IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE POSSIBLE QUESTIONS
TO THE NATIONAL VOLUNTARY MATHEMATICS TEST,
PLEASE READ THIS AND REPLY DIRECTLY TO JOHN DOSSEY.
---------------------- Information from the mail header -----------------------
Sender: Ohio Mathematics & Science Coalition <[log in to unmask]>
Poster: "Ian R. Peat" <[log in to unmask]>
Organization: Miami University
Subject: (Fwd) Request RE: Voluntary National Test of Mathematics
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Clearly, John Dossey needs urgent input for this daunting task.
Ian
------- Forwarded Message Follows -------
Date: Tue, 02 Sep 1997 08:52:45 -0400
From: Joan Donahue <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Request RE: Voluntary National Test of Mathematics
To: [log in to unmask]
Reply-to: [log in to unmask]
The following was sent to NASSMC from the Conference Board of the
Mathematical Sciences. Please reply ASAP directly to John Dossey by email
at
[log in to unmask]
or by mail at
John Dossey
4520 Mathematics
Illinois State University
Normal, IL 61790-4520
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
MEMO August 30, 1997
To: Members of the Mathematics Community
From: John Dossey, Chair,
Conference Board of the Mathematical Sciences
Re: Request for Assistance with the Voluntary National Mathematics Test
As many of you have undoubtedly heard from one source or another, I have
agreed to provide direction for the development of the Voluntary National
Test of Mathematics (VNTM) proposed by President Clinton for the nation's
eighth graders. In accepting this role, I realized the many pitfalls, as
well as promises, the potential of such an examination holds.
However, one difficulty that was not so evident at that time was the
daunting schedule for the construction of such an examination. In order to
have the examination ready for its first administration in March 1999, it
is imperative that a full-scale field testing of the examinations must be
done in March 1998 to establish nationally representative data for
students. This means that pilot testing and field work must take place
this fall in order that careful shaping of items and forms can take place
before the March field test. As a result, we must have the first set of
pilot items for the examination completed by the end of September, 1997,
for pilot testing later this fall. It is with these items that I am now
requesting your help.
In order to solicit as strong and diverse a set of items from which the
tests can be formed, as well as to see the level and variety of items that
individuals in the mathematics community think appropriate for the VNTM, I
am asking for each recipient of this letter to submit three items for
consideration for use on the examination. A positive response from you can
help in providing a solid foundation for the examination. In particular, I
am asking that you submit the following types of items:
1. One multiple choice item with four choices.
2. One open-response item that can be graded at the 3 levels
of no-credit, partial credit, and full credit.
3. One open-response item that can be graded at the 5 levels
of no-credit, minimal credit, partial credit, solid credit,
and exemplary credit.
For the latter two items, it would be most helpful if you could provide a
rough outline of the levels of student performance that you would equate
with each of the scoring levels.
While I realize that this request comes at one of the busiest times of the
year for you, I hope that you can understand the extreme importance of
developing as strong as possible set of examinations for VNTM.
We need items that measure all aspects of eighth grade mathematics that can
be classified under the general content areas of
Number Sense, Properties, and Operations;
Measurement;
Geometry and Spatial Sense;
Data Analysis, Statistics, and Probability; and
Algebra and Functions.
More detailed specifics concerning these content areas and specific
targeted areas of focus in the VNTM can be found the June draft of the
design specifications for the VNTM which can be found at
<http://www.mprinc.com>
on the Web. This document has been improved greatly since this draft, but
the descriptions of the content and the sample items in it will provide
some guidance.
I hope that you will be able to provide the assistance that I have
requested and that you can provide three items in the next week. It would
be most helpful if you could send your items to me by Monday, September 8,
1997. This would allow for distribution of the items to those involved in
the development process, as well as provide time for their consideration
alongside the others for use on the examination. Items can be sent to me at
[log in to unmask]
or by mail at:
John Dossey
4520 Mathematics
Illinois State University
Normal, IL 61790-4520
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**************************************************************************
Ian Peat
Executive Director
Ohio Mathematics and Science Coalition
Miami University tel: 513-727-3237
4200 E. University Blvd. fax: 513-727-3367
Middletown, OH 45042 email: [log in to unmask]
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