INCAINCASS

Interactive Interactive Computerised Computerised

Assessment SystemAssessment System

What is What is INCAS ?INCAS ?

Computerised adaptive assessment Computerised adaptive assessment programme designed for children programme designed for children from 5-11yearsfrom 5-11years

Developed by Durham University UK Developed by Durham University UK – used locally and internationally.– used locally and internationally.

All ESF schools follow the same All ESF schools follow the same procedures and timeframes for INCAS procedures and timeframes for INCAS testing.testing.

What does it What does it do?do?

INCAS provides feedback on INCAS provides feedback on Reading, Spelling, Mental Reading, Spelling, Mental Arithmetic, General Mathematics, Arithmetic, General Mathematics, Developed Ability and AttitudesDeveloped Ability and Attitudes

The results give a profile for the The results give a profile for the whole school, individual classes whole school, individual classes and individual studentsand individual students

Computer based using a unique Computer based using a unique set of passwords for each studentset of passwords for each student

Child friendly multi-media Child friendly multi-media interface guides the students interface guides the students through the assessment.through the assessment.

The assessment items are The assessment items are adjusted in response to the adjusted in response to the students answersstudents answers

How is it How is it administered?administered?

What is What is assessed?assessed?

Reading - Reading is assessed using tasks of Reading - Reading is assessed using tasks of word recognition, word decoding and word recognition, word decoding and comprehension. Students are presented with comprehension. Students are presented with comprehension items only if they achieve comprehension items only if they achieve sufficiently high scores for word recognition sufficiently high scores for word recognition and word decodingand word decoding

The reading score is a composite of word The reading score is a composite of word recognition, word decoding and recognition, word decoding and comprehension. If children have not been comprehension. If children have not been presented with the comprehension items then presented with the comprehension items then the minimum comprehension score is used in the minimum comprehension score is used in calculating the reading score.calculating the reading score.

•Mental Arithmetic assesses number fact recall in the operation areas of addition, subtraction, multiplication and divisionGeneral Mathematics is a compilation of scores from items presented in the following areas:Number 1- This covers counting, informal arithmetic (i.e. a number problem presented as ‘Here are 6 ice creams, if 3 are taken away how many would be left?'), partitioning and place value, fractions and decimals. Number 2- This covers sorting, patterns, formal arithmetic, problem solving and algebraMeasuring, Shape and Space (MSS) Handling Data

Developed Ability: A pupil’s Developed Ability is made up of their performance in Picture Vocabulary and Non-Verbal ability, using age equivalent scores. Professor Tymms, director of CEM, defined developed ability as the ability of children to learn. It is something that theyhave developed over their lifetime and they will continue to develop. It is measured by using a combination of their language acquisition and non-verbal ability.Attitudes: the student’s attitude to Reading, Mathematics and School is measured on a continua of 1-5

What happens What happens next?next?

Having completed the class Having completed the class assessments, the results are assessments, the results are uploaded to Durham and then we uploaded to Durham and then we download them. This can be done download them. This can be done within two to three days.within two to three days.

There is no marking for teachers to There is no marking for teachers to do which means we can focus on do which means we can focus on interpreting and using the results.interpreting and using the results.

What do the scores What do the scores mean?mean?

The analysis of reading and spelling The analysis of reading and spelling scores will enable a teacher to see scores will enable a teacher to see which pupils have good word which pupils have good word recognition and decoding skills but recognition and decoding skills but perhaps poor understanding of a perhaps poor understanding of a passage of text.passage of text.

The added dimension of picture The added dimension of picture vocabulary and non-verbal ability vocabulary and non-verbal ability enables teachers to see if pupils’ enables teachers to see if pupils’ reading is in line with these. This is reading is in line with these. This is particularly useful for children for whom particularly useful for children for whom English is an additional language.English is an additional language.

•Factors that influence scores: life experiences, maturity, readiness to learn, ‘on-the-day’ factors, learning styles etc.

•It’s a snapshot at that time – it’s useful information but only one piece of the jigsaw.

How do we use the How do we use the results?results?

Making comparison with other class-based Making comparison with other class-based assessments to build a bigger picture of where the assessments to build a bigger picture of where the child is at.child is at.

Gauging appropriate work for different groups of Gauging appropriate work for different groups of children or individuals eg. Readingchildren or individuals eg. Reading

Highlighting strengths of individualsHighlighting strengths of individuals

Highlighting any specific areas that need Highlighting any specific areas that need developmentdevelopment

A starting point to gauge progress eg. added value.A starting point to gauge progress eg. added value.

SummarySummary INCAS testing provides information on student INCAS testing provides information on student

performance that is one part of the ‘assessment’ performance that is one part of the ‘assessment’ jig-saw for individual students. jig-saw for individual students.

Class teachers also analyse the INCAS data for Class teachers also analyse the INCAS data for their class- noting those students who are their class- noting those students who are performing outside the expected age level range.performing outside the expected age level range.

SM analyses the total data for Kennedy School to SM analyses the total data for Kennedy School to identify any obvious trends.identify any obvious trends.

ESF central office also analyses the data from all ESF central office also analyses the data from all schools to identify any obvious trends.schools to identify any obvious trends.