Introduction to Alis
Dr Robert Clark
ALIS Project Manager
Ensuring Fairness
Principles of Fair Analysis :
1. Compare ‘Like’ with ‘Like’
2. Appropriate Baseline
3. Reflect Statistical Uncertainty
The Analysis
.
Linear Least Squares Regression
Subject
SubjectXX
10
Outcome
8
6
-ve VA
+ve VA
4
2
0
04
25
64
Baseline
67
8
Residuals
Regression Line (…Trend Line, Line of Best Fit)
Outcome = gradient x baseline + intercept
Correlation Coefficient (~ 0.7)
Measuring Value-Added – An Example
National Trend
‘Average’ Student
A
Result
B
C
-ve
Alf
Bob
Subject A
+ve
D
Chris
Subject B
E
U
Low Ability
Average Ability
High Ability
Baseline Score
The position of the national trend line is of
critical importance
Some Subjects are More Equal than Others….
A
Grade
B
>1 grade
C
Photography
Sociology
English Lit
Psychology
Maths
Physics
Latin
D
E
C
B
A
A*
Average GCSE
Principle of Fair Analysis No1 : Compare ‘Like’ with ‘Like’
Some Subjects are More Equal than Others …
Performance varies between subjects, thus analysing and
predicting each subject individually is essential.
e.g. Student with Average GCSE = 6.0
Subject Choices
Predicted Grades
Maths, Physics,
Chemistry, Economics
C, C, C/D, C/D
Sociology,
Communication Studies,
Drama, Media
B, B/C, B/C, B/C
Standardisation of Residuals
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(Raw) Residuals can be used to examine an individual’s performance
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Standardised Residuals are used to compare performance of groups
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Standardised Residuals are independent of year or qualification type
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For a class, subject, department or whole institution the Average
Standardised Residual is the ‘Value-Added Score’
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Standardised Residual = Residual / Standard Deviation (National Sample)
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When using Standardised Residuals then for an individual subject
Standard Error 
1
N
where N = number of results in the group
(for combinations of subjects consult the relevant project)
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95% Confidence Limit = 2.0 x Standard Error
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99% Confidence Limit = 2.6 x Standard Error
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99.7% Confidence Limit = 3.0 x Standard Error
Subjects Covered…
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A / AS Levels
Applied A / AS levels (including dual award)
International Baccalaureate
BTec Nationals (Diploma, Certificate, Award)
CACHE DCE
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OCR Nationals
ifs Diploma / Certificate in Financial Studies
Limited pool of level 2 (BTec First)
How to Administer the
Project
1.
Submit a registration form (Y11 May onwards….)
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2.
Submit student details – ‘Registration Spreadsheet’ (Y12 Mid Sept onwards….)
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3.
We need this before we can process any data
We need this even if you are registering as part of a consortium
Choose Basic / Full (Basic + Attitudinal surveys) and whether you wish to do baseline test
This gives us student name details, GCSE scores and the subjects they are studying
We always need this even if the students are sitting a baseline test
Send spreadsheet once students are confirmed on courses (i.e. not first day of term….)
Organise baseline testing – ‘Adaptive Test’ (End Y11 June 15th onwards….)
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This can happen before, at the same time as or after sending us the registration
spreadsheet (2 above)
Student details appear in ‘Check List’ on web site
Early prediction are available for students with Adaptive Test scores as soon as they
appear in the Check List. This function is removed one Alis has generated offical
predictions (pdf reports).
Don’t forget to click ‘Testing Complete’ once you have finished testing your students.
4.
Prediction Reports Generated
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5.
Maintain Data
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6.
Keep reports up to date by using the Subject Editor on the Alis+ secure website to add
and remove students from subject registrations and request updated feedback
Submit Entries Data (Y12 & Y13 March / April)
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7.
Prediction reports, Intake Profiles, Adaptive Test data (IPR)
Reports created after receipt of Registration Spreadsheet
 Guarenteed turnaround 4 weeks
 Normal deliverable turnaround 2 weeks
When adaptive test data is ready (‘Testing Complete’ clicked), repots are updated.
For institutions offering A / AS options, submit EDI entries files to Alis
Entries data Matched and Check lists issued (Y12 & Y13 May - July)
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These need to be completed to ensure complete matching of candidate numbers to
names held by Alis to ensure all EDI exam results are successfully processed in August
8.
Results Collection (Y12 & Y13 August)
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9.
