About ONPAR Science Tasks – Elementary and Middle
What is ONPAR?
The ONPAR approach to assessment design makes use of dynamic, multi-semiotic representations and carefully constructed stimuli and response spaces to minimize construct-irrelevant text while still targeting cognitively complex content and skills.
History
The middle school science project, funded in 2006 through a U.S. Department of Education Enhanced Assessment Grant, developed a novel approach to testing the science achievement of fourth- and eighth-grade English Learners.
Work was subcontracted to WIDA and the Center for Applied Linguistics. The project was led by Rebecca Kopriva, PI, and a core team comprised of Jim Bauman, Cathy Cameron, David Gabel, Katharine Merow, Rafael Michelena, Jorge Murillo, Alex Simmons, and Laura Wright, with support and assistance from many other staff.
