Drumcondra Primary Tests Scoring System. Frequently Asked Questions and Possible Answers

Transcription

1 Drumcondra Primary Tests Scoring System Frequently Asked Questions and Possible Answers June 12, 2012

2 Q1: The Department of Education and Skills, in its recent circular, asks schools too provide the following information in respect of pupils in Second, Fourth andd Sixth classes. However, the Scoring System does not provide the number of absences. A1: The number of absences can be computed by subtracting the number n of exempted pupils and the number of included (tested) pupils from the total number of pupils. In the example below, there are two absent pupilss (7-1-4). Q2: A2: I have entered two sets of scores in respect of some childrenn in my class,, and now those children appear twice on my class report. Sometimes, it is quite valid to enter two sets of scores. For example, if a test is administered in Autumn and again in Spring, both results will appear on the individual and class reports, but only results from Spring will contribute to the averages on o the class report, and to t the school report (which forms the basiss of reporting to the DES) ). However, on occasion scores may bee entered in error. For example, a teacher may enter scores for Form B of a test, whereas the pupil completed form A. At this time, there is no way at present to deletee unwanted scores s directly. This is something we will build into the next version off the Scoring Programme. However, it is possible to delete the scores for a particular pupil indirectly. Tick all the pupils whose scores you wish to delete in respectt of the levell and form off particular test. 2

3 Click on Enter Answers (left side, bottom) The following message will appear in respectt of each pupil. Answer Yes to this message each time it appears (i.e., for each pupil) ) Select Next Pupil (or Finish if it iss the last ticked pupil). When the following message appears, selectt NO. You can check that the child s (children s) scores have been deleted by now going to the class report and checking that the student s name no longer appears. 3

4 Q3: A3: I want to enter the Access database (see below). and make some changes. But I don tt have a password Unfortunately, it is not possible to enter the underlying Access database directly. This should be done indirectly, through the Scoring System. 4

5 Q4: A4: Does the Scoring System save Class Reports? Can I downloadd a Class Report in respect of the current school year nextt year? Unfortunately, at this time, while thee Scoring System saves School S and Individual Reports so that they can be accessed at some future time, it does not save Class Reports. This means that you should save class reports for tests administered during the current school year, BEFORE August 31, Class reports can be saved in a variety of formats, including Excel, E PDF and Crystal Reports. It is suggested that you save your reports using PDF format, as this is likely y to be available on must computers, while the t default option, Crystal Reports, must m be installed first. To save a class report, open the report using the Scoring System... e.g., Reports... Mathematics....Class Reports... General...Open the report you wish too save. Click on the save icon (top left side:, indicate the name you wish too assign to the report, and the format in which you wish to save it. 5

6 Q5: An error message indicates that I cannot run off reports. What can I do?? A5: This usually arises because Crystal Reports (CRV13) didn't install properly. You need to close the programme and reinsert the USB drive, go to the Crystal Report directory and run the CRRUNTIME file. Answer all prompts with w yes, ok or next. When the installation has completed, reopen the programme and yourr reports should now work. Q6: I am unable to scroll down the screen to see reports properly. A6: This is probably a screen resolution issue. The minimum resolution is 1024 X 768. Go to Start... Control Panel... Appearance andd Personalization....Screen Resolution, and change the resolution to smaller (100% or beloww ie. No zoom), as per below. You can check the actual resolution by clicking on Adjust resolution (left( side, above), and adjust it if needed, so that it is at least 1024 X 768. Q7: A7: Where is my Access database stored? It is important to know the t location of your database. You can find this by opening the Scoring System, entering Administration, and selecting Change Databasee Location. You can then see where your current database is stored. 6

7 This option does not change the location of your database, but b merely tells the programme where the database is located. You need to change the location here before you move your database otherwise you will cause the program not to work. Users also need to have full control set on the database file in order for the program to work, so where you place your database is very important in a multiuser r environment. Alternatively, you can find the database and make a copy of it. This should be done or at least have it as part of your nightly backp procedure if you have one, because if the database gets corrupted so that it is unusable or the disk that it is on gets g damagedd then you at least have a recent backup to fall back on.. You should make sure that t the database is working before overwriting your copy / backup especially if this is your only copy. Q8: A8: The School Report takes a long time to run, and to move between grade levels. We re looking into this, with a vieww to speeding things up in the next version. In the meantime, we suggest the following: - Run the school report on a high-specs computer or laptop, if available. - Select Levels 2, 4 and 6, ratherr than all levels (this reduces the amout of data that has to be processed in generating the school report). - Save the report ass a PDF. Thiss is done by selecting the save icon onn the toolbar (top left corner ). Then select the PDF option for Save as type, and save yourr report to your hard disk, network or memory key, assigning itt an appropriate title: When you open the School Report as a PDF file, you should be able to t more quickly from page to page. 7

8 Q9: A9: When I open the class report for mathematics content areas and processes, I find a series s of zeros for many pupils, even though I know the results have been b enteredd correctly. We are seeking address this problem, which we have just become awaree of. In the meantime, we suggest the followingg fix : - Launch the Scoring System, and select Enter Test Scores. Select thee class teacher/class level and the level, form and season for the test wheree the errors arise. Select the pupils taking that level and form of the test (i.e., put a tick mark beside their names) - Select Enter Answers /Comhlánaigh na Freagraí. - You should get a Pupil s Scores Saved Successfully message for the first pupil on the list. - Click OK. - You should now see the Enter Pupil Answers screen. If a response already appears in respect of each item, select Next Part Scores. You should receive a second Pupil s Scores Saved Successfully message. For a test with three parts, you will need to t select Next Part Scores again. Otherwise (i.e., after Next Part Scores for the current pupil greys out), select Next Pupil, or, after the last pupil s scores have been re-saved, select Finish. - After all affected pupils scores have been re-saved, check the class report for mathematics content and processes, to ensure that correct scores s appear