1. FCAT Explorer Middle Schools, Miami, 5/7/02
Infinity Software Development, Inc. and the Florida Department of Education, 2001

2. FCAT Explorer Middle Schools, Miami, 5/7/02
From the Florida Department of Education
Galactic Library: 3rd Grade Benchmarks
Program Overview
Infinity Software Development, Inc. and the Florida Department of Education, 2001

3. FCAT Explorer Middle Schools, Miami, 5/7/02
Galactic Library: 3rd Grade Benchmarks
Galactic Library: 3rd Grade Benchmarks
Interactive program offers practice on the FCAT- tested benchmarks
Reinforces reading comprehension skills
Available at no cost to all Florida public schools
Accessible from any computer connected to the Internet
Leaping Lemurs
Infinity Software Development, Inc. and the Florida Department of Education, 2001

4. FCAT Explorer Middle Schools, Miami, 5/7/02
Galactic Library: 3rd Grade Benchmarks
Fidelity with the Official FCAT
Strict adherence to the Sunshine State Standards and the DOE’s Test Item & Performance Task Specifications
Rigorous item development process
Items drafted by reading teachers and professional item writers
Items reviewed by instructional designers, testing specialists, bias reviewers, and professional editors
The Wind Cars of China
Infinity Software Development, Inc. and the Florida Department of Education, 2001

5. FCAT Explorer Middle Schools, Miami, 5/7/02
Galactic Library: 3rd Grade Benchmarks
Input from Exemplary Education Professionals
Highly-qualified classroom teachers
Recommended for expertise in subject area and grade level
National Board Certified
Recipients of Teacher of the Year awards
Experienced as FCAT Coach and/or Reading Coach
Masters Degrees
Infinity Software Development, Inc. and the Florida Department of Education, 2001

6. FCAT Explorer Middle Schools, Miami, 5/7/02
Galactic Library: 3rd Grade Benchmarks
The Galactic Library’s
Adaptive Support Model
Infinity Software Development, Inc. and the Florida Department of Education, 2001

7. FCAT Explorer Middle Schools, Miami, 5/7/02
Galactic Library: 3rd Grade Benchmarks
Adaptive Support Model
INDIVIDUALIZED ADAPTIVE SUPPORT
Automatically adjusts readability level and instructional support level based on student’s success with practice questions
Materials at both levels derived from 3rd grade benchmarks only difference is readability
Scalloping
Amazing Spider Webs
Infinity Software Development, Inc. and the Florida Department of Education, 2001

8. FCAT Explorer Middle Schools, Miami, 5/7/02
Galactic Library: 3rd Grade Benchmarks
Adaptive Support Model
ADAPTIVE READING LEVEL
Mapmaking
3rd grade readability level
When student struggles at 3rd grade level, program moves to 2nd grade level
When student succeeds at 2nd grade level, program seamlessly moves back to 3rd grade
Same 3rd grade benchmarks at both levels only difference is readability
Rabbit’s Tug-of-War
2nd grade readability level
Infinity Software Development, Inc. and the Florida Department of Education, 2001

9. FCAT Explorer Middle Schools, Miami, 5/7/02
Galactic Library: 3rd Grade Benchmarks
Adaptive Support Model
ADAPTIVE SUPPORT LEVEL
Three levels for both sets of materials
Full Support:
Word Click: Click to hear any word
Embedded questions: Interim comprehension checks
Moderate Support: Embedded questions only
No Support: Neither
Infinity Software Development, Inc. and the Florida Department of Education, 2001

10. FCAT Explorer Middle Schools, Miami, 5/7/02
Galactic Library: 3rd Grade Benchmarks
Passages
and
Practice Items
Infinity Software Development, Inc. and the Florida Department of Education, 2001

11. FCAT Explorer Middle Schools, Miami, 5/7/02
Galactic Library: 3rd Grade Benchmarks
FCAT-like Practice
PASSAGES
Same average length and reading level as the FCAT
Same genres: poems, plays, articles and stories
Engaging illustrations reinforce important ideas
Infinity Software Development, Inc. and the Florida Department of Education, 2001

12. FCAT Explorer Middle Schools, Miami, 5/7/02
Galactic Library: 3rd Grade Benchmarks
FCAT-like Practice
PRACTICE ITEMS
Rigorous item development process
Written by professional item writers
Reviewed, edited and approved by teachers
Revised as needed based on statistical item analysis
Same average number of items per passage as on the FCAT
Number of items per skill based on teacher recommendation for struggling readers
No fewer than 5 items per skill
From 5 to 50 items per Benchmark
Same types of items as on the FCAT
Infinity Software Development, Inc. and the Florida Department of Education, 2001

