Diploma Exams and Student
Learner Assessments (SLAs)
Prepared by SAPDC Learning Facilitator Team
DIGITALLY-BASED ASSESSMENT
•Inspiring Action on Education (June 2010) contemplates a future
where “provincial
assessment could also be made available on-demand.”
•Realizing this vision is only possible through digitally-based exam administrations
•Digitally-based provincial assessments will enable
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Secure delivery of assistive technologies such as text-to-speech
The use of multi-media in provincial assessments
Innovative assessment items
Assessments to be securely delivered across a broad spectrum of devices
•Many existing and legacy systems
will need to be replaced or enhanced
•Ideally, cloud-based infrastructure will be utilized that can easily respond to rapid
spikes in demand.
INCREASED DIPLOMA ADMINISTRATIONS
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This year, both the November and April diploma examination sessions
are considered “open sessions”.
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In the past, these two sessions were restricted to schools and students
enrolled in courses that concluded in November and April.
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Students may now re-write diploma examinations during these two
sessions without having a current November or April course mark.
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Pre-registration for these two sessions is mandatory.
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In November, Chemistry 30, ELA 30-2, Math 30-1 and Physics 30 are
offered.
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In April, Biology 30, ELA 30-1, Social Studies 30-1 and Social Studies 30-2
are offered.
FUTURE INCREASED OFFERINGS
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In November 2015 and April 2016, all “high-demand” diploma
examination subjects will be offered during these two sessions:
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Biology 30
Chemistry 30
ELA 30-1
ELA 30-2
Mathematics 30-1
Physics 30
Social Studies 30-1
Social Studies 30-2
STUDENT LEARNING ASSESSMENTS (SLA’S)
• On May 9, 2013 Minister Jeff Johnson announced that Alberta would be
giving teachers more tools to help students succeed by introducing
assessments that will replace the existing Provincial Achievement Tests
(PATs).
• The Student Learning Assessments (SLAs) will be digital and will be
administered at the start of Grades 3, 6, and 9.
• A window of approximately 10 days, near the start of the school year, will
provide schools with the opportunity to decide when it will be best for
students to complete the assessments.
• The outcomes that will be assessed come from the previous year’s
Programs of Studies (i.e. grades 2, 5, and 8).
SLA DETAILS – CONTINUED
• Results of the SLAs will be available within 24 hours for teachers,
within one month for schools and school authorities, and annually
for the province.
• SLA results will reflect the literacy and numeracy categories
(Awareness, Knowledge and Understanding, and Strategies)
• Alberta Education plans to provide an assessment framework that
matches outcomes from the provincial Programs of Study with the
Literacy and Numeracy Benchmarks developed as part of
Curriculum Redesign.
SLA DETAILS – CONTINUED
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Grade 9 SLAs may also delve into the cross-curricular competencies (21st Century
skills)
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Know how to learn
Think critically
Identify and solve complex problems
Manage information
Innovate
Create opportunities
Apply multiple literacies
Demonstrate communication skills
Demonstrate global and cultural understanding
Identify and apply career and life skills
SLAs – CHOICE YEAR
• For June 2014 and September 2014, school authorities have a
choice, school-by-school, whether to administer the Grade 3 PATs
in June, the Grade 3 SLAs in September, or both.
• In fall 2013, the Assessment Sector of Alberta Education will ask
school authorities to complete a short spreadsheet that shows,
school-by-school, their choice: Grade 3 PATs in June 2014, Grade
3 SLAs in September 2014, or both. This decision must be made
by the school authority, but it can be implemented on a schoolby-school basis.
SLAs DETAILS – TEACHER INVOLVEMENT
• Each September, AB ED requests nominations of teachers to participate in
provincial test development working groups.
• The involvement of Alberta teachers in blueprinting, item development, field
testing, test validation, French translation validation, standards setting, and
results interpreting has been a cornerstone of the success of Alberta’s
provincial assessment programs for more than 30 years.
• This year, school authorities will be asked to nominate teachers to participate
in the development of the Grades 3 and 6 SLAs, which will require teachers
with extensive knowledge of the Grades 2 and 5 Programs of Study. Alberta
Education looks forward to working with teachers to ensure that provincial
assessments, and the new SLAs, continue to be high quality assessments
that are relevant to students, and that provide valid and reliable information
to students, parents, teachers and administrators, school authority leaders,
and the public.
TIMELINES for SLAs
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June 2014
June 2015
June 2016
September 2017
Choice
Last administration
Last administration
Full implementation
administration of
(full cohort) of the
(full cohort) of the
of the Grade 9 SLAs
Grade 3 PATs
Grade 6 PATs
Grade 9 PATs
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June 2013
September 2014
September 2015
September 2016
Last full-cohort
Choice
Full implementation
Full implementation
administration of
administration of
of the Grade 3 SLAs
of the Grade 6 SLAs
the Grade 3 PATs
Grade 3 SLAs
and piloting of the
and piloting of the
Grade 6 SLAs
Grade 9 SLAs
Information Bulletin From Alberta Education
For School Based Leaders?
For Teachers?
For Schools?
What does this mean?
For Students?
Please share thoughts
with your colleagues.