Pam Reising Laura Moore-Mueller

Green River Community College (WA)

Assessment & Placement

Alternatives

• COMPASS

• Entrance Exams

• High School Transcript

Current research strongly in favor of multiple measures for placement (Hughes & Scott-Clayton, 2010)

Placement Options

• What do they look like?

• How do they work?

• Lessons learned

• The data – does alternative placement work?

Entrance Exams & HS Transcript Tables

Pro’s• ACT test

• Immediate Feedback

• Cut-off scores adjustable

• Accessible Campus Testing Facility

Con’sFour subject areasDiagnostic without

initial guidanceMultiple choice$$ cost

COMPASS

Pro’s Con’s• 30% inaccurate

placement • Diagnostic without

initial guidance$$ cost (re-testing)

COMPASS (ctd).

Exams developed by GRCC Math Faculty (1997)

Exam questions developed based on Course Content Learning Objectives (CCLO) of prior course

Entrance Exams

7 Exams and Sample Exams developed for:Four developmental level coursesFirst college level coursesSecond college level course Calculus

Entrance Exams

• Advising tool

• Free

• Self-diagnosis of content knowledge gaps (self-study or 2 credit Review Modules before reassessing)

Written Entrance Exam Benefits

• Administering the exam (Math faculty as proctors) to:

• New students NOT currently registered

• Students testing during breaks• Students at branch campuses• Students testing during first week of

classes

Written Entrance Exam Challenges

• Time!! • Scheduling test for individual on-

demand or group sessions• Grading exams• Data entry of exam scores

(registration system and pre-requisite system)

Written Entrance Exam Challenges

COURSE CONTENT LEARNING OUTCOMES:

1. Define a function;

2. Graph linear, quadratic, and other functions;

3. Solve linear equations and inequalities;

4. Solve simultaneous systems of linear equations;

(etc.)

Example of CCLO from Intermediate Algebra

• Emulate COMPASS’s strengths:– Computerized assessment with

immediate feedback– Offered at all campus Assessment

Centers– Scores entered into Student

Management System (by Assessment Center staff)

– Scores fulfill prerequisite checks

Improving the Entrance Exams

Washington Mathematics Assessment and Placement (WAMAP)A web based mathematics assessment

and course management platformTest questions are algorithmically

generated with numerical and algebraic expressions

Assessment Platform

Questions can include graphs and imagesAnswers can be in various formats

(numerical, algebraic, multiple choice, matching, etc.)

Tests are automatically scoredSample Tests available online

Assessment Platform

IMathAS www.imathas.com

• Student A’s problem

• Student B’s problem

Algorithmic Regeneration

• Numerical to a certain tolerance

• Numerical expressions (ex: 3/5)

• Algebraic Expressions

• Multiple Choice

Computer Graded Answer Formats:

• Multiple Answer

• Matching

• Interval Notation

• Multiple Answer

Computer Graded Answer Formats:

Calculator Style Entry of Answers

Algebraic examples

Preview Option for Syntax of Answer

Graph Display in Questions

Libraries of Questions

Example of Scored Result

Scored Result by Category

Sample Exams Availablehttp://www.wamap.org/diag

Exam Tracking System

• Began in September, 2004

• Rubrics developed for 7 School Districts

• Process included advisors, teachers, & administrators (all both CC & HS)

GRCC High School Math Transcript Placement:

• College Perspective

–Successful placement

–Multiple measures

–Increasing population of hs graduates

at CC’s

Why Use Transcripts?

• High School Perspective

–Student motivation–Higher standards–Increased communication of

College level expectations

Why Use Transcripts?

SAMPLE

Math

Transcript

Table

If your last math course was . . .

and you earned a grade of . . .

and you completed it within_____of today’s date:

your placement will be . . .

Geometry I & II  C+ or better

One year Math 72

Two years COMPASS score or Entrance Exam

 B+ or better

One year Math 97

Two years Math 72

Advanced Algebra/Trig

C+ or better One year Math 97

    Two years Math 72

  B or better One year Math& 141(a), 107, Math 147, 170

Two years Math 97

  A One year Math& 141(a), 107, Math 106(b), 147, 170

Two years Math& 141(a), 107, Math 147, 170

Pre-calculus I & II

C+ or better One year Math 97, 147 or Math& 107

Two years Math 97

B or better 

One year Math& 107, 141(a), 142(a), 151(a), Math 106(b), 147, 170.

Two years Math&141(a), 107, Math 106(b), 147, 170

A- or better One or two years 

Math& 107, 141(a), 142(a), 151(a), Math 106(b), 147, 170

BAT Math C+ or better One year Math 97

(if student has either Pre-calculus or Calculus

  Two years COMPASS score or Entrance Exam

On campus registration

• Training required

HS Transcript Tracking System

• Platform for delivery must have:

– Stability– Longevity– Low cost– Ease of use for students, exam creator,

assessment staff• Scores need to ‘work’ with advising and

prerequisite check systems, data analysis

Entrance Exam – Lessons Learned

HS Transcript- Lessons Learned

• Different operating systems

• Changing state requirements

• Time commitment

• Record of placement needs to ‘work’ with advising and prerequisite check systems, data analysis

Involvement across institution is key!

–Faculty–Deans–Advisors–Enrollment Services staff

THE Lesson

Involvement across institution is key!

–Assessment Center staff–Information Technology staff –

programmers for SMS and prerequisite system

–Institutional Research staff

THE Lesson

40% passed the Entrance Exam they selected

50% of those were students at lowest developmental level or first college level

74% of all who passed an Entrance Exam passed the class they placed into

Data

Took Intermediate Algebra

COMPASS-placed MAPS-placed Transcript-placed Started Before Study

Other0.00

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

2.50

3.00

3.50

Mean Grade in Precalculus 1

Took

Inte

rmed

iate

Alg

ebra

COMPASS

-pla

ced

MAPS-p

lace

d

Tran

scrip

t-pla

ced

Star

ted

Befor

e St

udy

Other

0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

60.0

70.0

80.0

90.0

100.0

Percent Who Passed Precalculus 1

Took Intermediate Algebra

COMPASS-placed MAPS-placed Transcript-placed Started Before Study

Other0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

60.0

70.0

80.0

90.0

100.0

Percent Promoted to Precalculus 2

• Pam’s email (Entrance Exams): preising@greenriver.edu

• Laura’s email (HS Transcripts): lmooremueller@greenriver.edu– Webinar on Dec 5th!

• David Lippman – WAMAP/IMathAS contact:dlippman@pierce.ctc.edu

• Green River’s website:

http://www.greenriver.edu

Questions??

Placement Website

Thank You!