Project Based Assessments

1. Project Based Assessments An Alternative Pathway to Proficiency 2013 Field Test

2. Project Based Assessment Overview • Created by PA educators guided by curriculum experts • Scaffolded tasks building to the creation and submission of a Project Based Assessment • Approximate five to seven hour time frame for completion of actual assessment • Student completes the project work before, during, or after school in supervised environment • Logistics and locations for project completion determined by district • PSSA accommodations apply

3. Roles in the PBA • Intermediate Unit • District Level Administrator • School Site Administrator • PBA Monitor • PBA Tutor • Student • Review Panel Members

4. Responsibilities of District Administrator District Administrator • Acts as liaison with IU regional representatives • Communicates PBA concept to stakeholders • Oversees the implementation of the PBAs in district schools • Supports environment to ensure accuracy and security • Recommends educators to serve on statewide review panels

5. Responsibilities of Site Administrator Site Administrator • Ensures that students have participated in a satisfactory manner in supplemental instructional services prior to PBA • Supports environment to ensure accuracy and security • Provides an overview of the PBA concept, the online portal, and the project requirements to stakeholders • Identifies project needs for students and assigns appropriate projects • Determines timeline for completion, i.e., number of weeks to work on PBA • Notifies student of PBA start date and previews site with students • Assigns project monitors and tutors to PBA students • Schedules students for supervised sessions in before, during, and/or after school

6. Monitoring PBA Work PBA Monitor • Logs student onto secure portal • Supports environment to ensure accuracy and security • May be the assigned tutor, study hall teacher, librarian, etc.

7. Responsibilities of the PBA Tutor PBA Tutor • Reviews project activities at designated checkpoints to permit student to continue • Supports environment to ensure accuracy and security • Provides remediation on the Eligible Content based upon student need (does NOT tutor or instruct on specific activities in PBA) • Evaluates project based upon evaluative criteria; submits project for regional review or provides remediation for project revisions, as necessitated by criteria

8. Responsibility of the Student Student • Gains an understanding of PBA portal, project components, and expectations • Completes PBA activities online; stops at designated checkpoints to await tutor approval; completes final project for submission, as appropriate. • Requests help as needed • Communicates with tutor as necessary • Completes PBA within district prescribed timeline

9. Responsibility of the Evaluator Project Review Team Members (Evaluators) • Participate in PBA evaluation training • Evaluate PBAs for defined courses (subject certified teachers) • Award satisfactory/unsatisfactory evaluation and provide annotation for unsatisfactory projects

10. PBA Design • Online Delivery • Secure Site • Accessible by Defined Roles • Student Access • Tutor Access • Administrator Access

12. PBA Design The Tutor access is unique and password protected.  It provides access to all assigned projects and student communication.

15. Contact Information • Contacts: Project Based Assessments Jean Dyszel jmdyszel@verizon.net Project Based Assessments Rita Perez rperez@pa.gov Keystone Exams Rich Maraschiello c-marasch@pa.gov

16. Site Access Online Portal Features • Help (Video) • Messages • Projects • Project Activities • Scoring Guide • Study Resources