Avant ADVANCE Frequently Asked Questions

Avant ADVANCE is an online tool designed to give teachers the training they need to internalize the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines by learning level-specific features and criteria that define the different levels. Avant ADVANCE will help teachers score with higher accuracy, confidence and inter-rater reliability. Users will receive feedback instantly, can practice rating at their convenience, and can receive Professional Development Units (PDUs) for training.

On average, it will take a total of 12 to 15 hours to complete all the sections, but will depend on how well the information in the training videos is understood and applied in the Module Test for each module. Each module contains 2-3 training videos, which can run from 5-10 minutes each. After watching the videos for each module, the trainee must pass a Module Test, which contains 25 written practice responses. The trainee must pass the Module Test with at least 90% accuracy before being allowed to move on to the next module.

The Module Test can be taken as many times as needed, or desired.

It is required that trainees receive a score of at least 90% accuracy on a Module Test to show evidence of mastery of that level. With this foundation, trainees can better understand what is expected at each level. This method improves consistency and application of the rating criteria.

Avant ADVANCE allows individuals to go in at any time, anywhere they have an internet connection. They can practice as long or as short as they would like.

The primary contact for your account is given access to the Administrator Reporting Dashboard. This is where you can monitor real-time progress of each teacher in the system. The dashboard also enables administrators to filter results by language, school, or certification status. They can also view individual trainee reports, showing a more detailed view of each trainee’s progress through the modules.

The Practice Test allows trainees to review a larger number of student responses at various levels. After a trainee has passed a module, they are allowed into the Practice Test where they can select a specific level or combination of levels which they would like to review. They are given a batch of up to 25 items at a time. The ability to select just one level allows them to see a variety of different student responses at that specific level – they have complete control in the Practice Test. Trainees must pass a Training Module before that level is available in the practice test.

When a teacher completes the Certification Test, they will be able to request a Certificate of Completion. Each district is responsible for determining the exact PDU’s they will credit for the work done in ADVANCE.

The Avant ADVANCE teacher-training program is composed of six separate but complementary modules. In each module, participants must watch video tutorials, review the appropriate scoring criteria for the level(s) being practiced, and score 25 written samples with at least 90% accuracy.

Once users complete all six modules, they take the end-of-program certification test. Passing the certification test indicates that the participant can accurately score written responses based on the ACTFL score from Novice-Low to Advanced-Mid based upon Avant’s concrete criteria.

Participants usually take approximately 2 hours to successfully complete a module. Therefore, successfully completing all 6 modules and taking the certification test at the end requires approximately 12-15 hours of work. Assigning 10-12 Professional Development Units (PDU’s) for completing the training is the common practice in the majority of districts we work with.

Avant ADVANCE is available in ten languages: Arabic, English, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Russian, and Spanish.

• Educators are NOT allowed to print out, or post screenshots or other materials contained in Avant ADVANCE on YouTube or any other streaming video service.
• User accounts and Key Codes are NOT transferable to any other educator, individual or group.
• Administrators are NOT allowed to print out, post screenshots or other materials in Avant ADVANCE on YouTube or any other streaming video service.
• Administrative Users may not view training related content for educational purposes without opening a separate Educator User account.
• All User accounts and Key Codes are NOT transferable to any other educator, individual or group.

• Educators are allowed to access Avant ADVANCE for individual education training.
• Educators can digitally display Avant ADVANCE content in a department meeting for discussion with those who also have access to ADVANCE.
• Educators and administrators are allowed to digitally display the Avant ADVANCE content in a classroom-like setting for student group learning sessions within their organization.

Please see our Technology Guide for overall system requirements and browser capabilities.

For pricing information or to make a purchase, please contact an Avant representative at sales@avantassessment.com or 888-731-7887 within the United States, or +1 541-338-9090 from outside the United States.