West Stokes High School ACT Mastery Prep by Michelle Williams https://padlet.com/lmichellewilliams01/bsom36aj6gyh Michelle Williams EDUC 804 - Fall 2017 en-us 2017-10-31 13:22:43 UTC 2026-03-05 20:38:57 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/icons/Templeball.png Introduction lmichellewilliams01 https://padlet.com/lmichellewilliams01/bsom36aj6gyh/wish/202120547 The American College Testing (ACT) is a national college admissions examination designed to measure academic achievement. The ACT requires students to have a deep understanding of the context and strong problem solving skills (Allensworth, Correa, & Ponisciak, 2008). High school graduates struggle to meet the ACT benchmarks, indicating a need for focused instruction in this area. 
Consistent with national ACT data, West Stokes High School has been unsuccessful in meeting the ACT benchmark.  The ACT benchmark is a composite score of 21, this is the average score of the four tested areas (ACT, 2017). For 2015-2016 school year 60% of students at West Stokes High School made a composite score of 17, below the benchmark composite score. Therefore, West Stokes High School adopted ACT Elements, ACT Mastery prep. This program seeks to improve students academic skills through online practice of grade level exercises that reinforce essential ACT college readiness standards thus improving students overall ACT composite scores (Mastery Prep, n.d.). 

]]> 2017-10-31 13:28:19 UTC https://padlet.com/lmichellewilliams01/bsom36aj6gyh/wish/202120547 Program Description lmichellewilliams01 https://padlet.com/lmichellewilliams01/bsom36aj6gyh/wish/202120999 ACT Elements ACT Mastery Prep Student Online App is offered through a user friendly cross platform test prep software (Mastery Prep, n.d.). Students can use on their tablet or smartphone and Teachers can access through their computers and display on SMART Boards. The online program includes, courses in English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science. These courses teach students; rules in grammar, sentence structure, test taking techniques, techniques to decipher reading passages, practice reading scientific text or graphs, and practice in all 75 math skills that are assessed on the ACT (Mastery Prep, n.d.)
ACT Mastery Prep was implemented at West Stokes High School the second semester of the 2016-2017 school year.  At the onset of the program each department was given the choice to determine the way in which they would implement this program into their class routine.
]]> 2017-10-31 13:29:13 UTC https://padlet.com/lmichellewilliams01/bsom36aj6gyh/wish/202120999 Stakeholders lmichellewilliams01 https://padlet.com/lmichellewilliams01/bsom36aj6gyh/wish/202121123 Primary Stakeholders -
 - Stokes County School District, West Stokes High School Staff and Administrators
Secondary Stakeholders -
 - West Stokes High School Students
Tertiary Stakeholders -
 - North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, Parents, and Community]]> 2017-10-31 13:29:26 UTC https://padlet.com/lmichellewilliams01/bsom36aj6gyh/wish/202121123 Key Evaluation Questions lmichellewilliams01 https://padlet.com/lmichellewilliams01/bsom36aj6gyh/wish/202121208
  • To what extent is the program being consistently delivered and implemented by teachers daily?
  • To what extent is the program achieving intended outcomes for general education students and special education students?
  • What specific barriers (if any) existed to students participation in ACT Mastery?
  • What is the effect on ACT scores and improvement in academic skills due to program implementation?

    • ]]>     2017-10-31 13:29:35 UTC https://padlet.com/lmichellewilliams01/bsom36aj6gyh/wish/202121208     Purpose of Evaluation lmichellewilliams01 https://padlet.com/lmichellewilliams01/bsom36aj6gyh/wish/202121407 The purpose of this evaluation is to determine  if implementation of ACT Mastery is effective in improving student’s ACT composite scores. The average composite score for the state of North Carolina is 19.1 (ACT, 2017). For the 2016-2017 school year, West Stokes High School had 60% of students scoring a 17 and 92% of graduating seniors for the 2016-2017 school year attended a 2 year or 4 year institution. ACT scores are not required for acceptance to 2 year community college. Although all students are not going to attend a four year college or university, West Stokes High School goal is to prepare students to be successful on the ACT in order to have a variety of post high school academic options. College degrees are becoming more of a requirement for job positions, therefore equipping students with the tools to receive higher ACT scores increases their chances for college admissions and ensures students are academically prepared for college. ]]> 2017-10-31 13:30:00 UTC https://padlet.com/lmichellewilliams01/bsom36aj6gyh/wish/202121407 Data Collection Methods lmichellewilliams01 https://padlet.com/lmichellewilliams01/bsom36aj6gyh/wish/202121502 Quantitative
     - Teacher Survey
     - Student Survey
     - Administration Survey
     - Archival Data (ACT Scores,   Student Grades)

    Qualitative-
    - Student Survey
     - Teacher Survey
    - Administration Survey
     - Teacher and Student Focus Group Interviews


