Using Practice Tests - berryessa.k12.ca.us



Practice Tests & Sample ItemsPractice tests simulate what it’s like to take the SBAC, giving educators, students, and parents an early look at assessment questions that are aligned to the Common Core. Sample test items have also been developed. These samples items do not simulate the test, but provide explanations and details about assessment items for each grade level.Simulated Exam EnvironmentsStudent Training Test & Practice Test?|?Link options are available from this link. The first is a “Training Test.” It was added in Feb 2014 so students could become familiar with the?testing software and interface. The Training Tests are in grade bands and do not include performance tasks. Universal tools, designated supports, and accommodations are included.The second option is a “Practice Test.” This set of examples was initiated in June 2012 offering grade-specific testing experiences similar to the SBAC. One English-language arts and one math performance task is included per grade level. Some, but not all, supports and accommodations are included.Practice Test Scoring Guides?|?Link? and mathematics grade level guides are offered for the June 2012 Practice Tests. Questions and scoring criteria are offered are provided in PDF mon Core Assessment Simulator?|?Link San Diego County Office of Education provides this computer-based test simulator to supplement the practice tests available from SBAC.Using Practice TestsBUSD encourages individuals and groups to examine the SBAC simulated exam environments. Districts should look for opportunities to share with trustees, leadership teams, faculty groups, parents, school site councils, and community stakeholder groups. Students should also be given opportunities to explore the new assessment tasks. Some districts are creating road maps for integrating the Common Core and SBAC assessments into five-year planning documents.Suggestions for using the practice tests:View test items for ideas on how to create similar items for use with students so they are comfortable working online.Take a practice test to experience the features of online testing and gain insight into how Smarter Balanced will assess students’ mastery of the Common Core.Get a student perspective by allowing students to experience a few questions and discuss the new format and what was challenging.Look at assessment items to help inform common formative assessments in a district/school.Preparing for the Smarter Balanced Field TestsAuthor:?Rick PhelanPublished:?11/18/2013Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) Field Tests will be administered this Spring in all California public schools. Preparation is key to successful district implementation. Districts should review areas of readiness and begin preparations as soon as possible. This blog post reviews information as of November 18, and sets out areas for district planning. Updates to the information were made on November 20, when new details were released by CDE.Background on SBAC Field TestsSigned into law on October 2, Assembly Bill 484 initiates a Field Test in Spring 2014 for students in grades 3-11. The tests will be administered between March 18 and June 6, 2014. Shorter windows within this timeframe will be assigned to schools by California’s testing contractor, Education Testing Service (ETS).Grade 3-11 students will participate in the Field Tests. According to a recent?letter from State Superintendent Tom Torlakson (pdf), “...ninety five percent of students will take a sampling of both ELA and mathematics items plus one performance task for subject. The remaining five percent of students will take either ELA or mathematics items plus one performance task for either subject.” In late November/early December, the specific content area and testing window for each school will be assigned by ETS. No student, school, or district scores will be produced from the tests. Results will not be factored into any state or federal accountability calculations.Field Test OutcomesThe Spring 2014 Field Test is a trial run of the system in preparation for 2014-15 assessments. The Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium will be evaluating test items and the Test Information Distribution Engine (TIDE). Three important outcomes are anticipated from the Field Tests:Students will have hands-on experience with a computer-based assessmentTeachers and administrators will be exposed to the test administration logisticsDistricts will learn where technology gaps exist and what needs to be accomplished prior to 2014-15 testingPreliminary LogisticsTime AllocationThe assessment will take students approximately 3.5 hours to complete. Schools that participated in the 2013 SBAC scientific pilot found that students had a hard time concentrating on items for extended periods. For this reason, testing periods are frequently segmented into 30-45 minute blocks.Test ProctorsThe test proctors from last year’s SBAC scientific pilot were designated school staff who had been trained to use the TIDE (Test Information Distribution Engine) system. Proctors were present in each testing room. The tests could only be administered by individuals who were certified as test administrators. Eligible individuals included:State-certified educators?– teachers, administrators, and guidance counselorsParaprofessionals?– must be closely supervised by an on-site, state-certified educatorSubstitute teachers?– if not credentialed in California, substitutes must be closely supervised by an on-site, state-certified educatorRegardless of their role,?all?test administrators were required to complete test administration training and review policy documents prior to any testing. Webinars and PDF documents were available to complete these requirements. Information about training for the 2014 Field Tests is provided below.Secure Test Web BrowsersOn November 19, the secure browser becomes available at the?SBAC Field Test Portal, along with the Technical Specifications Manual and Secure Browser for Tablets User Guide.Installing the Field Test secure browser?