WebCCAT New Platform Basics

1. WebCCATNew Platform Basics How to Use the New Platform Curriculum User Level Version 2

2. WebCCAT will be adding new features throughout the fall of 2005 Stay tuned to the WebCCAT News and Information Site for more details Just click the link on the WebCCAT home page

3. Things to know BEFORE you start…

4. Correct Login Page • Several users have book-marked the old login page for WebCCAT • When they use this bookmark, they cannot login to the new platform • Users should type in the short URL www.webccat.com then bookmark the new page • Be sure your district/personal computer is not caching web pages

5. WebCCAT is a bank of Assessment items that are highly aligned to the TEKS

6. Content Areas Addressed • English Language Arts • 3 – 8, E I, E II, E III • Math • 3 – 8, Alg, Geom, Alg II**, Pre-Calc** • **Already aligned to the NEW math TEKS for 2006-2007 • Grades 6 – Geom will be moved to the new TEKS in April-May 2006 • Social Studies • 3 – 8, WH, WG, US • Science • 3 – 8, IPC, CH, Bio, Phy

7. Levels of Thinking and Difficulty Every item in WebCCAT is assigned a Level of Thinking and a Level of Difficulty

8. Level of Thinking • This is the Cognitive Level of the item (Bloom’s) • Low • Knowledge, Comprehension • Medium • Comprehension, Application , Analysis • High • Analysis, Evaluation, Synthesis

9. Level of Difficulty • How hard is the item for the average student in that grade/content area • In examples below, each level is more difficult, even though each represents the same cognitive level • Low – Recite the alphabet • Med – Recite the alphabet backwards • High – Recite every third letter of the alphabet from “Z” back to “A”

10. Silver Package • The Silver Package of WebCCAT is similar to our previous version of WebCCAT with added features • Silver allows users to customize paper copies of tests using our ever-growing test item bank • District level users can now input new items with the Item Authoring Tool** • AEIS-IT export for scoring**

11. Gold Package • Everything from the Silver Package PLUS student online testing • Students’ tests are scored immediately • Curriculum Users have access to student group reports, as well as, individual student data • Gold Package features will be available September 2005

12. The following demonstrates the Curriculum User level in the WebCCAT Silver Package Please contact your Service Center for Gold Platform Demonstrations

13. Loginwww.webccat.com Use the same username and password from the old site or contact your District Coordinator to set up a new login

15. Home Page Features • Link to WebCCAT News and Info Site** • Scrolling Banner** • Help Button** • Reference Materials** • Retrieve Password • Create New Account • System Requirements Check ** **Denotes New Features!

16. Before you start… • Be sure to run the System Requirements Check • Resolve any issues that are identified

17. EULA - End User License Agreement • Scroll to the bottom of the page to accept • This will only appear the first time users log onto the site and again around September 1 of each school year

18. Main Menu

19. Special Notes • Always use the navigation buttons at the bottom of the WebCCAT screen • Using the browser back button may result in an error – avoid the browser back button! • You may need to maximize your browser window to avoid excessive scrolling • Formatting errors and programming oddities may occur the first few weeks as we work out the kinks. Please be patient.

20. Maximize Screen • Click the Box to maximize the viewable area for the browser window

21. To Create an Assessment • Click Assessment Menu • Then click on Create An Assessment • This will open a new window First Next

22. 1 - Test Information • Required Fields • Title* • Subject/Content Area* • Grade Level/Course* • These fields are used for reports • Directions • Prints on the assessment for students • Description • Field to clarify/detail what is being tested • Prints only on reports • Click Continue to go on

23. For the purpose of reporting, each assessment is assigned to a particular content area and grade level (Remember, on the next screen, users may select several grade levels to include on the assessment)

24. 1 – Test Information • After entering all data, click Continue at the bottom of the screen • Remember, if you are unable to see the Continue button without scrolling, you can maximize your browser screen

25. Select Items Click on desired selections, then click Continue to Search

26. Select Items • The grade identified in the Test Setup will already be selected • You may select additional grades • The fastest results are obtained when searching by TEKS/TAKS • Instead of TEKS/TAKS, you may search by: • Stimulus**, Keyword, or any ONE other field

