About Propulse
The Propulse assessment system was developed because of professional learning coordinator's need to quickly identify strengths and weaknesses of users and place them in appropriate learning groups. The result was so dramatic we expanded the assessment to include students and administrators.
Background
Learn how the need for a prescriptive assessment led to the development of the Propulse system.
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Promotional Materials
Access to flyers and other promotional materials to distribute to your staff to let them know what to expect from the assessment.
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Background
The development team at Mississippi State University has been working with educational organizations at the secondary and postsecondary levels promoting the enhancement of teaching and learning through the effective integration of emerging and innovative technologies. One area of emphasis has been aiding administrators in determining the professional development needs of school districts relative to technology integration in the science classroom. Typically, self-assessment surveys or certifications have been the method of choice. However, these methods do not provide the level of reliability and validity necessary to adequately evaluate the efficacy of professional development models.
The researchers at Mississippi State University have created a performance-based assessment platform designed to pinpoint technology literacy skills of educational users that can be mapped to a variety of standards, skill sets, or objectives. The goal of Propulse is to move the focus, when needed, from application-specific knowledge towards transfer of learning by focusing on key concepts in a cost-effective manner for all educational organizations. These assessment systems have been adopted at the local, state, and national level by educational organizations recognizing the need for prescriptive, comprehensive technology literacy assessments for all members.
News
07.16.2010
Convergent Solutions presents at the New Mexico Summit on Propulse
Dave Lucas, Convergent Solutions CEO, and Sheila Lucas, Convergent Solutions CFO, presented two sessions on Propulse assessments to New Mexico educators and administrators at a recent conference. Convergent Solutions has provided comprehensive and economical technology solutions to business, education and government since 2001. Convergent Solution regularly evaluates the leading providers of the current best of breed technologies to find those that will meet the requirements of our clients. We join with these providers to determine the proper combination of technologies which will provide the most effective and economical results for each client. Our goal is Empowering Transformative Uses of Technology for every client. Visit their website for more information at http://www.convergentsolution.us/
06.29.2010
Peter Graves and Convergent Solutions Present at ISTE 2010
Peter Graves presented at the 2010 ISTE Conference in Denver, CO in collaboration with Covergent Solutions, Inc. owners Dave and Sheila Lucas. Their poster session titled, Assessing Administrators’ Technology Literacy to Guide Professional Development drew many attendees wanting to gather more information on how the Propulse platform could be used by school systems across the nation to evaluate the technolgy literacy and vision of administrators in a way that could meet local, state, and national initiatives. The presenters highlighted the point that there is no other educational technology assessment for administrators in place in the world.
04.21.2010
Peter Graves and Sean Owen deliver a webinar on the Propulse Platform
Peter Graves and Dr. Sean Owen presented a GoToMeeting to career and technical education teachers across the state of Mississippi. The topic of the webinar was implementing Propulse in their school district in a cost-effective manner. The session ended with a thought-provoking question and answer session assisting administrators plan for using the results of the assessments for professional development and certification.
03.16.2010
Dr. Sean Owen, Peter Graves, and Convergent Solutions Present on the Propulse Platform at 2010 MEC Conference
Dr. Sean Owen and Peter Graves presented at the 2010 MEC Conference in Tempe, AZ in collaboration with Covergent Solutions, Inc. owners Dave and Sheila Lucas. Their session title, Assessing Student Technology Literacy in the 21st Century, and Assessing Teachers' Technology Integration Literacy drew many attendees wanting to gather more information on how the Propulse platform could be used by school systems across the nation to evaluate the technolgy literacy of students and technology integration literacy of teachers in a manner that could meet local, state, and national initiatives.
