WarwickWARE. Data Blender Manual

WarwickWARE Data Blender Manual

Table of Contents About this Manual... 1 Accessing Data Blender... 2 Levels of Access... 3 Navigating the Data Blender... 4 Data Access... 5 Home Screen... 5 Latest PSSA Results... 6 Latest Uploaded Tests... 6 Spreadsheet View... 7 Single Tests...10 Multiple Tests...10 Bar Graph View...12 Groups...14 Data Blending... 16 Blending Two Tests...16 Sorting Results...17 Performance Level Changes...17 Response to Intervention (RtI) Features... 19 Tier History...19 Mass Tier Update...20 Intervention Tracking...20 Data Editing... 22 Editing Spreadsheets...22 Editing Student Information...22 Data Administration... 23 Adding a Test...23 Batch Uploading of Test Data...25 Adding, Editing, or Deleting Test Categories...26 Adding, Editing, or Deleting Performance Level Descriptions...27 Establishing or Editing User Privileges...27 Response to Intervention (RtI) Administration...27 4/27/2011

About this Manual The Data Blender application is designed so that there are various levels of access to the assessment information that has been collected for each student. These levels of access are located on page 3 of this manual. The instructions in this manual are written to address the needs of staff members in District, Building, and Teacher Levels. Additional administration and editing rights are provided for district and building-level data editors. See the Data Editing and Data Administration sections of this manual for further explanation. 4/27/2011 1

Accessing Data Blender To access the Data Blender, visit the staff portal and log in. Click on the Data Blender link located on the left sidebar menu. The Data Blender Home screen will appear with links to district testing data and a toolbar on the top right of the Home window. The links will be active depending on the status level of the staff member. Please note the levels of access on the following page of this manual. 4/27/2011 2

Levels of Access Viewing Level Access Staff District Level Building Level District Level Data Manager District Level Administrative Staff, may include: Superintendent Assistant Superintendent Director of Curriculum and Instruction Director of Student Services Building Principals School Psychologists Guidance Counselors Teacher Level General Education Teachers Special Area Teachers 4/27/2011 3

Navigating the Data Blender The icons at the top right of the Home screen appear in the same position throughout the Data Blender, for consistency in navigation. Icon Function Home Return to the Home screen of the Data Blender from any page Search Find a specific student by entering first or last name or student ID Spreadsheet View results of single or multiple tests in a spreadsheet view Blend Compare the results of two tests to view performance level changes Bar Graph View results of a single test in a bar graph view Group/Tier Create groups of students for progress monitoring and sharing 4/27/2011 4

Data Access Home Screen The Data Blender home screen provides ease in navigation through all parts of the Data Blender. Spreadsheet View Search for a student Go to Data Blender Home Blender View Bar Graph View Group and Tier View View 2010 PSSA results View Recent Tests Blend this Test 4/27/2011 5

Latest PSSA Results This area provides a quick view of the latest PSSA results. The bar graphs display the district results for each grade level and test. The arrows located below the bar graphs allow the users to scroll through the graphs. The list of tests provides access to the latest PSSA results for current students in your classes. Results will be displayed using a bar graph. By selecting Last Year, a bar graph representing results from the previous year s class will be displayed using a bar graph. After selecting either an individual test or Last Year, the display will allow the user to manipulate the results by using the drop-down lists from the View Students by menus or the Tests menus. Spreadsheets views are available as well as the capability to blend test results. Latest Uploaded Tests This menu will provide access to all the tests that were uploaded to Data Blender within the past 180 days. The results will be for your students only and will be displayed in a spreadsheet format. In addition, test results can be blended with other tests by clicking on the blender icon. See section on Data Blending for further information. 4/27/2011 6

