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Creating an Express (EX) Assessment

  • Updated

The Express Assessment type was designed with a teacher's often busy schedule in mind . This assessment option allows staff to create a "quick check" assessment answer sheet for an existing assessment or quiz that is typically not aligned to standards. The average number of items for an Express assessment generally falls within 3 to 10 test questions and is meant to serve as a quick check for comprehension.

It can be administered on paper and scored using GradeCam™ technology or Scan and a supported scanner. It can also be administered online via the Student Portal with an uploaded PDF of the assessment.

Where to Start

  1. From the Top Menu Bar Grid icon, click the Assessments tile.
  2. Once the Manage Assessments page opens, click the green Create Assessments button located in the upper right corner of the screen and in the dropdown menu, select Express.

Express Assessment Setup

  1. Assessment Year - The new assessment will default to the current school year. If you want to create this assessment for another year, click on the current year and select the correct year from the drop down.
  2. Tag Assessment (Optional):  Create a new tag for your assessment to facilitate the search process in the Assessment Manager, or add an existing tag.
  3. Assessment Name: Enter an assessment name that is unique from any other assessment you have created. It should be clear to you and anyone you may decide to share with.
  4. Subject: Select your subject from the drop down menu.
  5. Existing Collection: You have the option to organize your assessments into an organizational tool called Collections. You can add assessments to an existing Collection of assessments, or create a new Collection.
  6. PLC (Optional) - Use the dropdown menu to select a PLC to add the assessment to.
  7. Number of Items: Choose the number of items on your assessment by entering the total number of items in the text box and then click on Update.
  8. Answer Key: Once you have updated the number of items, you must set up your answer key by choosing the Question Type for each item. In an Express assessment, you have the ability to choose from the following item types:
    • Constructed Response (CR) and Short Answer (SA): Require a written response from the student. CR questions are graded by using a rubric, while SA questions have only one correct answer. For paper assessments, these items must be scored by hand and the score entered on the student bubble sheet before scoring with GradeCam™ technology or Scan. For online assessments, these items must be scored online. [Note: Please see the Help document, Score Assessments: Scoring an Online Constructed Response, for more information.]
    • Evidence Based Selected Response (EBSR):Two-part question, with Part A and B being a combination of Multiple Choice or Multiple Response items.This is an online only item type using the Online Answer Sheet. No partial credit given.
    • Inline Choice (IC) - Requires the student to select the correct answer from a drop down menu.
    • Multiple Binary (MB): The student responds Yes/No, True/False, or Correct/Incorrect for 2-6 answer choices. No partial credit.
    • Multiple Choice (MC): Traditional item with only one correct answer out of 2-9 answer choices.
    • Multiple Response (MR): Two or more correct answers out of 2-9 answer choices. No partial credit.
    • Numerical Response (NR): For a paper test, the student uses a Griddable Template to enter a numeric answer; for an online test, the student uses a keypad to enter the answer.
    • Short Answer (SA) - Requires the student to enter an answer to a question similar to fill in the blank. There is only one correct answer.

Complete the Answer Sheet for each Question/Item:

  1. Number of Choices - Use the dropdown to choose the number of answer choices. Note for CR items, the total Rubric Points must be entered.
  2. Type of Choices - Use the dropdown to select the type of choice. Note for CR items, the Rubric Multiplier number must be entered.  
  3. Correct Answer(s) - Indicate the correct answer.
  4. Point Value - Enter the point value of each item. Points for CR items are automatically calculated based on the Rubric Points and Rubric Multiplier.
  5. Use the down arrow in Functions to Copy a Row or Delete a row.
  6. Process for creating a Numerical Response Item Type:  Select NR, then click on Select Griddable Template.
  7. View the available templates and choose the one that is most appropriate for the item by clicking on Select This Template.
  8. The template will populate in the Answer Key. There will be black boxes for entering the correct response and orange boxes underneath for adding a Tolerance value (T) if appropriate. Remove T by clicking on the T button.

If you need a template that is not currently available, work with your Administrator/Template Manager to request that it be created and made available.

