New Instructors' Orientation Created by Noncredit Adult and Continuing Education Services (NACES) Roxana M. Guzman Cholan

Goal This orientation will give you some basic tools to maximize your knowledge about CASAS testing system at Bridges to Success Center.

CASAS (Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment System) A Non-profit Organization Provides assessments and other tools to collect and report student information and learning progress. Place students into appropriate instructional level Document student progress and outcomes Report program success to program director.

Pre-test + Post-test + Learning Gain = Funding It’s very important that you understand that through CASAS testing we receive the funding for our center. Educational Material for students NANCES Staff and Supplies Free student services (Registration assistance, citizenship assistance, book loan program, orientations, outreach)

Orientation/Placement New students receive an orientation to make them aware of the programs and services that are available for them. After the orientation, students take an appraisal to place them in the appropriate ESL class level according to their results. If the class they were placed is full/closed, we put students into a waiting list database.

Student Registration Every student in your class must be registered. Continually update your roster for accurate pre-testing. If you have space available please inform Marian Ruane to call from the waiting list. If student if not registered please send him/her to the center in order to be registered or placed in the waiting lists.

(STUDENT CAN WRITE ANSWERS ON THE TEST) Tests Booklets Levels Reading Listening Citizenship Beg. Lit. 027R, 028R (STUDENT CAN WRITE ANSWERS ON THE TEST) A 081R-082R 981L-982L (CD & Book) 951R-952R AX 081RX-082RX 951RX-952RX B 083R-084R 983L-984L (CD only) C 085R-086R 985L-986L D 187R-188R

Test order Examples Test Order Correct/Incorrect 081R-082R-081R 081R-082R-081RX 085R-083R

Pre-test (Entry) The Pre-test measures what the students know at the beginning of your class. Entry record (Blue) collects demographic data, such as student gender and ethnicity. Students will be tested within 2 weeks of instruction. (rosters must be updated) Pre-test help us to: Target learning needs Guide instruction (Class Performance by competency report) Select correct Post-test. Identify appropriate primary and secondary students’ goals within a fiscal Year.

Post-test (update) Measures what the student knows after completing a number of hours in your class. The post-test is given at the same or higher level as the pretest, depending on the student’s pretest score. Test results help you monitor the progress the student is making in your class. Post-test results show the students’ learning gains that were made during your class. Monitor s if students have attained the goals declared during Pre-test

Test Record Records students answers and includes information about the test, such as test date and form number.

Test time Pre-Test Post-Test 1 hr.

Citizenship … History and Government CIT (Citizen Interview Test) New Listening tests If a student does not pass the test during the first time, they need to take the other form during the post-test. 965C 966C Oral interviews. BTS Staff will be in charge of conducting these interviews. 973S 974S

Materials needed for testing day Pre or post test report: indicating correct test form for each student If student has not taken a test before she/he will not have a test assigned. In that case you’ll decide which test to give according to her/his English level If a test has been assigned, please don’t change it for another test form. Test Booklets Answer sheets and # 2 pencils

Getting Started Explain the reason for the testing as simply as possible. Example: You’ll take a test today; the test will tell us what we need to learn. Later in the semester you’ll take another test. By comparing your score on these tests, we can see how much you’ve learned. Advise the students to answer as much as they can. Pass out the answer sheets with pencils (do not use pen) Guide the students through completion of the personal information of the answer sheet.

Continuation… Demonstrate how to fill in bubbles using #2 pencil. Pass out test booklets and have them open their test booklet together. Practice items are optional. They can go straight to question #1. Do not to confuse the question # with the page #. Demonstrate how to mark answer sheets. Advise student to do not mark on the test booklet. Write start and end times on the board Begin the test

During the test Check periodically to make sure that everyone is working individually and marking their answers clearly.

Finish the test Ask the student to place the answer sheets inside their booklets so you know what booklet # the student took Advise students that they will receive their results within two weeks. Collect Booklets and Pencils

Responsibilities Submit all CASAS material to a staff member in the Computer Lab. Completed test forms without marks or wrinkles Clean test booklets Pencils Makeup Dates found in www.lasc.edu/naces; Noncredit Faculty Resources page Follow up students: If the student was absent during testing date and makeup date, please send him/her to the office in order to be tested.

Class Performance by Competency: shows percentage of correct answers and competencies your class needs to improve.

Reports for Students Individual Skill Profile: shows how well they did by competency area. Skill level Descriptors for ESL or ABE (HiSet classes) explains what each score means.

Contact Information Roxana M. Guzman/Laura Perez Office Number: 323 241 5281 Direct Extension: X 5258 E-mail: Guzmanrm@lasc.edu, Perezli2@lasc.edu BTS website: WWW.LASC.EDU/NACES