© 2013 School Curriculum and Standards Authority Western Australian Monitoring Standards in Education (WAMSE) SOCIETY AND ENVIRONMENT Years 5 and 7 WAMSE

© 2013 School Curriculum and Standards Authority

Western Australian Monitoring Standards in Education (WAMSE)

SOCIETY AND ENVIRONMENT

Years 5 and 7

WAMSE Society and Environment Years 5 and 7

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The WAMSE assessment program:

measures the performance of students in aspects of Science and Society and Environment

complements information from the National Assessment Program - Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN).


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Presentation outline

• The benefits of the assessment

• What is assessed?

• Sample questions

• Problem areas

• Reporting

• Educational Measurement website

• WAMSE Marking

• Important Dates for 2013


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Benefits of the WAMSE assessment

Performance of each student can be:

compared to that of other students in the state

monitored over time.

Results:

provide teachers with additional information to identify students who require extension or support

assist schools in identifying strengths and weaknesses in teaching and learning programs

added to NAPLAN results give a holistic view of student achievements.


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In each assessment the Society and Environment WA Curriculum Framework outcomes are assessed.

Time Continuity and Change (History *)Place and Space (Geography *)Natural and Social Systems (History and Geography *)Resources Culture

and the inquiry process outcome

Investigation, Communication and Participation ICP (Historical Skills and Geography Inquiry Skills *)

In 2013 the History, Geography and inquiry skills based questions have been mapped to the relevant Curriculum Framework outcomes as well as the Australian Curriculum: History and Australian Curriculum: Geography (draft).

What is assessed


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What is assessed

Year 5 Year 7 Year 9

Phase of learning Middle childhood

Middle childhood

Early adolescence

Attribute

Place and Space 20% 20% 20%

Resources 20% 20% 20%

Culture 20% 20% 20%

Time, Continuity and Change 20% 20% 20%

Natural and Social Systems 20% 20% 20%

ICP within context of conceptual outcomes 70% 70% 70%

Multiple-choice/open-response ratio 70%/30% 60%/40% 50%/50%


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The assessment consists of two independent parts:

Part A assesses student achievement in all outcomes with students using a magazine as the stimulus.

Part B assesses student achievement in all outcomes with students using a magazine and DVD as the stimulus.

The same magazine is used for both parts of the assessment. Schools are provided with one DVD per class.

Assessment design


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About the assessments

WAMSE tests: assess the full range of student abilities cover concepts, skills and understandings indicative of the phase of learning

for each year group. do not require prior knowledge or experience rely on research and understanding of the stimulus material provided. This

ensures that no group of students is unfairly advantaged over another. questions are chosen from a variety of contexts that reflect the diversity of

Western Australia investigations into the scaling of questions in History and Geography will

begin in 2013 (however for this year the questions will only be reported against the Curriculum Framework)


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The following examples show the style of the most common types of questions that students will encounter in the tests.

Multiple-choice questions

Each question will have only one answer. Only the bubble next to the correct answer should be shaded.

Sample questions


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For many questions:

students will need to write one to three sentences to explain their answers fully.

the number of lines provided gives an idea of the amount of detail expected.

Students should be encouraged to :

write comprehensive answers. These types of questions allow markers to measure students’ understandings.

refer to the stimulus provided but avoid copying word for word pay particular attention to any words in bold. avoid copying directly from information provided in the test booklet or

magazine

Open-Response


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Each question has multiple correct answers.

These questions allow:

• students to provide a justification or plausible explanation to support the option they chose.

Students should attempt questions even if they do not feel they can fully answer the question.

Combined multiple-choice and open-response questions


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Speech Bubble

For these questions: • students are required to place a response in the speech bubble. • the number of lines in the speech bubble is an indication of the length of the

expected response not the number of responses.• students need to avoid copying information from the stimulus provided.


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Insights into 2012 Year 5For Society & Environment, the 2012 data showed that Year 5 students at or below the WAMSE standard may have had difficulty with the following skills:

identifying different perspectives and justifying their opinions using evidence

identifying accurate information from off a map

identifying and justifying a research method and the value of using more than one source when doing an investigation.

connecting similar ideas and link cause and effect to make simple generalisations

understanding that the way we use a place is influenced by its natural features


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Insights into 2012 Year 7For Society and Environment, the 2012 data showed that Year 7 students at or below the WAMSE standard may have had difficulty with the following skills: identifying relevant sources of information for a given research topic

selecting relevant and accurate information and discarding irrelevant information

justifying an opinion using evidence

understanding the strengths and weaknesses of primary and secondary sources of information

understanding the significance of why we build statues/memorials and use historical names for places

understanding that historical sources reflect the perspective/attitude of their creator

understanding that population trends influence governments planning.


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Reporting

The WAMSE results will be available in mid-November.

Schools receive electronic copies of their results.

Sector Distribution of EARS

Government Download from the Department’s Schools Online website.

Catholic

Independent (AISWA)See your sector for further details.


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Reporting (cont.)

Results are provided via reporting software. They are organised at year level and class groupings - there is also the ability to create other groups.

Within the reporting software, teachers can:

list students and their individual scores on questions

list the questions and their class/school and state mean

list the questions from most difficult to least difficult, with a description of the skills and understandings underlying each question

identify questions where the class/school performance were significantly different from the state performance

use the ‘Individual Profile’ to examine each student’s strengths and weaknesses.


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Reporting (cont.)

Individual reports

Schools receive individual reports for distribution to parents/caregivers.

Student’s performance is reported in Science and Society and Environment.

Information includes the student’s achievements in relation to the State mean and the range of performance of all students in the year level assessed.


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Resources on WebsiteEducational Measurement website

http://www.curriculum.wa.edu.au/internet/Years_K10/WAMSE

WAMSE resources:

Information for teachers 2013

Sample test papers with answers

2012 test papers and marking guides

WAMSE marker online application form 2013

WAMSE contact details:

Phone: 08 94429465Fax: 08 94429489Email: [email protected]


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Marking the assessments

• Approximately 60,000 assessments from each learning area are scanned and marked on screen.

• Markers work in groups of six including a team leader.• Strict reliability and comparability measures are adopted and monitored by the team

leader. • Markers may choose to attend either a day or evening session:

Day - 8.30am to 3.00pmEvening - 4.00pm to 9.00pm.

• Primary and secondary teachers are encouraged to apply.


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Marking the assessments (cont.)• The 2013 marking of the WAMSE assessment tasks is scheduled for 24 August to 6

September 2013.• Participation in the marking is recognised by the Professional Learning Institute as system-

endorsed professional development that contributes to attainment of Senior Teacher status.

• Information about the marking can be downloaded from the WAMSE website. Interested teachers should complete the online application form by Friday 21 June, 2013.

Interested markers should access the WAMSE website for more information.


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http://det.wa.edu.au/educationalmeasurement/


Important dates 2013

May Information about WAMSE marking published online and in School Matters.

21 June Last date for submission of Markers online application form.

29 July All test materials delivered to principals by registered mail.

5 - 9 August Test week12 - 14 August Return test materials

24 Aug. - 6 Sep Marking of WAMSE tests

November EARS and WAMSE student reports distributed to schools.


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Documents

© 2013 School Curriculum and Standards Authority Western Australian Monitoring Standards in Education (WAMSE) SOCIETY AND ENVIRONMENT Years 5 and 7 WAMSE