Submit A / AS results to Alis via EDI Results Files
Submit Other quals (IB, BTEc etc) to Alis using results spreadsheet (can opt to submit A /
AS data in spreadsheet as well instead of EDI files)
Submit results as soon after results day as possible
Preliminary VA Feedback (Beginning of September)
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Preliminary feedback generated by 1st Monday in September. Prompt return of results in
August leads to early feedback
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Trend data not fixed, values may be subject to change
10. Definitive VA Feedback (End of Spetember
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Trend data locked and feedback generated. Letter & CD sent to schools / colleges.
11. Maintain Data
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Update results data (missing grades, withdrawls, remarks, appeals etc) using the Results
Editor on the Alis+ secure website and request updated feedback.
Typical Timeline
Y11
Sept
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
March
April
May
June
July
Aug
Registration Form
15th
CABT
Early Preds
Prediction Reports (+Y13)
Y12
Sept
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
March
Registration Form
April
May
June
July
Entries Collection & Matching
Matching Checklists
CABT (+ Early Preds)
Registration SSheet
Aug
R
Value Added Feedback
Y13
Sept
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
March
April
May
June
July
Entries Collection & Matching
Matching Checklists
Results
Collection
Aug
R
Value Added Feedback
Y14
Sept
Results
Collection
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
March
April
May
June
July
Aug
Baseline Assessment
Choice of Baseline
• Average GCSE Score
• CABT (Computer Adaptive Baseline Test)
Why 2 Baselines ?
Why 2 Baselines ?
Average GCSE correlates very well to A-level / IB etc,
but by itself is not sufficient….
• What is a GCSE ?
• Students without GCSE ?
• Years out between GCSE & A-level ?
• Reliability of GCSE ?
• Prior Value-Added ?
Principle of Fair Analysis No2 : Appropriate Baseline
The Effect of Prior Value Added
Beyond Expectation
In line with Expectation
Below Expectation
+ve Value-Added
0 Value-Added
-ve Value-Added
Average GCSE = 6
Average GCSE = 6
Average GCSE = 6
Do these 3 students all have the same ability ?
Appropriate Baseline
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Do students with the same GCSE score from feeder schools
with differing value-added have the same ability ?
How can you tell if a student has underachieved at GCSE and
thus can you maximise their potential ?
Has a student got v.good GCSE scores through the school
effort rather than their ability alone ?
How will this affect expectation of attainment in the Sixth
Form ?
Can you add value at every Key Stage ?
Baseline testing provides a measure of ability that (to a large
extent) is independent of the effect of prior treatment.
Computer Adaptive Baseline Test (CABT)
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Test performed online – results automatically transmitted to CEM.
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Minimal installation / setup required - if any.
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Adaptive – difficulty of questions changes in relation to ability of student.
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Efficient – no time wasted answering questions that are far too easy or difficult.
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Wider range of ability
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Less stressful on students – more enjoyable experience than paper test.
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Less demanding invigilation.
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Test designed to be completed in 1 hour or less.
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No materials to courier
In 2009 / 2010 over 65,000 students sat this test in Alis
To try it out…
www.intuproject.org/demos
Feedback
Intake Profiles
Intake Profiles (Historical)
Full Alis 2009 Demo School (999)
IPR...
Banana, Brian
Studying :
Maths
Physics
Chemistry
Biology
?
Banana, Brian
Prediction Reports
Probability of achieving
each grade
Expected Grade
Which predicted
grades are the most
appropriate for ths
student ?
Prediction Reports
Subject
Report
Alis
Value Added Feedback
Burning Question :
What is my Value-Added Score ?
Better Question :
Is it Important ?
Principle of Fair Analysis No3 : Reflect Statistical Uncertainty
Value Added Feedback…
SPC Chart
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004 2005
Year
2006
2007 2008
2009
2010
Subject Summary -
Subject Summary -
Current Year
3 Year Average
A2-English Literature
Statistical Process Control (SPC) Chart
2008
2009
Year
2010
Student Level Residuals (SLR) Report
Scatter Plot
A2 – English Literature
General Underachievement ?
Student Level Residuals (SLR) Report
Scatter Plot
A2 – English Literature
Too many U’s ?
Other things to look for…
Why did these students do so badly ?
Why did this student do so well ?
How did they do in their other subjects ?
