NCEO Access to Computer Based Testing and Accommodations

NCEO Access to Computer. Based Testing and Accommodations for Students with Disabilities Sandy Thompson National Center on Educational Outcomes

NCEO Overview What is Computer-based Testing? Opportunities and Challenges Universal Design and Development of Assessment Systems Accommodations Policies: Process for Development Considerations for Computer-based Accommodations National Center on Educational Outcomes

NCEO What is Computer-based Testing? • The “next frontier in testing” (Trotter, 2001) • Tools that deliver tests and their results electronically • EXAMPLE: the Graduate Record Exam is now administered via computer • Several states are investigating computer-based tests for their statewide assessments National Center on Educational Outcomes

Standards-Based Reform Context --- Everything else is negotiable --schedules, place, time, structure, curriculum, methods of assessment, instructional methods. . .

NCEO According to the Web-based Education Commission: “Too often today’s tests measure yesterday’s skills with yesterday’s testing technologies – paper and pencil. ” National Center on Educational Outcomes

NCEO Opportunities • • Efficient administration Preferred by students Improved writing performance Built-in accommodations Immediate results Efficient item development Increased authenticity Potential to shift focus from assessment to instruction. National Center on Educational Outcomes

NCEO Challenges • Use of technology cannot take the place of content mastery • Issues of equity and skill in computer use • Added challenges for some students • Technological challenges • Security of online data • Lack of expertise in designing accessible Web pages • Prohibitive development cost National Center on Educational Outcomes

NCEO Office for Civil Rights The issue is not whether the student with the disability is merely provided access, but the extent to which the communication is actually as effective as that provided to others. 28 C. F. R. 35. 160(a) National Center on Educational Outcomes

NCEO Universal Design • Careful examination of what is to be tested and design items for accessibility • Assessment instructions easy to understand, regardless of a student’s experience, knowledge, language skills, or current concentration level • Directions and questions in simple, clear, and understandable language • Content that is understandable and navigable • Legibility in the physical appearance of text National Center on Educational Outcomes

NCEO Accommodations Policies • For the full benefits of computer-based assessments to be realized, a thoughtful and systematic process to examine the transfer of existing paper/pencil assessments must occur. • It is not enough to simply transfer test items from paper to screen. Some challenges could be minimized through universally designed assessment, while others might remain or present even greater challenges. National Center on Educational Outcomes

NCEO How Do We Get Accommodations Policies From Here to There? • Step 1. Assemble a group of experts to guide the transformation. • Step 2. Decide how each accommodation will be incorporated into the computerbased assessment. • Step 3. Consider each accommodation or assessment feature in light of the constructs being tested. National Center on Educational Outcomes

NCEO How Do We Get Accommodations Policies From Here to There? • Step 4. Consider the feasibility of incorporating the accommodation into the computer-based assessment. • Step 5. Consider training implications for staff and students. National Center on Educational Outcomes

NCEO Three Options to Consider 1. Is this accommodation a built-in feature of universally designed computer-based assessments (available for self-selection by any student)? 2. Is the need for this accommodation not affected by computer-based assessment? 3. Will a new or different accommodation be needed for computer-based assessments? National Center on Educational Outcomes

What does this look like? Presentation Accommodations Response Accommodations Timing/Scheduling Accommodations Setting Accommodations NCEO • • National Center on Educational Outcomes

Visit: education. umn. edu/nceo or Search for NCEO Click on “Online Publications” Scroll down to Synthesis Report 45, “Access to Computer-based Testing for Students with Disabilities” National Center on Educational Outcomes