    ]]>     2017-10-31 13:30:11 UTC https://padlet.com/lmichellewilliams01/bsom36aj6gyh/wish/202121502     ACT Mastery lmichellewilliams01 https://padlet.com/lmichellewilliams01/bsom36aj6gyh/wish/202122877 2017-10-31 13:32:58 UTC https://padlet.com/lmichellewilliams01/bsom36aj6gyh/wish/202122877 Logic Model lmichellewilliams01 https://padlet.com/lmichellewilliams01/bsom36aj6gyh/wish/203698204 2017-11-05 23:15:33 UTC https://padlet.com/lmichellewilliams01/bsom36aj6gyh/wish/203698204 Analysis Plan lmichellewilliams01 https://padlet.com/lmichellewilliams01/bsom36aj6gyh/wish/203699379 A mixture of quantitative and qualitative measures will be used as a framework, guided by the key evaluation questions. Data analysis triangulation allows for a greater possibility of neutralizing the flaws of one method and strengthening the benefits of the other for better research results; the evaluator can reap the benefits on two paradigms and minimize the drawbacks of each (Hussein, 2014)
    Quantitative-
       -  Survey questions will provide mostly quantitative data to inform the extent to which the program is being used throughout the school. Comparing responses from teachers who implemented ACT Mastery to those teachers who did not. Supporting key evaluation question number one.
    -  Analysis of archival data comparing responses of students who utilized ACT Mastery to those students who did not and further analyzing their . Supporting key evaluation question number two and four.
    Qualitative-
       -      Group interviews and open ended questions from survey questions will serve as qualitative data collection methods to provide information on teachers, students, and administrators perceived usefulness of the ACT Mastery Prep program. Supporting all key evaluation questions.]]>     2017-11-05 23:26:56 UTC https://padlet.com/lmichellewilliams01/bsom36aj6gyh/wish/203699379     Data Collection Instrument lmichellewilliams01 https://padlet.com/lmichellewilliams01/bsom36aj6gyh/wish/203699490 2017-11-05 23:27:48 UTC https://padlet.com/lmichellewilliams01/bsom36aj6gyh/wish/203699490 Evaluation Plan Matrix lmichellewilliams01 https://padlet.com/lmichellewilliams01/bsom36aj6gyh/wish/206026677 2017-11-12 19:58:18 UTC https://padlet.com/lmichellewilliams01/bsom36aj6gyh/wish/206026677 Mean ACT Composite Scores by State lmichellewilliams01 https://padlet.com/lmichellewilliams01/bsom36aj6gyh/wish/206026929 2017-11-12 20:00:13 UTC https://padlet.com/lmichellewilliams01/bsom36aj6gyh/wish/206026929 ACT scores by percentile lmichellewilliams01 https://padlet.com/lmichellewilliams01/bsom36aj6gyh/wish/206027105 2017-11-12 20:01:39 UTC https://padlet.com/lmichellewilliams01/bsom36aj6gyh/wish/206027105 ACT Benchmark lmichellewilliams01 https://padlet.com/lmichellewilliams01/bsom36aj6gyh/wish/206051229 2017-11-12 23:12:04 UTC https://padlet.com/lmichellewilliams01/bsom36aj6gyh/wish/206051229 Reporting Plan lmichellewilliams01 https://padlet.com/lmichellewilliams01/bsom36aj6gyh/wish/214178596 West Stokes High School staff and administration as well as Stokes County School System, equally have a vested interest as primary stakeholders; they represent the audience that benefits from the findings of the report. 
    The purpose of the evaluation report is to make the audience aware of the evaluation methods and results. In addition, recommendations for continuing the program in the future will be shared. In an effort to inform the audience of the evaluation methods and results, meetings will be held regarding evaluation activities; to inform about the evaluation process, and to present initial and final findings. Initial findings will be reported upon all data being collected and analyzed; oral computer generated presentations will be presented at monthly meetings throughout the evaluation process; written interim report will be presented; the final findings will be reported at the conclusion of the school year after all other meetings have been held. ]]>     2017-12-07 15:56:17 UTC https://padlet.com/lmichellewilliams01/bsom36aj6gyh/wish/214178596     Recommendations lmichellewilliams01 https://padlet.com/lmichellewilliams01/bsom36aj6gyh/wish/214299344 - Once final report has been presented a meeting needs to be held to present findings and discuss data analysis results and implications.
    - Define and set goals for the program to measure results and growth.
    -Create methods to improve the program and implement changes.
    -Evaluate the program frequently and consistently to ensure program is meeting goals and students are making progress.]]>     2017-12-07 19:36:03 UTC https://padlet.com/lmichellewilliams01/bsom36aj6gyh/wish/214299344