smarter balanced practice and training test user guide
TRANSCRIPT
Connecticut Comprehensive Assessment Program
Descriptions of the operation of the Test Information Distribution Engine, Test Delivery System, and related systems are property of the American Institutes for Research (AIR) and are used with the permission of AIR.
Smarter Balanced
Practice and Training Test User Guide
2015-2016
Published September 2, 2015
Prepared by the American Institutes for Research®
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Table of Contents
Section I. Introduction to this User Guide ......................................................................................................... 3 User Guide Content .................................................................................................................................... 3 Additional Resources .................................................................................................................................. 3
Section II. About the Practice and Training Tests.............................................................................................. 5 Accessibility Support ................................................................................................................................... 6
Section III. About the Login Process: Logging in as a Guest User ...................................................................... 9
About Guest Sessions ......................................................................................................................................... 9 Administering Practice and Training Tests to Students .............................................................................. 13
Test Administrator Login, Session Creation, and Student Login .................................................................... 13
Editing Students’ Test Settings ........................................................................................................................ 14 Monitoring Students’ Testing Progress ...................................................................................................... 16
Ending the Test Session ................................................................................................................................... 16 Section IV. Understanding the Practice and Training Test Site ........................................................................ 17
Test Layout............................................................................................................................................... 17 Basic Test Rules ....................................................................................................................................... 17 Test Tools ................................................................................................................................................. 18
General Test Tools............................................................................................................................................. 18
About the Calculator Tool .................................................................................................................................. 18
About the Expand Passage Tool ....................................................................................................................... 18
About the Masking Tool .................................................................................................................................... 19
About the Response Recovery Tool .................................................................................................................. 20
American Sign Language Video Tool ................................................................................................................ 21
About Text-to-Speech ........................................................................................................................................ 21
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Section I. Introduction to this User Guide This user guide provides an overview of the Smarter Balanced Practice and Training Test Sites for test administrators and students.
User Guide Content
This user guide includes the following sections:
Section II. About the Practice and Training Tests provides an overview of the purpose and functionality of the practice and training tests.
Section III. About the Login Process: Logging in as a Guest User explains how students and other users can log into a practice or training test as a guest.
Section IV. Understanding the Practice and Training Test Site describes the overall test layout and tools available for use.
Icon Description
Alert: This symbol appears with text that contains important information.
Note: This symbol appears next to text that contains helpful information or reminders.
Bold Text Bold text is used to indicate a clickable link or button.
Additional Resources
Other documents related to the Smarter Balanced Practice and Training Tests are also available on the Connecticut Comprehensive Assessment portal (http://ct.portal.airast.org/). Consult the chart below for appropriate documentation.
Document Description
Test Administration Manual Provides information about policies and procedures that govern secure and valid test administration.
System Requirements Provides information about supported operating systems and browsers.
Secure Browser Installation Manual
Provides information for installing secure browsers.
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Document Description
TIDE User Guide Provides information about student and user management, rosters, and appeals in the Test Information Distribution Engine (TIDE).
Teacher Hand Scoring System User Guide
Provides information about hand-scoring questions.
Technical Specifications for Online Testing
Provides information about network and internet requirements, general peripheral and software requirements, and configuring Text-to-Speech settings.
Braille Requirements and Testing Manual
Provides information about supported hardware and software for Braille testing as well as information about configuring JAWS.
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Section II. About the Practice and Training Tests The Practice and Training Test Site allows administrators, students and guest users to become familiar with the online testing environment before taking operational online assessments. The practice and training tests are not intended to be used as a predictor of success on operational Smarter Balanced assessments. These tests provide a preview of question types that may appear on operational assessments.
Practice Tests
The practice tests mirror the Smarter Balanced summative assessments. Each test provides students with a grade-specific testing experience, including a variety of question types and difficulty levels (approximately 30 items each in mathematics and English language arts/literacy), as well as a performance task.
Training Tests
The training tests are designed to provide students and teachers with opportunities to quickly familiarize themselves with the software and navigational tools that appear on the Smarter Balanced assessments. Training tests are available for both mathematics and English language arts/literacy and are organized by grade bands (grades 3–5 and grades 6–8), with each test containing 5 – 10 questions. These tests do not contain performance tasks.
