The BEST Plus 2.0 two-part (seven hours total) online training is the first of four steps to becoming certified to administer the BEST Plus 2.0 test. This is a training to become a new BEST Plus 2.0 test administrator.
After completing the seven-hour online training, each participant must:
(1) Commit to a 60-minute small group meeting after the training sessions to review and practice using the software (this will be scheduled during day #1 of the training)
(2) Complete 10 practice test administrations
(3) Obtain a passing score on the assigned Scoring Activity
When registering, participants must also provide a mailing address (home or workplace) where the Center for Educational Assessment at UMass can mail training materials prior to the training. If you register within seven days of the training, you will receive electronic copies of the materials via email and hard copies will be sent as well, but may arrive after the training.
Please note: Participants are asked to arrive 5 to 10 minutes early in case of technology issues, but at a minimum must arrive on time for both sessions and must attend both sessions in their entirety. In addition, participants are expected to complete 1 to 2 hours of self-study between Day 1 and Day 2 of the training.
There is an online prerequisite for this training. See below for more information.
- ACLS-funded practitioners who need to be trained as BEST Plus 2.0 test administrators
This professional development activity/course is designed for:
The BEST Plus 2.0 two-part (seven hours total) online training is the first of four steps to becoming certified to administer the BEST Plus 2.0 test. This is a training to become a new BEST Plus 2.0 test administrator.
After completing the seven-hour online training, each participant must successfully complete each of the following:
- Participate in a 60-minute small group meeting after the training sessions to review and practice using the software (this will be scheduled during Day 1 of the training).
- Practice administering the test to a minimum of 10 individuals, at least five of whom must be non-native speakers. These practice tests may not be administered as pre- or post-assessments. To access these tests, trainees must use the BEST Plus 2.0 software.
- Obtain a passing score on the assigned scoring activity (access to the scoring activity will be made available using a link provided at the end of the training).
You are encouraged to speak with your program director or ESOL coordinator prior to registering.
- Recognize the importance of assessing students' language abilities
- Administer and score the BEST Plus 2.0 computer-adaptive oral interview
- Run the BEST Plus 2.0 Test Administration Program
- Interpret BEST Plus 2.0 scores
Upon completion of this professional development activity/course, you will be able to:
- English fluency level of SPL 9 or above
- Experience and comfort interacting with non-native English speakers
- Basic comfort level with computers
- Completion of the Assessment Basics webinar*
- Access to a PC running Windows XP or later**
- Registrants must include an appropriate mailing address upon registration***
*Practitioners must complete the online Assessment Basics webinar prior to attending the BEST Plus 2.0 training. This online webinar-based training takes 30 to 40 minutes and consists of two videos followed by questions. The first video describes what assessment is, how assessment fits into curriculum and instruction, and how to interpret different types of test scores. The second video explains what assessments are required in Massachusetts for NRS reporting purposes and provides an overview of the ACLS assessment policies.
**For Day 2 of the training, practitioners must have access to a PC computer running Windows XP or later and have installed the BEST Plus 2.0 software on that computer. This is the software that is required to administer the BEST Plus 2.0 test and it can only be run on a PC, not a Mac. Practitioners who do not have access to a PC should consult with their program director before signing up for this training.
***UMass is also managing registration to ensure that as many programs as possible have access to this training. This training is capped at 20 participants, and only 2 people per program will be permitted in this training. If more than two participants from a single program sign up, the third participant (and any subsequent individual who signs up from that program) will be placed on a wait list and contacted for interest and availability for a training at a later date.
ONLINE
MA
United States
