COMPASS ======= (Computer-Adaptive Placement Assessment and Support System) BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TOOL ------------------------- ACT's new COMPASS is a highly flexible, efficient, comprehensive, and cost-effective course placement assessment and advising support system that conducts both placement and diagnostic assessment activities on the microcomputer. The Mathematics Placement and Diagnostic measures are now available for implementation, with the Reading and Writing Placement measures to be available in May, 1993. IMPORTANT FEATURES OF TOOL -------------------------- The system runs on both single station and network environments to facilitate its use at multiple locations by institutions with varying levels of access to microcomputer machines and labs for use in placement assessment. The menu driven system provides for a tremendous amount of local control of the assessment experience and the resulting course placement recommendations which are delivered to partcipating students. Extensive research and reporting services are included as part of the system to assist the user in reviewing and evaluating the effectiveness and validity of the locally selected placement cutoff scores. The COMPASS system is designed to carry out the placement and diagnostic assessment activities identified by the institution as necessary to help students efficiently and effectively "find their way" to the specific campus learning resources (both in class and out-of-class) which can best build on and respond to each student's individual plans, goals, skills, and needs. WHO WOULD USE THIS TOOL? ------------------------ Recommended Uses for the COMPASS System: Placement and Diagnostic Testing -Supplement to other placement assessment information -Parallel to other placement assessment information -Self-contained placement/diagnostic assessment service -Checking Educational Progress and Exit Testing HOW DOES THE TOOL SUPPORT EFFECTIVE AND LEARNING? ------------------------------------------------- How COMPASS can help the institution: + Provides increased assessment accuracy with fever items and less time for many students. + Allows flexible "walk-in" testing capabilities, with individualized start and finish times. + Provides extensive placement assessment flexiblity, enabling the campus to build testing packages specific to its needs. + Eliminates the need for test booklets and answer sheets. + Gathers student demographics as specified by the college. + Conducts adaptive placement assessment at the computer. + Conducts optional diagnostic skills assessment at the computer. + Provides locally determined course placement and campus resource messages. + Includes data management software built into the COMPASS system. + Provides extensive placement accuracy evaluation and retention analysis research services. + Fits well to supplement or parallel the ASSET program, ACT assessment program, or local placement systems, or can operate as a self-contained placement/ diagnostic assessment services. + Can be used for checking educational progress and for exit testing or students in selected environments. CONTACT PERSON ---------------------------- Mike Rooney, DIST 731-8023