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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ************************************************************************** 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] **************************************************************************