In October, I shared in this column that higher academic standards have been adopted in the Juneau School District outlining what we want each student to know at each grade level.
I wrote a bit about one program — Math in Focus — that provides materials and training to further support elementary teachers in delivering instruction that aligns with these new, higher math standards.
Those things I described are on the “input” side of our work. But, our vision that each one, every one of our students will graduate prepared to succeed beyond high school doesn’t stop there. Our teachers use a variety of assessment tools to also check on the “output” side of our work — student learning.
A few years ago the Juneau School District began using a tool called Measures of Academic Progress or “MAP” testing. These computerized tests are given at the beginning, middle and end of the school year to measure individual student achievement and progress. MAP is used across the United States and in a number of other Alaska districts.
Students are tested in Math, Reading and Language Usage. Younger students wear headphones to hear the questions; older students read questions displayed on the screen. As the student answers questions, the level of difficulty automatically adjusts to the student’s performance. If questions continue to be answered correctly, the level increases; if answers are incorrect, the questions become easier. Students work at their own pace with no grade limits or time limits. MAP results show the academic level at which each student is performing, as well as academic growth from test to test.
Unlike many other assessments, MAP results are available to teachers and students right after a test is given. Getting quick results gives students immediate, constructive feedback and provides teachers with valuable details about specific skills in a subject area. For example, a student’s math results show competency broken down by areas of numeration, measurement, computation, geometry, etc. This way teachers can accurately identify specific strengths and possible gaps in learning and use that information and strengthen daily lessons to meet the needs of kids.
Sharing results with individual students promotes learning by celebrating progress and encouraging personal bests, much like an athlete or musician in an adjudicated performance. It helps students take ownership for their own learning.
MAP information is shared at parent-teacher conferences. It is also available anytime by asking a student’s teacher, or through our online student information system, PowerSchool. To see MAP results for reading, math and language usage on PowerSchool, parents can visit https://ps.jsd.k12.ak.us/public/, log in and look for TEST HISTORY and then for MAP.
Families can access additional information by visiting juneauschools.org and linking to A Blog From the Juneau School District to Help Families Understand the MAP Assessment and Provide Resources to Support Your Children At Home. Here students and parents can find a variety of online resources to use at home. Interactive math and reading websites with games and videos are all designed to help at just the right level for each child.
• Gelbrich is the Superintendent of the Juneau School District.
Comments (10)
Add commentBravo JSD
Growing up in the U.S. I have always been disappointed that our Nation's school system is not even in the top 20 for any given subject. How can this be true when we are one of the top 3 richest countries in the World? How wonderful that locally we are doing something to combat that. To hold the students to a higher standard is a step in the right direction.
This MAP system sounds like a good way to test students. I particularly like that it adjusts according to how the student is doing on the test. This is good for multiple reasons including the student will not become frustrated with questions that are seemingly "impossible" to answer, students will not "breeze" through the test without feeling challenged, and every student really gets an individualized test that could not be accomplished easily on paper.
There are some good learning channels on Youtube that I would like to see used in schools. There are a handful of teachers in the World that can easily explain more difficult subject matter, and with modern technology every student in the country can benefit from these individual's skills. This is not a negative towards the teachers in our school system that go to work everyday and help the children become prepared for life. Plus these videos often use props and graphics that would not fit in a brick-and-mortar classroom. This would only be supplemental, but it would likely benefit our society as a whole. The channels I have found so far that should be considered (in my opinion of course) are: 1veritasium (physics), C.G.P. Grey (a mix, including political basics), minute physics (aptly named), and Vsauce (this one is hit and miss as far as valuable information, but there are several educational episodes that would have to be hand picked). Something to consider if you are a local educator.
This is a test...
Be wary of technology which offers a flat screen view of our children's educational progress. Want to know how the kids are doing? Talk to their teachers.
Want to know how the kids are doing?
Talk to them, the kids. They're people. Not cattle nor chattle. Talk to each individual kid. Spend time with each one and you'll get the scoop on how they're doing. Tests cannot replace individual concern and care for each child's needs. Tests cannot discern whether a child has had breakfast or a bath. Nor if I child has ever been read to. Can't tell from a test if a child feels safe at home or if they even have a home. The only way to know how anyone is doing is to ask them, kid or adult. We're all people and communication is vital.
