February 13, 2001

Data Analysis Upgrade: Download Your Search Path Map from The Web

The Search Path Map - the IMMEX post-performance assessment tool that allows both students and teachers a visual guide into the content understanding and problem-solving strategies the student used in each case - is now downloadable immediately after a completed performance. By clicking on the "Download Search Path Map" icon after the case is solved correctly or after the maximum number of attempts are taken, Adobe Acrobat will download a map of the student's "search."


Example of an IMMEX Search Path Map

Unlike many traditional pencil and paper evaluations which demonstrate only if the student answered correctly, IMMEX Search Path Maps shows how they arrived at an answer by literally mapping out which information they chose to examine (the color-coded rectangles), the sequence of their selections (indicated by the line traveling from the middle of the box to the upper-left corner), and how much time they spent in each category (indicated by the color-coded proportional time scale at the bottom of the page.) From these maps a teacher can quickly see where a student was having difficulty with content or problem-solving, where they are having success and, ultimately, the quantifiable growth of their problem-solving skills and content retention over time. Below is an example of a student performance that demonstrates not only content understanding and synthesis, but also an efficient elimination strategy. IMMEX results are immediate and objective, providing both students and teachers feedback that is appropriate and formative.

Many teachers provide these maps to students to encourage the development of the more metacognitive aspects of problem solving such as persistence, elimination of alternative hypotheses, efficiency, confidence and certainty. Because IMMEX software is designed to encourage efficiency throughout a problem-set, metacognitive activities are interventions that teachers can employ to scaffold their students to higher levels of cognitive development in an acute and tangible way.

These maps are available for students to view immediately after a performance and available to teachers through "Teachers' AID" at anytime, in perpetuity. (For instructions on how to use "Teachers' AID" go to "Getting Started with IMMEX" then "Teacher's AID Manual.")

If you do not have Adobe Acrobat and do not know how to download it click on get Acrobat to review the instructions. (These instructions can also be found on the IMMEX web page under "Getting Started with IMMEX" then "Search Path Maps.")

Continue to check in with "What's New" for all of the latest on how IMMEX makes data reporting easier for teachers and students alike.