[MOSAIC] MAP Test

[Lespop4 at aol.com]

Stephanie,
 
What is the MAP test?
 
Leslie
 
 
In a message dated 4/4/2008 10:05:41 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
stephaniebartell at yahoo.com writes:

I think  the power of NWEA's MAP assessment lies in how the data is used.  We 
are  in our second year using MAP in grades K-6.  The assessment is FAR more  
informative than any other standardized or state test I have seen.  Since  
the test is a computer-adaptive test, it adjusts fairly quickly to a student's  
level, so I have not experienced students becoming frustrated and giving up/  
guessing.  Students are much more motivated for this assessment than any  
other, because they get immediate results.  Our students know what their  goals 
are and as soon as they finish the test they know if they have met their  goal 
or not.

The data you get back from MAP is very  helpful in determining strengths and 
weaknesses in both your class and  individuals. As opposed to saying, this 
child is below level and nothing more,  MAP gives specific feedback as to which 
of your state standards students need  more support in.  What I think I like 
most about MAP is the focus on  GROWTH.  By using MAP my school is recognizing 
how much "value added"  there is with students each year.  We can see which 
students are not  being reached and provide interventions.   In addition, 
instructors  are recognized for their efforts when they have a student who comes into 
their  classroom three year below grade level, and then later in the year, 
the  student is only a year below grade level.  Instructors need to be held  
accountable--- and praised--- when students grow in their abilities, even if  the 
students aren't exactly where we need them to be yet.

I have a friend who teaches in Kansas City (where they also use  MAP) and she 
didn't really know much about the test, so she didn't really like  it.  I 
think once you become familiar with the assessment (and the NWEA  website is an 
awesome resource for that) the benefits are clear.  I have  attended several 
workshops with NWEA representatives as well as attended the  national conference 
last year.  In addition I have taken the MAP test  myself (more than several 
times!) both the primary and regular MAP  versions.  I would say that overall, 
the test is fair and adaptive, as  promised.  

I agree that when students are  used to marking the text are going to be a 
little disoriented at first when  they have to read from a computer screen, but 
I also know that once students  have taken MAP once, they know what to expect 
and if they are proficient with  the use of strategies, they don't need to 
mark the text. 

I 100% agree with Paula and Barb when they mentioned that the way  we 
"prepare" for a test is to TEACH!  It scares me a bit when instructors  talk about 
how they are going to prepare students for a test.  You are  preparing them 
everyday with your instruction! If we are doing our job in  classrooms, then aside 
from a few "test genre" strategies, our students know  what they need to know 
to do well.

I highly  recommend that anyone in a district using MAP look further into the 
assessment  (including DesCartes) before you brush it off as not useful or  
valid.

p.s. When I used MAP as a 1st grade teacher  I HATED the assessment.  Now 
that I know more about it, I see all the  benefits of this particular assessment 
and I can effectively use the data to  help teachers and students.

~Stephanie Bartell,  Literacy Coordinator
stephaniebartell at yahoo.com 
Galapagos Charter School, Chicago, IL





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