Spreadsheet View The spreadsheet view tool allows staff members to view the results of single or multiple tests (defaults to multiple tests). To begin, select choices from the View Student by area. Next, select test information to be added to spreadsheet from the Tests dropdown menu. Note: Users must make sure that the View Students by: choices are selected before selecting items from the Tests: menu. In this example in the View Students by: menu, the teacher has chosen to display students: (a) from her classes; (b) from the current year; (c) from her Essentials of Algebra I Pd 7 class. She could also choose to display students from any of her other classes or all students in all of her classes. The default view is for multiple tests, but the teacher could have chosen to view a single test as well. In the Tests menu, the teacher choose to display PSSA test data for Grade 9 students; since the Multiple Tests view was selected, all of the PSSA tests for grade 9 students are displayed. In this example, she checked the box to show only the first column (Total Scaled Score) for his 9 th grade students, but she 4/27/2011 7

could have chosen to show all columns (default). 4/27/2011 8

Some of the features of the spreadsheet view include: Test Legend by clicking on the legend tool beside the test name, a pop-up window displays the performance levels established for the current test. Sorting Test data can be sorted by any of the columns by clicking on the sort arrows. Data will be sorted in either ascending or descending order. Number of entries per screen Staff members can choose to show scores for 10, 20, 50, 100 or all students for a test. 4/27/2011 9

Single Tests Staff members should choose the single test spreadsheet view when they want to view scores of a single test in a column list view. The following screenshot displays the 2010 7 th grade PSSA Math Data. Notice that the data is sorted by Total column in descending order ( ), and the number of data entries selected is 10 at a time; arrows at the bottom right of the screen ( ) allow staff members to scroll through the sorted data quickly. Multiple Tests Staff members can view multiple tests by selecting the Multiple Tests link in the Spreadsheet view. All columns of each test can be shown, or just the first column of each test selected can be displayed. The following screenshot shows the first column of three tests displayed side by side. 4/27/2011 10

By clicking on the Bar Graph icon ( ) under any test column heading, a bar graph of the data will be displayed. See the Bar Graph View section of this manual for details. 4/27/2011 11

Bar Graph View The bar graph tool allows staff members to view the results of single tests. Note: Users must make sure that the View Students by: choices are selected before selecting items from the Tests: menu. In this example in the View Students by menu, the teacher has chosen to display students: (a) from his classes; (b) from the current year; (c) from his Language Arts 8-1 LA class. He could also choose to display students from any of his other classes or all students in all of his classes. In the Tests menu, the teacher chose to display data for the 4Sight Reading, Grade 8 Test 2 for his students. By clicking on the spreadsheet tool or the blender tool on the right of the Tests: menu, the teacher could toggle to display the results in column format or blend this test with another test. 4/27/2011 12

Some of the features of the bar graph view include: Clickable bars a list of student names is displayed when clicking on each bar Toggle back and forth between spreadsheet and bar graph view by clicking on the spreadsheet icon. Blend a test with another test by clicking on the blender icon Print a graph by clicking on the printable version menu at the top right of the bar graph window. Spreadsheet icon Blender icon Print bar graph 4/27/2011 13

Groups For ease in tracking the data for specific groups of students, the Groups feature of the Data Blender provides staff members with a convenient way to create groups, share groups, and view public groups of students. Teachers can establish rules within groups to receive emails when assignments are missing, when a students average drops below a certain percentage, or for attendance monitoring. Groups can be shared with specific staff members or made public for all building staff members to see. In the example above, the teacher has created three private groups and has established alerts for missing assignments, average grades, and attendance. Note: Group names may not have spaces or include special characters, i.e., #, @, %, *, $, <, >,?, etc. The underscore (_) can be used as a substitute for spaces in group names if desired. The teacher can view test results for these groups of students by clicking on the View Spreadsheet button and then selecting the test data they would like to see. In the following example, the teacher has chosen to view 8 th grade Math 4Sight scores for his IEP_Students group. 4/27/2011 14

The Groups tool of the Data Blender also gives access to building-level tiers of students, those who have been identified through Response to Intervention (RtI) testing or other means. These tiers of students are established by Level 3 building data administrators (See Levels of Access on p. 3 for further information). From the Tiers tab of the Groups page, teachers can view students from their classes who have been placed in tier groups. As with their personally created groups, they can also choose to view specific test data through the Spreadsheet link. Teachers can also blend the data of two tests for these students to help monitor progress. In the following example, the teacher has chosen to compare the DIBELS data collected in September with DIBELS data collected in May for her Tier 1 Reading students. 4/27/2011 15

