Mathematics Diagnostic Testing Project: The UCLA Angle
The Spring 2016 Writing in Math Workshop has been scheduled for five Saturday mornings, from 9:00-12:00, here at UCLA: February 6, February 20, March 12, April 2, April 16. This workshop is appropriate for math educators of grades 6 through 12.
Consult the Spring 2016 flyer and writing in math page for more info.
Reserve your space here. Space is limited and usually fills quickly. (And, this is probably the last time this workshop will be offered.)
The new year is a great time to use MDTP diagnostic assessments to get a fresh look at your student’s mathematical knowledge; to assess your students’ progress towards instructional goals; and to set goals for the rest of the year. Teachers generally select either the current course or next course readiness test. For example, a mid-year Geometry student might usefully take either the Geometry Readiness or Algebra 2 Readiness test, depending on the goals of the teacher.
Teachers also see the new year as a time to make plans for their end-of-year MDTP testing including ordering materials, and scheduling tests and support for test analysis.
And, anytime is the right time to contact us to schedule a school site visit. Site visits support teachers with issues in secondary math instruction and in using MDTP materials and resources. Site visits can be customized to meet your math department’s needs. For example, current sessions include:
So, start the new year right with MDTP: administer and review a mid-year diagnostic; order materials; place testing on your calendar; schedule a site visit; sign-up for an email subscription. Oh, and get ready for the next “Writing In Math” workshop series scheduled to commence in February (more info to follow soon). *
Please feel free to contact us anytime time to discuss your needs and questions.
*Remember, with the exception of online Daskala testing (available for $1 per student per test), all MDTP materials and services are provided at no charge.
We are in full gear here at the MDTP offices – furiously shipping orders, scoring tests and sending results reports to teachers throughout LA and Ventura Counties. The new common core aligned Math 7, Math 8 and High School Readiness Diagnostics tests are flying out the door. Second year field testing for Integrated Math 1 and Integrated Math 2 are proceeding apace.
Spotlight on the new High School Readiness Test
Released this fall, the MDTP High School Readiness Test, HS45A15, is designed to measure readiness for Common Core Algebra 1 or Integrated Math 1. HS45A15 assesses content from grades 3 through 8 that is foundational to Algebra 1, Integrated Math 1 or a compacted course that includes Math8 and Algebra 1 or Math 1. The test can be administered anytime, but is especially useful at the beginning of one of those courses or the end of a Math 8 course. Teachers should allow approximately 45 minutes for the test.
The HS45A15 test consists of 45 items sorted into eight conceptual categories:
The scoring results report allows teachers to identify the content in which students are adequately prepared and the conceptual categories and topics for which there are gaps and misconceptions. Results are reported at the class, topic, item and student levels.
UCLA Site Info
The UCLA-MDTP site is open M-F from 8 a.m. until noon; however you may order testing materials 24 hours a day. We process orders and scoring within 24 hours of receipt and ship via UPS which usually arrives next day.
As always, paper materials and all services are provided at no charge. Online testing via Daskala is $1 per student per test and includes immediate results and increased reporting functionality. Also, new to Daskala is the ability for students to self-register with no need for the teacher to submit a class roster to MDTP.
We are delighted to visit your school to introduce MDTP to math teachers or to help interpret the results and support next steps. This service is provided at no charge.
Personnel Change
Thank you and congratulations to our long-time student worker Yazmin Ruiz. Yazmin has been a bright spot in our offices for the last three and half years, but has graduated and is moving on to the big world. Rarely did a week go by that we didn’t receive a complement from a teacher because of Yazmin’s excellent work. Yazmin will be sorely missed. But, she carefully trained Joel Moreno, our new student worker, to carry on the MDTP-UCLA tradition of thoughtful and responsive teacher support. Welcome Joel!
Applications for field testing of Integrated Math II and Integrated Math III diagnostic tests are now being accepted.
Participating teachers commit to:
All field test materials and shipping are provided at no charge.
If your math department would like to participate, please fill-out the FieldTestData2015 form and email to MDTP-UCLA.
MDTP greatly appreciates teachers who take part in field testing – their support enables MDTP to produce the high quality materials for which they are known.
Three new Common Core aligned diagnostic tests are at the publishers and expected as follows:
Los Angeles and Ventura County schools may order testing materials here. Schools from other areas here. (As of this writing, the order form had not been updated with the new tests. If you specify the common core tests (Math7, Math8, and/or HS) and quantities needed in the comments section of the order form, we will get them to you.)
Field testing for Ca. Common Core aligned Integrated Math 2 and Integrated Math 3 continues again this year. These tests are expected the third week of August. To learn more about field testing submit the form below:
The Fall 2015 Writing in Math Workshop has been scheduled for five Saturday mornings here at UCLA. The tentative schedule is September 19, October 3, 17, 31, and November 14.
Here’s the info sheet: Fall 2015 Writing Sessions.
Reserve your space here.
There is also a new menu tab: Writing in Math.