@Ken
I see your point. However, teachers can only do so much. That being said, I do not think that talking to the teachers is any less important than you suggest, only that technology can help fill the gaps.
What we have been doing has never worked, so change has to happen. Maybe this is not the answer, but we got to try, and keep trying until the U.S.'s educational system is up to par with the World leaders in education. I do not disagree with you, and I am not trying to argue, because you are right. Parents should be in constant contact with their kids' teachers.
On that note, parents are as responsible for a child's education as the government. After school parents should teach their kids something that they would not have learned during the school day. Just a thought.
Schools are funded by
Schools are funded by government money. The government needs to see progress or 'profit' would be a better way of looking at it since it all comes down got money. These tests give a very good account of where the students are and can be transferred into a report. This isn't for the parents, even though thankfully they are included in the results.
I'd like to take this chance to ask the superintendent how he likes not living in juneau. Maybe he could save us money by staying down south and just phoning it in it setting up a teleconference in his home office. Seriously, that would make so much more sense then the special treatment he gets and save the district money. Of course I am going off of information I gathered a long time ago, is he still being flown downsouth where he and his family lives on the districts dime? At least the mine workers that do that pay for they're travel out of pocket.
Why do I get the feeling that
Why do I get the feeling that the school administrators are always scrambling to come with another set of acronyms to make parents and taxpayers feel better about the state of America's education system?
Reforms need to happen on a much more basic level and all the jumping through hoops with this and that new program and throwing more money at the problems don't produce enough results to get excited.
The root problems in education are the teachers' unions. Just a couple of tidbits of what they're up to lately - and these are the people that are in charge of educating our children? Frightening...
"While a guest on a local Chicago radio show, Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) VP Jesse Sharkey was questioned over his recent participation in the Midwest Marxism Conference and refused to answer why he was there and what relationship the Chicago Teachers Union has with the conference and sponsoring organization, the International Socialists Organization."
And this -
"A new animated video released by the California Federation of Teachers shows the rich “1 percent” urinating on and stealing money from the less fortunate and middle class. The purpose of the video is to explain “economic inequality” and the need for wealthy people to pay their “fair share of taxes.”
Narrated by actor Ed Asner, the full video is currently featured on the official California Federal Teachers website."
So there you go...
Seriously, Calypso?
The root of problems in education are the teachers unions?
Teachers teach students who come in all shapes, sizes, colors and abilities from homes with parents or not, with resources or not, where learning is valued or not, where the TV is on all the time or not, etc etc.
Unions don't tell teachers what or how to teach. Unions negotiate contracts on behalf of all teachers and work to ensure safe and fair working conditions so teachers can do the work of teaching. Most teachers don't have time to think about their union until its time to vote on their contract. Thats because they are busy teaching.
BTW, most teachers I have spoken with think MAPS testing is a poor use of the limited time and resources available.
Your painfully simplistic reduction of the problems in education reveals the need for bit more of your own.
That's my $.02
Is MAPS a problem?
I have two concerns regarding MAPS.
First, the kids know the questions will get easier if they answer incorrectly. There is little or no incentive to do their best and their goal is usually to just get it over with.
Second, while I see it as a useful tool for teachers, it is a burden on teachers and students when it is IN ADDITION to all of the other testing that is occuring. MAPS, SBAs, HSQE, Terra Nova and Workkeys.
@AKStu & @slallison
@AKStu - if that is correct that we pay for the superintendent to fly down south, let alone live out of the City and keep his job, that is very disturbing. Where did you get this info?
@slallison - if a student answers questions incorrectly to keep getting easier questions, then they are doing it to themselves and are not likely going to be helped by the school system. Students are people and if people do not want to learn, they simply will not.
I have seen progressive systems in places other than education and this seems like a good test to me; I do not mean to argue with you, but if you tried the tests I bet you would see the value. And maybe you are right, but we need to do something different in schools; as I mentioned above the U.S. is half way down the education list of wealthy countries. There is no excuse for it. That is why I am passionate about education, and I apologize if I am coming off as anything negative.
As I'm replying and reading
As I'm replying and reading on the ol' smart phone it's a pita to search through anything. In sure someone sitting on a desktop can pull up some stuff from last year when the whole super living out of town issue came up....
I do recall a shout out to the empire to run a story on that but then that would require investigative journalism!! The contract for super is public info Paul, you can call the district and request it. Be prepared to pay for the copies though...