Students in one school district no longer fear the WASL

Students in one school district no longer fear the WASL

Tools

Story Published: Feb 27, 2008 at 11:55 AM PDT

Story Updated: Feb 28, 2008 at 2:26 PM PDT

By Keith Eldridge

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LACEY, Wash. -- Students in at least one school district say they're no longer afraid of the statewide WASL test, the Washington Assessment of Student Learning.

A computer program is helping to lead them to higher scores in the writing portion of the WASL in the North Thurston School District.

Timberline High School student Kristina Adams used to hate writing. But a computer program not only has her writing, it has her loving it.

One hundred students at Timberline in Lacey are using the program called 'My Access!' from Vantage Learning. These are students who are struggling with the writing portion of the WASL exam.

"It's a lot easier than writing because I really don't like writing on pieces of paper because it makes me think I can't really do stuff," Kristina said. "So, I really understand more on the computers than if people are helping me one on one."

The program has the students write and submit their outlines and preliminary drafts. They are given immediate feedback and any improvements in grade.

"They can see their score, their grade, before they turn the assignment in because of the holistic score at the end," said teacher Linn Capek. "So they know exactly what they're going to get before they turn the assignment in."

Teachers say it frees them to give more individual help.

"I don't think the computer takes the place of an English teacher," Capek said. "What it does, it supports an English teacher. The kids get more writing, they get more feedback and the teacher is still able to work with the students that need the most."

Teacher Jeremy Clarke added, "the computer allows the teacher to look at who needs the most help -- is there an area a lot of the students are struggling in? -- and the students are able to turn in a lot more submissions."

Timberline had a high percentage pass rate on the WASL before, but now they're up to 97%.

"I think our school does a great job, not only with this program, but a lot of efforts in writing," Clarke said. "A lot of the teachers in language arts and social studies do a lot of different writing assignments and I think this is one tool that has definitely helped and I think our scores are pretty good."

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