Note: Not all standards that are assessed are represented in practice and training tests.
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Accessibility Support
During the sign-in and approval process, administrators, students and guest users can select test settings and accommodations to use during the Practice and Training Tests.
Note: Text-to-Speech requires testing in the secure browser environment. This setting will not appear in a web browser.
Table 1. Test Settings and Accommodations
Test Settings Options Descriptions and Notes
Language English (default) All tests are available in English.
Students who qualify for a Spanish language translation view questions in both English and Spanish (stacked format).
Students who require tests in Braille should select the Braille option.
Braille
(contracted and uncontracted for ELA tests; Nemeth for Math tests)
Spanish
(Mathematics Training Test only)
Closed Captioning
(for ELA listening questions)
Closed Captioning Not Available (default)
Displays on-screen captions as test audio plays.
Closed Captioning Available
American Sign Language
Off (default) Allows students to view test content translated into ASL by a human signer.
Show ASL videos
Color Contrast
Black on White (default) By default, tests are presented with black text on a white background.
Magenta
Medium Gray on Light Gray
Yellow on Blue
Reverse Contrast
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Test Settings Options Descriptions and Notes
Masking Masking Not Available (default) Allows the blocking of content that is not of immediate need or that may be distracting to the student.
Masking Available
Zoom Level 0 (No Zoom) = 1X (default) The print size the student should have when starting the practice test. The selected print size becomes the default for all questions in that test.
The default print size (Level 0—No Zoom) for all tests is 14 pt.
Note: Font sizes provided are approximations and cannot be equated with a paper or word document format.
Level 1 = 1.5X ≈ 18 pt.
Level 2 = 1.75X ≈ 22 pt.
Level 3 = 2.5X ≈ 26 pt.
Level 4 = 3X ≈ 30 pt.
Streamline Off (default) By default, all tests use the standard interface. This interface is compatible with all supported desktops and tablets.
The streamlined interface presents the test in a simplified format in which the questions are displayed below the stimuli. This format is more accessible for screen readers used in Braille testing.
Note: The streamlined interface is not intended to be tablet compatible.
On
Text-to-Speech
No Text-to-Speech (default) Students with this test setting enabled may listen to questions, stimuli, or both.
Note: Text-to-Speech is not available in Spanish.
This setting requires students to use the secure browser, (see About Text-to-Speech).
Items
(ELA)
Stimuli
(ELA Training Test only)
Stimuli and Items
(ELA and mathematics)
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Test Settings Options Descriptions and Notes
Translations (Glossaries)
English (default)
Arabic
Cantonese
Filipino
Korean
Mandarin
Punjabi
Russian
Spanish
Ukrainian
Vietnamese
No Glossary
Students can open a glossary to view terms presented on the test that may be unfamiliar to them.
If a combination glossary is selected (such as English and Arabic or English and Russian), then the student will have access to both.
If a single glossary is selected (such as Mandarin), then the student will only have access to that glossary. The English glossary will not be available.
Notes:
The English glossary is available for both ELA and mathematics on the Training Tests only.
Translated glossaries are available only for mathematics Training Tests.
The Spanish glossary is the only glossary available for the Practice Test.
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Section III. About the Login Process: Logging in as a
Guest User
Accessing the Practice and Training Tests with an Internet browser
1. Navigate to the Connecticut Comprehensive Assessment portal (http://ct.portal.airast.org/training-tests/).
2. Click the Practice and Training Tests card.
3. Click the Take the Practice and Training Tests card.
Accessing the Practice and Training Tests with the secure browser
1. Open the secure browser on the computer.
2. At the bottom of the Sign In page, click the link that says Click here to go to the Practice and Training Test Site.
About Guest Sessions
The Practice and Training Test Site is set up so that anyone can access the practice and training tests as well as select test settings. You must choose a grade level prior to selecting a test.
Test takers must go through a series of six login steps before they will see the first page of the test.
Step 1: Signing In as a Guest
For the practice and training tests, you may sign in as a guest user in a guest session.
1. Verify the Guest User and Guest Session
checkboxes are marked.
