FCAT Explorer
From the Florida Department of Education
www.fcatexplorer.com
Florida Department of Education’s
FCAT Explorer
BRIEF
OVERVIEW
FCAT Explorer
FCAT Explorer
Interactive, benchmarksbased practice programs
Available at no cost to all
Florida public schools
Accessible from any computer
connected to the Internet
Students automatically
enrolled
Includes Educator Resources
and a Parent & Family Guide
From the Florida Department of Education
www.fcatexplorer.com
FCAT Explorer
Access to all programs
A student’s sign-in
name and password
provides access to
all programs
Struggling students
can experience
success in easier
programs and work
their way up
From the Florida Department of Education
www.fcatexplorer.com
FCAT Explorer
From the Florida Department of Education
Practice Programs
www.fcatexplorer.com
From the Florida Department of Education
FCAT Explorer
MATH PROGRAMS
www.fcatexplorer.com
READING PROGRAMS
SCIENCE PROGRAMS
Math Station:
5th Grade Benchmarks
Galactic Library:
3rd Grade Benchmarks
Science Station:
5th Grade Benchmarks
Math Navigator:
8th Grade Benchmarks
Reading Odyssey:
4th Grade Benchmarks
Science Voyager:
8th Grade Benchmarks
Math Timeline:
10th Grade
Benchmarks
Reading Island:
6th Grade Benchmarks
Science Mission:
11th Grade Benchmarks
Reading Boardwalk:
8th Grade Benchmarks
Reading Timeline:
10th Grade Benchmarks
From the Florida Department of Education
FCAT Explorer
www.fcatexplorer.com
Reading, Math, and Science Practice
Developed with strict
adherence to the
Sunshine State Standards
and DOE’s Test Item &
Performance Task
Specifications
Practice items provide
explicit reinforcement of
the FCAT-tested
benchmarks
Reading Boardwalk: 8th Grade Benchmarks
From the Florida Department of Education
FCAT Explorer
www.fcatexplorer.com
Reading, Math, and Science Practice
Designed with the help of
teachers and testing
specialists
Graphics explicitly
illustrate science and
math concepts
or reading content
Reading and math
practice is set in the
context of other subject
areas from the Sunshine
State Standards
Math Navigator: 8th Grade Benchmarks
FCAT Explorer
From the Florida Department of Education
www.fcatexplorer.com
Science Practice
Reviewed by teachers
for difficulty level, ageappropriate content, and
student interest
Struggling students are
directed to remedial
lessons to explore
more difficult science
concepts.
Science Station: 5th Grade Benchmarks
From the Florida Department of Education
FCAT Explorer
www.fcatexplorer.com
FCAT Explorer Science Programs
Science Station: 5th Grade Benchmarks
Vocabulary exercises reinforce
important science concepts
15 remedial lessons on
annually assessed benchmarks
Annually assessed benchmarks
include context dependent
items
215 multiple-choice, short-,
extended-, and open-response
items
FCAT Explorer
From
From
thethe
Florida
Florida
Department
DepartmentofofEducation
Education
www.fcatexplorer.com
www.fcatexplorer.com
Science Station: 5th Grade Benchmarks
Program
Overview
FCAT Explorer
Interactive practice program
FCAT-like practice on all
FCAT-tested strands and
benchmarks
Reinforces important
science concepts
Available at no cost
to all Florida
public schools
Accessible from any
computer connected
to the Internet
From the Florida Department of Education
Science Station: 5th Grade Benchmarks
www.fcatexplorer.com
FCAT Explorer
From the Florida Department of Education
Science Station: 5th Grade Benchmarks
www.fcatexplorer.com
Fidelity with the Official FCAT
Strict adherence to the
Sunshine State Standards
and DOE’s Test Item and
Performance Task
Specifications
Rigorous item development
process
 Items drafted by science
teachers and professional