03.10.2010
Peter Graves Presents at 2010 MECA Conference
Peter Graves presented at the 2010 MECA Conference in Jackson, MS. The session title, Preparing for the ICT II Student Technology Literacy Assessment,
03.10.2010
Tom Hutchinson and Peter Graves Presents at 2010 MECA Conference
Tom Hutchinson and Peter Graves presented at the 2010 MECA Conference in Jackson, MS. The session title, Come and take the Propulse Assessment and get Technology Integration Literacy Certified,
03.01.2010
iCAT Changes names to Propulse Platform
To meet changing demands and requests for the assessment systems, the researchers at Mississippi State University have changed the name of the assessment from iCAT to Propulse Platform. The new website for the assessment systems can be found at http://www.propulseplatform.com
11.21.2009
Dr. Sean Owen Presents at 2009 ACTE Conference
Sean Owen presented at the 2009 ACTE Conference in Nashville, TN. The session title, Assessing Student Technology Literacy in the 21st Century, captivated attendees wishing to learn more about implementing technology literacy assessment for students in career and technical education centers. Attendees also learned how the online assessment could be used by vocational teachers to assess the technology literacy of their career and technical education students in order to prepare them for tomorrow's workforce. He also presented a session titled Preparing Teachers for the 21st Century Classroom, demonstrated to participants how this system could be used by administrators' to make data-driven decisions for creating professional development plans for career and technical education teachers.
07.30.2009
Peter Graves Presents at 2009 MS-ACTE Conference
Peter Graves presented at the 2009 MS-ACTE Conference in Raymond, MS. Their session title, iCAT-T for Teachers: Getting Certified for the Future, drew many attendees wanting to try and gain the certificate granted when a user passes the iCAT-T assessment. Attendees also learned how the online assessment could be used by vocational teachers in the state of Mississippi as a means of a technology integration literacy certification to meet the state's requirements.
06.03.2009
Dr. Sean Owen Presents at 2009 NECC
Dr. Sean Owen presented at the presented at the 2009 NECC Conference in Washington, DC. He presented one session at the conference, Assessing Administrators’ Technology Literacy to Guide Professional Development. The session drew a good attendance from educators and administrators who wanted to learn how iCAT-A can facilitate professional development evaluation in today's environment for administrator growth.
12.11.2008
Dr. Sean Owen Presents at 2008 TETC
Dr. Sean Owen presented at the 2008 Tennessee Educational Technology Conference in Nashville, TN. He presented two sessions at the conference, Preparing Educators for Teaching in the 21st Century Classroom and Assessing Student Technology Literacy in the 21st Century. Both sessions had a good attendance from educators and administrators who wanted to learn how iCAT-A and iCAT-S can help organizations assess teacher technology integration literacy to allow administrators' to make data-driven decisions relative to professional development expenditures and determine students' technology skill levels.
12.05.2008
Dr. Sean Owen Presents at LACUE 2008 Conference
Dr. Sean Owen presented at the Louisiana Association of Computer Using Educators 2008 Conference in Baton Rouge, LA. Their session title, Preparing Educators for Teaching in the 21st Century Classroom, drew many attendees curious of how our group was assessing teacher technology integration literacy to allow administrators' to make data-driven decisions relative to professional development expenditures using iCAT-T.
07.24.2008
IDEAS Staff Members Present at 2008 MS-ACTE Conference
Dr. Sean Owen and Peter Graves presented at the 2008 MS-ACTE Conference in Raymond, MS. Their session title, iCAT Test: Options for Your District, drew many attendees wanting to gather more information on how the iCAT-T assessment could be used by vocational teachers in the state of Mississippi as a means of a technology integration literacy certification to meet the state's requirements. To view an outline of the presentation and access handouts, go to the CETT wiki.
07.02.2008
IDEAS Staff Members Present at 2008 NECC Conference
Dr. Sean Owen and Peter Graves presented at the 2008 NECC Conference in San Antonio, TX. Their session title, Assessing Teacher Technology Integration Literacy to Guide Professional Development, drew many attendees curious of how our group was assessing teacher technology integration literacy to allow administrators' to make data-driven decisions relative to professional development expenditures. One of the attendees, Tim Holt who hosts Intended Consequences, was kind enough to record a podcast interview prior to the presentation. Click here to listen to the podcast (4.73MB).
04.14.2008
iCAT Gains Approval
iCAT receives approval by the Mississippi Department of Education Office of Vocational & Technical Education as a valid online technology assessment vocational teachers in the state of Mississippi can use as a means to show certification of their technology literacy.
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