School of Education

PACT Assessment Instructions

Internet access - You must have Internet access and Microsoft Word to complete the PACT Assessment.

Response Format – The PACT Teaching Event Handbook and due dates will be available on Vista-WebCT in the Teaching Practicum course. The handbook should be used as a template for formatting your response. The final submitted document must either be a Word .doc file or an Adobe .pdf file. Any other submitted formats may not be able to be graded.

Save your work often and name the file:

·  Fall Semester: F-XXXX-XX (the last four digits of your student ID number followed by a hyphen and then the last two digits of the year. For example 2008 would be 08).

·  Spring Semester: S-XXXX-XX (the last four digits of your student ID number followed by a hyphen and then the last two digits of the year. For example 2008 would be 08).

Please remove all other identifying information. We recommend that you retain a copy of your responses and supporting documents. When you are completely done with your PACT Assessment response, you are ready to upload.

Student Work Samples - The PACT Assessment requires you to submit student work samples. Student work samples will need to be scanned, or an alternative is to take a digital photo. When saving, make sure the images or photos are saved as jpg files at a low resolution, and inserted into the response document. (If the files are too large, your response may not be uploadable.) Remember, it is important that these files be 'inserted' and not 'attached' to your PACT Assessment response.

To insert scanned jpg files – Select the place in the response document where the scanned file will be inserted – place your curser there. From the Menu, select 'Insert,' select 'Picture,' select 'From File,' select the jpg file to insert. Meriam Library has scanners available for student use. (If these procedures are not followed, the evaluator will not be able to view the student work and you will receive a 0 on that step.)

Submitting Your Response -You will upload your completed response online to the STEPS website for the PACT Assessment. Access the website through your Internet browser at:

https://steps.csuchico.edu/login.aspx?school=csuchico

Note: You must use https instead of http. This encrypts your information on the internet. A security certificate will appear (could take a few minutes) that you must accept. Initialize your account (your username is your CSU, Chico student id – 9 numbers with leading 0s). It is STRONGLY advised that you immediately go to the “Help” tab after logging in and view the PowerPoint presentation that explains how to use STEPS.

You are now ready to upload your PACT Assessment response (reminder…use the training slides for this step, too). Upload your PACT Assessment to the class and content area you are completing PACT for. If you have problems uploading, use the 'Email for Help' link on the ‘Help’ menu at the top of the STEPS screen. Email help is usually available within the hour. Uploading your response may take up to an hour…do not turn off your computer or navigate to other screens during the uploading process. You will see your file on the Home Page after uploading.

Label your CD with your video the same as your document submission. Deliver your CD to Roy Dunlap at THMA 209.

The Authenticity Sign Off Form - Signatures are required for a complete submission. Download the form from the WebCT course site. Complete information on the form, obtain appropriate signatures (CT or university supervisor), and bring it with the CD to Tehama 209. A passing score on the PACT Assessment will only be recorded if your Authenticity Sign Off Form has been submitted.

Your PACT Assessment will be maintained in department files for accreditation and program improvement research. The Authenticity Sign-Off Form provides assurances regarding your participation in the PACT Assessment and gives permission for us to analyze your responses to improve our programs. All PACT Assessment materials are maintained in strict confidence.

Scoring PACT Assessment Responses - PACT Assessment responses are scored by faculty, university supervisors and cooperating teachers and scores are available for viewing roughly four weeks after the PACT Assessment deadline. Scorers use the PACT Assessment Rubric, and have been trained for scoring. Each task is scored according to the rubric for that task. Rubric ranges generate points:

Fail (Level 1) or Pass (Level 2, Level 3, and Level 4)

To pass the PACT Assessment you must:

·  Pass all five rubric categories

(Planning, Instruction, Assessment, Reflection and Academic Language)

o  To pass a category, candidates must have a majority (at least half) passing scores within the category. In Planning and Assessment, 2 out of the 3 scores must be a “Level 2” or higher; in Instruction, Reflection, and Academic Language, 1 out of 2 scores must be a “Level 2” or higher.

·  Additionally, there may be no more than 2 failing scores of “Level 1” across all tasks.

Checking Your Scores -- To determine your pass status, your score, and to see comments from the scorer, you will return to the STEPS website and choose ‘Work’, then ‘View Evaluations’.

·  If you have passed all of the rubric categories, congratulations!

·  If you have not passed, you will have an opportunity to improve and resubmit your response. Your first step will be to meet with your advisor and/or program coordinator in order to determine how best to proceed. Log on to your STEPS account to check your scores for each Task step and to read comments of the scorer. Using the PACT Assessment rubric and scorer comments, focus on revising your responses to steps that were scored below Level 2. Make revisions on a copy of your PACT Assessment Task response that you retained on your computer.

At the beginning of your revised PACT Assessment response, type in CAPITAL letters: REVISED TASKS -- (then type the title of the task(s) you revised, e.g. “Instruction”). Then type RESCORE RUBRICS (followed by the rubric numbers that need to be rescored.) This will assist the scorer in locating tasks you revised and need to have rescored, and prevent the scorer from changing the score of a rubric in which you already have a passing score.

Return to the STEPS website, upload your revised PACT Assessment Task to Task Resubmit. If, at any time you have trouble uploading, click on the 'Email for Help' link on the ‘Help’ menu and you will receive an email back usually within the hour.

Once you resubmit, your response will be randomly routed to a scorer for scoring. To check your score return to the STEPS website. If you do not receive a passing score on the resubmit, a grade of Incomplete will be given for the course you are completing PACT within. You will have six weeks after the end of the semester to submit, via hard copy to the department office, a revised PACT Assessment. If it receives a passing score, the grades will be changed to CR. If it does not receive a passing score, an individualized remediation plan will be developed and you will be required to register the following semester. If this third resubmission passes, the practicum grade will be changed to CR. This is the final submission for PACT Assessment; no further tries will be permitted.

10/3/11