Educators utilize Otus Advanced Assessments for various purposes, and the Cloze Math Question has been upgraded to a new and improved version, now simply referred to as “Math”. The Math question functions as a digital equivalent of a fill-in-the-blank line on a paper test, where students input a math response into one or more response boxes. In this Otus Live PD session, join Monica as she explores the Math question, demonstrating the most effective methods to create and employ them in Advanced Assessments.   The post Updates to the Math Question in Advanced Assessments appeared first on ..read more

More than half of all states have passed new reading legislation mandating that schools use materials, instructional approaches, and assessment tools that align with the science of reading, which is based on evidence about how children learn to read. Despite the term “science of reading” reaching buzzword status, there’s much debate about what it really means. Some confusion stems from the number of education companies adding a “science of reading” label to their materials without ensuring the tools follow research-backed approaches, while other debates are around the need for reading instru ..read more

Rubric assessments are multifunctional tools, great for collecting student works like images, videos, or distributing copies of Google Docs. Additionally, standards can be attached to each descriptor on these assessments. Attaching standards is optional, but please note that doing so is the only way to get assessment results to show up in the Standards Gradebook. In this Otus Live PD session dive into how to link one or multiple standards to a single Rubric Assessment. Discover the steps to make Assessments more effective with Otus.   To learn more about Standards with Rubric Assessment ..read more

Simple Assessments are best for when educator’s need a quick and basic assessment that is easy to create and score. Once scored, educators have the ability to effortlessly navigate Otus to access and interpret the results of any Simple Assessment. Discover the seamless process to analyze assessment outcomes, enabling a tailored educational approach that addresses every student’s unique learning journey. In this Otus Live PD Session, become equipt with the skills to leverage assessment data effectively, optimizing teaching strategies to enhance student learning experiences.   To learn mo ..read more

Otus integrates and displays student performance data from various third-party vendors (external sources), offering a comprehensive understanding of a student within a single platform. In this Otus Live PD, learn how to view a specific student’s 3rd party data in both their student profile or directly in the Analytics module. This session will highlight the streamlined process for accessing comprehensive performance data from various external sources, enabling a personalized approach to education. Learn the essentials of leveraging this data to tailor educational strategies, ensuring every stu ..read more

Dive into effective strategies for integrating Google Docs into Otus built Advanced Assessments. In this Otus Live PD session, explore methods for embedding Google Docs directly into questions and adding links for easy access, empowering educators to enhance their assessment practices and streamline workflow. Join Kristin Town, Senior Client Support Specialist, where she shows just how to seamlessly incorporate external resources for student engagement and assessment customization.   To learn more about Google Resources in Advanced Assessments, please visit the Otus Knowledge Base ..read more

The Bookshelf in Otus acts like a physical bookshelf in a classroom where students can peruse resources uploaded to their bookshelf or open them up whenever they like. The Bookshelf is used for a collection of resources that students may need to refer to repeatedly over the course of a unit or semester. In this Otus Live PD Session, educators are shown just how to organize these resources right in Otus to provide easy access to all. With multiple resource types that can be added, the bookshelf can be as customized as necessary for each individual educator.   To learn more about the Book ..read more

Data-driven decision-making can transform teaching and learning – that’s why there has been exciting updates that provide educators with an improved and more intuitive experience when analyzing student data. Dive into the latest updates on 3rd Party Analytics with this Otus Live PD session! Discover new insights and tools to elevate your data analysis game and empower student success.   To learn more about 3rd Part Analytics Enhancements, please visit the Otus Knowledge Base. The post New Feature Alert! – 3rd Party Analytics Update appeared first on Otus ..read more

Every Spring, K-12 leaders are faced with the important task of showcasing academic performance from the beginning of the year to the end. This period of reflection and reporting is crucial, especially as school boards seek visual and digestible presentations to understand student progress as the academic year winds down.  However, presenting complex student data in a way that is both clear and impactful can be truly challenging. Let’s dive into four tips to enhance the clarity and impact of your presentations. Following these, we’ll touch on how the right data solutions can further supp ..read more

Over the last year, Winnetka School District 36 in Illinois has taken significant steps toward improving data literacy and student assessment. By integrating a student data solution, the district has made great strides in how educators access, analyze, and utilize student data. This approach has simplified processes, making the educational environment more efficient and supportive for both teachers and students. During a recent Otus Regional Workshop, we sat down with Patrick Dawson, Director of Innovation, Teaching & Learning, to learn more about their journey toward a data-driven cultu ..read more