Istation Update - 08/26

Istation Training - If you need training for your staff, contact Emily Bourgeois or Tom Deibel.

Training Materials - Located on the U: Drive (Public)
Teacher Training Materials -
\\pisdshare01\public\Instructional Materials - Electronic\Istation\AugustIstationTrainings\TeacherTrainingMaterials-ForTOT


Scheduling in the Lab - (From Tech Lab Teachers at Elementary Level)

Suggestions for scheduling the lab for Istation Initial Reading Assessment for PK-4th:

====================================

I have not worked out an exact schedule yet but plan on running all classes through the lab for testing. I will test the Kinder and first classes when they come to computer lab for their rotation. I have them for 45 minutes and that seemed to be long enough for Kinder.  A few students in first grade sometimes ran over and the teachers would allow me to keep them for them to finish. The first grade test is the longest. For  second through fourth the teachers will sign up for a time to come test in the lab that's consistent every month. For example a teacher might sign up for the first Monday at 10 o'clock every month. This is our plan. Not sure how it's going to work yet.  Most classes can finish within 45 minutes or less. Pre-K also signed up for a time last year to come and test and with an aide and the teacher assisting they were able to get all students tested in 30 minutes. 

=====================================

I think ideally, it needs to be done in the lab.  I think it will give more creditability to the test if you have everyone doing the same thing with a teacher monitoring.  We are thinking about getting the netbook carts in use as well.  That way the whole grade level can take the test at the same time or at least the same day.  If you have each class come in and take the test during the computer lab time, you will have classes that will be forced to take the test on the first day of the month and then will have to retake the test again on Friday if that is the day that they go to computer lab.  I think for K-1^st it will take about an hour…not sure.  You are going to have to help Kinder with their log in numbers and some first graders.  If I can remember back to last year…it did not take them as long to finish the test.  I think they were playing one of the games before their teacher came back to get them. 

Pre-K - I am thinking I may have the teacher use her account and do the test with them as whole group since their test opens later on.  Then they can practice using Istations while they are in their centers.  For testing, I don’t think they are coming to the computer lab to take their test.  The desks are too big for them.  Maybe small groups at the computer until the class is finished. 

=====================================

I have my students for an hour each, Kinder – 4^th. I set aside the entire computer lab hour for their testing. I gave Pre-K the option to come into my lab during my conference period to take the test last year, but they opted not to. I will offer the same thing this year. This year will be a little more challenging because I will only see the students an hour every other week, but I think I will use the netbook carts to help if we do not have time to complete during the open window. I had one class use the netbook carts last year for testing and it seemed to work well.  Last year, I just used the link for the testing site, and sent it out using Lanschool and then the students logged in. I will most likely download it on all my machines this year.

=====================================

Istation Testing Window - PK - 4th Grade must complete initial assessment between Sept 2 - 26


Istation FAQ -
1. Will math eventually have a Spanish component to it? I believe it will, but nothing has been released to us. Next year will be the release of PK-8 Assessment and more curriculum, but I do not have details.

2. If over-achieving students are working at school and at home, will they eventually run out of instruction? That is possible. Perhaps teachers of older students could assign writing projects. Our curriculum team is constantly writing more curriculum, but we do have some students who hit the end of the world.

3. If a bilingual student is working in both the Spanish and English areas, are these areas assessed differently? For instance, if the student is strong in Spanish but weak in English will this be reflected in instruction for each area? Great question; yes they are assessed differently based on reading acquisition skills needed in each language. Find more assessment details at this link: https://secure.istation.com/ReportToolbox/tool_assePeriod.