The Assessment and Teaching of 21st Century Skills (ATC21S) Project Phase 2.3 Pilot Test and Recruitment for Phase 2.4 Field Test

Appendix B
Phase 2.4 Field Test Recruiting Materials






Field Test Teacher Application Flyer
Field Test Teacher Consent Letter
Field Test Memorandum of Understanding with Schools
Field Test Parent/Guardian “Opt Out” letter

Phase
2.4:
Field
Test
Recruiting
Flyer

Project Description

Assessment
and
Teaching
of
21st
Century
Skills
is
an
international
project
that
has
developed

new
assessments
to
measure
21st
century
skills
such
as
learning
in
digital
networks
and

collaborative
problem
solving
in
middle
and
high
school
grades.

The
project
now
seeks
6th,
8th

and
10th
grade
teachers
to
administer
the
assessments
to
their
classes
in
a
Field
Test.

The
Field

Test’s
objectives
are
to
calibrate
the
scales
used
to
measure
the
skills
and
further
test
the

capacity
of
the
web
delivery
system
of
the
assessments.


Scope of Work
-

Attend
web‐delivered
training
on
how
to
administer
the
assessments

Sign
and
submit
the
Teacher
Consent
form;

Arrange
the
set
up
of
class
computers
that
meet
the
required
technical
specifications
for

the
assessment
administration;

Distribute
information
to
parents/guardians
and
collect
Opt‐Out
slips
from
those
who

do
not
wish
their
child’s
data
included
in
the
study;

Conduct
the
Field
tests
over
3
class
periods
(of
at
least
45
minutes
each)
insuring
that

recording
of
student
responses
transpires;

Receive
$200
as
a
token
of
appreciation;


School Expectations

‐Support
teachers’
participation
in
meeting
training
and
scheduling
project

requirements

‐Authorize
computer,
networking
access
and
technical
support
to
teachers
and
students



To
apply
to
participate,
please
complete
and
return
the
information
requested
below
by

May
31,
2011.


Teacher Name

School/District

Home Address

School Address

Home City, State, Zip

School City, State, Zip

Home Phone

Work Phone

Home E-mail
I have read the project description and would
like to participate in the Field Test.

Work E-mail
I support the participation of the
teacher/applicant in this project. (Signature
required).

Teacher:
___________________________Date:_______

Principal:
__________________________Date:_______

Please return form to WestEd, c/o Anna Araneta, 300 Lakeside Dr. 25th Flr, Oakland, CA 94612
or fax to (510) 302-4242. If you have any questions, please contact Anna Araneta at
[email protected]

Appendix
B:
Phase
2.4
Field
Test
Teacher
Selection
Letter


Dear
,


Congratulations,
you
were
selected
to
participate
in
the
Field
Test
for
an

international
project
called
“Assessment
and
Teaching
of
21st
Century
Skills”.


The

project
is
sponsored
in
the
United
States
by
the
National
Center
for
Educational

Statistics
(NCES)
of
the
U.S.
Department
of
Education
and
implemented
by
WestEd

under
contract
with
the
NCES.


The
assessments,
which
are
designed
to
measure
learning
in
digital
networks
and

collaborative
problem
solving,
have
undergone
substantial
review
by
teachers
and

testing
with
individual
students
and
are
now
ready
to
be
administered
via
the

Internet
in
a
Field
Test.

The
objective
of
the
Field
Test
is
to
gather
data
to
establish

empirically
based
scales
that
can
indicate
students’
place
and
progress
on

developmental
continua
associated
with
each
of
the
21st
century
skill
sets
assessed.


Participation
in
the
Field
Test
is
voluntary,
and
data
collected
will
be
used
only
for

statistical
purposes
and
will
not
be
disclosed,
or
used
in
identifiable
form
for
any

other
purpose
except
as
required
by
law
(20
U.S.
Code,
Section
9573).


Please
indicate
your
willingness
to
participate
by
completing
and
returning
the

attached
consent
form
to
WestEd.

Listed
on
the
consent
form
are
the
activities
you

agree
to
implement
as
a
participant
of
the
Field
Test.


If
you
have
any
questions,
please
contact
Mike
Timms
at
[email protected],
or

Anna
Araneta
at
[email protected].


Sincerely,


Mike
Timms,
Ph.D.

Associate
Program
Director

Science,
Technology,
Engineering
&
Mathematics

WestEd


Encl:

Field
Test
Teacher
consent
form.


ATC21S


Appendix
B:
Phase
2.4
Field
Test
Consent
Form


By
signing
this
consent
form
you
agree
to
the
following:

- I
completed
and
signed
an
application
to
participate
in
the
ATC21S
Field
Test

and
secured
the
signature
of
my
school
principal;

- I
will
participate
in
a
training
to
help
me
administer
the
assessment
items;

- I
will
distribute
an
information
letter
to
parents/guardians
and
collect
back

the
“Opt‐out”
forms
from
those
who
do
not
want
their
child’s
data
used
in
the

project,
and
submit
them
to
WestEd;

- I
will
schedule
3
class
periods
of
at
least
45
minutes
each
and
submit
my

Field
Test
dates
to
WestEd;

- I
will
insure
that
each
student
has
a
computer
that
can
access
the

assessments
via
the
Internet
during
the
scheduled
Field
Tests;

- I
understand
that
all
information
I
or
my
students
provide
will
only
be
used

for
statistical
purposes
and
will
not
be
disclosed
or
used
in
identifiable
form

for
any
other
purpose
except
as
required
by
laws
(20
U.S.
Code,
Section

9573);

- I
understand
what
is
asked
of
me
and
I
volunteer
willingly
to
participate
in

conducting
the
Field
Test
in
my
classroom;

- For
completing
all
activities
in
the
Field
Tests
I
will
receive
$200.