– The Field Test secure browser must be downloaded on each computer being used for testing. The browser can be installed individually or deployed to all computers through a network. The secure browser prevents access to other online applications during testing and ensures that test items cannot be copied.Schools that have accessed other versions of a secure browser must download the current Field Test secure browser. Other secure browsers will not work for the Field Test. (Note that other secure browsers do not need to be uninstalled; more than one secure browser can be on a computer.)Testing on tablets?– Schools that plan to test students using iPad or Android tablets will need to download an application (app) rather than the secure browser. The link to installation stores (Apple App Store and Google Play Store) will be available from the?SBAC Field Test Portal. Schools that have downloaded previous app versions will need to update their existing application.Training ModulesA variety of training modules, listed below, are being developed to support Field Test administration. Most modules will be released by January 28, 2014 at theSmarter Balanced website. Sonoma County schools are encouraged to promote awareness of these modules with the appropriate audience(s) when they become available.What is a Field Test??| For students | Overview of Smarter Balanced and why students are participating in the Field TestWhat is a CAT??| For districts and teachers | Explains how Computer Adaptive Testing (CAT) differs from paper-and-pencil tests and shows how tests are customized for each studentLet’s Talk Tools?| For students and teachers | Describes the types of tools that have been designed to help students during the test administrationTechnology Requirements for Online Testing?| For technology coordinators | Outlines the hardware requirements, software installation processes, and system configurations necessaryPerformance Tasks?| For teachers and administrators | Overview of what can be expected during the administration of the Performance TasksTIDE User Roles?| For district coordinators and administrators | Detailed information on how to upload student information and manage usersTest Administrator Interface?| For test coordinators and teachers | Information on the look, feel, and navigation of the administrator interfaceStudent Interface?| For students and district/school administrators | Navigating and interacting with the screens that the students will seeTest Administrator Training?| For test administrators | Information related to preparing for the test, general test administration, and test securityAccessibility and Accommodations?| For teachers and parents | Overview of various tools that are provided to accommodate student testing needsCalendar of Key DatesNovember 19, 2013?Technical specifications manuals released to Field Test portalSecure browser documentation released to Field Test portalLaunch of secure browserJanuary 14, 2014?TIDE User Guide released to Field Test portalTIDE registration window launchesJanuary 28, 2014?Training modules begin to be released to Field Test portalJanuary 29, 2014?Test Coordinator Manual released to Field Test portalTest Administration Manual released to Field Test portalPreparing for the 2014 Field TestsThe Field Test window for most Sonoma County schools is?April 7–May 16, 2014.?See your specific dates (pdf). Grades 3-8, 11, and a small sample of students in grades 9 and 10 will participate. Grade 11 students are encouraged, but not required, to take the exam. Tests are expected to take 3-4 hours, although they are not timed.PowerPoint from SBAC Update Sessions, Feb 3-4Here are the?Presentation Slides (pdf)?from Rick Phelan’s update on the 2014 Smarter Balanced Field Tests. Plan for Field Test PreparationThis sample district plan outlines Field Test preparation activities on a Jan-May 2014 timeline. Tasks for administrators, technology staff, teachers, and students are specified.?View/download sample plan (pdf). Test ProctorsTest proctors are designated school staff trained to use the administrative Test Information Distribution Engine (TIDE) system. Tests can only be administered by individuals certified as test proctors. Eligible individuals included state-certified educators, paraprofessionals closely supervised by a state-certified educator, and substitute teachers. All test proctors must complete test administration training prior to any testing. Online resource are available to complete these requirements.SBAC Field Test: Scheduling EstimatorThe Scheduling Estimator is an Excel spreadsheet that is designed to assist schools in planning the number of test sessions required per student to complete the SBAC Field Tests in Spring 2014. Once the number of sessions per student is determined, the estimator calculates the number of days needed to test all students in the school based on the computer access areas available.?Download the SBAC Field Test: Scheduling Estimator (xls).SBAC Usability, Accessibility, and Accommodation GuidelinesThis is an important resource that will help districts plan for SBAC accommodations. It is a spreadsheet with a listing of Universal Supports, Designated Supports, and Accommodations. Details specific to SBAC descriptions and guidelines are presented when you “hover” over items.Download the SBAC Usability, Accessibility, and Accommodations form (xlsx).Spring 2014 Testing Window Dates for California SchoolsEducation Testing Service is coordinating the Spring 2014 Field Test dates for all California public schools. Education Testing Service’s website lists?testing window dates?for each public school in California by county. See also?Sonoma County test window dates (pdf), which provides test windows by school.AB 484: Spring 2014 Field TestsAssembly Bill 484?establishes California’s new statewide student assessment system. The bill includes provisions for administering the Spring 2014 Field Test of the SBAC. Test FAQLearn more about the Field Tests through the California Department of Education’s?SBAC Field Test Questions and Answers?page. ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download