Tech Prep Competency Tech Prep Competency Testing Online – Seamless Testing Online – Seamless

Transition to Postsecondary Transition to Postsecondary EducationEducation

Bob PhillipsBob Phillips

Dyersburg State Community CollegeDyersburg State Community College

Phillips@dscc.eduPhillips@dscc.edu

On-Line Competency TestingOn-Line Competency Testing

In 2003-04 a Tech Prep Grant of $5,000 was In 2003-04 a Tech Prep Grant of $5,000 was obtained from the State of Tennessee Tech obtained from the State of Tennessee Tech Prep Office to develop 10 Articulation Exams Prep Office to develop 10 Articulation Exams for courses that were taught at Dyersburg State for courses that were taught at Dyersburg State and in our 14 local high schools.and in our 14 local high schools.

Faculty were paid a stipend of $400 for Faculty were paid a stipend of $400 for developing the exams.developing the exams.

On-Line Competency TestingOn-Line Competency Testing

In FY 2002-2003 20 students completed In FY 2002-2003 20 students completed articulation applications, and 7 students articulation applications, and 7 students enrolled and received college credit.enrolled and received college credit.

In FY 2003-2004 40 students completed In FY 2003-2004 40 students completed articulation applications, and 33 enrolled and articulation applications, and 33 enrolled and received college credit.received college credit.

In FY 2005-06 622 students completed In FY 2005-06 622 students completed articulation applications.articulation applications.

On-Line Competency TestingOn-Line Competency Testing

Grading 622 articulation test by hand and Grading 622 articulation test by hand and returning the scores to the high schools is a big returning the scores to the high schools is a big job.job.

A lazy man will always find an easier way of A lazy man will always find an easier way of doing things!doing things!

On-Line Competency TestingOn-Line Competency Testing

In Fall 2004 Dyersburg State received a Tech In Fall 2004 Dyersburg State received a Tech Prep Grant of $32,000 to develop and Prep Grant of $32,000 to develop and implement an On-line Articulation Testing implement an On-line Articulation Testing System.System.

The remainder of this presentation The remainder of this presentation demonstrates the steps used to develop and demonstrates the steps used to develop and implement this new system and the initial implement this new system and the initial results.results.

Project DesignProject Design

Identified 21 courses that had similar Identified 21 courses that had similar competencies between our 14 high schools and competencies between our 14 high schools and Dyersburg State.Dyersburg State.

Identified college faculty to begin design of a Identified college faculty to begin design of a practice exam and a challenge exam for each practice exam and a challenge exam for each of the 21 common courses.of the 21 common courses.

Organized Design TeamOrganized Design Team

Design TeamDesign Team

Design Team Composed Of:Design Team Composed Of: Grant AdministratorGrant Administrator College Tech Prep CoordinatorCollege Tech Prep Coordinator Web Site DesignerWeb Site Designer Database DesignerDatabase Designer Test Administrator/DesignerTest Administrator/Designer High School Faculty MemberHigh School Faculty Member Technology Center FacultyTechnology Center Faculty

Design Team ResponsibilitiesDesign Team Responsibilities

Design Web SiteDesign Web Site Determine Database requirements for reports Determine Database requirements for reports

to schools/technology centers.to schools/technology centers. Organize Testing SiteOrganize Testing Site Review Test ContentsReview Test Contents Determine content for Web SiteDetermine content for Web Site Oversee implementation of the new program Oversee implementation of the new program

& publicity.& publicity.

Design Team ResultsDesign Team Results

Series of meetings from Sept 2004 – April Series of meetings from Sept 2004 – April 2005.2005.

Input from users and designers resulted in Input from users and designers resulted in satisfaction by all parties.satisfaction by all parties.

Web Site was completed and implemented on Web Site was completed and implemented on 15 April 2005.15 April 2005.

Within 5 weeks over 800 students had Within 5 weeks over 800 students had registered at the site and over 5,500 Practice & registered at the site and over 5,500 Practice & Challenge Exams were taken.Challenge Exams were taken.

Articulation Web SiteArticulation Web Site

www.dscc.eduwww.dscc.edu/articulation/articulation

Web Site PublicityWeb Site Publicity

As part of the grant, three brochures were As part of the grant, three brochures were developed and distributed through each of our developed and distributed through each of our 14 high schools:14 high schools:

ParentsParents TeachersTeachers StudentsStudents

Parents Brochure (Saving Money)Parents Brochure (Saving Money)

Teachers Brochure Teachers Brochure (Student /Teacher Benefits)(Student /Teacher Benefits)

Student BrochureStudent Brochure(Money/Time)(Money/Time)

Database Reporting CapabilityDatabase Reporting Capability

Date specificDate specific School specificSchool specific Easy to distributeEasy to distribute Maintain confidentialityMaintain confidentiality Update easily.Update easily.

Database Entry PageDatabase Entry Page

Sample Database ReportsSample Database Reports

Sample Report By School & ExamSample Report By School & Exam

Individual Student Report Individual Student Report To High SchoolsTo High Schools

Practice & Challenge ExamsPractice & Challenge Exams

Each Test includes 50 questions.Each Test includes 50 questions. Each test bank has over 100 questions.Each test bank has over 100 questions. Every test is randomly selected & sorted.Every test is randomly selected & sorted. Each test allows 60 minutes to complete.Each test allows 60 minutes to complete. Practice Test may be taken as many times as Practice Test may be taken as many times as

desired.desired. Challenge Exams can only be taken once.Challenge Exams can only be taken once. Software in the test prevents copying.Software in the test prevents copying.

Sample Test ViewSample Test View

Test AnalysisTest Analysis

Teacher Resource UpdatingTeacher Resource Updating

Using test question analysis we can determine Using test question analysis we can determine which areas students are weakest.which areas students are weakest.

We can update the teacher resource area so We can update the teacher resource area so high school teachers can expand instruction in high school teachers can expand instruction in those areas. those areas.

Goal is to have students obtain the same level Goal is to have students obtain the same level of competency required at the college.of competency required at the college.

Saves time, money, and effort.Saves time, money, and effort.

HARD THINGS TO DOHARD THINGS TO DO

Getting brochures into the students hands!Getting brochures into the students hands!

Getting agreement on common competencies!Getting agreement on common competencies!

Making sure test are copy protected!Making sure test are copy protected!

CONCLUSIONSCONCLUSIONS

Great system that works easily!Great system that works easily! Creates communications between faculty!Creates communications between faculty! Students will use the materials!Students will use the materials! More students are actually seeking credit at the More students are actually seeking credit at the

college and the Technology Centers!college and the Technology Centers! Fully articulated and has been adopted Fully articulated and has been adopted

throughout the State of Tennessee!throughout the State of Tennessee! Maybe more students will go on to college!Maybe more students will go on to college!

THE CDTHE CD

Each of you will now Each of you will now receive a CD that receive a CD that contains the following:contains the following:

Articulation Web Site in Articulation Web Site in FrontPageFrontPage

Testing Site in WebCTTesting Site in WebCT Articulation Database Articulation Database

and instructions.and instructions. Test Security SoftwareTest Security Software

Parents BrochureParents Brochure Teacher BrochureTeacher Brochure Student BrochureStudent Brochure Sample Database Sample Database

ReportsReports Articulation AgreementArticulation Agreement THIS POWERPOINTTHIS POWERPOINT Phillips@dscc.eduPhillips@dscc.edu