Teacher Quick Guide
General Platform Information
How do I access the menu on the left side of the page?
How do I get back to the ‘homepage’ when using Focal Point?
How do I edit/change my password?
Managing your Account Settings & Profile
How do I view/edit my profile?
Students Taking Tests: 3 Options (Token, Virtual Classroom, Paper)
How do students take tests using Tokens?
How do students take tests using the virtual classroom?
How do students take tests using a paper form?
To print a test from the assessment page:
To print a test in Resources:
Entering responses for a paper administration
Benchmark Assessments: Creation through student testing
Viewing an Assigned District Benchmark
Creating Questions
Formative Resources: Creation through student testing
How to create the test
How do I use the item bank to filter & find questions?
How do I access the test in the course once it has been assigned?
How do I limit student access to the test until I am ready to administer the test to students?
Dashboards, Reports, & Other Functions:
How do I create and use student badges?
How do I view classroom & individual student results after a test in Focal Point?
How do I view results for an individual student using Test Summary?
How do I access reports that show overall mastery of standards?
How do I access reports that show performance on district (or school-level) benchmark & all classroom assessments?
How do I access reports that show performance levels on all students in my class?
How do I access reports that show both classroom and individual student assessment analysis?
How do I access reports that show results by question?
How do I access reports that show results by domain and standard?
How do I export the reports
General Platform information:
- How do I access the menu on the left side of the page?
Select the ‘Menu’ icon to expand/collapse various tools/tabs within the Assess Cloud. You can hide these tools when working in Focal Point at any time by clicking the icon again.
- How do I get back to the ‘homepage’ when using Focal Point?
Select the Focal Point logo OR your district/school logo located above your profile picture on the top left side of the page.
- How do I edit/change my password?
To edit/change your password, select the ‘My Profile’ icon and then the pencil icon. Enter your old password, then enter your new password. Confirm by re-entering your new password. Click the Change Password” button to complete.
- How do I view or edit my profile?
To edit/change your password, select the ‘My Profile’ icon and then the pencil icon. Enter your old password, then enter your new password. Confirm by re-entering your new password. Click the Change Password” button to complete.
Students Taking Tests: 3 Options (Virtual Classroom, Token, Paper):
1)Virtual Classroom method:
The student should navigate to "Learning" and select "Assessment Center" to view the available assessments.
Choose the assessment by either searching for its name or scrolling down manually.
From the homepage, select the assessments and then launch the exam.
Click on "Begin Test" to start.
2)Token Method:
Once the exam has been activated by the teacher, the student will receive a 6-digit token from the teacher to access the exam.
The student should open the link below, enter the provided token, and begin the test.
Token URL - https://lms.backpack.education/QTIPlayer
3) How do students take tests using a paper form?
To print a test from the assessment page:
• Select the more options icon on the assessment page.
To print a test in Resources:
• In Resources -> Tests, select the more options icon for the appropriate test.
- Select 'Print' to print the test.
- Entering responses for a paper administration
- To transcribe the student's answers into the platform a teacher has 2 options.
- Log in as the student either via Token or Virtual Classroom
- Impersonate the student.
- To do this, you first need to log into Focal Point. Go to Assessment center and select the classroom in which the student is enrolled.
- Scroll down and find the “Students” layout. Search for your student and then click on the student's name. This will open the student's profile where the teacher will select 'Impersonate'.
- Select 'skip' if you are prompted for an email.
- You will then be logged in as the student where you can launch the test and transcribe the student's answer from the bubble sheet into the system.
- To end the impersonation, you will select the person icon on the top right side of the system banner.
Benchmark Assessments: Creation through student testing:
Viewing an Assigned District Benchmark:
- To view an assigned district benchmark as a teacher, begin by selecting Learning << Assessment Center.
- This can also be done by selecting the 'Assessments' tab, selecting 'Assessment List', then selecting 'Exam'.
- In the Assessment Center, the courses will be displayed.
- You can also search by typing the name of the course in the search field
- Once you select the course, the Home page will be displayed.
- In the 'Assessments' section on the Home page, select 'Exams', where all district assigned benchmarks will appear.
- You can also view the exams under the "Benchmarks" tab.
- In order view the Progress of the Benchmark, please click on the 3 dots on the right against the exam.
- You can also view the details of the exam by selecting the Benchmark on the Home page.
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- It redirects to the Activity Progress page as shown below. And it will now show the student status for the exam and standards for the exam
- Click on Action (3 dots) against the student's name you will find test details, reset, re-open and test accommodations.
Creating Questions (Fill in the blanks, match, order, ESBR, Extended Text)
On the left-hand side of the toolbar, navigate to the Resources tab and select the Questions tab.
You will now find the landing page to create the questions.
