11/8/2016
Above-Level Testing:
The Best-Kept Secret
in Gifted Education
Ann Lupkowski-Shoplik
Belin-Blank Center for Gifted Education, Univ. of Iowa
PAGE Conference, November 2016
Enhancing the gifted
identification process
• General ability
• Achievement
• Student motivation (e.g.,
teacher rating scales)
• What has been missing?
– Aptitude in specific areas
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Improving how we discover
and develop talent
Match Program to students’ specific aptitudes
Devise a program and fit students into it?
Different Tests for
Different Purposes
Ability
Less exposure
to content
Aptitude
Achievement
More exposure
to content
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Tests
• Iowa Assessments, Terra Nova, Stanford Achievement
Test, etc. (can be used above-level)
• Iowa Algebra Aptitude Test or Orleans- Hanna Algebra
Prognosis Test (usually administered to 8th & 9th
graders to determine readiness for algebra; can be
given to younger students)
• CogAT
• ACT or SAT
• I-Excel
– PSAT 8/9 used by some university & regional talent
searches
• Note: IQ tests are not designed to help us discover
exceptional math or science aptitude
Above-Level Testing
Administer an achievement
test designed for older students to younger students
• Reasoning
abilities
Above‐Level Test
• Measure of aptitude
• We can learn about
talents in specific areas,
e.g., STEM
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Above-level testing “lengthens
the yardstick”
• A 3-foot yardstick measures
many things accurately, but
• Talented students are
“taller” than 3 feet.
• “Taller” students need a
longer yardstick.
Above-Level Testing Timeline
• 1916: Leta Hollingworth
tested “Child E” with the
original Stanford-Binet
Intelligence Scale
• 1971: Julian Stanley
administers SAT to an 8th
grader
• 1990: Susan Assouline,
Ann Lupkowski-Shoplik
conduct above-level
testing for upper
elementary students
(Explore, SSAT)
• 1994: based on BelinBlank Center success,
other centers conduct
above-level testing for 4th
– 6th
• 2012: Belin-Blank Center
provides in-school,
above-level testing using
Explore (paper)
• 2016: Belin-Blank center
offers above-level testing
with online I-Excel
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Above-level testing discovers
students who are ready for more
challenge
• Above-level testing
differentiates “talented”
students from
“exceptionally talented”
students
• The above-level test
spreads out scores of
academically talented
students
• Program options should
reflect these differences
Above-Level Testing in Schools
4th‐6th graders with high grade‐level scores (95th percentile)
Take an above‐level test, e.g., 8th
grade content
I‐Excel
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What can we do with the test
results?
• Some students score extremely high on
the tests
• Some students earn lower scores
• Program options
should reflect those
differences
Powerful information from
Above-Level Testing
• The Pyramid of
Educational Options
links test scores to
specific educational
options ranging from less
accelerative to more
accelerative
Extremely Academically Talented
Very Highly Academically Talented
Very Academically Talented
Academically Talented
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A NEW Model:
Above Level
Testing In School:
• The Belin-Blank Center works with
educators to provide the advantages of
above-level testing to their students
• Testing is done online in the school
– Educators receive test results and
recommendations within a few days
– Results are easily distributed to families
In-School Testing Represents
a Paradigm Shift
Outside of the classroom;
Accessible to students whose parents take the initiative. In the classroom
Results to parents and teachers
Accessible to more students
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I-Excel…
• Online above-level test for very capable
• 4th – 6th graders
– online platform developed by the Belin-Blank
Center
• …licenses 8th grade content developed by
ACT
– designed to measure academic progress of junior
high students.
– From that content, Belin-Blank has been
identifying the academic talents of bright 4th- 6th
grade students for over 20 years.
I-Excel…
Power of above‐level testing
Math
Science
Reading
English
www.i‐
excel.org
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Advantages of In-School Testing
Students’ Scores
Teachers are Empowered
More Advantages of In-School
Testing
Accessibility • For ALL bright students
Alignment
Flexibility
• Program developed to match student readiness
• When …. • Where
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Interpretation of Test Results
Online tool
– Teachers login and see test scores
and interpretation for individuals or
groups (10 or more)
– Parents receive individualized
interpretation
Educator Aggregate Report
Results Interpretation
Above‐level Explanation testing as the Students’ scores Strengths and context for presented in a table: Highest to weaknesses in 4 the results lowest & Average tests:
And
Science, Math, distribution graph English, Reading 10
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From the Aggregate Report
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Individual
Student
Report:
For Families
• Background
information about
above-level testing
– what it means for highly
capable students
• Student’s scale score:
– national percentile
compared to 8th graders
– national percentile
compared to other
talented students in
his/her grade
Individual Student Report
• Explains what the scores mean.
• Lists the student’s score in each subtest,
linked to specific content.
• Recommendations based upon scores are
tied to CCSS for math and reading/language
arts and NGSS for science.
• Specific resources useful for the family.
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Individual Student Report
Test Dates:
Flexibility is
the key to
accessibility
• Test on weekdays or weekends
• Select the time of day that is best for
student and teacher
• Testing time is 2 hours (plus 30 to 45
minutes for reading directions plus breaks).
• Testing session can be split into 2 days.
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Sample Test
• Sample test is available
for students to try,
become familiar with
“look” of the online test as
well as the directions
• Use sample test to test
computer system at
school
After the Test
• Teacher gets email:
“Scores are ready”
• Teacher views scores online
• Group and individual information online
– Sends parents link via email with scores and
interpretation
– prints individual student reports for parents
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What Do Teachers Say?
• “Having given my students above-level paperand-pencil (and the dreaded bubbles) tests
from a major college-admissions testing
company, I was delighted at the ease and
efficiency of the I-Excel online platform.
• My students resoundingly preferred not only
the computer-based format but also the more
reasonable testing time.
• …the eighth-grade questions and passages are
superbly designed to be appropriately
challenging for a fourth grader but also to give
me the data and insights I need to plan
programming for our advanced learners.”
What Can We Do with the Test
Results?
• Make decisions about:
– Content acceleration (subject acceleration)
– Grouping students
– Level and pace of the curriculum for students
– Types of enrichment opportunities offered in
school
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What Makes This Unique?
Outside of the classroom;
Accessible to students whose parents take the initiative. In the classroom
Results to parents and teachers
Accessible to more students
For more information
• www.belinblank.org/testing
• www.i-excel.org
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Questions?
[email protected]
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and @AnnShoplik
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