Assessment | News

Edmentum Integrates Measure of Academic Progress, Study Island

• By Tim Sohn
• 01/17/13

Edmentum is now integrating assessment tools from nonprofit organization Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) with its online Study Island mastery and test preparation program. The announcement of Study Island NWEA MAP Link comes four months after a pilot was conducted with math and reading classes in grades three through eight at school districts in Arizona and Kentucky.

Study Island NWEA MAP Link allows school districts to evaluate students' knowledge using NWEA's Measure of Academic Progress (MAP). Based on results from MAP, school districts will use Study Island to provide targeted instruction in areas of weakness.

The Measure of Academic Progress uses diagnostic tests and survey assessments to evaluate students' core math and reading skills. The three types of tests included are:

• Screening tests, designed to assess students' knowledge in letter and number understanding, letter recognition, sounds, and concepts of print, and concepts of numbers;
• Checklist tests that allow teachers to customize a skills checklist and select focus of content and sequence. These include math and reading tests; and
• Survey with goals tests to provide an overall score and scores aligned with specific goals.

Study Island program includes pre- and post-tests, questions, answers, explanations, and lessons specific to state requirements. Questions are chosen randomly to avoid the possibility of cheating and students have the option of using a standard testing format or interactive games. Teachers and administrators can evaluate students' strengths and weaknesses with real-time reports. Study Island provides three mode options for instructors. Test mode provides the option of multiple choice or short answer format, game mode allows teachers to limit access, and printable worksheets let teachers select which topics they want to include for substitute plans, homework, make-up work, reviews, tests, tutorials, and transparencies.

"This partnership allows educators and parents to monitor individual student performance to ensure resources are directed to each student's zone of proximal development," said Matt Chapman, president and CEO of NWEA, in a prepared statement. "This integration optimizes the learning experience for the student, while also allowing educators to respond immediately with targeted instruction based upon the results of the MAP assessments."

Edmentum will be presenting Study Island NWEA Map Link at the Florida Educational Technology Conference 2013 in Booth 315, January 28-31 in Orlando, FL, and at the Texas Computer Education Association 2013 Convention & Exposition in Booth 1617, February 6-8, in Austin, TX.

For more information about Study Island, visit edmentum.com. Go to nwea.org to learn more about NWEA.