13. FCAT Explorer Middle Schools, Miami, 5/7/02
Galactic Library: 3rd Grade Benchmarks
FCAT-like Practice
MULTIPLE CHOICE (MC)
Careful review of every item for psychometric criteria
Vocabulary question
Item clearly supports the skill
All answer choices are parallel (e.g., in grammatical form)
Only plausible choices
One “clearly best” answer
Correct answer supported in the text
Comprehension question
Infinity Software Development, Inc. and the Florida Department of Education, 2001

14. FCAT Explorer Middle Schools, Miami, 5/7/02
Galactic Library: 3rd Grade Benchmarks
Instructional Support
Infinity Software Development, Inc. and the Florida Department of Education, 2001

15. FCAT Explorer Middle Schools, Miami, 5/7/02
Galactic Library: 3rd Grade Benchmarks
Instructional Support
1ST ATTEMPT CORRECT
Congratulations!
Correct Answer Explanation (CAE)
Confirms the attributes that make an answer correct
Reinforces effective skill application
Infinity Software Development, Inc. and the Florida Department of Education, 2001

16. FCAT Explorer Middle Schools, Miami, 5/7/02
Galactic Library: 3rd Grade Benchmarks
Instructional Support
1ST ATTEMPT INCORRECT
Hint
Hint (for vocabulary questions)
See Clues (for comprehension questions)
Takes student back to passage
Student reviews highlighted clues
See Clues
Infinity Software Development, Inc. and the Florida Department of Education, 2001

17. FCAT Explorer Middle Schools, Miami, 5/7/02
Galactic Library: 3rd Grade Benchmarks
Instructional Support
2nd ATTEMPT
For CORRECT answer, CAE confirms and reinforces effective skill application
For INCORRECT answer, CAE helps student understand why the correct answer is correct
Infinity Software Development, Inc. and the Florida Department of Education, 2001

18. FCAT Explorer Middle Schools, Miami, 5/7/02
Galactic Library: 3rd Grade Benchmarks
Special Features
Infinity Software Development, Inc. and the Florida Department of Education, 2001

19. FCAT Explorer Middle Schools, Miami, 5/7/02
Galactic Library: 3rd Grade Benchmarks
Special Features
FLUENCY LIST
Glossary & Vocabulary Exercise words
Easy-to-use chart for recording progress
Effective pre-reading activity
Available from School Administrator’s Desk and Classroom Teacher’s Desk
Infinity Software Development, Inc. and the Florida Department of Education, 2001

20. FCAT Explorer Middle Schools, Miami, 5/7/02
Galactic Library: 3rd Grade Benchmarks
Special Features
VOCABULARY EXERCISES
Syllables appear in dynamic “visual beat”
Precede each passage
Teach five potentially challenging words
If student selects incorrect answer, correct answer flashes
Word recognition
Phonics
Definition
Meaning in context
Engage students and increase confidence & success
Review of all five words
Infinity Software Development, Inc. and the Florida Department of Education, 2001

21. FCAT Explorer Middle Schools, Miami, 5/7/02
Galactic Library: 3rd Grade Benchmarks
Special Features
“PURPOSE FOR READING” STRATEGIES
Purpose for Reading statement
Purpose for Reading statements precede each passage to help establish good comprehension habits
“See Questions” feature allows students to preview item stems (not answer choices)
3GR means 3rd Grade Reading program
4GR means 4th Grade Reading program
The “View Questions” feature is included in all Reading programs except 4th grade Reading. 4GR was the very first program developed. The idea for this feature first emerged during design of the next reading program (8GR), after which it was incorporated into all Reading programs. “View Questions” will probably be added to 4GR in the future.
Click “See Questions” icon (magnifying glass)
Infinity Software Development, Inc. and the Florida Department of Education, 2001

22. FCAT Explorer Middle Schools, Miami, 5/7/02
Galactic Library: 3rd Grade Benchmarks
Special Features
GLOSSARY
Student can click the word hundreds to go to that Glossary entry
Click linked (blue) words in passage
Click “ear icon” to hear word pronounced
Word spelled & in syllables
Definition & sample sentence
Spanish and Haitian Creole translations
Infinity Software Development, Inc. and the Florida Department of Education, 2001

23. FCAT Explorer Middle Schools, Miami, 5/7/02
Galactic Library: 3rd Grade Benchmarks
Special Features
“SEE CLUES”
Reinforces re-reading the passage to find correct answer
Student must go to every page containing clues related to that question
After going to every page with relevant clues, student gets second attempt
Infinity Software Development, Inc. and the Florida Department of Education, 2001

