Introduction to NECAP – Live Online Interactive Workshops

INFORMATIONAL LETTER: 85
POLICY CODE: ILB

TO: Superintendents of Schools and Grade 2- Grade 8 School Principals
FROM: Susan A. Gendron, Commissioner of Education
DATE: April 6, 2009
RE: Introduction to NECAP – Live Online Interactive Workshops

The Maine Department of Education Invites You to Join Us For: Introduction to NECAP – Live Online Interactive Workshops

The Maine Department of Education (MDOE) will be hosting a series of one-hour sessions designed to orient educators to the New England Common Assessment Program (NECAP). MDOEs Specialists will facilitate PowerPoint presentations as indicated in the Sessions section below. Session descriptions are also included in this notice.

Virtual seats in these workshops are limited to 100 per session, so we request that schools join as a group in one location, securing only one virtual seat, using a speaker phone and projecting the Web image in order to maximize participation. Each session will be recorded and posted on the MDOE website within 48 hours of the presentation. If, after participating in the workshop or viewing the recording, you have remaining questions, email Sandra McKechnie at Sandra.Mckechnie@maine.gov or the session presenter. To join, you will need to follow, in order, the instructions below.

All sessions begin at 3:15 pm. There is no pre-registration for these sessions. We suggest that you log on 10 minutes ahead of time.

SESSIONS

NECAP overview with Susan Smith: Monday, April 13, 2009
http://stateofmaine.na4.acrobat.com/necap99/
Phone Dial-In: 1-866-910-4857
Passcode: 140893

Math, grades 3-5 with Dan Hupp: Tuesday, April 14, 2009
http://stateofmaine.na4.acrobat.com/necap4/
Phone Dial-In: 1-866-910-4857
Passcode: 985399

Reading and Writing, grades 6-8 with Patsy Dunton: Tuesday, April 14, 2009
http://stateofmaine.na4.acrobat.com/necap1/
Phone Dial-In: 1-866-910-4857
Passcode: 140893

PAAP with Kim Schroeter: Wednesday, April 15, 2009
http://stateofmaine.na4.acrobat.com/necap5/
Phone Dial-In: 1-866-910-4857
Passcode: 985399

Math, grades 6-8 with Dan Hupp: Wednesday, April 15, 2009
http://stateofmaine.na4.acrobat.com/necap2/
Phone Dial-In: 1-866-910-4857
Passcode: 140893

Reading and Writing, grades 3-5 with Diana Doiron, Thursday, April 16, 2009
http://stateofmaine.na4.acrobat.com/necap3/
Phone Dial-In: 1-866-910-4857
Passcode: 140893

SESSION DESCRIPTIONS

NECAP overview with Susan Smith: In October 2009, Maine students in grades 3-8 will take part in the New England Common Assessment Program, known as NECAP, in reading, mathematics, and a field test in writing. This presentation is designed for principals and test coordinators and will provide an overview of the NECAP standards, administration dates, test design, session lengths, accommodations, administration policies, reporting, etc. Session contact: susan.smith@maine.gov

Math, Grades 3-5 or Grades 6-8, with Dan Hupp: The mathematics sessions will focus on the NECAP math standards and the design/structure of the math tests. Other topics addressed in the math sessions include testing resources, calculator use, released items and reports. Instructional strategies will be featured throughout the presentation. Session contact:dan.hupp@maine.gov

Reading, Grades 6-8 with Patsy Dunton or Grades 3-5 with Diana Doiron: In these sessions, we will introduce the NECAP standards which are referred to as grade level expectations and articulated with much greater specificity than in our Maine Learning Results. Vocabulary, literary text, and informational text standards are divided into initial understanding and analysis categories. Grades 3 and 4 also include a standard articulating word identification and decoding strategies. Grades 5-8 do not include this standard. We will discuss how test items measure the NECAP standards and suggest possible strategies or focus areas for instruction. Session contacts: patsy.dunton@maine.gov or diana.doiron@maine.gov

Writing, Grades 6-8 with Patsy Dunton or Grades 3-5 with Diana Doiron: Writing on the NECAP is assessed quite differently from the MEA. In both grade 5 and grade 8, there are 10 multiple choice items which measure conventions and structures. There are 3 short constructed response (CR) items and 1 extended response item. We will discuss test design, types of writing, the difference between a reading CR and a writing CR, and suggest some strategies for instruction. Session contacts: patsy.dunton@maine.gov or diana.doiron@maine.gov

PAAP with Kim Schroeter: This important session will address revisions to Maine’s 2009-2010 Personalized Alternate Assessment Plan (PAAP) Standards for Reading, Writing, and Mathematics instituted in response to the adoption of NECAP standards. This online meeting will discuss:

changes to the PAAP process and materials,
grade levels appropriate for the PAAP,
the revised time-line of the PAAP,
the Task Bank, and
materials for this spring’s IEP development.

Session contact: kimberly.schroeter@maine.gov

INSTRUCTIONS

To join a session, please follow these steps:

1. Go online to the URL listed above for each session. (Use Internet Explorer or Safari for best results)

2. Enter your name in the box when prompted.

3. In order to listen and speak during the meeting, you will need to be connected by telephone as well as the Internet. To help you connect by phone, a box will appear asking for your phone number so the Connect conference room can call you back.

If you have a telephone with a direct-dial phone number, please accept this option, enter your phone number, and we will call you right back.
If you have a telephone with no direct-line phone number (if your phone is only reached by a switchboard), please click on CANCEL when the call-back box appears, then dial-in to the meeting using this access combination:

Dial-In: see above for session information
Passcode: see above for session information

To participate in the web conference, you will need:

A computer with a broadband connection to the internet (Cable, DSL, or Wi-Fi). Please note – Dial-Up will not work!
Adobe Flash Player (Flash 7 or later) installed on your computer; most computers already have the Flash Player installed – however, if yours does not, or if your Flash Player is in need of updating (version 6 or older), you can download the player for free from Adobe by clicking on this link: http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/?promoid=BUIGP ; this is a safe and quick download.
An open phone line; we recommend using a hands-free headset or speakerphone.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Sandra McKechnie via e-mail at sandra.mckechnie@maine.gov or by phone at 207-624-6770.

If you have never attended a Connect Pro meeting before, test your connection at http://stateofmaine.na4.acrobat.com/common/help/en/support/meetingtest.htm

You can find a quick overview of Connect Pro at http://www.adobe.com/go/connectprooverview

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