Classscape Online Formative Assessment System

ClassScape is an online formative assessment system, allowing teachers to analyze student performances on North Carolina Standard Course of Study academic indicators, providing teachers with the opportunity to build or use customized tests that help their self-assessment.

Centre for Urban Affairs and Community Services at the North Carolina State University (CUACS) started the ClassScape program as a specially designed approach that aim at achieving certain objectives. They use the North Carolina Standard Course of Study indicators to identify the strength and weaknesses of the individual students. The teachers are also helped to maintain/achieve curriculum alignment, through assessments that are approved by content experts. Self-assessment of teachers is also possible through this program.

ClassScape allows the opportunity of formative assessment. It monitors progress of each student during the learning period, rather than at the end. Continuous feedback is provided regarding their progress and insights are offered in their strengths and conceptual errors. This helps teachers in adapting teaching and learning activities whereas students get the opportunity of operating in a non-threatening environment.

Some of the acceptable uses of the ClassScape program include identifying individual class strengths and weaknesses along with maintaining curriculum/instructional alignment. It also monitors student progress and guides teachers for instructional decisions. In order to get started with the program, it is necessary to align the computer with the necessary technical specifications. The participation survey has to be completed and teacher/administrator accounts are then set up. A class for participation has to be chosen and assessments have to be chosen which can then be reviewed periodically.

A special Teacher Startup kit and Students Instruction is provided by ClassScape at the beginning of the test. The items used in this program go through several steps of reviewing and are developed by experts. Copyright issues are also taken care of. At present, there are 45,488 items in the creation and review process. New items are always added to the curriculum to widen its scope. The various pre-made tests may require anywhere between 15-45 minutes for a student to complete.

North Carolina Universitys McKimmon Center for Extension and Continuing Education is a division of CUACS and the ClassScape program has been developed as an addition to their efforts for improving the lives of North Carolina citizens. Enrolments for the 2007-2008 school year is being accepted now and free test administrator training is being provided for 2 test administrators from each school at NC States McKimmon Centre. Classscape