Demystifying the Michigan Merit Exam

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Demystifying the Michigan Merit Exam

• October 9, 2006

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Agenda

• Welcome
• Purpose
• ACT and Michigan Developed Overview
• WorkKeys Overview
• Sample Items/Processing
• Debrief
• Q A
• Next Steps
• Evaluation

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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

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Michigan Merit Exam
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(No Transcript)
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MME ELA Score Components

• Reading
• ACT Reading
• WorkKeys Reading for Information Items
• Writing
• ACT English
• ACT Writing
• Michigan Developed Social Studies

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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

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ELA ACT Reading (40 MC items)
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ELA ACT English (75 MC items)
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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 students
  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

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ELA Components (cont.)

• Michigan Developed Items
• Social Studies Prompt
• Persuasive Writing Scoring Guide (6 point rubric)
• Quality of the writing

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MME Mathematics Score Components

• ACT Mathematics
• WorkKeys Applied Mathematics
• Selected ACT Science Items
• Michigan Developed Items

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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.

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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.

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ACT Mathematics(60 MC items)
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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

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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

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ACT Science

• Measures skills in these areas
• Interpretation
• Analysis
• Evaluation
• Reasoning
• Problem Solving

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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

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ACT Science (40 MC items)
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Science Components (cont.)

• Michigan Developed Items
• 52 MC Items
• Currently based on MCF
• Starting in Spring 2008 based on HSCE

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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

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HST MME

• Whats 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

• Whats the Same
• Math Michigan developed items
• Science Michigan developed Items
• Social Studies Test

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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

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WorkKeys Information

• WorkKeys Applied Mathematics
• MC 33 Items 45 Minutes
• WorkKeys Reading for Information
• MC 33 Items 45 Minutes

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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.

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Establishing Skill Criterion
Job or Occupational Profiles identify the skills
required for a job or program. This sets the
Bar.
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Profiling Individuals Skills
Assessments show how an applicant, employee or
student performed. This establishes a skill
profile of the individual.
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Skill Gap Analysis
Gap analysis shows how the person performed
relative to the bar. Training is available to
close any gap.
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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.

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ComparisonACT WorkKeys - HSCE
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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.

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ComparisonACT WorkKeys - HSCE
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Take the Tests ACT WorkKeys
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Debrief

• As I went through the ACT/WorkKeys subtests, what
  surprised me was
• As I took this test from a students 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

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Questions Answers
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(No Transcript)
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Evaluation
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Contact Information

• Denise Brady, Shiawassee RESD
• brady_at_sresd.k12.mi.us or 989/743-3471
• Theron Blakeslee, Ingham ISD
• tblakesl_at_inghamisd.org or 517/244.1201
• Nancy Fahner, Ingham ISD
• nfahner_at_inghamisd.org or 517/244.1225
• Cindy Leyrer, Ingham ISD
• cleyrer_at_inghamisd.org or 517/244.1338
• Sue Stephens, Shiawassee RESD
• stephens_at_sresd.org or 989/743.3471
• Kelly Trout, Ingham ISD
• ktrout_at_inghamisd.org or 517/244.1261