Data Blending Blending Two Tests Staff members can blend the data from two test administrations together to compare scores. The home screen of the Data Blender displays a blender icon in two areas, depending on the availability of current data. To blend two assessments from the blender tool icon on the right sidebar of the Data Blender home screen, follow these steps: Click on the Blender icon From the View Students by menu, choose the year and teacher name. From Test Ingredient #1, choose the test Category, Grade Given, Test, Date of test, and Column of the first test that you d like to blend. From Test Ingredient #2, choose the test Category, Grade Given, Test, Date of test, and Column of the second test. In this example, the teacher chose to blend two categories of assessments, 4Sight Reading and the Beginning Diagnostic Decoding Survey. He chose to see data from assessments that were given this year, but he could just as easily have chosen assessment data from a previous year for comparison. Note: Be very careful to choose from the dropdown menus IN ORDER, starting from the top. If you decide to change a drop down option, anything after that point that was previously chosen will need to be re-selected. 4/27/2011 16

Tests can also be uploaded from the Latest Uploaded Tests area (see p. 6), from the spreadsheet view of any test (see p. 6, or from the Tiers page (see pp. 14, 18). Sorting Results Test results can be sorted in ascending or descending order by any column displaying a double arrow. In the example shown below, the scores are sorted on the Performance Net Result column. Performance Level Changes When raw scores from assessments with different benchmarks are compared, it can be difficult to determine the level of growth (or loss) between the two tests. In the Data Blender, users can view performance level changes and the net result of those changes for ease in comparison. In the example 4/27/2011 17

below, the teacher has chosen to compare the 4 th grade PSSA Reading results with a benchmark of 1255 with the results of the 4Sight Reading scores for her current students, which has a benchmark of 70. The Score Difference column shows the raw score difference; the Level Change shows growth. 4/27/2011 18

Response to Intervention (RtI) Features Tier History A tier history system has been developed for school districts who are implementing the Response to Intervention (RtI) framework. District or building level data administrators can establish tier groups of students based upon three intervention categories Math, Reading, and Behavior. By clicking on the Group and Tier View tool ( ) in the right top menu bar of the Data Blender, teachers have access to all of the data for just their tier students, and can quickly view spreadsheets of data or blend tests for tier students. Building-level data administrators can edit tier information for individual students as they progress through the tier system; they can add anecdotal records to each student s tier history to further explain tier progress. 4/27/2011 19

To upload supporting documents, click on Turn Editing On, then click on the folder icon and browse to the saved document to upload it. Tier notes can also be modified for accuracy and clarity. Mass Tier Update At the beginning of the school year, tier changes may need to be made for numerous students based upon test results, observations, etc. Building-level data administrators can view grade levels of students through the Mass Tier Update tool in the Blender. To mass update: 1. Click on the tier group of interest (i.e., Reading Tier, Grade 1, Tier 2) 2. Click on the Students button to show existing students in the tier. 3. Click on the Mass Tier Update link on the top menu bar. 4. Choose a specific class if desired (the default view is All Classes). 5. Change tier levels through the tier dropdown menu and add notes as desired. 6. Choose the date of the change. The current date is the default setting. 7. Click Save Tier Change for each student. Intervention Tracking Teachers and building-level data administrators can record specific intervention strategies for each student in their grade or building. 4/27/2011 20

To add or edit an intervention strategy: 1. Select the student for whom you wish to add or edit an intervention. 2. Click on the Interventions link in the top menu bar. 3. Click the Add in the top menu bar of the Intervention window. 4. Choose the Intervention and Level, frequency, session length, progress, and group size, and record the dates, and specific intervention information. 5. Click the Save Intervention History button. 6. To edit an existing entry, click on the Edit link to the right of the entry, and make appropriate changes. 4/27/2011 21