24. FCAT Explorer Middle Schools, Miami, 5/7/02
Galactic Library: 3rd Grade Benchmarks
Special Features
MY CHALLENGE LIST
Links directly to items answered incorrectly
Helps students focus on skill improvement
Accessible through the Planet Room—just click the red circles to try a question again!
Infinity Software Development, Inc. and the Florida Department of Education, 2001

25. FCAT Explorer Middle Schools, Miami, 5/7/02
Galactic Library: 3rd Grade Benchmarks
Motivational Features
Infinity Software Development, Inc. and the Florida Department of Education, 2001

26. FCAT Explorer Middle Schools, Miami, 5/7/02
Galactic Library: 3rd Grade Benchmarks
Motivational Features
ANIMATED CHARACTERS
Characters accompany students on a mission
Students earn animated “pleasure reading” selections by completing items
Melville
Eureka
Captain Frog
Hopkins
Wordsworth
Infinity Software Development, Inc. and the Florida Department of Education, 2001

27. FCAT Explorer Middle Schools, Miami, 5/7/02
Galactic Library: 3rd Grade Benchmarks
Motivational Features
VOCABULARY ACTIVITIES
Space Stories
Four different game-like activities
Each activity reviews words from one set of Vocabulary Exercises
Word Wall
Asteroid Blasteroid
Space Words
Infinity Software Development, Inc. and the Florida Department of Education, 2001

28. FCAT Explorer Middle Schools, Miami, 5/7/02
Galactic Library: 3rd Grade Benchmarks
Educators’ Tools
Infinity Software Development, Inc. and the Florida Department of Education, 2001

29. FCAT Explorer Middle Schools, Miami, 5/7/02
Galactic Library: 3rd Grade Benchmarks
Educators’ Tools
Curriculum resources
Classroom Teacher’s Desk
Skills Location Map
Table of Benchmarks and Skills
Item Review
Letter to Parents
School Administrator’s Desk
Information management tools
Sign-in names and passwords
Progress Reports
Messages to students
District Administrator’s Desk
Infinity Software Development, Inc. and the Florida Department of Education, 2001

30. FCAT Explorer Middle Schools, Miami, 5/7/02
Galactic Library: 3rd Grade Benchmarks
Student Performance Reports
At the Classroom Teacher’s Desk
Check progress on individuals or classes
View reading data by Benchmark, Skill, or Passage
View math data by Benchmark, Strand, or Theme
View Science data by Benchmark or Strand
Compare percentage correct before and after instructional support
Infinity Software Development, Inc. and the Florida Department of Education, 2001

31. FCAT Explorer Middle Schools, Miami, 5/7/02
Galactic Library: 3rd Grade Benchmarks
The Parent & Family Guide
Accessible from the home page without a password
Available in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole
Helps parents, guardians, and mentors understand the Sunshine State Standards and the FCAT
Provides Everyday Activities to reinforce Benchmarks and Skills
Infinity Software Development, Inc. and the Florida Department of Education, 2001

32. FCAT Explorer Middle Schools, Miami, 5/7/02
Galactic Library: 3rd Grade Benchmarks
Visit the Educator Resources Page
Linked from the home page
Download this PowerPoint presentation
Download the School Administrator’s Desk Manual
Download the Teacher’s Desk Manual
Download other presentations
Reading Focus Overview
Math Focus Overview
Program-specific presentations
Infinity Software Development, Inc. and the Florida Department of Education, 2001

33. FCAT Explorer Middle Schools, Miami, 5/7/02
Galactic Library: 3rd Grade Benchmarks
To get sign-in names & passwords
School Principals: Contact your District Office and speak to the “District Administrator” for the FCAT Explorer
Teachers: Contact your “School Administrator” for the FCAT Explorer
FCAT Explorer Home Page (
Infinity Software Development, Inc. and the Florida Department of Education, 2001

34. FCAT Explorer Middle Schools, Miami, 5/7/02
Galactic Library: 3rd Grade Benchmarks
Toll-Free Help Desk
Accessible from the home page without a password
FCAT
Weekdays 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Infinity Software Development, Inc. and the Florida Department of Education, 2001

35. FCAT Explorer Middle Schools, Miami, 5/7/02
Galactic Library: 3rd Grade Benchmarks
Log on to the FCAT Explorer!
Infinity Software Development, Inc. and the Florida Department of Education, 2001