Contact:

Marshall Eubanks – meubanks@wgen.net

What purpose does your assessment tool serve? 

Wireless Generation’s software platform is called "mCLASS™," for Mobile Classroom Assessment.  The platform makes it easier for teachers to take observational assessments on their students and monitor student progress.  Typically, paper observational assessments can be difficult to administer with paper and pen and they often involve the teacher in hours of tabulation and number crunching, yielding data that are not easily aggregated or reported.  With mCLASS applications, teachers take observational assessments on a handheld computer instead of a paper clipboard. The software instantly tabulates results, and once the teacher "syncs" the handheld to a web-connected computer, assessment data is viewed, analyzed and reported with our easy to use, Web-based tools.          

Please indicate which category best describes your tool:

a.        _____ Tools that allow users to ask questions of data (tools for collecting and disaggregating data, including surveys, self-reported data and standardized data)

b.       _X___ Tools for observation (including teacher observation and observation of student behavior or performance)

c.        ____ Tools for reviewing student products (including electronic or digital portfolios)

Who is the audience for this assessment tool?

K-3 teachers

What technology is used?

Hardware:

·        PDA:  Palm OS 3.5;  8 MB RAM

·        Desktop computer:  (PC)  Pentium processor,  64 MB RAM,  100 MB free hard drive,  USB or serial port.   (Apple)  Power Macintosh 7300/180 or greater, 24 MB RAM, USB or serial port.

Software: 

·        PC:  Windows 98 or greater, Palm Desktop 4.0.1 for Windows, Palm HotSync Manager 4.0  or greater.  

·        Apple:  MacOS 9.x or greater, Palm Desktop v4.x for Macintosh, Mac Hotsync v.3.x.

Networking requirements: 

·        Hardware:  Internet access 56Kbps or greater. 

·        Software:  Internet Explorer v4.x or Netscape Navigator v4.x; Flash 5.x.

Approximately how many people are currently using this system?

What professional development (for students or assessors) is required to use the tool?

Two professional development models are provided by Wireless Generation: Training of Trainers, where school and district-level trainers are provided two full days of comprehensive Professional Development on the technology, the assessment, and intervention strategies.  In addition to being the most cost-effective model, this approach infuses the district with resident expertise and facilitates ongoing support/re-training.  Additionally, Wireless Generation provides one full day of End-User training which is primarily targeted on the assessment.  If End-User training is selected, additional technical and installation training is required for those who will implement, administer, and support the solution.

To use the tool effectively, what else should the school have in place?

In addition to Professional Development, a Wireless Generation facilitated Implementation Meeting is required.  The purpose is to make certain that all technical, instructional, and administrative issues/concerns are addressed and responsibilities assigned.  Surrounding the assessment with the necessary support and professional development is a primary reason for the astounding nation-wide success of our solutions.

If you haven't already addressed it, how does your tool help students or teachers demonstrate that they are meeting standards?

Research indicates that formative assessment is at the foundation of all effective instructional programs.  Additionally, literacy skills are foundational to all other academic standards.  Wireless Generation provides easy-to-use, Palm-based, early-literacy, formative assessment tools for teachers.  Well known early-literacy assessments such as DIBELS, TPRI, Reading Records, and QRI are all available on a Palm.  Scoring, reporting, and diagnosis are fully automated for the teacher -- freeing them to focus on teaching and intervention.  Time savings, immediate availability of data, and reduced error rates are just a few of the well-documented benefits of our solutions.

What questions would you like participants to address?

 Had you heard about the Wireless Generation products and services before this conference?

What additional assessments would you like to see on the Palm?