Nova Pioneer has introduced International Benchmark Assessment tool called MAP (Measuring Academic Progress) at all campuses. The tool helps us identify student strengths and areas of need. It also allows teachers to better prepare students for their exams.
Creating cross-geo consistencies
Our shared mission as Nova Pioneer is to build a network of high-quality schools across the continent that are fostering the next generation of innovators and leaders. We are currently operating 10 schools across South Africa and Kenya, and central to our work is using global best practices to build a coherent and powerful curriculum.
In our primary schools, in addition to being grounded in the Cambridge International Curriculum in South Africa, we are also using leading world programming, like Singapore Maths and THRASS from the UK, to further deep learning and competency-building in our students.
As we operate schools across multiple countries, at our inception, we researched global assessments that would allow us to measure the growth of our students, independent of the curriculum of the country we operate in. After rigorous research, we decided to use an international benchmark assessment tool that we refer to as ‘MAP’. This tool allows us to measure the growth students are experiencing in our schools across countries so that we can continue to ground our work focused on the growth of our schools and children.
Academic rigor is a must
Another core component of our vision is in making sure that all students grow academically while they are with us. This growth is measured in a number of ways, including: Termly assessments; end of unit assessments; verbal communication; written communication; portfolios; reading growth assessments; plus informal exit tickets and continuous assessments of and for learning – all at relevant grades.
We seek to have multiple points of contact in what and how students are learning so that we can continue to support their accelerated and meaningful growth. A key part of that constellation of assessments that allow us to get a picture of how students are doing is through MAP.
Measuring growth over time
The MAP assessments are skill-based, and curriculum related, which is critical as 145 countries are using the tool and each may have different curriculum mandates. At its core, MAP is a computer-based, adaptive test, with each student being presented with a unique set of questions based on their responses to prior questions. The assessment is focused on measuring growth over time. As such, learners take an assessment at the beginning of the year, in the middle of the year, and the end of the year. MAP software is able to determine growth goals based on the initial assessment and then measure progress.