Summary of Process
• Examine Subject Summary
• Determine ‘interesting’ (i.e. statistically significant) subjects
• Look at 3 year average as well as single year
• Look at trends in ‘Interesting Subjects’
• Examine student data – SLR Report, scatter graphs
• Identify students over / under achieving (student list in SLR or
Paris)
• Any known issues ?
• Don’t forget to look at over achieving subjects as well as under
achieving
• Phone / E-Mail ALIS when you need help understanding /
interpreting the data / statistics !
Attitudinal Surveys
There is more to school / college than exams….
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Student attitudes
Student Welfare & Safety
Non-academic activities
Support
Social and personal development
Self Evaluation (Every Child Matters)
Full ALIS
Attitudinal Feedback...
Attitude to Institution
Attitude to Subject
Private Tutors
Extended Attitudes
Teaching and Learning Processes
SEF Survey
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Extent of Bullying
Extent of Racism
Extent of Sectarianism
Healthy Lifestyles
How Well do Learner's Make a Positive Contribution to the Community
How Well do Learner's Prepare for Their Future Economic Well Being
Other Health and Safety Issues
School's/College's Action on Bullying
School's/College's Action on Racism
School's/College's Action on Sectarianism
School's/College's Action on Sexual Harassment
Spiritual, Moral, Emotional and Cultural Development
To them out…
www.intuproject.org/demos
School’s / College’s Action on Sexual Harassment
Summary
Alis History :
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Alis began in 2003 (started life called COMBSE)
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Developed in partnership with schools by professional
educational researchers
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After spreading locally in the North East, Alis grew rapidly
nationwide, largely through decisions by individual schools
and colleges to subscribe
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Alis is part of CEM which is affiliated to the School of
Education at Durham University.
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Research by CEM acknowledged by Durham in contributing
significantly to the international research reputation of the
School of Education.
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Alis – developed in an educational context, by educational
professionals for use by educational professionals.
Alis Coverage :
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Approx 1700 school / colleges anually
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> 50% UK A-levels anually
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A/AS; IB; BTec National; OCR National; Cache DCE
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Developing BTec First; GCSE Resit
Alis Provides… Baseline Tests :
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GCSE not always an appropriate or reliable measure of
ability
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GCSE Scores depend on KS4 value-added performance
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Alternative baseline test available
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Provides predictions and value-added analysis
independent of performance at prior key stage
Alis Provides… Predictions :
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Predictions targeted at the individual subject (on average,
students with similar GCSE scores get different grades in
different A-level subjects)
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Predictions from GCSE and Alis baseline test (how reliable
is GCSE as a measure of ability ? Does the student have
GCSE’s ?)
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Predictions at 50th and 75th percentile
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Chances Data (what is the probability of achieving grades
different to those predicted?)
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Standardised Scores from the baseline tests including
section breakdown (IPR Report) – what are the student’s
strengths & weaknesses ?
Alis Provides… Value Added :
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All VA scores are specific to the student and each
individual subject
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Reports at school, subject and student level.
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Current and historical trend data
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Three sets of reports available:•
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Subject Level (Whole cohort)
Syllabus Level (Whole Cohort)
Subject Level (Specific to your school type)
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VA available from GCSE and from the Alis baseline test
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All data shown against appropriate confidence limits
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Analysis available from beginning of September
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Consortia / area / LA analysis available
Alis Provides… Attitudes :
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In depth subject related attitudinal survey
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In depth student welfare survey covering:
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Extent of Bullying
Extent of Racism
Extent of Sectarianism
Healthy Lifestyles
How well do learners make a positive contribution to the community
How well do learners prepare for their future economic well being
School / College action on bullying
School / College action on racism
School / College action on sectarianism
School / College action on sexual harassment
Spiritual, moral, emotional and cultural development
Can provide evidence to use in Self Evaluation
To them out…
www.intuproject.org/demos
Alis data can be used:
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To support teaching and learning
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School Band Profile Graphs
IPR Data
‘Predictive’ data for target setting and monitoring
Paris software for data analysis and on course monitoring
To aid target setting and monitoring
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Use reliable predictive data (e.g. Alis data)
Use professional judgment, including knowledge of the student
Consider school/department expectations and ethos
Give consideration to previous value added data where it is available (e.g.
Alis data)
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For Value Added analysis
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For Self Evaluation
Inset provision is available on any aspect of Alis to support any of the
above issues.
Dr Robert Clark
Alis Project Manager
robert.clark@cem.dur.ac.uk
0191 33 44 193