Test Information Guide

Field 71: Digital Literacy and Computer Science
Sample Open-Response Item

The following reference materials will be available to you during the test:

The following materials contain:

Sample Test Directions for Open-Response Items

This section of the test consists of two open-response item assignments. You will be asked to prepare a written response of approximately 150–300 words for each assignment. You should use your time to plan, write, review, and edit your response for each assignment. You must write responses to both of the assignments.

For each assignment, read the topic and directions carefully before you begin to work. Think about how you will organize your response.

As a whole, your response to each assignment must demonstrate an understanding of the knowledge of the field. In your response to each assignment, you are expected to demonstrate the depth of your understanding of the subject area by applying your knowledge rather than by merely reciting factual information.

Your response to each assignment will be evaluated based on the following criteria.

The open-response item assignments are intended to assess subject knowledge. Your responses must be communicated clearly enough to permit valid judgment of the evaluation criteria by scorers. Your responses should be written for an audience of educators in this field. The final version of each response should conform to the conventions of edited American English. Your responses should be your original work, written in your own words, and not copied or paraphrased from some other work.

Be sure to write about the assigned topics. You may not use any reference materials during the test. Remember to review your work and make any changes you think will improve your responses.

Sample Open-Response Item

Objective 0012
Prepare an organized, developed analysis on a topic related to the use of digital tools to create an artifact.

Assignment

Use the information below to complete the assignment that follows.

A high school theater department is producing a play and has asked the school's Web design class to create a Web page advertising the play to the public. The theater teacher would like the Web page to have the following elements:

Use your knowledge of digital tools to create a response in which you develop a plan involving specific tools to create the digital artifact described. In your response:

Sample Strong Response to the Open-Response Item

The sample response below reflects a strong knowledge and understanding of the subject matter.

Steps:

1. Create a website using Google Sites or similar platform.

2. Create a Google Slide with pictures of cast and description of characters (obtained from teacher) and insert the slideshow in the "present" mode.

3. Create a text box with show information. Inform users they can purchase tickets below.

4. Create text boxes to collect user information.

5. Insert drop-down menu for ticket selection and text box to show price.

6. Add an online payment method. A "Purchase Now" button redirects the user to a payment gateway to securely process payments. The user will receive a confirmation email with the ticket details.

7. Redirect user to a "thank you" page.

Skills Required:

- Google Sites: insert slides, text boxes and pages

- Google Slides: add pictures, text boxes, slide element animations, text boxes

- Mathematical computation: compute total tickets purchased, internally track remaining seats, and total cost.

- Code, including JavaScript:
a. take drop-down menu input, multiply with price, output total price, and update seats remaining after each purchase is final.

b. connect "Purchase Now" button to payment gateway

c. after purchase, redirect user to “thank you” page and send confirmation email by fetching the email address from the textbox and using "mail to" function

     open tagform method="post" action="mailto:email.com?subject=subject&message=message"close tag

- Knowledge of connecting the website to a secure (SSL), valid payment gateway for processing

Regarding safe and ethical use of technology, parents/guardians must sign consent forms for use of students' pictures. Do not add students' full names to the slideshow to protect student privacy. For extra security, in Google Sites we can restrict the website from being shown in search engines and/or allow viewing only by those people provided with the URL. Also, ensure the payment gateway is secured by checking the SSL certification (URL starts with "https:" and a padlock icon in the address bar).

Scoring Rubric

Performance Characteristics

The following characteristics guide the scoring of responses to the open-response item(s).

Performance Characteristics
Purpose The extent to which the response achieves the purpose of the assignment.
Subject Matter Knowledge Accuracy and appropriateness in the application of subject matter knowledge.
Support Quality and relevance of supporting details.
Rationale Soundness of argument and degree of understanding of the subject matter.

Scoring Scale

The scoring scale below, which is related to the performance characteristics for the tests, is used by scorers in assigning scores to responses to the open-response item(s).

Score Scale with description for each score point.
Score Point Score Point Description
4 The "4" response reflects a thorough knowledge and understanding of the subject matter.
  • The purpose of the assignment is fully achieved.
  • There is substantial, accurate, and appropriate application of subject matter knowledge.
  • The supporting evidence is sound; there are high-quality, relevant examples.
  • The response reflects an ably reasoned, comprehensive understanding of the topic.
3 The "3" response reflects an adequate knowledge and understanding of the subject matter.
  • The purpose of the assignment is largely achieved.
  • There is a generally accurate and appropriate application of subject matter knowledge.
  • The supporting evidence is adequate; there are some acceptable, relevant examples.
  • The response reflects an adequately reasoned understanding of the topic.
2 The "2" response reflects a limited knowledge and understanding of the subject matter.
  • The purpose of the assignment is partially achieved.
  • There is a limited, possibly inaccurate or inappropriate, application of subject matter knowledge.
  • The supporting evidence is limited; there are few relevant examples.
  • The response reflects a limited, poorly reasoned understanding of the topic.
1 The "1" response reflects a weak knowledge and understanding of the subject matter.
  • The purpose of the assignment is not achieved.
  • There is little or no appropriate or accurate application of subject matter knowledge.
  • The supporting evidence, if present, is weak; there are few or no relevant examples.
  • The response reflects little or no reasoning about or understanding of the topic.
U The response is unrelated to the assigned topic, illegible, primarily in a language other than English, not of sufficient length to score, or merely a repetition of the assignment.
B There is no response to the assignment.