Common Exams (sometimes referred to as Measures of Student Learning or MSLs) are creating a number of great questions. I appreciate all the questions that many of you have already asked. I am going to try to summarize what we know as of today, November 1st.
Versions of Common Exams/MSLs
There will only be one version of the Common Exam/MSL. For math, the entire Common Exam/MSL is calculator active. There will be no released forms, but we are encouraged to look at the assessment prototypes that have been posted to NC DPI’s Curriculum and Instruction division’s wikis (http://maccss.ncdpi.wikispaces.net/Assessment). They are not sample Common Exam/MSL items, but they do provide great examples of assessment aligned to the new standards. Jennifer Preston with the NC Department of Public Instruction helped with this information.
Samples
One piece that all of us are eager to see are samples. Even though there will be no released forms for Common Exams/MSLs, we have recently seen some samples coming out. Here is the link to the most recent.
NC Measures of Student Learning/Common Exams Sample Items (released October 2012)
Geometry and Algebra II Common Exams/MSLs
Common Exams/MSLs will be available for High School Math Courses beginning this school year. For the first semester of the 2012-2013 school year (where we are currently) the exams for Geometry and Algebra II will be locally developed and scored. The exams will be based on the Common Core State Standards and we will be working to develop a team to create these assessments soon. Please know that this is new information for all of us, so you have not missed anything in this announcement. Stay tuned...
For the Spring Semester of 2013, the Common Exam/MSL for fourth math courses should be developed by NC Department of Public Instruction.
Fourth Math Common Exams/MSLs for 2012-2013
For our fourth math courses in high school, the Common Exam/MSLs will be written to the 2003 standards, but from a Common Core State Standards lens. This means the Common Exams will cover the 2003 Standard Course of Study Objectives for the fourth math courses, but students will be asked to think about the standards through the Math Practices (see below). Johannah Maynor and Jennifer Preston with NC DPI helped with this explanation.
The Math Practices shared in the Common Core State Standards (Specific examples can be found in the unpacking documents):
(http://www.insidemathematics.org/index.php/mathematical-practice-standards)
Elementary and Middle School
Please do not feel like we are leaving elementary and middle schools out of this discussion, but since high schools will be testing with Common Exams/MSLs at the end of the first semester, there is much more information available now for grades 9-12. I will continue to update this blog with information with information as it becomes available.
The most up-to-date Unpacking Documents and Math Resources can be found on the NC Department of Public Instruction's Wikispace at http://maccss.ncdpi.wikispaces.net/home. You will want to look at the link for your grade level/band. There are also a lot of good resources under the Professional Development link (on the left side)- then click the NCCTM link that comes up.
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