Does the tool provide for consistent longitudinal data collection and accountability for teachers? I am interested in what other tools are used within Australia to map progress of Students with Educational Needs or for Students who are achieving below the Australian Curriculum Foundation level. How do these tools marry up to the Australian Curriculum and if they provide for clear links to researched based teaching and assessment strategies for ease of Curriculum differentiation within mainstream schooling and education support settings.
Bightpath is definitely one in the area of writing.
http://brightpath.com.au/brightpath/
There is of course NAPLAN data which is collected in years 3,5,7 and 9. Data is compared over the whole state. There is also PLAN data which looks closely at the literacy and numeracy clusters of individuals. Educators can track student performance here and look at student progress in terms of a continuum. Educational differentiated plans are normally made at school level with individualised eduation plans designed around the student and their specific needs. You can google both to get info about it.
Hi Bec- To assess reading scores, my Board in Canada uses the Fountas& Pinnell Benchmard Assessment System. Their program also includes the Levelled Literacy Intervention program which I piloted in my Board to significant results. Students who were performing below grade level benefitted within 3-6 months from using this resource. Leaps & Bounds is another good assessment tool for numeracy. Consider the work from Marion Small in numeracy research. She is a guru. If you want to contact me my email is [email protected] Best Wishes; we're all better together in teaching!