Data Editing For Building and District Level Data Administrators Editing Spreadsheets To add or edit scores for an editable test: 1. Click on the spreadsheet tool in the top menu bar. 2. Choose a grade level from the Grade drop down menu. 3. Choose the year if needed (current year is the default). 4. From the Teacher drop down menu, you can choose a specific teacher s class of students, or you can view all students in the grade (default). 5. From the Tests menu, choose a test category, i.e., DecodingSurveyBeg. 6. From the Choose a Grade drop down, choose the grade level the test is given, i.e., Tests Grade 1. 7. Click on the checkbox beside the name of the test that you want to edit, i.e., 1-DDSBeg Form C May. 8. Click on the Edit tool (hand) beside the name of the test. 9. From the Show drop down, choose All for ease in navigation (optional) 10. Scroll to the student whose data you would like to edit (sorted by last name by default). 11. Click in each field that you would like to enter data in, i.e. Total Words Correct (TWC), No Try (NT), Sight Word (SW), etc., and enter scores. Note - You must click in each data field tabbing does not work. An asterisk will appear beside each edited score that you have entered. 12. Refresh the page to see the final scores entered. Editing Student Information Building and District-level Data Administrators can edit individual student test scores, tier information, and intervention history entries. See previous section on Response to Intervention (RtI) Features for detailed information. 4/27/2011 22

Data Administration For District-level Data Administrators Adding a Test To add a new test: 1. From the Home screen, click on the administration key tool. 2. Click Add a Test in the top menu bar. 3. Enter a descriptive short name for the test, i.e., PSSAGr11Sci2010 or DIBELSGr2Sep. 4. Enter notes about the test if appropriate. Notes are seen only by test administrators. 5. Performance levels are set to Advanced, Proficient, Basic, Below Basic by default. When only three levels are needed (i.e., Benchmark, Strategic, Intensive), uncheck the Use this first level checkbox. Check add more levels if additional performance levels are needed. Up to 7 performance levels are possible. 6. Choose grade or level test is given. 4/27/2011 23

7. Select test category, i.e., PSSA, DIBELS, 4Sight Reading, etc. (Note- new test categories can be added by clicking on the Test Categories menu in the top menu bar prior to creating a new test). 8. Choose level (HS, MS, Elem, All). 9. Check Allow Data Entry if building-level users should have access to enter scores manually. Do not check this box for PSSA, 4Sight tests, etc., where scores are imported. 10. Choose Month Given from dropdown menu (or leave blank). 11. Choose Student Screen Tab Placement from dropdown menu, (i.e., 4Sight Math should be placed under the Math tab of the student screen). 12. Choose graph type only one can be selected. (Note click on each graph type to see an example) 13. Enter a maximum score in the MaxScore field if a fixed y-axis value is desired. 14. Enter column names, short names, score value ( percent or score, i.e., PSSA = score, 4Sight=percent), and proficiency cutoffs. Check Negative for scores that represent negative numbers. PSSA example: 4Sight example: Diagnostic Decoding Survey example (negative numbers): 15. If desired, check the box to Add a total of all columns. 16. Click Store Test Info to save the new test. 4/27/2011 24

Batch Uploading of Test Data To batch upload test data: 1. In an Excel spreadsheet, enter student IDs in Column A, and test scores in Columns B P in the order that the columns were listed when the test was created. Remove any header information, then save the file as a Windows formatted.txt file. A file must be created for each separate test (i.e., 4Sight Math Gr. 7, 4Sight Math Gr. 8, 4Sight Reading Gr 8 Test 2, DIBELS Gr 2 Jan., etc.) See 4Sight example below. 2. Log in to the DataBlender. From the Home screen, click on the administration key tool. 3. Choose Upload Data from the top menu bar. From the dropdown menus, choose a category, grade level, and a test; then browse to find the Windows-formatted.txt file that you saved in Step 1. Enter the test date in the YYYY/MM/DD format, then click Process this file. 4/27/2011 25

