Writing

Ahead of the Curve: How PEG™ has Led Automated Scoring for Years

By Glenn Milewski / August 29, 2022

What is PEG™? PEG, or Project Essay Grade, is the automated scoring system at the core of ERB Writing Practice.  It was invented in the 1960s by Ellis Batten Page, a former high school English teacher, who spent “many long weekends sifting through stacks of papers wishing for some help.” His guiding principles? 1) the more we write, the better writer we become, and 2) computers can grade as reliably as their human counterparts (Page, 2003).  The state of computers at the time of Page’s invention did not leave much room for automation, so PEG lay dormant until the mid-1980s.  […] read more

What is the PEG automated scoring algorithm?

By Melissa Lachman / August 12, 2022

An award-winning automated scoring algorithm. Project Essay Grade® (PEG®) software is an automated essay scoring solution based on more than 40 years of research by Dr. Ellis Batten Page, whose pioneering work in the field of computational linguistics has distinguished him as the leader of computer-based essay scoring. Using advanced, proven statistical techniques, PEG analyzes written prose, calculates measures that reflect the intrinsic characteristics of writing (fluency, diction, grammar, construction, etc.), and models the decisions of professional readers to produce scores that deliver unparalleled accuracy and reliability. PEG’s scoring results have been validated in more independent studies than all other […] read more

ERB Launches Writing Practice

By ERB Team / August 12, 2022

ERB Launches Writing Practice with new design, functionality, and enhanced features to help students improve their writing skills with instant, actionable feedback. A robust library of prompts and lessons saves educators time while providing students unlimited opportunities to practice writing. ERB announced today the availability of ERB Writing Practice, an online program designed to help students improve their writing skills through practice, feedback, and guided support backed by the industry’s most accurate automated scoring algorithm. ERB Writing Practice helps educators and families save valuable time while giving students immediate and individualized feedback and opportunities for growth. Why ERB Writing Practice? […] read more

Latest Reading

ERB Launches Writing Practice

ERB Launches Writing Practice with new design, functionality, and enhanced features to help students improve their writing skills with instant, actionable feedback. A robust library of prompts and lessons saves educators time while providing students […] read more

Fall 2022 Mini Webinar Series

Join ERB’s Member Services Directors for a series of mini webinars to help you learn and maximize your use of ERB’s products and services.  Each mini webinar will last 15-20 minutes and introduce you to […] read more

An image of the new 360 Access for Comprehensives Group feature.

New Group Creation Tool for 360 Access for Comprehensives

Introduction ERB is excited to announce a new feature in 360 Access for CTP and Milestones reporting. Schools now have the ability to create Groups of students for reporting purposes directly in 360 Access instead […] read more

Virtual Office Hours: Understanding ERB’s Updated CTP Norms

On March 22, 2022 Glenn Milewski, Chief Program Officer at ERB, and Jason Lasnetski, Senior Member Services Director, discussed the newly updated Independent School and Association Norms that have been released for Spring. Glenn and […] read more