Articulation through Assessment (AtA)
Under Articulation through Assessment (AtA), sponsored by the Ohio Department of Education (ODE), CETE is revising Ohio’s career-technical education (CTE) testing system to better serve the needs of CTE students as they transition to postsecondary education. Features of this project include:
- Updating tests. New tests replace those in use over time.
- Refocusing assessments. Older tests targeted individual occupations using standards in Ohio’s Occupational Competency Analysis Profiles (OCAPs) or Integrated Technical and Academic Competencies (ITACs). New tests are based on pathways–groups of occupations with common similar duties, tasks, and worker attributes. Pathways and pathway standards are defined in Ohio’s 16 career field technical content standards (CFTCS).
- Targeting tests for postsecondary articulation. It is intended that new tests will be used for articulation with postsecondary institutions using statewide CTAG (Career Technical Assurance guide) principles.
Pathway tests developed under AtA include new features:
- Item challenge. At least 30% of pathway test items involve a higher level of cognitive challenge, “C2” in CETE terminology. C2 items fall under the four higher levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy of Educational Objectives: application, analysis, evaluation, and synthesis.
- Scenarios. At least 30% of pathway test items are based on a scenario –a short passage of text that presents a realistic situation, context, or background in the pathway. Test takers must locate and use relevant information in the scenario to answer associated items correctly.
- Modular tests. Each pathway test is divided into modules. Each module tests students’ knowledge of CFTCS units or standards with similar or related content.
- Test benchmarks. Instead of a single pass/fail score, each pathway test has two benchmarks indicating basic proficiency and advanced proficiency. Benchmark scores are set using input from instructors.
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