By Dawn Prescott on June 28, 2005 in Assessment.

Session: Assessing Students' and Teachers' Technology Skills--NETS as Benchmarks
Presenters: ISTE Seal of Alignment Partners—Certiport, Bev McIntyre; Microsoft, Brian Bratonia; PBS Teacherline, Charmona Whitfield; Learning.com, Brian Williams; ICDL-US, Heather Shay
Time: June 28 at 2 p.m.

Don Knezek, ISTE CEO, highlighted recent assessment initiatives that focus on providing quality assessment for NETS, and spoke to ISTE’s Assessment Vision, one in which “new environments enable more effective strategies…each of which engages more students more deeply in learning…”. Dr. Knezek noted that ISTE has been looking closely at assessment products and has awarded its Seal of Alignment to five organizations that most closely match the NETS Standards. It is ISTE’s hope to create an array of options so schools can choose the assessment solution that best fits their NETS assessment needs.

The Seal of Alignment Partners presented an overview of their products as follows:

NETS-S ASSESSMENT SOLUTIONS: Certiport, Microsoft Partners in Learning, Learning.com

Option 1: Certiport

Certiport first specialized in the Microsoft Office Specialist program, and in 2003 launched their Internet Core Computing Certification (IC3). Through teacher feedback, Certiport found that teachers wanted 1) easy reporting 2) benchmarks for teachers and students, 3) prescriptive learning capability, and 4) application (scenario-based assessments).

The Certiport assessment asks one question per skill set, and gives an overall view of the benchmark assessment tool. A diagnostic report for the syllabus reports right down to the skill level and maps a recommended remediation path (i.e. book or module).

Assessment is scenario-based—it simulates the MS Office software—and offers immediate feedback. After offering a textual hint and a visual hint, scenario-based assessment provides immediate feedback, and will give a textual hint and visual hint after two tries. Finally it then will show the answer, creating an assessment FOR learning.

Reporting is key at all levels, and Certiport provides a range of opportunities for reporting and prescriptive learning to increase student success.

Cost: Contact a Certiport representative for pricing information.

http://www.certiport.com/

Option 2: Microsoft Partners in Learning--NETS Online Assessment Tool

Microsoft’s Online Assessment Tool is performance-based, and a FREE, user-friendly assessment tool for secondary education students. The MS Assessment Tool provides formative feedback to teachers about students’ technology skills, and it contains twelve 30-minute real-life scenario assessments tied to specific NETS-S Standards.

This solution uses the Microsoft Office platform to teach and assess, but the student can access the assessment without having the MS Office software installed on his or her computer. Assessment is emulative, which allows the exercise to be answered correctly in more than one way.

Formative assessment allows the students to retake specific tests until mastered. Students can then print out their assessment results report for the teacher.

Cost: Free

www.iste.org/resources/asmt/msiste

Option 3: Learning.com

EasyTech is Learning.com’s K-8 online technology literacy curriculum assessment.
Available in Flash format, this tool uses both multiple choice and interactive questions. This product is unique due to the fact that no specific software program is utilized during instruction. Instead, the word processing and the database search questions are generic, allowing the assessment’s emphasis to focus on mastery of the skill, not the software. Questions are randomly generated for each student, allowing several different test formats to be circulated. This Easy Tech assessment solution teaches more than software, it also teaches effective web searching using browsers and search engines, essential technology skills for our students.

Cost: $5 per student per year

www.learning.com/tla/

NETS-S AND NETS-T ASSESSMENT SOLUTIONS: ICDL-US (both NETS-S and NETS-T), PBS Teacherline (NETS-T)

ICDL-US (International Computer Driving License-U.S.)

ICDL provides validation of basic computer knowledge and skills for high school level and higher education. The program is presented in seven modules: Basic concepts of IT,
File Management, Word Processing, Spreadsheet, Database, Presentations, and Information and Communication (Internet and Email).

Two certification options are available:

1. Basic: 3 Modules-Word Processing, File Management, and Information and Communication
2. Full: All 7 Modules

The ICDL has partnered with curriculum providers such as eLearning and Instructional Materials, and because schools must pay for the exams the students take, it also includes bundled exams with diagnostic testing that simulates the real exam.

This assessment tool uses MS Office applications, and tracking capabilities allow for assessment reports by state, district, and individual levels.

Cost: $30-$150/user

http://www.idclus.com/

PBS Teacherline

This online professional development tool gives teachers the opportunity to demonstrate mastery of NETS-T. The focus is technology integration.

1. Introduction to Capstone (self-paced, shows how the program works)
2. Two 15-week coached courses:

   Capstone 1: Teaching w/Technology
   The educators in Capstone 1 develop two multimedia exhibits of classroom projects that demonstrate evidence of ISTE standards, participate in online discussions, and explore other exhibits.

   Capstone 2: Empowering Students with Technology
   The educators in Capstone 2 have experience integrating technology and can assist leaders and school improvement team members who are technology proficient and familiar with ISTE standards.

The goal of PBS Teacherline is to provide professional development (a deepened understanding of technology, teaching, and learning), to help teachers develop digital professional portfolios, and to gain national networking opportunities.
Cost: $1,000/teacher + earn graduate credit

www.pbs.org/teacherline