item writers
 Items reviewed by
instructional designers,
testing specialists, and
professional editors
SR item in Strand G: Life and Environment
FCAT Explorer
From the Florida Department of Education
Science Station: 5th Grade Benchmarks
www.fcatexplorer.com
FCAT-like Practice
FCAT-like practice on all tested
strands and benchmarks
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A: Nature of Matter
B: Energy
C: Force and Motion
D: Processes that Shape the Earth
E: Earth and Space
F: Processes of Life
G: How Living Things Interact with Their
Environment
 H: Scientific Thinking
215 FCAT-like practice items
 125 Multiple Choice (MC)
 45 Context Dependent (CD)
 24 Short Response (SR)
 6 Extended Response (ER)
 15 Open Response (OR)
MC item in Strand G: Life and Environmental
FCAT Explorer
From the Florida Department of Education
Science Station: 5th Grade Benchmarks
www.fcatexplorer.com
FCAT-like Practice
Number of items per
benchmark based
on teacher
recommendation
 Difficulty of benchmark
 Difficulty for
struggling students
Same style, format,
scope and cognitive
level as FCAT
Reviewed by teachers for interest and difficulty
ER item in Strand H: Scientific Thinking
FCAT Explorer
Instructional Support
From the Florida Department of Education
Science Station: 5th Grade Benchmarks
www.fcatexplorer.com
FCAT Explorer
Learning Guidance
1ST ATTEMPT
CORRECT
Congratulations!
Correct Answer
Explanation (CAE)
 Confirms the
elements that
make an answer
correct
 Reinforces
effective skill
application
From the Florida Department of Education
Science Station: 5th Grade Benchmarks
www.fcatexplorer.com
FCAT Explorer
From the Florida Department of Education
Science Station: 5th Grade Benchmarks
www.fcatexplorer.com
Learning Guidance
1ST ATTEMPT INCORRECT
Includes hints to
clarify the question without
giving away the answer
Immediate second chance
to apply the skill correctly
Click on Glossary Terms for definitions of
more difficult science concepts.
FCAT Explorer
Learning Guidance
2nd ATTEMPT
For CORRECT answer, CAE
confirms and reinforces
accurate skill application
For INCORRECT answer,
the CAE:
 Identifies correct
answer
 Explains why the
answer the student
chose was incorrect
From the Florida Department of Education
Science Station: 5th Grade Benchmarks
www.fcatexplorer.com
FCAT Explorer
Practice Items
From the Florida Department of Education
Science Station: 5th Grade Benchmarks
www.fcatexplorer.com
FCAT Explorer
From the Florida Department of Education
Science Station: 5th Grade Benchmarks
www.fcatexplorer.com
FCAT-like Practice Items
MULTIPLE CHOICE (MC)
Same formatting
details as on the FCAT
Same notation
conventions as on the
FCAT
MC in Strand G: Life and Environmental
FCAT Explorer
From the Florida Department of Education
Science Station: 5th Grade Benchmarks
www.fcatexplorer.com
FCAT-like Practice Items
CONTEXT DEPENDENT
MULTIPLE CHOICE (CD)
Students read a short
passage
Answer three multiple
choice items based on
passage content
Students can review
passage at any time
CD in Strand G: Life and Environmental
FCAT Explorer
From the Florida Department of Education
Science Station: 5th Grade Benchmarks
www.fcatexplorer.com
FCAT-like Practice Items
SHORT-RESPONSE (SR)
Students are
presented with two
sample student
responses and are
asked to select the
high scoring answer
Reinforces writing
skills by comparing
two sample answers.
SR in Strand E: Earth and Space
FCAT Explorer
From the Florida Department of Education
Science Station: 5th Grade Benchmarks
www.fcatexplorer.com
FCAT-like Practice Items
EXTENDED-RESPONSE (ER)
Student reads a response
and assigns it a high or
partial score.
