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PT Pro K-8 FAQ

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​Assessment Cycle ​Data
​Create Assignments Ensure Data Security
​Assess Formatively ​
​Assess Summatively ​

 ​Create Assignments

 

​Create Assignments ​Top
Question
  
Answer
  

​Yes...

 

Caveat: The only drawback is that you cannot then attach standards specific to each grade.  For example, a Music teacher can create an assignment and make it available to all classes Gr. 5-8.  Although the Strand "Communicate and Connect" is common to each of these grades, PowerTeacher Pro views them as being different because they have different ID codes.  So, PT Pro returns the message, "You have selected multiple classes.  There are no standards in common across all of these classes." 

 

Workaround: Create the assignment separately for each class and attach the appropriate grade-level standards. 

  

​Yes... 

 

Caveat: As long as you don't want to attach Standards...   Although many standards are the same for English Prime and Immersion subjects (such as the "Number" Strand for Math), the ID codes are different.  So, PT Pro sees them as different Standards and returns the message, "You have selected multiple classes.  There are no standards in common across all of these classes." 

 

Workaround: Create the assignment separately for each class and attach the appropriate standards. 

  

When you create an assignment, you can attach the standards for ony one subject, at one grade level.  So, for example, let's say you create a cross-curricular assignment for 6A that meets standards for both Social Studies and English Language Arts.  Here are the steps:

 

1. Create the assignment twice:

    • Social Studies 6A
    • English Language Arts 6A

 2. For each, attach the appropriate standards.

  

​Unfortunately, in the current version of PT Pro, you cannot remove the default Points.

 

PLEASE NOTE: Ignore the calculation "Score" in the blue bar above the grid with students and assignments.  In the current version, PT Pro is generating inaccurate calculations.  For example, if you enter a 4+, the Score will return 0.45% or 0.05/10.
 

  

​For each assignment, use your professional judgment in choosing the Score Type that will best help you to accurately assess and communicate student achievement.  Keep in mind that, at report card time, you will be reporting on strands using the achievement scale 4+ - 1.

  

​For all FILA subjects, the necessary strands for the upcoming report card are in PT Pro.  EECD is working on importing the remainder of the ​SCO's.

  

​For MSTE, the necessary strands for the upcoming report card are in PT Pro.  EECD is working on importing the ​SCO's.

  

​An assignment's Due Date determines the term in which it is included.  So, for example, if you have an epiphany today for an engaging project that addresses outcomes that will be covered in May, you can create the assignment now, setting the Due Date for anytime in May.  This assignment will not show up in the Assignment List during T1 or T2.  To see it, simply change the Term to T3 in the upper-right.
 

  

​​By default, "Count in Final Grade" is checked.  You can leave it checked or uncheck it.  Teachers will be using their professional judgment to determine final grades for the report card.  As a result, calculations have been turned off in PT Pro at the district level.

  

​​No.  There is no way to enter a different Due Date for individual students.

 
Workarounds
  • Entering the green Collected checkmark for the students for whom you have completed the Conversation or Observation assessment will provide you with a quick visual.
  • Add a Comment for individual students with the actual date of the assessment if it differs from the assignment due date.
  • Set the assignment Due Date as the last day by which you want to complete the assessment. 
  

​Currently, you have two options for viewing a Standard's complete description:

 

1. Consult a digital or printed copy of your curriculum guide.

 

2. In PT Pro, follow these steps:

 

  1. A+ Grading (upper-left)
  2. Standards (this is where you will complete final grades for report cards)
  3. Click on a field in one of the SCO columns (e.g., N1).
  4. Above the grid with student names and standards, in the blue-outlined box, click "Show More" (upper-right).
  5. In this same box, click the "Description" tab.  You will now see the complete description of the standard in the blue box.

 

  

​This is being tested at EECD.  TBA...

  

Homeroom
Only for Homeroom will students in both grade levels be combined.  There are 2 reasons for this:

  1. Purposes of EECD data collection on Sept. 30.
  2. Attendance for the Homeroom teacher.

Subjects
Let's say you have a 1/2 combined.  For each subject, a separate section is created for the 1’s and for the 2’s.

 

  • Creating Assignments: This way, when you create ELA assignments during the term for the Gr. 1 students in your combined 1/2 class, you'll see only the outcomes associated with this grade level.

 

  • Generating Report Cards: Likewise, Gr. 1 students will have only Gr.1 subjects listed on their report card, and the 2’s will have only Gr.2 subjects listed on their report card.
  

Yes!  In the upper-left, you will see the message, “T2 has not started;” however, you can still create assignments.  Just remember to change the Due Date from the default to a date during T2.  If, for example, the default is Nov. 14, then the assignment will show up during T1.

Assess Formatively

 

​Assess Formatively ​TOP
Question
  
Answer
  

​You likely tried Delete on the keyboard and found it didn't do the job.  Logical thinking on your part.  Try this:

  1. Click on the field with the unwanted checkmark.
  2. Click on the checkmark on the virtual keypad to the right.  Voila! 

 

  

​Unfortunately, the answer is, No.  The one list where students in a combined class appear together is Homeroom for the purposes of attendance in PowerTeacher.  Grades need to be entered separately for your 7’s and 8’s as these students are meeting different outcomes.  You really have two separate grades/classes in one.

 

For more information on attaching standards to an assignment for multiple grade levels, see the FAQ in the Create Assignments section entitled "Can I create an assignment and make it available to classes in multiple grades?"

