Preparing for PARCC
Building Comfort with the
PARCC Math Equation Editors
This post is part of our blog
series on PARCC. In this series, we offer tips and strategies you can use to
ensure that your students perform at their very best on the PARCC tests.
Imagine you are a student taking the PARCC Summative Assessment for Math online. As you click, drag and drop, and make other answer selections, you encounter an item with a large text box that has selections that look much like calculator functions. Perhaps, it is a calculator (it is not). You have encountered one of the PARCC Equation Editors. If this is your first encounter with the editor, it may appear as a “BIG SCARY BOX.”
Many
software programs provide equation editors that are useful for creating math
expressions and equations. Most equation editors provide symbols for the
mathematical operations (+, -, *, ÷). Other symbols are provided such as <,
π,
.
Equation editors are not universal in design; each software program can have a
unique editor. Because many students are beginners with keyboarding skills,
they may have little to no experience with equation editors.
The
PARCC online assessments are delivered on the TestNav8 software program and
have unique equation editors.
The Basic Equation Editor is provided as
the answer box with an item that requires the student to construct the math
answer. The Basic Equation Editor is provided because the answer may require
the use of special functions. For example, an item may have this instruction:
“Enter only the fraction.” It is not
possible to enter fractions in a simple text box using a standard keyboard on
the TestNav8 software program. However the Basic Equation Editor has a special
fraction function. Here is a screenshot of the Basic Equation Editor for
various grade bands:
Notice
how the functions are different for each grade band.
The Open Equation Editor is provided as the
answer box for items that require the student to enter words and math. PARCC Type
II and Type III items with hand-scored responses will include the Open Equation
Editor. Here is a screenshot of the Open Equation Editor for each grade band:
PARCC
has provided both equation editors at all grade bands for practice. On the
PARCC Pearson.com website, select the “Test Preparations” drop-down menu. Then
select “Tutorials.”
On the
right-hand side of the page, there is a menu of selections for the Equation
Editors:
The Equation Editor Guide is a PDF on how
to use the editors to create responses. A separate guide is provided for each
grade band.
Select
the “Practice with the Equation Editor”
drop-down menu for online practice with equation editors. Here are some
suggestions for providing students with a practice experience:
- Allow students to practice entering sample answers. Create a document of sample math answers that make use of the various functions on the Basic Equation Editor. For example, for grade 3:
- Allow students to respond on paper to a sample PARCC Type II or Type III practice item. Ask the student to enter the response in the Open Equation Editor online.
- Continue with practice experiences online using the PARCC practice tests. The equation editors are provided with the items, as needed.
- Provide a poster of the editors in the classroom or a small printed image of the editors for each student to reference as needed. This allows the editors to be reviewed frequently. Students can identify the function keys that are needed to create specific answers. As a result, the functions are familiar and visible each day in the classroom, not just when practicing on the PARCC website.
- Use a screenshot of the editors on classroom paper items as the answer box. Ask the students to circle any functions they used in their responses.
The Equation Editor Tutorials provide
helpful hints and practice. It highlights various features and operational
techniques for entering responses.
Students
have varying abilities with keyboarding. The same is true with the equation
editors. Each student’s learning curve is unique. Experience with the online
editors is necessary to build familiarity with the tool and ease of use. Building
a level of comfort will allow students to be more confident with online
assessment and to focus more on the content of the assessment items, instead of
the software platform. There is no reason why the equation editor should be the
“BIG SCARY BOX.”
Standards
Solution and Inspired Instruction offer 540 PARCC lesson plans, online
PARCC-like assessments with technology-enhanced items, PARCC workshops, and
PARCC demonstration lessons. Please contact Judy Cataldi for more information.
Judy.cataldi@standardssolution.com or call 908-223-7202.
Standards Solution Holding, LLC is not owned by or affiliated in any fashion with PARCC, Inc.