Simulation strategies
recommended by teachers
 Based on classroom
instructional practices
 Requires student to
compare or assess
critical attributes
ER in Strand E: Earth and Space
FCAT Explorer
From the Florida Department of Education
Science Station: 5th Grade Benchmarks
www.fcatexplorer.com
FCAT-like Practice Items
OPEN-RESPONSE (OR)
Students compose
original answers
Read high-score
sample response
Read explanation of
attributes that earn sample
response a high score
Compare student’s original
composition to high-score
sample response
OR in Strand A: Nature of Matter
FCAT Explorer
Special Features
From the Florida Department of Education
Science Station: 5th Grade Benchmarks
www.fcatexplorer.com
FCAT Explorer
Special Learning Features
GLOSSARY
Linked (blue)
words in first incorrect
response
Click speaker icon to
hear word pronounced
Definition
Spanish and Haitian Creole
translations
From the Florida Department of Education
Science Station: 5th Grade Benchmarks
www.fcatexplorer.com
FCAT Explorer
Special Learning Features
READ/INQUIRE/EXPLAIN
(RIE) ICON
Available on SR, ER,
and OR items
Students click on the
RIE icon to view rubric
Rubric helps students
to identify elements
included in high
scoring answers
From the Florida Department of Education
Science Station: 5th Grade Benchmarks
www.fcatexplorer.com
FCAT Explorer
Special Learning Features
CHALLENGE LIST
Links directly to items
answered incorrectly
Helps students focus
on skill improvement
Displays corresponding
strand
From the Florida Department of Education
Science Station: 5th Grade Benchmarks
www.fcatexplorer.com
FCAT Explorer
Special Learning Features
Animated Vocabulary
Games
Play one of four
vocabulary games
upon completing a
group of benchmarks
Includes repetition of
question for incorrect
responses
From the Florida Department of Education
Science Station: 5th Grade Benchmarks
www.fcatexplorer.com
FCAT Explorer
Educators’ Tools
From the Florida Department of Education
Science Station: 5th Grade Benchmarks
www.fcatexplorer.com
FCAT Explorer
From the Florida Department of Education
Science Station: 5th Grade Benchmarks
www.fcatexplorer.com
Educators’ Tools
Curriculum resources
 Table of Strands and
Benchmarks
Classroom
Teacher’s Desk
 Item Review
School Administrator’s
Desk
 Letter to Parents
Information management tools
 Sign-in names and
passwords
 Progress Reports
 Messages to students
District Administrator’s Desk
FCAT Explorer
Student Performance Reports
AT THE CLASSROOM TEACHER’S DESK
Check progress on
individuals or classes
View science data by
Benchmark or Strand
Compare percentage correct
before and after instructional
support
From the Florida Department of Education
Science Station: 5th Grade Benchmarks
www.fcatexplorer.com
FCAT Explorer
The Parent & Family Guide
Accessible from the home
page without a password
Available in English, Spanish,
and Haitian Creole
Helps parents, guardians,
and mentors understand the
Sunshine State Standards
and the FCAT
From the Florida Department of Education
Science Station: 5th Grade Benchmarks
www.fcatexplorer.com
FCAT Explorer
Visit the Educator Resources Page
Linked from the home page
Download this PowerPoint
presentation
Download the School
Administrator’s Desk Manual
Download the Teacher’s Desk
Manual
Download other presentations
 Program-specific presentations
From the Florida Department of Education
Science Station: 5th Grade Benchmarks
www.fcatexplorer.com
FCAT Explorer
Toll-Free Help Desk
Accessible from the
home page
without a password
1-888-750-FCAT
1-888-750-3228
Weekdays from
7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
From the Florida Department of Education
Science Station: 5th Grade Benchmarks
www.fcatexplorer.com
FCAT Explorer
From the Florida Department of Education
Science Station: 5th Grade Benchmarks
www.fcatexplorer.com
To get sign-in names and passwords
School Principals:
Contact your District
Office and speak to the
FCAT Explorer District
Administrator
Teachers:
Contact your FCAT
Explorer School
Administrator
FCAT Explorer Home Page (www.fcatexplorer.com)
FCAT Explorer
www.fcatexplorer.com
Log on to
FCAT Explorer!
From the Florida Department of Education
Science Station: 5th Grade Benchmarks
www.fcatexplorer.com