Note: Including a Tolerance value allows a numerical response answer to be scored as correct when its value is within the selected Tolerance range. For example, a Tolerance of .01 would allow an answer to be plus or minus .01 of the exact answer. If the problem asks students to round 3.666 to the nearest hundredth, and the Tolerance is set at .01, then the following answers would be scored as correct: 3.66, 3.67, and 3.68.

  1. Enter the correct response by clicking in the circles in the template. Click outside the template to close it.
  2. Change the chosen template by clicking on the pencil next to the template name to view the existing templates again and chose another one.

 

Assessment Delivery Settings:

  1. Show - Slide Show (gray) to Hide (green) to view the Assessment Delivery settings.
  2. Performance Level (optional) - Click on the Performance Level button to add.
  3. Administration Window - Select the beginning and ending dates the assessment will be available to students. Use the calendar icon to set dates. Click Apply when done.
  4. Method of Delivery - Scanning uses scan sheets and is scored using a supported scanner. GradeCam™ uses specific GradeCam sheets and is scored using GradeCam™ technology that must be licensed. The Online Answer Sheet allows students to take the assessment online in the Student Portal with an uploaded PDF of the assessment. [Note: If the assessment includes an EBSR item, the only delivery method will be the Online Answer Sheet.]
  5. Intended User - If you are using the Online Answer Sheet, you must indicate the intended user  Student or Teacher. Student means that the students will be completing the test online via the Student Portal. Teacher means that the teacher will be entering the students’ answers on the Online Answer Sheet after they have taken the test on paper. This is intended to be used by teachers whose students may have difficulty bubbling in the answer sheet themselves or taking an online test, such as K-1 students or special education students.
  6. Upload Student Assessment/Online Preview - If you want to administer the assessment using the Online Answer Sheet, you must upload a PDF of the assessment here. Click on the closed folder, and a box will appear where you can drag and drop or select PDF files to upload. Once uploaded, the folder will appear in the open position. You may also upload the assessment if you have selected Teacher as the Intended User. Click on Online Preview to see how the assessment will appear to students in the Student Portal.
  7. Enable Lockdown Browser - If your district has enabled the Respondus Lockdown Browser, slide Off to On to set it for this assessment.
  8. Online Settings - Slide Show to Hide.
  9. Answer Sheet Template - (Scanning only) If administering the assessment on paper using traditional scan sheets, determine which answer sheet you will use  individual or class roster. Click on the view icon (eye) to view each layout. [Note: GradeCam answer sheets are individual layout only.]
  10. Bubble Size - (Scanning only) Determine which size bubble you prefer for your answer sheet. Click on the view icon (eye) to view each size. [Note: GradeCam sheets have only one bubble size.]
  11. Answer Sheet Printing Date - Determine the date when answer sheets can be printed before the beginning window start date.
  12. Scoring End Date - Depending on what has been set by the district, you may be able to set a date beyond the closing date of the assessment window to allow more time to score Constructed Response/Short Answers.
  13. Student Selection - Select one of four options for which students should be scheduled to take the assessment.

Performance Level:

Performance Levels are optional; however, they help users interpret their assessment data in reports.

  1. To add, select Add Performance Level.
  2. Select the template you prefer by clicking on Apply This Template.
  3. Once the template is selected, the name of the template will appear along with options for changing the selected Performance Level set, or removing it.

Online Settings:

(Click on the info icon for a short description of each property.) Note that each property and tool can be locked by using the padlock icon. This will ensure that the property or tool you have selected will be the default setting for this assessment.