To add or create a new question, click on the ‘+Add New Question’ tab in the top-right corner of the page.
This area provides you with several options: You can choose to make this question accessible to others in your district by tagging the question as ‘Public”, provide your question with a title, select the interaction type (multiple choice, extended text, evidence-based-selective response/EBSR), and tag/align the question to standards, DOK, grade, subject, etc.
Choose to share the question (by making it ‘Public’) or keep it private so only you have access.
Using the drop-down box, select the type of question you want to create.
Tag and align the question with the relevant curriculum standards and other applicable fields. It is essential to tag the question to the correct standard(s) to ensure accurate standard mastery reports for analysis and then click on save.
Once saved, questions will appear in resources “My questions” if you have selected as private.
Formative Resources: Creation through student testing:
How do I create a Test?
- Click on the Menu button that appears to the right of the Focal Point logo above your name/picture.
- Select the Resources Tab on the left side of the page.
- You have the option of selecting ‘Tests’ or ‘Questions’. Since you are creating a new Test, select ‘Tests’.
Click on the ‘+Add New Test’ Tab located at the top right-hand side of the page.
Scroll down the Test Details page to find the section called ‘Questions’. Click on the Find
‘Questions’ tab that appears on the right side of the page.
How do I use the item bank to filter & find questions?
Use the filters on the left side of the page to choose question items you would like to add to your assessment. You can filter by grade, subject, standard(s), item-style, DOK, passage, provider, Blooms Level, difficulty, language, Lexile’s, Flesch Kincaid, and Item Parent.
As you select different filters, a listing of available questions populates in the filters window. automatically allowing you the opportunity to view the questions. Click on the questions that appear in the filter listing, and you will see the questions associated with your chosen filter populate automatically in the window to the right. Add’ the question to your assessment (this places the item into the test and the grocery cart icon shows the number of items selected), or ‘Preview’ the question (this allows you to view exactly how the question will be rendered to the students.)
Once you’ve selected all the questions you want to include in your test and added them, click ‘Continue and Save’ to go back to the ‘Test Details’ screen.
How do I assign a Test and place it inside a course/classroom?
Select the Assessment Center located on the left side of the page under “Learning” Menu.
Choose the course for which you need to schedule the test.
Select the assessments and then click on more actions (3 dots) and add the quiz.
Search for the test and enter the title, start date, due date, and a description/comment in the designated fields. The title and description/comments will be visible to students in the virtual classroom. You can edit this information at any time, allowing you to adjust the start and due dates of the assessment as needed.
Note: The ‘Due Date’ you select will determine the filter under which your test will appear under ‘Activities’ once created. Using the same ‘Start Date’ and ‘Due Date’ will result in you seeing your new test under the ‘Today’ filter only. Click the "+" to add the test and then save it.
Then the teacher receives a pop-up notification confirming that your test has been created successfully. You will now see the assessment available in the course under both the ‘Assessments’ Tab and on the course page.
Note: Whether you will see your test under the ‘Today’, ‘This Week’, or ‘This Month’ filter will be determined by the ‘Due Date’ you indicated in Test Details.
How do I access the test in the course once it has been assigned by the district user?
To view an assigned district benchmark as a teacher, begin by selecting Learning > Assessment Center.
This can also be done by selecting the 'Assessments' tab, selecting 'Assessment List', then selecting 'Exam'.
In the Assessment Center, the courses will be displayed.
You can also search by typing the name of the course in the search field.
Once you select the course, the Home page will be displayed. In the 'Assessments' section on the Home page, select 'Exams', where all district assigned benchmarks will appear.
You can also view the exams under the "Benchmarks" tab.
In order view the Progress of the Benchmark, please click on the 3 dots on the right.
You can also view the details of the exam by selecting the Benchmark on the Home page.
It redirects to the Activity Progress page.
How do I limit student access to the test until I am ready to administer the test to students?
By default, the assessment is set to 'Deactivated,' meaning students can access the assessment module but cannot launch or take the test until you permit the test.
Test Status deactivated:
If the toggle is set to be grey, then the assessment is not activated.
Test status activated:
Activation/Deactivation for Individual Students:
How to Email token to the students and print the token?
Navigation<< Select assessment << Select Activity progress<<Select Assessment details and follow below screenshot.
Print token:
Navigation<< Select Benchmark << Select Activity progress<< assessment details and follow below screenshot.
It will be downloaded in PDF.
How to view student test analytics and test summary
Navigation<< Select Assessment << Select progress<< Status/Performance<< Click on score
Click on details in action (3 dots) against to the student's name
How can I access real-time performance reports immediately after a test has been administered?
Select the Assessment Center and navigate to the course to choose the assessment.
Click on "More Actions," then "Progress," and select "Performance Report."
