Online Diploma Update Spring 2014

1. Online Diploma UpdateSpring 2014 Dan Karas, Director, Exam Administration Deanna Shostak, Acting Director, Diploma Examinations Assessment Sector

2. Digitally-Based Assessment Update • Use of Quest A+ (2013/2014 school year) • Digital format field tests • Almost 17,000 digital format field tests administered with Quest A+ from September to January • Approximately 3,000 digital format unit/topic field tests have been administered between February 1 and April 25 • Approximately 33,000 digital format field tests (PATs/Diplomas) will be administered between May 1 and June 13 • Diploma Examinations • 6000 written responses were administered in a secure digital format. This is expected to increase to approximately 8000 for the June 2014 session and be substantially higher in 2014/2015. • 1800 Chromebooks were used

3. Quest A+ “2.0” • HTML-based • Is being used to administer the grade 3 SLA field tests and the pilot grade 3 SLA in the fall • Approximately 1,700 SLA field test instances representing about 34,000 individual field tests will be administered between April 23 and May 30. • https://questaplus.alberta.ca

4. Increased Offerings of Diploma Examinations Timelines • November 2013/April 14 saw a big uptake • November 2014 and April 2015 • Pre-registration is needed, as is a school-awarded mark • November 2015 and April 2016 • All high-demand diploma examinations will be administered • Biology 30, Chemistry 30, ELA 30-1, ELA 30-2, Math 30-1, Physics 30, SS 30-1, SS 30-2 • December 2017 • Additional diploma examination session will be added in December, with the above high-demand subjects

5. Technology and New Online Assessment Timelines

6. What will be new for 2014 – 2015? • August 2014 • tech support needed for Part A’s • Digital Math and Science field tests • Enhanced reports for formative purposes • 24 h window for perusal • Extended availability • 120 minute field tests available in some subjects • Social Studies Hybrid Field Test in January 2015 • November 2014 • ELA 30-2, Chemistry 30, Math 30-1 • April 2015 • ELA 30-1, Social 30-1, Social 30-2

7. Payment Card Industry (PCI) Security Standard • In June 2014, all government fee collection services are required to be PCI compliant • Credit card numbers can NOT be provided via email, fax, or telephone • This means that there will be a new system for rewrites, rescores and transcripts • A third-party broker handles secure payment via credit card

8. New Online System for PCI Compliance • New online system for requesting and paying for High School Transcripts, Statements of Marks, rewrites and rescores • Accessed through the Alberta Education website • Students can enroll and create an Alberta Education user-id • Payment can be made by credit card • Paper can still be used BUT • No credit cards • The NEW forms must be used, starting in June 2014 • Present the paper forms in person or mail in (with cheque or money order)

9. Summary of the new Diploma Exam Rescore process • Logon to the new online system • Request the Diploma Exam Rescore • Pay for the Diploma Exam Rescore using a credit card • Print off the Diploma Exam Rescore form (for signature purposes) • Fax/mail or email the signed Diploma Exam Rescore to Alberta Education.

10. Summary of the options for Transcripts, Rewrites & Rescores • Using the NEW forms • Online with a credit card through the new system • Mail in along with a cheque or money order • In person with credit card, debit card, cash, cheque or money order: • Alberta EducationHigh School Transcripts and Diplomas2nd Floor, 44 Capital Boulevard 10044 - 108 Street NWEdmonton, Alberta T5J 5E6

11. PASI – Web • Starting April 2015 • Diploma Examination Mark Statements will be available here and no longer mailed out • Students will need to access the online PASI portal