A sample of Maine schools with eighth-grade students recently participated in the Technology and Engineering Literacy Assessment (TEL), as part of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP).
The 90-minute computer based assessment tested a wide range of knowledge and skills in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), as well as social studies and language arts. Students demonstrated their various problem-solving techniques while working to solve the interactive scenarios, and were asked a number of short-answer and multiple-choice questions to measure their knowledge and skills.
Since students’ experiences with technology are not always attained in or confined to the classroom, the TEL assessment was accompanied by a questionnaire focusing on students’ opportunities to learn about technology and engineering both inside and outside the classroom.
TEL was administered by NAEP field staff who brought the necessary testing materials to schools, including laptops and ear buds. About 30 students in each of the sample schools were randomly chosen to participate in TEL and their scores will be compiled with scores of other eighth-grade students across the nation.
For more information about the Technology and Engineering Literacy Assessment, visit http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/tel/.