setting up and using the smarter balanced practice tests setting up and using the smarter balanced...
TRANSCRIPT
Setting Up and Using the Setting Up and Using the Smarter Balanced Practice Tests Smarter Balanced Practice Tests
January 8, 20149:00 a.m.
Presenters: Michael McDaniel and Daniel Stanley
• About the Practice Test• About the Login Process• Practice Test Tools and Layout• Recorded Demonstration• Reminders and Resources
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Agenda
• Allows students and administrators to become familiar with the online testing environment before taking the spring 2014 Field Test and future operational tests.– Both teachers and students participating in the
Field Test are strongly encouraged to take the practice test multiple times before the Field Test.
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Why Use the Practice Test?
• Provides a snapshot of item types that may appear on a future assessment.– Note: Not all standards that are assessed in the
Field Test and/or the operational tests are represented in the practice tests.
– NOT intended to be used as a predictor of success on future assessments.
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Why Use the Practice Test?
• Practice tests, which were launched in May 2013, are available for:– ELA grades 3–8 and 11– Mathematics grades 3–8 and 11
• Each grade-level practice test contains two sections:– Multiple-select/short answer test questions– A performance task
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About the Practice Test
• What is a performance task? An extended activity that measures a student’s ability to integrate knowledge and skills across multiple standards.– Involves significant interaction of students with
stimulus materials and/or engagement in a problem solution
– For the Field Test and operational tests, a classroom activity will precede a performance task.
– There are no classroom activities available for the practice test.
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About the Practice Test: Performance Tasks
• The practice test has performance tasks for both content areas (ELA and Math) at each grade level.
• It is strongly encouraged for students to take both sections of the practice tests, for each content area.
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About the Practice Test: Performance Tasks
• There are two methods to get to the practice tests:1. Through the secure browser2. Through a Web browser
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How to Access the Practice Test
1. Through the secure browser• The recommended way to access the practice test, if
possible- Best simulates the field testing experience- Locks down the computer- Gives access to the text-to-speech accommodation feature
2. Through a Web browser• If secure browser not yet available for your devices• Students/parents can access at home
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How to Access the Practice Test
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1. Navigate to http://sbac.portal.airast.org/practice-test/.
2. Click on the “Student Interface Practice Test” button.
− Supported web Browsers are: Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Microsoft Internet Explorer 10, and Apple Safari.
Login through Web Browsers
3. Make sure the checkboxes next to “Guest User” and “Guest Session” are checked.
4. Select [Sign In].
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Login through Web Browser
1. Close all running applications on your device.
2. Open the secure browser.
3. Select the link that takes you to the practice test.
4. Make sure the checkboxes next to “Guest User” and “Guest Session” are checked.
5. Select [Sign In].
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Login through Secure Browser
• Step 1: Select a Grade Level− Select a grade level from
the “Grade” drop-down list.− Select [Yes] to continue.
• Step 2: Select a Practice Test
− Select the name of the practice test you want to take and continue to the next step.
− If you want to access tests from another grade, select [Back to login].
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Beginning a Practice Test
• Step 3: Choose Test Settings− Select the option(s) you
want for each available test setting.
− Select [Select] to continue.
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Beginning a Practice Test
• Students must select test setting options during the login process.
• Available practice test settings:– Language
English (default) Braille English
– Color Choices Black on White (default) Black on Rose Medium Gray on Light Gray Yellow on Blue Reverse Contrast
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Test Setting Options
– Word List (Glossary) Spanish Glossary (mathematics only)» Students can open a glossary to view terms presented on the
test that may be unfamiliar to them» Now available for ALL grades
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Test Setting Options (cont.)
– Text-to-Speech is now available for ALL grades for both ELA and Math. Text-to-speech (TTS) functionality is available only when
using the secure browsers.» AIRSecureTest mobile secure browser
for Android» Not available for the practice test
on Chromebooks or iPads.
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Test Setting Options (cont.)
– Print Size Level 0 (No Zoom) = 1X (default) Level 1 = 1.5X Level 2 = 1.75X Level 3 = 2.5X Level 4 = 3X
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Test Setting Options (cont.)
• Step 4: Confirm Selected Test and Settings− Review the screen and confirm the
test and settings. − If the settings are not correct, select
[No]. You will return to Step 2. Select a Practice Test.
• Step 4a: Text-to-speech Check− Select the audio button to listen to
the sample audio.− You can adjust the volume and
pitch of the voice on this screen.• See Page 6 of the Practice Test
User Guide for further instructions.
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Beginning a Practice Test
• Step 5: Begin Test Now– The “Test Instructions and
Help” page is last. – Review the information on
this page by scrolling through the entire page, and then select [Begin Test Now] at the bottom of the screen. The first page of the test will automatically appear.
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Beginning a Practice Test
Practice Test Layout
• Students cannot skip test items.• Students must answer all test items on a page
before going to the next page.− Some pages contain multiple items, so students
may need to use the vertical scroll bar to view all items on a page.
• Students may mark items for review and use the “Question” drop-down list at the top of the page to easily return to those items.
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Basic Practice Test Rules
• The following tools are available for all practice tests:− Highlight text in passages and test questions − Zoom in and out of test pages (this makes the font look larger
or smaller) − Mark items for review − Make notes about an item in the notepad − View tutorials about item type (now available for ALL items) − Strikethrough (cross out answer options) − Access to the Test Instructions and Help
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Practice Test Tools
Calculator Tool:• Students have access to calculators for
mathematics assessments: – Basic Calculator: grades 6 – Scientific Calculator: grade 7 & 8 – Graphing, Regression, and Scientific
Calculators: grade 11 • Note: The calculator appears only in a segment
of the mathematics practice tests.
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Practice Test Tools
Stimulus Expansion Tool: • Some tests will have pages that display two panes
– The left pane will contain either a reading passage or stimulus.
– The right pane will display the items associated with the stimulus.
• Students can expand the stimulus section so that it takes up a larger portion of the screen.– The icon is in the upper right corner of the left pane
that shows a plus sign and a right arrow.
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Practice Test Tools
Text-to-Speech (TTS) and Speak Tool: • TTS can only be used through the secure browser.• Students who use the Speak
tool must use headphones. − Headphones with built-in volume
control are recommended.• Students can use the Speak tool to listen to math stimuli
and/or test items and answer options.• Reminder: TTS settings should be tested and verified
as working properly before students begin their tests.
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Practice Test Tools
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Using Braille and JAWS with the Practice Test (cont.): •For information about using Braille and JAWS with the practice test, refer to the Practice Test User Guide, pages 13–27.
− http://sbac.portal.airast.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/PracticeTest_UserGuide_Updated080513.pdf
Reminders and Resources
• Web-based Smarter Balanced Practice Test:– http://sbac.portal.airast.org/practice-test/
• Smarter Balanced Practice Test User Guide:– http://sbac.portal.airast.org/wp-content/
uploads/2013/07/PracticeTest_UserGuide_Updated080513.pdf
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Reminders and Resources
Reminders and Resources
CalTAC help desk is there to support YOU!
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 800-955-2954
Web Site: http://californiatac.org
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