Forwarded from Arie Nadler, OCMA
Brian E. Smith (smithb@MANAGEMENT.MCGILL.CA)
Mon, 28 Oct 1996 20:07:33 -0500
>From: ocma@fox.nstn.ca (Arie L. Nadler)
>Subject: ON YOUR MARK!
>
>Those of you who have posted requests for information on testing and
>assessment practices over the past year, will be interested in the
>following description of a project undertaken by the Ontario Colleges
>Mathematics Association (OCMA) in Ontario, Canada.
>
>In 1992 the OCMA began work on a common approach to mathematics assessment
>for students entering Engineering Technician/Technology programs at five
>Colleges in the Greater Toronto Area. Most colleges were already
>pre-testing their students, but the test instruments and procedures in use
>at the time varied considerably. OCMA's goal was to design an assessment
>model which could be customized to the needs of individual colleges.
>
>We have developed a Multivariable Program-referenced Assessment
>(MPA TM) model which identifies students "at risk" and helps place them in
>alternative programs. We have built MPA (TM) models from pilot studies
>involving over 8000 students at a dozen colleges covering most of the
>province, from Thunder Bay to Sarnia. MPA (TM) tests are now available in
>mathematics for three areas: Technology, Business and College Access, and
>preliminary work has been done on extending the MPA approach to language
>skills.
>
>MPA (TM) is based on a composite of several variables and can predict
>success more accurately than test scores alone. In addition, it provides
>estimates of prediction accuracy and can allow for differences in
>difficulty among courses or programs of study.
>
>Discriminant analysis is used to determine which predictor variables
>contribute most to accurate placement of students. Accuracy of the
>procedure is estimated by comparing predicted and actual outcomes for the
>pilot population.
>
>The software for the Assessment of Student Readiness will be distributed as
>On Your Mark! (TM).
>
>For a more in-depth discussion you are invited to session S43, ITT
>Sheraton, 2:30-3:30 on Thursday November 15, 1996 at the AMATYC 22nd
>annual conference.
>
>For additional general information contact:
>Arie L. Nadler
>Director of Development, OCMA
>17 Guildwood Drive
>Richmond Hill, Ontario
>L4C 8G9
>
>Voice: (905) 737-9299
>Fax: (905) 737-9488
>e-mail: ocma@fox.tstn.ca
>
>For detailed technical information please contact:
>
>Paul Hietala
>Project Research, OCMA
>Seneca College
>1750 Finch Avenue, East
>North York, Ontario
>M2J 2X5
>
>Voice: 416-491-5050, Ext.: 2363
>Fax: 416-491-0854
>email: hietala@mars.senecac.on.ca
>
>
>