Anchors Content Standards are Intended to Simplify

Assessment Anchors Provide…

Clear focus of the non-negotiable Core knowledge of the “must know” Design for the PSSA Connections between the PSSA and classroom instructionStandards-based school district curriculum Support for inquiry-based learning, investigative, experimental, multi-sensory instruction

Assessment Anchors are Okay!!

• Clarity

• Focus

• Alignment

• Grade appropriate skills

• Curricular flow

• Rigor

• Manageability

ReportingCategories

Connections to Standards

A. The Nature of Science 3.1 Unifying Themes of Science3.2 Inquiry and Design3.6 Technology Education3.7 Technological Devices3.8 Science, Technology, and Human Endeavors4.4 Agriculture and Society 4.6 Ecosystems and their Interactions4.7 Threatened, Endangered, and Extinct Species4.8 Humans and the Environment

B. Biological Science 3.1 Unifying Themes of Science3.3 Biological Sciences4.2 Renewable and Nonrenewable Resources4.3 Environmental Health4.6 Ecosystems and Their Interactions4.7 Threatened, Endangered, and Extinct Species

C. Physical Sciences 3.2 Inquiry and Design3.4 Physical Science, Chemistry, and Physics3.6 Earth Sciences

D. Earth and Space Sciences

3.2 Inquiry and Design3.4 Physical Science, Chemistry, and Physics3.5 Earth Sciences3.7 Technological Devices4.1 Watersheds and Wetlands4.2 Renewable and Nonrenewable Resources4.8 Humans and the Environment

The KEYS to Assessment Anchors

• Reporting Category – Subcategory

• Assessment Anchor

• Reference to PA Standard

• Eligible Content

• Sample Items

Science Reporting Categories

SA The Nature of Science SB Biological Science SC Physical Sciences SD Earth & Space Sciences

With Subcategories

A The Nature of Science1. Reasoning and Analysis

2. Processes, Procedures and Tools for Scientific Investigation

3. Systems, Models, and Patterns

With Subcategories

B Biological Sciences1. Structure and Function of Organisms

2. Continuity of Life

3. Ecological Behavior and Systems

With Subcategories

C Physical Sciences1. Structure, Properties, and Interactions

of Matter and Energy

2. Forms, Sources, Conversions, and Transfer of Energy

3. Principals of Forces and Motion

With Subcategories

D Earth and Space Sciences1. Earth Features and Processes that

Change Earth and Its Resources

2. Weather, Climate, and Atmospheric Processes

3. Composition and Structure of the Universe

The Nature ofScience

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania ScienceScience

PhysicalSciences

Biological Sciences

Earth and

Space Sciences

ReasoningAnalysisProcesses

ProceduresPatternsModelsSystemsDesigns

Subcategory : S8.A.1 Reasoning and Analysis

Reporting Category: S8.A The Nature of Science

Standard Strand 3.2 Inquiry and Design

3.2.7. (Grade 7)

A. Explain and apply scientific and technological knowledge.• Distinguish between a scientific theory and a belief.• Answer “What if” questions based on observation,

inference or prior knowledge or experience.• Explain how skepticism about an accepted scientific

explanation led to a new understanding.• Explain how new information may change existing

theories and practice.

StandardStandardStandardStandard AnchorAnchorAnchorAnchorPA Academic Standards

Reporting Categories

Subcategories

Assessment Anchors

Descriptors

Eligible Content

ASSESSMENT ANCHOR

S8.A.1 1 Explain, interpret and apply scientific, environmental, or technological knowledge presented in a variety of formats (e.g., visuals, scenarios, graphs).

Reference: 3.2.7.A, 3.2.7.B

ELIGIBLE CONTENT

S8.A.1.1.1 Distinguish between a scientific theory and an opinion, explaining how a theory is supported with evidence, or how new data/ information may change existing theories and practice.

Assessment Anchor Coding with Eligible

ContentS4.A.1.1.1S4.A.1.1.1

ScienceScience

Grade Grade LevelLevel

Sub-CategorySub-Category

AssessmentAssessmentAnchorAnchor

Eligible Eligible ContentContent

ReportingCategory

Eligible Content

• The Eligible Content is often known as the “assessment limits” and helps teachers identify how the anchor will be assessed.

• Not all of the Eligible Content will be assessed on the PSSA each year, but it shows the range of knowledge drawn upon to design the test.