In a series of 5 meetings held at UCLA this spring, teachers from across the region came together to work on using writing to deepen their students’ understanding of math and engage them in the Common Core Math Practices. It was a diverse and lively group, teaching 4th grade through high school calculus.
MDTP sponsored the event which allowed us to offer the series free of charge. With additional help from the UCLA math department and supportive principals, we were able to cover almost all the parking charges as well. Hooray!
Writing in math class supports students in making sense of mathematics and communicating their understanding. Writing supports differentiation and full participation and provides the teacher with evidence of understanding.
Our guest speakers Fawn Nguyen, Kristy Smith, and Kelli Wasserman were inspiring. With them, we explored the power of patterns, open-ended prompts, multiple representations, number sense, problem solving, collaborative learning, free internet and MDTP resources, and much more. Teachers planned and implemented workshop ideas in their classrooms and brought back student work to subsequent sessions to share and analyze. We worked on strategies to provide effective feedback that moves learning forward.
With the collaboration of thoughtful teachers working together over time, our mathematical and pedagogical creativity developed. Oh yes, math teachers are fun and interesting! And, the most astonishing thing about these workshops was to witness the mathematical creativity of students emerge when given simple, open-ended prompts.
We are planning our next workshop series for Fall 2015. I hope to post more details within the next week or two.
Quotes from the last workshop…
“This was a great workshop! I learned so much and was able to collaborate with other professionals in my field.”
“Can we have more of these?”
“Really enjoyed the hands-on activities and problem solving.”
“Very helpful to know how to show “thinking” and different representations. Talk over with professionals that care.”
“I am very pleased with this entire workshop. The amount of activities, strategies, and practices shared have been useful throughout my school year. “
“Discussing multiple ways on how to provide feedback and grade have made the incorporation of various strategies much easier. Positive feedback is the key to success!”
“Time went by too quickly”
“Thank you so much!! You have helped me to be excited again about teaching and I appreciate that so much 🙂 “
Writing In Math Class * Full Participation * Differentiation * Cooperative Learning * Classroom Discourse * Number Sense and Estimation * Compare and Contrast * Powerful Math Routines * Problem Solving * Problem Posing * Connections * Multiple Representations * Tied to classroom instruction and student learning *
In the MDTP office we are ready for the usual end of the year onslaught: dozens of school site visits, thousands of orders, tens of thousands of tests to score. And on April 25, we begin a four session workshop on Writing in Math, here at UCLA. This post is to invite you to make our work just a little bit harder.
MDTP testing at the end of the school year provides great information that supports a teacher in reflecting back on their courses and planning for a better next year – what worked, what needs improvement. At this time of year, teachers usually administer the MDTP test for readiness for the following year’s course e.g. an Algebra teacher will administer the Geometry Readiness test.
The results reports returned to teachers can help them identify the critical math topics learned well and those that students still struggle with. Teachers can use the reports to think about their work with particular students and use that info to develop ways to better support next year’s students. It can help them dig deeper into the conceptual foundations of the math topics essential for moving forward in future math courses.
In addition:
Also note:
Now is a great time to
So, start the new year right with MDTP: order materials; place testing on your calendar; schedule a site visit…
Field Testing
The teachers of over 40,000 students agreed to support MDTP’s effort to develop high quality readiness tests for Common Core courses Math 7, Math 8, High School Math (Algebra 1 or Integrated Math 1), Integrated Math 2, and Integrated Math 3. Applications for field testing this year are now closed. The expectation is that Math 7, Math 8, and HS Math Readiness tests will be ready for publication for use next fall. Integrated Math 2 and 3 will continue field testing next year.
Participating teachers will be emailed in the spring with directions for the post testing and survey components that will complete this round of the field test.
A great big thank you to all of you participating in this year’s field testing.
See more details in the MDTP Fall 2014 Newsletter.
Using MDTP Results for Placement
MDTP multiple choice tests are developed with the intention of supporting math instruction: helping teachers to learn more about the strengths and weaknesses, gaps and misunderstandings of their students and courses. However, many schools also use MDTP tests as one measure of placement. Please refer to this fall’s newsletter for an excellent article on using MDTP for placement.
The value of using MDTP for placement was also highlighted in the September 2014 publication by REL West (Regional Educational Laboratory at WestEd) entitled “Using assessment data to guide math course placement of California middle school students”.
Fall Newsletter
The fall newsletter contains information about the MDTP field testing effort for developing CCSSM aligned readiness tests; an article on using MDTP for placement purposes; regional site information; a description of available published tests; upcoming events; and a math problem to keep you in form. MDTP Fall 2014 Newsletter
Greater Los Angeles Area Math Council (GLAMC) Mini-Conferences
If you can, I recommend attending the GLAMC mini-conferences. Upcoming conferences are scheduled for December 13 in Long Beach, February 28 in Whittier, and April 18 in the San Fernando Valley. The sessions are held on Saturday mornings, the ones I have attended are engaging, thought provoking, and practical. The conferences are also a good opportunity to meet and mingle with other dedicated math teachers.
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