Michael Jay, President, Educational Systemics, joined a prestigious panel on March 4, 2008 to discuss "Innovative Assessments - New Technologies and Interoperability" at the Association of Test Publishers annual convention held March 3-5, 2008 in Dallas, TX.
Panelists for the session in addition to Michael Jay were Bethann Canada, Director of Educational Information Management - Virginia Department of Education; Jill Abbott, Learning Strategist - Schools Interoperability Framework Association (SIFA); and Andrew Malik, System Analyst - Pearson. The panel emphasized the importance of system interoperability in the analysis of student data as well as explored new assessment technologies, including hand-held devices.
Session Abstract:
PK-12 schools, districts and states look more to online assessments for both formative and summative purposes. The use of these assessments and the resulting data is often isolated in disparate applications and not connected to instruction. This isolation makes the analysis of data about a student difficult to compile and make decisions about instruction.
Interoperability between PK-12 educational applications is vital as we implement NCLB and strive to increase learning, providing a comprehensive picture of every student. As the SIF Specification further enables teaching and learning, it becomes vital to demonstrate viability through proof of concepts. The Schools Interoperability Framework Association (SIFA), the Virginia Department of Education, Pearson and Edustructures completed a proof of concept of the SIF Assessment Objects. The project's stated objective tested the viability of the assessment objects in transporting student assessment data from a testing vendor to another educational entity via SIF. Come hear some new innovations in hand-held technologies for assessment, the results of the proof of concept and how this work informs future development SIF assessment.
For more information, visit www.innovationsintesting.org.