COMPUTER SKILLS ASSESSMENT YEAR 6

1
Computer Skills Assessment Year 6
2

• FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
• Why assess students computer skills?
• What skills are being assessed?
• How are the skills assessed?
• Why a pencil-and-paper test?
• How are different platforms and applications
  being catered for?
• How are questions developed?
• Where can we get further information on this
  assessment?
• What is happening in 2003?
• What follow-up support can schools expect to
  receive?
• What links will there be between primary and
  high schools in regard to the
• Computer Skills Assessment?

3
Why assess students computer skills?
The effective use of computer technology in our
classrooms is an important new aspect of the
education of our students. Students skills need
to be identified and evaluated, with the results
of the assessment informing future teaching and
learning programs to the benefit of all. The NSW
Government has thus introduced the statewide
external Computing Skills Assessment for all Year
6 and Year 10 students to determine their
knowledge, ability and understanding to use
information and communications technology (ICT).
4
What skills are being assessed?

• general computer concepts
• word processing
• graphics
• multimedia
• Internet
• email
• spreadsheet
• database

5
The following slides show examples of syllabus
outcomes, indicators and related computer skills
and knowledge.
6
Computer operations
ENGLISH Learning to Write - Skills and
Strategies OUTCOME W S2.12 Uses joined letters
when writing in NSW Foundation Style and
demonstrates basic desktop publishing skills on
the computer

• INDICATOR
• carries out basic functions e.g. prints, saves to
  correct place and retrieves a text

7
Word Processing

• ENGLISH Learning to Write - Skills and
  Strategies
• OUTCOME
• W S3.12 Produces texts in a fluent and legible
  style and uses computer technology to present
  these effectively in a variety of ways
• INDICATOR
• uses computer software programs to format a
  variety of texts

8
Graphics

• ENGLISH Learning to Write - Skills and
  Strategies
• OUTCOME
• W S2.12 Uses joined letters when writing in NSW
  Foundation Style and demonstrates basic desktop
  publishing skills on the computer
• INDICATOR
• chooses appropriate graphics to accompany text

9
Internet
HSIE Change and Continuity Significant Events
and People OUTCOME CC S3.1 Explains the
significance of particular people, groups,
places, actions and events in the past in
developing Australian identities and heritage

• INDICATOR
• Critically investigate the contributions of
  events and people of significance to Australian
  heritage using a variety of primary and secondary
  sources such as Internet sites
• RELATED COMPUTER SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE
• understands and uses key words in a simple
  search
• understands structure of a web address

10
Email

• Science and Technology Information and
  Communication
• OUTCOME
• IC S3.2 Creates and evaluates information
  products and processes, demonstrating
  consideration of the type of media, form,
  audience and ethical issues
• INDICATOR
• Writes and sends an email with an attachment to
  an expert seeking advice and information for a
  task
• RELATED COMPUTER SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE
• understands features of an email message
• understands structure of an email address

11
Database

• Science and Technology Living Things
• OUTCOME
• LT S2.3 Identifies and describes the structure
  and function of living things and ways in which
  living things interact with other living things
  and their environment.
• INDICATOR
• Designs, makes and uses a database to record
  information on selected flora and fauna
• RELATED COMPUTER SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE
• understands purpose of a database
• locates specific information in a class-created
  database
• understands basic terminology fields, records,
  files

12
Spreadsheet

• PDHPE Problem Solving
• OUTCOME
• PS S3.5 Suggests, considers and selects
  appropriate alternatives when resolving problems
• INDICATOR
• surveys students and teachers to develop a
  healthy canteen menu and analyses results using
  a spreadsheet
• RELATED COMPUTER SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE
• interprets data from a simple existing
  spreadsheet
• understands cell addressing
• enters data in a cell

13
How will the skills be assessed?
There will be an assessment by pencil-and-paper
of computer knowledge and understandings. There
will be practical performance tasks to
assesscomputer skills delivered initially by
CD-ROM and in the future online. Schools will
have an extended period of time to administer
these to students. The skills tested will be
based on computer skills that can be developed
through teaching/learning activities in the six
K.L.A.s
14
Why a pencil-and-paper test?
In order to assess a wide variety of computer
skills quickly and effectively, there will be a
pencil-and-paper component to the assessment.
Future plans will see the practical,
electronically-delivered component
broadened. Pencil-and-paper tests are used for a
variety of purposes including the diagnosis of
special strengths and weaknesses and the
evaluation of mastery of skills. A variety of
answer formats can be used. Such tests address
outcomes and have a clear focus.. They are
thoroughly planned to be fair, valid and
reliable. They contain questions at different
levels of difficulty, ordered so that students
can demonstrate what they know. Questions use
accessible language and are set in contexts that
are accessible to students of different gender
and cultural backgrounds.
15
How are questions developed?
Teachers with expertise in integrating technology
in the classroom, attend an item-writing
workshop. If interested, they can then be
contracted to write and submit questions. Question
s are reviewed by panels consisting of
representatives from ESL, Aboriginal,
multicultural, technical, curriculum and
classroom perspectives.
16
(No Transcript)
17
How are different platforms and applications
being catered for?
In both components of the assessment, generic
screens and icons are being used. These are based
on elements of both Mac and PC features so that
they are understood by students regardless of the
platform they use.
18
(No Transcript)
19
What is happening in 2003?
The pencil-and-paper component of the assessment
will be held statewide. The proposed date is in
May. The practical component will again be run
in pilot form in 2003.
20
What follow-up support can schools expect to
receive?

• Twenty Consultants have been employed. Each
  consultant works
• across two districts. These positions will
  assist in the implementation of the
• Computer Skills Assessment program. Their roll
  includes
• supporting schools through the pencil-paper test
  and practical tasks
• assisting primary and secondary schools in
  analysing results of CSA
• assisting with whole school planning for
  embedding computer-based technologies into the
  learning programs
• conducting training and development activities
  for teachers to support the inclusion of
  computer-based technologies into all aspects of
  the curriculum
• providing classroom support for teachers through
  modelling explicit teaching of computer skills

21
What links will there be between primary and high
schools in regard to the CSA?
A sample of schools sat the Year 6 and Year 10
test in order to see which skills are appropriate
for assessment at each level. DET and the Board
of Studies collaborate closely as the assessments
are being developed. CSA consultants are working
in both primary and secondary schools,
particularly with Stage 3 and 4 students.
22
Where can we get further information on this
assessment?

• Each school was sent an information brochure.
• On the DET Intranet is a copy of the brochure
  and a
• powerpoint presentation.
• Each school is being sent a copy of the 2002
  pilot paper
• and practical CD-ROM.
• The Computer Skills Assessment Consultant can
  advise.
• Contact the Student Assessment and Reporting
  Unit.

23
(No Transcript)
24
(No Transcript)
25
(No Transcript)
26
(No Transcript)
27
A brochure regarding the Year 6 assessment
program has been sent to all primary and central
schools. For any questions regarding the program
please contact Annette Wright 9707
6283 Christina Maxymenko 9707 6285 Ilham Ayoub
9707 6284 Fax 9707
6287 Email Annette.Wright2_at_det.nsw.edu.au