FCAT Explorer
FCAT Explorer
From the Florida Department of Education
www.fcatexplorer.com
Math Timeline: High School Mathematics
Program
Overview
FCAT Explorer
Math Timeline: High School Mathematics
Math Timeline: High School Benchmarks
Interactive program
offers practice on all
benchmarks tested on
the high school math
FCAT
Available at no cost
to all Florida public
schools
Accessible from any
computer connected
to the Internet
FCAT Explorer
Fidelity with the Official FCAT
Strict adherence to the Next
Generation Sunshine State
Standards and the DOE’s
Test Item & Performance Task
Specifications
Rigorous item development
process
 Items drafted by reading
teachers and professional
item writers
 Items reviewed by instructional
designers, testing specialists,
bias reviewers, and
professional editors
Math Timeline: High School Mathematics
FCAT Explorer
Math Timeline: High School Mathematics
Input from Exemplary Education Professionals
Highly-qualified classroom teachers
 Recommended for
expertise in subject area
and grade level
 National Board Certified
 Recipients of Teacher of
the Year awards
 Presidential Award
Winners
 Experienced FCAT Coach
 Masters Degrees
TEACHER
PIC
HERE
YO!
FCAT Explorer
Math Timeline: High School Mathematics
FCAT-like Practice
FCAT-like practice on
all assessed benchmarks
320 FCAT-like practice items:
 266 Multiple Choice
 54 Gridded-Response
Two-page multiple-choice item
FCAT Explorer
Math Timeline: High School Mathematics
FCAT-like Practice
Topics drawn from
other subject areas standards
Geography
 Science
 Social Studies
 The Arts
 Health Education
 Physical Education
Engaging graphics reinforce
math concept, important ideas
in the subject matter, or both
Every item presented in real-life
problem-solving context
Science
FCAT Explorer
Math Timeline: High School Mathematics
Instructional Support
FCAT Explorer
Math Timeline: High School Mathematics
Instructional Support
1ST ATTEMPT CORRECT
Congratulations!
Correct Answer
Explanation (CAE)
 Confirms the
elements that
make an answer
correct
 Reinforces
effective skill
application
CAEs are carefully worded to convey more
than one way to solve most problems
FCAT Explorer
Instructional Support
1ST ATTEMPT INCORRECT
Hints for Success to
clarify the question
without giving away
the answer
“Common error”
feedback written
specifically to correct
common mistakes
Immediate second
chance to apply the
skill correctly
Math Timeline: High School Mathematics
FCAT Explorer
Math Timeline: High School Mathematics
Instructional Support
2nd ATTEMPT
For CORRECT answer, CAE
confirms & reinforces
accurate skill application
For INCORRECT answer,
the CAE:
 Identifies correct
answer
 Helps student solve
similar problems in the
future
CAEs are carefully
worded to convey
more than one
way to solve most
problems
FCAT Explorer
Math Timeline: High School Mathematics
Practice Items
FCAT Explorer
FCAT-like Practice Items
GRIDDED-RESPONSE
ITEM EXAMPLE
Students make calculations on
paper, as needed
Type number, slash, or decimal
point into the grid and bubble
fills in automatically
Fractions not accepted until
reduced to simplest form
Program demonstrates how
to fill in corresponding bubbles
correctly
Math Timeline: High School Mathematics
FCAT Explorer
FCAT-like Practice Items
MULTIPLE-CHOICE ITEM
EXAMPLE
Same formatting details as
used for test items on the
FCAT 2.0
Same mathematical
notation conventions as
used on the FCAT 2.0
When possible, incorrect
answer choices represent
“common errors”
Math Timeline: High School Mathematics
FCAT Explorer
Math Timeline: High School Mathematics
Special Features
FCAT Explorer
Math Timeline: High School Mathematics
Motivational Features
ENGAGING INTERFACE
Student chooses freely
among 5 Time Periods
Within each Time Period,
student chooses among 4
Themes
Time Periods
After selecting a Theme,
student begins working
practice items
Sense of exploration
engages curiosity
Student control increases
motivation
Student clicks
Start to begin
practicing
FCAT Explorer
Math Timeline: High School Mathematics
Motivational Features
Optional Navigation by
Strand
Student selects
a subject
Student sees list of all
items ranked from easiest
to hardest.
Same historically rich
context for each item
Student control increases
motivation
Student clicks
an item to begin
practicing
FCAT Explorer
Motivational Features
DETAILED ILLUSTRATIONS
Reinforce important
concepts and
information
Help pique curiosity
Help maintain attention
& endurance
Help students perceive
math as interesting and
relevant
Math Timeline: High School Mathematics
FCAT Explorer
Helpful Tools
CHALLENGE LIST
Links directly to items
answered incorrectly
Helps students focus
on skill improvement
Displays corresponding
strand
Math Timeline: High School Mathematics
FCAT Explorer
Helpful Tools
REMEDIAL LESSONS
Math Machine
Offers five interactive
lessons in Geometry
and Spatial Sense
Includes review of basic
geometry concepts and
vocabulary
Offers increasingly
difficult multiple choice
practice items with
detailed feedback
Math Timeline: High School Mathematics
FCAT Explorer
Helpful Tools
REMEDIAL LESSONS
Math Machine
Provides real-world context
for math concepts
Math Timeline: High School Mathematics
FCAT Explorer
Helpful Tools
REMEDIAL LESSONS
Math Machine
Reviews vocabulary
relevant to the
benchmark
Math Timeline: High School Mathematics
FCAT Explorer
Helpful Tools
REMEDIAL LESSONS
Math Machine
Features interactive
activities to reinforce
concepts
Math Timeline: High School Mathematics
FCAT Explorer
Helpful Tools
REMEDIAL LESSONS
Math Machine
Provides practice
multiple choice
questions
Results can be
accessed from the
Teacher’s Desk
Math Timeline: High School Mathematics
FCAT Explorer
Helpful Tools
GLOSSARY
Click “ear” icon
to hear word
pronounced
Spelling and
definition
Illustration, as
appropriate
Math Timeline: High School Mathematics
FCAT Explorer
Math Timeline: High School Mathematics
Helpful Tools
REFERENCE SHEET &
CALCULATOR
Online formula
reference sheet with
same content as on
the FCAT 2.0
Online calculator
with same functions
as on the FCAT 2.0
Reference Sheet
Calculator
FCAT Explorer
Math Timeline: High School Mathematics
Educators’ Tools
FCAT Explorer
Math Timeline: High School Mathematics
Educators’ Tools
Curriculum resources
 Item Review provides
a printable version of
all Math Timeline items
 Letter to Parents
Classroom
Teacher’s
Desk
School Administrator’s
Desk
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 math data by Theme,
Strand, or Benchmark
Compare percentage correct
before and after instructional
support
Math Timeline: High School Mathematics
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
New Generation Sunshine State
Standards and the FCAT 2.0
Math Timeline: High School Mathematics
FCAT Explorer
Math Timeline: High School Mathematics
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
 Reading Focus Overview
 Math Focus Overview
 Program-specific presentations
FCAT Explorer
Toll-Free Help Desk
Accessible from the
home page
without a password
1-888-750-FCAT
1-888-750-3228
Weekdays
8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Math Timeline: High School Mathematics
FCAT Explorer
Math Timeline: High School Mathematics
To get sign-in names & 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 the
FCAT Explorer!
Math Timeline: High School Mathematics