Batch Uploading of Test Data (cont d) Adding DIBELS Progress Monitoring Scores (6 th Edition) To upload DIBELS Progress Monitoring 6 th ed. scores: Log in to the DIBELS website: https://dibels.uoregon.edu 1. Click on the Reports Link. 2. Scroll to the bottom of the screen and select DIBELS 6th Ed. Progress Monitoring Data Export. 3. From the Scope dropdown menu, choose District. 4. Select the appropriate Grade and Year; Report type should remain at Score by Score Data, then click Submit. 5. Under the Student Information portion, check the Student ID checkbox, then click Submit. 6. Right click on the Download data here link and save the text file to a convenient location (where you will be able to retrieve it later for upload to the DataBlender). Log in to the DataBlender Admin (key) area. 7. Click on Upload Data in the top menu bar. 8. Choose Upload DIBELS Progress Monitoring. 9. Browse to each grade level text file (saved from step 6 above) and click Process this File. Adding DIBELS Next Progress Monitoring Scores To upload DIBELS Next Progress Monitoring scores: Log in to the DIBELS website: https://dibels.uoregon.edu 1. Click on the Reports Link. 2. Scroll to the bottom of the screen and select DIBELS Next and Math Data Export. 3. Select the appropriate Grade, Assessment, and Assessment Type (Progress Monitoring), then click Continue. 4. Click on the Download data here link and save the csv file to a convenient location (where you will be able to retrieve it later for upload to the Data Blender). Log in to the Data Blender Admin (key) area. 5. Click on Upload Data in the top menu bar. 6. Choose Upload DIBELS Progress Monitoring. 7. Browse to each grade level text file (saved from step 6 above) and click Process this File. Adding, Editing, or Deleting Test Categories To add a new test category: 1. Click on Test Categories in the top menu bar. 2. Click on the Add button. 3. Enter the new category name, i.e., WIDA (this name should be relatively short in length for display purposes). 4/27/2011 26

4. Click Save. To edit a category name or delete a test category, click on the Edit or Delete button. Adding, Editing, or Deleting Performance Level Descriptions In addition to the basic performance level descriptions of Advanced, Proficient, Basic, Below Basic, Benchmark, Strategic, and Intensive, Data Blender provides the option to add custom performance level descriptions. To add a set of unique performance levels: 1. Click on Performance Level Descriptions in the top menu bar. 2. Click on the Add button. 3. Enter the new performance level name in the Performance Level field, i.e., Beginning (this name should be relatively short in length for display purposes). 4. Choose a test category from the drop down menu. 5. Enter a description in the Description field, i.e., Knows and uses some social English and general academic language with visual support. 6. Click on the Save button. To edit a performance level name, its associated category, and/or its description, click on the Edit button. To delete a test category, click on the Delete button. Establishing or Editing User Privileges User privileges can be established or editing by clicking on the User Privileges tool in the top menu bar. Access levels of District, Building, Teacher, and None are all available. For those with teacher level access, data for students in entire grade levels can be made available by choosing the Grade Level radio button. Editing and Administrative privileges are also assigned in this area of the Data Blender Administration. Response to Intervention (RtI) Administration For school districts who are implementing the 3-tier Response to Intervention (RtI) model at the elementary level, specific interventions can be established pertinent to school district needs (i.e., K-PALS, Read Naturally, etc.). To add an intervention: 1. Click on Interventions in the top menu bar. 2. Scroll to the bottom of the window and type an intervention name (i.e., Words Their Way) in the field beside the Add Intervention button, then click Add Intervention. 3. From the matrix, click on Edit to edit the intervention just added. 4. From the dropdown menu, choose the intervention Type (i.e., Reading, Math, etc.) 5. Under the Grade Level section, click the checkboxes to select all grade levels that apply. 6. Under the Intervention is used section, select the appropriate tier(s). 7. Click Store Intervention Info. 4/27/2011 27

Once the intervention has been added, it is time to set levels. 1. From the Interventions matrix, click Edit. 2. Under the Levels section, click Edit Levels 3. Add as many levels as are needed for the interventions. 4. Once all levels have been established, click on Interventions in the top menu bar to return to the Interventions matrix. 4/27/2011 28