Teacher
signature
 


Date


Grade
level
taught
 


Primary
Subject


Please
return
signed
consent
form
to:
WestEd,
300
Lakeside
Drive,
25th
Floor,
Oakland,

CA
94612,
ATTN:
Anna
Araneta.


ATC21S


MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
___________________________ School and WestEd
for the
Assessment and Teaching of 21st Century Skills Field Test
1. Purpose
This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) outlines the agreement between WestEd and
________________School (hereinafter “the school”) to field test the assessment system designed for the
Assessment and Teaching of 21st Century Skills or ATC21S (hereinafter “the project”).
The project is sponsored by the National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES) of the U.S. Department
of Education. The purpose of the project is to field test web-based assessments during the 2011-2012
school year. The project will involve training for participating teachers in each school and data collection
of student responses to the assessment tasks.
This MOU sets forth the agreement between the school and WestEd regarding the school’s role in the
project. This is a non-financial agreement.
2. Terms of the MOU
1. This MOU is effective on the day of execution by the Principal. This MOU expires December 30,
2011.
2. Any of the parties to this MOU may terminate this MOU without cause provided that written
notice is given at least 30 days in advance.
3. This MOU may be amended by the mutual written consent of all parties.
3. Confidentiality
1. WestEd will protect all data collected as part of this project. All information gathered will only
be used for statistical purposes and will not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any
other purpose except as required by law (20 U.S. Code, Section 9573).
4. WestEd responsibilities:
WestEd shall:
1. Designate a contact person for this research project. WestEd’s contact person is:
Michael Timms, Ph.D.
WestEd
Associate Program Director
300 Lakeside Dr., 25th Floor
Science, Technology, Engineering & Math
Oakland, CA 94612
Telephone: (510) 302-4214
Email: [email protected]
2. Keep the school apprised in advance of all project activities, specifically trainings and
observations that may affect the school’s planned activities;
3. Provide training to participating teachers on how to administer the assessments;
4. Provide participating teachers with informative materials to be sent out to parents;
MOU between [NAME] School and WestEd

Page 1 of 2

5. Provide participating teachers with a $200 token of appreciation for conducting the field test in
their classes.
5. School responsibilities:
The school shall:
1. Facilitate the recruitment of teachers for the purposes of the project;
2. Allow participating teachers to accommodate the administration of assessments in their class
calendars;
3. Provide necessary facilities for the completion of the assessments, including computers, network
connectivity, and technical support.
In witness hereof, the parties hereby execute this Memorandum of Understanding.
WestEd

_________________________ School

Signature:
_____________________________________

Signature:
_____________________________________

Printed Name:
__________________________________

Printed Name:
__________________________________

Title:
_________________________________________

Title:
_________________________________________

Date:
_________________________________________

Date:
_________________________________________

MOU between [NAME] School and WestEd

Page 2 of 2

Appendix
B:

Phase
2.5
Field
Test:
Parent
“Opt‐Out”
Letter


Dear
Parent/Legal
Guardian,



who
teaches
your
child’s

class
is
participating
in
a

Field
Test
that
involves
administering
new
computer‐based
assessments
to
your

child’s
class
during
three
class
periods.

The
field
test
is
part
of
an
international

project
called
“Assessment
and
Teaching
of
21st
Century
Skills”
or
ATC21S,

sponsored
in
the
United
States
by
the
National
Center
for
Education
Statistics

(NCES)
of
the
U.S.
Department
of
Education.

WestEd,
a
research
and
service
non‐
profit
organization
is
implementing
the
project
in
schools
for
the
NCES.


Purpose.

During
three
class
periods
scheduled
by
the
teacher,
your
child’s
class

will
take
final
versions
of
assessments
that
measure
learning
in
digital

environments,
and
collaborative
problem
solving.

These
critical
21st
century
skills

are
considered
important
to
student’s
success
in
their
education
and
in
future

careers.

The
field
test
is
designed
to
calibrate
the
scales
used
to
measure
the
skills.


Confidentiality.
Your
student’s
name
will
not
be
associated
with
the
assessments’

results.

No
identifying
information
will
be
recorded,
and
information
will
be
stored

securely.

All
information
may
only
be
used
for
statistical
purposes
and
may
not
be

disclosed,
or
used,
in
identifiable
form
for
any
other
purpose
except
as
required
by

law
(20
U.S.
Code,
Section
9573).

WestEd
researchers
will
collect
data
to
inform
the

development
of
the
assessment;
they
are
not
evaluating
any
student’s
performance.


Participation
is
voluntary.

Participation
in
the
field
test
is
voluntary.

If
you
do
not

wish
your
child
to
participate,
their
data
will
not
be
included
in
the
data
sent
to
the

assessment
developers.

They
will
still
participate
in
the
activity
as
part
of
their

regular
classroom
instruction.


Please
check
the
NO
box
if
you
do
NOT
want
your
child’s
data
included
in
the
field
test,

sign,
and
return
this
form
to
your
child’s
teacher
no
later
than
.




NO,
I
do
not
want
my
child’s
data
included
in
the
ATC21S
Field
Test


_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Child’s
Name


_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Parent/Guardian’s
Name


_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Parent
Signature


ATC21S