How do I score extended text &constructed response questions using rubrics?
Teachers now have access to a feature called Speed Grader, which allows them to manually grade student scores more efficiently.
Click on Speed Grader and choose the student you want to score on.
Then, click on "Actions."
It will then be able to review the student response and score the response based on the rubric embedded into the platform.
The Rubric provides success criteria for each level of scoring and sample responses as well.
(OR)
Each student’s entry must be scored individually. To score the constructed response questions, from the benchmark click on the ‘Score’ button beside the student.
Navigation<< Select Benchmark << Select Activity progress<< Status/Performance<< Click on score.
You will then be able to review the student response and score the response based on the rubric embedded into the platform. The Rubric provides success criteria for each level of scoring and sample responses as well.
Once finished, select ‘Submit Scoring’ and you will receive a confirmation showing that the assessment has successfully been scored.
Teachers can print the page by clicking on the print icon.
Return to the benchmark and continue for all students needing manual scores.
Once finished, select ‘Submit Scoring’ and you will receive a confirmation showing that the assessment has successfully been scored.
Teachers can print the page by clicking on the print icon.
Return to the benchmark and continue for all students needing manual scores.
How to reset/reopen the student assessment?
Teacher can reset or reopen the student assessment from assessment details. Reopening is available for the student assessments that are already submitted.
Reset: This will reset the assessment, including the student's answers and scoring.
Reopen: This will reopen the assessment, so the student can continue working. This option will not erase the student's answers or scoring.
Data Dashboards, Reports, & Other Functions:
How can I access real time assessment reports immediately after an assessment is scored?
To access the Assessment Dashboards, go to the Performance section in the left-hand menu and click on Assessments. Next, choose either the classroom or district assessment, depending on your needs.
You can also use the filter options to generate reports by school, classroom, course section, and more.
You will find the test name and down arrows to pull the data for that assessment.
By applying filters to the options mentioned above, the teacher can observe dashboards categorized by school, year, classroom, teacher, and course section.
To access the comprehensive assessment report, select the "down arrow."
a) Student Analysis: This is where a teacher can access the analysis on a student-by-student basis.
b) Item Analysis: This is where the teacher can access the analysis of students' performance on an item-by-item or question-by-question basis.
c) Standard Analysis: This is the section where a teacher can observe the analysis of student performance categorized by standards.
How do I create and use student badges?
You have the option to record the criteria for earning the badge and a brief description of the badge by completing the appropriate fields.
Resources << Badges <<Add new badge and click on standards and select the subject and grade.
Add the badge and create it according to the specified requirements. Once done, save the badge. If it's set to private, you’ll be able to view it and have the option to delete it.
Once done with adding tile, criteria and standards select to save it.
Badge will be now showcased under My badges private section.
Go to my badges and select the 3 dots action and Search for the user whom you want to assign badge to and select the user and award badge.
How do I view results for an individual student using Test Summary?
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Go to the Learning section and select Assessment Center.
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Choose the relevant Course.
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Select the desired Assessment.
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Click on the three dots next to the test.
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Select Progress.
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Under Status/Performance, click on the Score to view details.
How do I access reports that show performance on district (or school-level) benchmark & all classroom assessments?
Choose "Dashboard" under the performance section, then select the "Assessment Dashboard."
Select the benchmark or formative to view the reports.
How do I access reports that show performance levels on all students in my class?
Choose "Dashboard" under the performance section, then select the "Assessment Dashboard." and then select the formative
Now Teachers have access to a color-coded dashboard beside the name of each assessment that shows the percentage of students at the beginning, developing, proficient, and distinguished on the test.
Teacher can click on any of the performance bands to access the list of students who performed at that level.
How do I access reports that show both classroom and individual student assessment analysis?
As soon as students complete their assessment, teachers have real-time access to view performance results under various sections.
1. Learning Tree > Assessment Center > Home Page:
Select Assessment Center tab Click on Exam and choose the required Benchmark to view the results.
The Status/Performance section shows the results.
Test Analytics/Test Summary can be viewed under Actions section when you click on the 3 dots
2. Learning Tree > Assessment Center > Benchmarks Page:
These results show ‘live’ in the system on the ‘Benchmarks' page.
3. Performance reports tab > Assessments
Teachers and students can also click on the ‘performance reports’ tab to get a quick view of performance at the standard and item level.
How do I access reports that show results by domain and standard?
Choose "Dashboard" under the performance section, then select the "Assessment Dashboard. Select the formative or benchmark and then select the test standards.
How do I export the reports?
Select either the Assessment Dashboard or the Demographic Dashboard, then choose Formative, Benchmarks, or any other report you wish to export.
Click on the three-dot menu at the top right corner of the screen and select Export Data.
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