Meeting the Need for Testing Accommodations

in Higher Eduction Using Kurzweil 3000

Janet De Senzo

JanTech Educational Services

Former Coordinator of Disability ServicesWilliam Paterson University, NJ

How can it help you?

• You have many LD students who are eligible for oral exams due to reading and writing issues

• You have no staff to administer oral exams

• Eligible students prefer not to take exams with a reader

• You are trying to foster independence with your students

Why is Kurzweil 3000 appropriate for Higher Ed?

• Interface and tool bars look age appropriate

• Test taking options don’t allow for unfair advantage over other students

• Easy to maintain the integrity of the exam

• Easy to administer exam

Version 8 Test Taking Options:• Type short or long answers directly onto the image

of a test and Kurzweil 3000 adjusts text space to the length of the response.

• View test and separate answer document at the same time by tiling windows.

• Proofread answers by seamlessly reading aloud the educators’ questions followed by students’ answers.

• Adjust Text and Sticky Notes as appropriate to each test-taking situation by changing font style, font size, background color and text color.

• Customize and control toolbars to simplify responding to questions and lock down selected features where appropriate based on the student and the nature of the test being given.

Setting Up a Testing Center

• Staff…budget???

• Location???

• Hours???

• Computers???

• Environment, i.e., distractibility???

• Process for transporting exams???

• Policy Development???

How to convince the faculty?

• Offer test-taking service as a convenience to faculty

• Guarantee integrity by transporting test via e-mail

• Visit during departmental meetings• Present to faculty senate with the support

of your division supervisor• Develop and distribute a newsletter/flyer

announcing new services