  

​Follow these steps:

    1. Create an assignment with your preferred Score Type and attach the appropriate Standards (Strands, GCO's, and/or SCO's).
    2. Enter Achievement Scores for the Standards-- but not the overall assignment.
    3. Enter the “Starter Comment” for the first student in the list and Fill Down.  Edit comments as necessary.
    4. Enter the overall assignment score (e.g., Collected checkmark, 4+ - 1, number) for the first student in the list and Fill Down.  Edit the achievement scores as necessary.   

Note: The key to using Fill Down for both Comments and Achievement Scores is to enter the Comments first.  If you enter the Achievement Scores first, PT Pro will not let you use Fill Down for the Comments.   

  

​Workaround: Make the district categories that do not work for you, Inactive.  Then re-create these Categories with your preferred colors.

 

Inactivate a Category

  1. A+ Grading (upper-left)
  2. Categories
  3. Click the Edit pencil icon for the Category that you would like to make Inactive.

 

Add a Category

  

​Bad News: Unfortunately, at this time, the PowerTeacher app is not supported in NB. 

 
Good News: If you have an iPad that is connected to the school's wireless, you should be able to access PowerTeacher and PowerTeacher Pro via the browser and the link to PowerTeacher.  Some teachers have already tried this and have met with success.  Great for walking around and recording conversations and observations!  Please be advised though... If you are unable to connect to PowerTeacher with your school iPad, there is currently no support for this.    

Assess Summatively

 

​Assess Summatively TOP​
Question
  
Answer
  

​The company that owns PowerSchool has the Comment Bank on their roadmap for a future version.  We do not have a specific timeline.

  

​You can just leave the field blank for non-EAL students.

  

​In K-8 we do not want PT Pro calculating final grades for the report card.  Rather, you will be using your professional judgment to determine final grades, taking into account all of the evidence of learning during the term.  As a result, calculations have been turned off in PT Pro at the district level.  That is why you do not see any grades on the Standards page where you will enter final grades for the report card.

 

Helpful Tool: Interested in a quick way to view a student’s progress on strands, GCOs, and SCOs?  PT Pro comes with graphing functionality to help you quickly see trends and patterns.  Check out the video series in the repository on how PT Pro's line graphs will assist you with summative assessment at report card time.

  

​The date that appears on the report cards is the date they are printed.  For the attendance to be accurate for T1, that date should be after T1 ends; that way, all days in the term are included. 

  

Good News

For grades (strands, GCOs & SCOs), you can simply delete the first grade and then use Fill Down to clear the rest.

Bad News

Unfortunately, you cannot use Fill Down to delete all of the Comments in a column.  You would need to delete each Comment individually.

  

​No.  Although GCO's and SCO's are included on the Standards page where you enter final grades for the report card, you enter grades only at the level of the Strand.  So, for example, if you were entering final grades for ELA, you would enter data only in the following columns:

  1. Speaking & Listening
  2. Reading & Viewing
  3. Writing & Representing 
     
  

Steps

  1. Switch to Homeroom.
  2. A+ Grading
  3. Standards
  4. Column entitled FLC.1.  When you click on a cell in this column, you will see the title "FLC.1 Participates in Learning Experiences to Introduce French Language and Culture" in the blue box above."
    • Note: When you click on a cell in the column entitled FLC, you will see the title "FLC FRENCH LANGUAGE & CULTURE " in the blue box above."  Notice that the Grade Scale Type is NULL.  You won't enter any data in this column as it simply generates the header for this section of the report card.  
  

​Comments don’t show up on the generated report card until Strand grades (1-4+) have also been entered on the Standards page.

  

​Currently, we are unable to enter "Preferred" Name in PT Pro.  EECD will be discussing this with the company to find out if this is on the development roadmap.    

  

After printing report cards, you will need to manually check the box for “Attachment Included.” 

  

​To save paper during proofreading, you would need to print each student’s report card individually, identifying the number of pages to print.  For example, if you are printing a Gr. 3 English Prime report card, then you would set the Page Range to Pages 1-3.  In doing so, the blank page as well as the two pages for student/parent signature and Report Card Key would not be printed. 

  

Until you enter a final grade into at least one of a subject's Strands, the following message automatically appears in the Comments section of the report card for that subject, "Instruction in and/or assessment of this course is not part of this reporting period."

  

​Yes!  Here's an example:

 
Meeting
  1. If the majority of your students are Meeting learning expectations, begin by entering a “3” starter comment for the first student in the class, using his/her first name and the appropriate pronouns.
  2. Then use Fill Vertically and apply Smart text. 

 

Approaching
  1. Next let’s say you have two students who are “Approaching” learning expectations.  Delete the current “3” starter comment for these two students.
  2. For the first of the two students, enter a “2” starter comment, using his/her first name and the appropriate pronouns.
  3. Then use Fill Vertically and apply Smart text again.  Only the two blank cells for the students Approaching learning expectations will be filled. 

Continue deleting the “3” starter comment and using Fill Vertically/Smart Text for as many students as necessary.  For example, you might also have students who are achieving at 3+.
 

Ensure Data Security

  

​Ensure Data Security ​TOP
Question
  
Answer
  

​Your PT Pro data is stored on servers in Fredericton.  So, if your laptop crashes, you can access all of your data from another laptop or computer issued by EECD.  In addition, your data is stored on more than one server.  So, if one server crashes, you’ll still be able to access your data from another.