Is your school going to continue with the KS3 ICT test?

[broc]

We are debating the value of continuing with our plans for the KS3 ICT test in 2007. The suggestion that the test can be reworked to provide 'continuous evaluation' is quite amusing......

[Ric_]

I intend to write a proposal that we scrap the idea of the KS3 test. My inital standpoint will be from a technical point of view, outlining the disgraceful way that the test performed on our thin client network last year (I'm also doubtful that RM will continue to provide a thin client solution that is suitable for all) and how much we would need to invest to achieve a suitable level of performance (we're talking another 10 terminal servers or buying 3 suites of fat clients!!!).

 

I will also discuss what I have spoken to others about... including working towards a proper qualification such as key skills or using the time to develop a working VLE.

[beeswax]

I've voted Yes, for the whole year group, because I sincerely believe our head of IT will go ahead with it, despite my heart not being in it.

[tosca925]

We are still going ahead with the test but i think only two thirds of the year group will do it but this has not been confirmed yet.

[webman]

We've kept it installed and plan to use it in the future, but not sure in what capacity.

[kingswood]

Yes.

 

I think it's more of a strategic thing for us. Many of the KS3 lessons that are taking place aren't up to scratch as far as curriculum goes, and one way the head of KS3 thinks we can address this is by measuring just how the students perform against a test aimed at that level. So I guess the staff assessment element is being contemplated where we are more than anything.

 

I can see the value in it there at least.

[kylewilliamson]

We've shelved it.

[alan-d]

We are going to use it as an informal assessment tool for 2007 and re-evaluate it's usefulness after that.

 

It's inevitable that electronic testing and examinations will become the norm in future so it's better to keep our hand in, so to speak and lessen the shock at a later date

 

We are lucky in that our students have the capacity to take on a diversion like this and exam results are unlikely to suffer, but I would imagine that the 'less well off' schools have a difficult decision to make. Ignore the testing and hope current practice improves results or take a chance that it will help assess pupils performance.

 

Technical issues aside it could be a useful tool for some, it's up to individual schools how they want to make use of it.

 

The last point I want to make is that if we ignore it, we can't assess or comment on it with any accuracy to be able to give feedback to improve it in the future.

[GrumbleDook]

We have shelved it for this year but will start it again from next year ... but as a formative assessment tool. The existing year 7 will do it in their first few weeks in year 8 ... and then twice again during the year ... and then 3 times in year 9 ...

 

We will do the same for the year 7 lot starting in september ... but only do it twice in their first year ...

 

This is how it is thought it will be used and presuming it is a success then it can be re-introduced or further developed.

[kylewilliamson]

It doesn't fit with our timetable, which would be the first issue.

 

Given the issues we had, and the fact that there was a massive time investment in training the kids to use its non-standard interface, I guess we're not gonna bother.

 

Kyle

[thom]

Is there any official statement on what we should do and any deadlines associated with it?

[ChrisH]

Were not doing it this year

[ChrisC]

We're running it with a reduced student number this year, purely based on the fact that when it is "reworked" we can provide feedback in imporoving it for the future.

 

Chris

[e_g_r]

We're going ahead, mostly because of the work that has been put into it by the IT staff, SMT, exams and us.

 

That will complete the 'pilot'. Then its a case of waiting to see what the LEA want us to do in the future.

 

Like Beeswax my hearts not in it but after al the prep work the show must go on.

[Gatt]

What about a "Not Yet Decied yet" option?

 

cos SLT here have yet to decide what their doing about it

[jumpinjamez]

What about a "Not Yet Decied yet" option?

 

cos SLT here have yet to decide what their doing about it

 

i am with Gatt.

 

I have ran it two years now and am still beefed about the wasted time.

[Geoff]

junked it. retooling the box to something more constructive.

[ticker]

We are going to run it again this year, had an interesting conversation with a guy from QCA at BETT who said it would be in our interest to continue running it because even though they have abolished it, it will be back in some form of assessment tool to let students be monitored through out the year rather than just at the end.

So they really haven't got rid of the tests they just realise this isn't the path to take, I think it will be something similar to the Edexcel adult basic skills and key skills onscreen tests. Which I feel is a lot better at tracking and assessing students.

I also let it slip that we had been using it to identify areas where staff would need training in by having them take the test, so they might put something in like that.

[6Foot2]

We are still getting ready. :oops: I have a stack of other work taking all my time, including a new implementation of Serco/Facility/ePortal. Nevertheless I still hope to have a new image for the stations ready for the Staff familiarisation process shortly.

[marco84]

In their wisdom the senior members of staff have decided that we will still go ahead with running the software for the whole year group.

[Ric_]

Is anybody else having to write a report on their opinion of the test process?

 

I have until 15:00 today to knock something up (minimum being who says that it isn't compulsory).

 

I am including the following aspects:

* Technical limitations

* Staff required for the test

* Pitfalls of teaching FOR the test (i.e. as opposed to teaching transferable skills)

 

Any ideas what else I could include? Possibly, alternatives the QCA test or ways of making better use of the ICT time?

 

All help much appreciated (the sooner the better)

[Midget]

Don't forget the amount of time you'd be needed for it, or they'd have to hire an IT literate exam officer, so it'll either cost more money, or result in less work being done.

[Ric_]

Don't forget the amount of time you'd be needed for it, or they'd have to hire an IT literate exam officer, so it'll either cost more money, or result in less work being done.

 

Included that, along with an estimate of time taken to install the test plus a note that anybody running the test would require training in the flightdeck thing.

[CyberNerd]

@Ric_

 

* lack of cross platform support (linux,osx,vista,98,64bit) is a fundemental design issue.

*how badly written it is esp in TS environment

*it's out of date

*teaching 'for the test'

 

*alternatives - Web2.0, serverbased jboss etc

[Midget]

What about the fact that whilst those tests are taking place, noone else is able to use those IT rooms which will greatly effect some curriculums (or the kids play time)