Dear HEAP members and friends,

We are providing you with our next edition of the HEAP Web-based Assessment System (WBAS) newsletter just in time for the CCSSO's MegaSCASS conference and the HEAP meeting. The purpose of this newsletter is to increase your awareness of the features and functions of the HEAP WBAS as well as update you on how member states are using the WBAS to improve teaching and learning using standards-based health education and assessment.

The WBAS is an important tool that is providing us with data to document students' progress in achieving health literacy. As you will see from the state stories below, HEAP teachers are using the data generated from the WBAS to make data-driven decisions in planning their instructional activities. The SCASS HEAP members are also using the WBAS to document implementation of state standards in health education. We continue to improve the item development feature of the WBAS.

At our April 07 HEAP meeting we will begin the process of using the WBAS to develop new formative assessment items. Should you want to advance your state's implementation of the WBAS, please feel free to contact Sara Moshman or me. We are here to provide you with technical assistance to write the next chapter of your state story!

Nancy Hudson, HEAP Coordinator

"I have found that I am able to use the online testing more efficiently each time I use it. I have changed the way I pre- and post-test to include just one or two questions from each skill on the pre-test. Then on the post-test I pick up more questions on each skill. My pre-test just gives me an idea of weak skill or knowledge areas and my post-test obviously is more thorough. I like giving both a post-test for one unit and a pre-test for the next on the same day, it saves lab time....and makes it more efficient. I love the fact that I can test for skills and do it so quickly! Needless to say, this is a tool that helps me plan my units and teach more effectively. "

Please contact Pam Jones for more information: Pjones@mail.cps.k12.ar.us

"The testing process has been very smooth with my students and I wish all could take advantage of this tool. It is absolutely amazing. The kids enjoyed hearing how the class averages increased from pre to post tests. They enjoyed taking the tests on-line as well. This was something new and different for the students, and they really liked seeing the immediate results of their test taking. As a teacher, I enjoy getting immediate student results, and test information. "

Please contact Kathleen Courtney for more information: Kathleen.Courtney@arkansas.gov

"All of the sixth grade Health Education students at Memorial Middle School in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, now take an Injury Prevention pre-test and post-test using the HEAP web-based assessment System. This process occurs at each of the four quarters of the school year. The pilot program we implemented in the 2005-2006 school year has progressed to a routine curricular teaching and assessment tool for these students. Whereby the initial pilot allowed us to gather data from one section of students, this on-going process of online assessment is allowing us to study the learning patterns and progressions of a series of student populations all studying and testing over the same knowledge and skills.

These students are very enthused about this “new” way of proving mastery of a concept or skill. Gaining computer access remains a touchy issue within the school because of the high level of technology all academic areas are encouraged to use. We did try a brand new mobile lab of laptop computers first quarter, but decided to go back to the stationary computer lab of desk tops once these laptops proved to have, at times, an unreliable wireless connection as well as an unreliable power source for the computers themselves. In order to carry out this method of assessment with minimal difficulties, schools need to provide an accessible and reliable source in which both student and instructor are confident using.

I am encouraged how the testing process is constantly being upgraded and improved for instructor ease. I continue to enjoy the aspects of not having to hand correct so many papers and to be able to play with the data from time to time to see if there are better ways I can design my classroom lessons to maximize student achievement."

Please contact Rhonda Kemmis for more information: Rhonda.Kemmis@k12.sd.us

Sue Gosney of Delaware used the WBAS all semester long for one of five classes. Her busy semester interferred with her ability to spend more time evaluating the pre-test data for instructional guidance. Scheduling the lab was another added task that stymied her initial effort. The HEAP appreciates Sue's efforts and willingness to offer feedback to support HEAP in improving our professional development efforts. The HEAP’s professional development committee will meet on February 5-6, 2007, at which time the members will consider creating more professional development resources to support teachers in understanding how to use data to inform instruction and to address the barriers to implementation.

Please contact Sue Gosney for more information: sgosney@nccvt.k12.de.us

The Department of Defense Education Activity has nearly finished the alignment of the HEAP item bank to its own health curriculum. DoDEA teachers will be able to search the bank by this alignment. The alignment was entered directly into the HEAP item bank and will be accessible only to DoDEA teachers when the process is completed.

Recent updates include an easy "wysiwyg" editor and easy media upload functions when adding new items. Reminder: States have the ability to add additional items to their own private item banks as desired. The WBAS can also be used to store and compare longitudinal student data. Please take a look at this sample report:

Sample Skill Post-Test Comparison Report between two quarters

For more information, or to join, please contact Nancy Hudson with the Council of Chief State School Officers, nancyh@ccsso.org.