27. A Stimulus (or passage) is anything that needs to print the full width of the page Examples: Reading and writing passages Maps, graphs, charts Anything that is too small when it appears in one column

28. Special Notes • Remember: to select multiple items in a search box, hold the control key down until you have made all selections • The screen will appear to “blink out” as you make some of your selections; this is not an error • As you highlight search criteria, the screen will refresh (blink) • The last box clicked in will reappear at the top of the list. It will keep what was last selected: Don’t panic ;-)

29. The best results are obtained by selecting the grade and then something from ONE other box on the search page Selecting from multiple boxes can easily result in few or no items being returned

30. District Codes • District Codes may appear in your search criteria – this feature will not be not ready for use until fall 2005 • District Codes will allow district level users to mark assessment items with “District Codes,” which are simply numerals 1 – 99 • The district is responsible for “defining” these codes for their users

31. Search Results

32. Search Results Info • Items in bold font appear on other tests belonging to the user • Items that end with the letter D (E0343223D) were created by the district Exceptions: • Curriculum Users can only see items with a “P” if they have created new items in the Authoring Tool • Educators and Unit Coordinators can not see hidden items

33. Search Results • Select items to add by placing a check in the box on the left of the item ID • Items may also be added from the Preview screen** by clicking Select in the upper right corner of the Preview Screen • As items are added, they will “disappear” from the search results

34. Preview Screen

35. Preview Screen • When you click the Preview link to the right of the items, a new window opens • Preview now allows users to add items directly to assessments by clicking Select to Add • Once you have selected all items, don’t forget to click Add Items on the Search Results Page

36. Sequence and Settings • This is really the Item Sequence Page in the Silver level • In the Gold level, this page will also allow Curriculum Users to set up online testing preferences

37. Sequence and Settings

38. Using Sequence Page • Clicking Clear Order will clear all numbers to make it easier to start numbering from scratch • Clicking Save Order will save items in the new order listed • Clicking any column heading will order items by that column

39. Reminder about Item Order • Try to vary levels of difficulty and thinking on every assessment • Research shows that students will always to better on assessments that start with an easier, lower level item first • Avoid using multiple versions of the same test; more versions will lower statistical accuracy

40. Removing Items • Place check mark(s) in the box on the right of the Item Name • Click Remove items • Clicking in the box in the dark blue bar will select all items on the test, so be careful

41. Hide Items

42. Hiding Items on a Test • Click the Select All Button and then click Hide Items • Confirm that you wish to hide • That’s it! Hidden items appear in red

43. Hidden Items on Test

44. PDF Preview • Just as in the previous version, this allows users to see their assessment in PDF and reorder items before printing • The PDF will launch in a new window • If you are having trouble opening the PDF, check to be sure all pop-up blockers on your computer are turned off

45. Save and Close • When you are finished creating an assessment you will click Save and Close to go back to the Assessment Menu • If you need to stop at any time during the assessment creation process, you may click Save and Close • Remember to go to Test Management to open up the test you started last time

46. Manage Assessments From the Assessment Menu, click Manage Assessments You will see the Test Management Screen

47. Test Management

48. Select All • The top box is “Select All” • Be careful about which box you click before you select remove tests! • We cannot recover deleted tests Select All

49. Test Management - Edit Edit allows users to go back to the test using the numbered pages • 1 – Test Set up (title, directions, description) • 2 – Select Items • 3 – Search Results (2 first) • 4 – Sequence and Setting (reorder, PDF, Hide)

50. Edit – Test Management • After clicking Edit from Manage Assessments, you can navigate to any page by clicking the numbered buttons at the top of the screen • Examples: • To change the title, description, or directions of an assessment, click Edit, then 1 Test Setup • To change the order of items or Hide items on existing assessment, click edit, then click on 4 Sequence and Settings • To add items, click Edit, then on 2 Select Items • You can also use the Continue and Back buttons at the bottom of the screen