  1. Slide Show to Hide to view and set online settings.
  2. Duration: If delivering online and you want the test to be timed, slide No to Yes, and determine how many hours/minutes you want to allow students to complete the assessment. Click inside the time boxes to select the desired duration.
  3. Default Time Increment: Time may be added in set increments during the test.
  4. Time Window: Determine the beginning and ending times you want the assessment to be available to students.
  5. Days Window: Determine which days the assessment will be available to students.
  6. Properties: Select the properties you want for your assessment.
    • 4 Digit PIN Verification: Pre-selects the requirement of a 4 Digit PIN number for students to take an online assessment in the Student Portal.
    • Auto Activation: Scheduled students will be automatically activated once the assessment is published and the assessment window is open.
    • Auto Reactivation: Once a test is activated, students will be able to re-enter an assessment during the administration window as long as the assessment has not been submitted. The following scenarios will allow the student to re-enter the assessment if auto-reactivation is enabled: student closes/refreshes the browser; the application times out; connection to the Internet was temporarily lost; student clicks the exit button.
    • Display Item Details in Student Portal: Pre-selects display of item details in Student Portal when reviewing scores. This can be turned on and off at any time in the testing process.
    • Display Timer: Pre-selects the display of the timer (countdown clock) in the Student Portal.
    • Thermometer: Pre-selects the display of a thermometer that visually shows score when students submit their assessment in the Student Portal.
  1. Online Tools: When selected, these tools will appear in the Student Portal for students to use while taking the online assessment.
    • Calculator: The three levels of calculators are Advanced, Basic or Scientific. Only one may be opened at a time. Tutorials on using each of the calculators can be viewed at http://learn.desmos.com.
    • Equation Editor: The Equation Editor is part of the CKEditor text box formatting tools. There are four levels of editors: Elementary, Algebra, Algebra with Trigonometry, and Advanced. Students can use the CKEditor to write the equation in the space provided and click OK to enter it into the text box for scoring.
    • Answer Eliminator: Allows students to cross out incorrect answers and select possible correct answers.
    • Graph: A virtual graphing paper in which students can add points and form lines.
    • Line Reader: This is an adjustable, movable box (orange) that can help students track text more easily. The padlock icon on the right can be used to lock the reader in one place, so students can scroll through the text while using the line reader.  
    • Notes: Allows students to click on the talk bubble to make a note to themselves and/or the teacher. The note is moveable and resizable.
    • Periodic Table: This is an interactive periodic table. Students can click on an element to enlarge it and see a more detailed view.
    • Protractor: A transparent protractor that can move over a question to measure angles in test items. The protractor can also rotate by clicking and dragging on the curved arrow in the circle.
    • Ruler: A moveable ruler is transparent so students can move it over a question to measure lengths in inches or centimeters. The ruler can be rotated the by clicking and dragging on the curved arrow in the circle.

Student Selection:

There are four options for scheduling students to take the assessment. Only one may be selected.

  1. Schedule all students: If you are a teacher level user, then all students are all the students on your roster(s). If you are a school level user, then all students are all students in the school. If you are a district level user, then all students are all students in the district.
  2. Schedule students by grade level: Use this option if you want only students in a specific grade(s) to take the assessment. Check the box(es) of the grades you wish to schedule.
  3. Schedule students by Course Group or Course: Use this option if you have created Course Groups in the Group Manager, or would like only students in a specific Course(s) to take the assessment.
  4. Schedule students by Student Group: Choose this option if you have created student groups in the Group Manager, and want only those students to take the assessment.

Save, Save & Close, Publish:

  1. Once all of your selections have been made, you have three options. Click Save to save your work and keep working, Save & Close to save your work and close to return at a later date, or Publish if the assessment is ready to administer to students.
  2. Publish or Go to Advanced Settings: When you publish your assessment, a message will appear asking if you are done or if you want to go to advanced settings. Advanced settings will offer you the opportunity to refine/revise your online settings, set flags and adjust the scheduling of students. If you want to skip this for now, click on No thank you, I’m Done. If you want to go to Advanced Settings, click on Yes, take me to Advanced Settings.
  1. Once the assessment has been saved or published, it is now housed in the Assessment Manager under the tab in which it was created  My Assessments, School, or District  and in the specified Year. Please note that Recently created assessments will be listed under the Recent tab. If the assessment has been published, its Status will show as a green and the Activity will indicate Published.
  2. To make any edits to a Published assessment, it must first be Unpublished. Click on the down arrow on the far right under Functions. Click on Unpublish.
  3. A confirmation will appear. Click OK to continue. A second message will appear. Click OK again.
  4. Return to Setup by clicking on the gear icon. Make revisions and publish again in the last step of the assessment creation process.
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