2. Click Sign In.
Practice and Training Tests Sign-In Page
Step 2: Select a Grade Level
Select a grade level from the drop-down list. This determines the practice and training tests you can access.
1. Select a grade level.
2. Click Yes to continue.
Is This You? Page
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Step 3: Select a Practice or Training Test
1. Click the name of the practice or training test you want to take and continue to the next step.
If you need to access tests from another grade, click Back to Login.
Your Tests Page
Step 4: Choose Test Settings
1. Select the options you want for each available test setting.
2. Click Select to continue.
Choose Settings Page
Step 5: Confirm Selected Test and Settings
1. Review the page and confirm the test settings.
If the settings are not correct, click No to return to the Sign In page.
If the settings are correct, click Yes, Start My Test to proceed.
Is This Your Test? Page
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Step 5a: Text-to-Speech Check
This step appears only for those tests that have text-to-speech (TTS). You will be prompted to verify that the TTS settings work.
1. Click the green audio button to listen to the sample audio.
2. You can adjust the settings of the TTS voice on this page.
− If the voice is clear, click Yes, I heard the voice.
− If the voice is not audible or clear, adjust the settings using the sliders and click the audio button again.
− If the voice is still not clear, click No, I did not hear the voice and close the secure browser.
If you do not hear a voice, check your audio connection and settings. If there is still no sound, please contact the help desk for further instruction.
Text-to-Speech Check Page
Note: If your computer does not have audio or a voice pack correctly configured, or if you are using a browser that does not support TTS, a message indicates that TTS is not available.
Step 6: Review Instructions and Begin Test
The Test Instructions and Help page is the last step of the sign-in process. Review the information on this page, and then click Begin Test Now.
The first page of the test appears.
Test Instructions and Help Page
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Step 7: Review and End Test
When all questions on the test have been answered, click the End Test button on the upper left side of the page to end the test.
End Test Button on the Global Menu
End Test Message
A message will appear asking if you would like to end your test. Select Yes to end the test.
If you would like to review any questions, select a test question you would like to return to.
If you have completed the test, select Submit Test to end the test.
Test Review Page
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Administering Practice and Training Tests to Students
For the Practice and Training Test administration, TAs may use the TA Practice and Training Site to create test sessions and manage student online testing during the session.
Test Administrator Login, Session Creation, and Student Login
1. Access the TA Practice and Training Site via the Connecticut Comprehensive Assessment portal (https://ctpt.tds.airast.org/testadmin).
2. Click the TA Practice and Training Site card.
3. Enter your email address and password.
4. Click Secure Login.
The TA Practice and Training Site appears, displaying the Test Selection window automatically.
TA Practice and Training Site: Login Page
5. Start a test session.
a. In the Test Selection window, mark the checkboxes for the tests you want to include in the session.
b. Click Start Practice Session in the lower-left corner. The window closes and the session ID automatically generates in the upper-right corner of the screen.
6. Provide the session ID to the students signing in to your test session.
Test Selection Window
Session ID
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7. Have students sign in to the Practice and Training Test Site.
Students have two options to log in:
To log in to the session as a guest, students clear the Guest Session checkbox and enter the session ID.
If students exist in TIDE, they may also clear the Guest User checkbox and enter their first name and Student ID.
Student Practice and Training Test: Sign-In Page
Editing Students’ Test Settings
The upper-right corner of the TA Practice and Training Site contains an Approvals button. When students sign in and select tests, the approvals button activates, displays the number of pending students, and bounces until you click it.
1. Click the Approvals button. The Approvals and Test Settings window opens.
Note: This window displays the list of students awaiting approval at the time you clicked the Approvals button. If other students have logged in, you may need to click Refresh at the top of this window.
2. Click to view a student.
Approvals Button
Approvals and Test Settings Window
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Confirm Test Settings and Approve Student for Testing
3. Confirm the test settings and approve the student for testing.
After you verify or update the student’s settings, you have two options:
Click Set. This saves the changes for that student and returns you to the list of students awaiting approval. You must still approve that student for testing.
Click Set & Approve. This saves the changes for that student and approves the student for testing. When you return to the list of students awaiting approval, that student is no longer listed.
Student Test Settings
4. To approve or deny students directly from the Approvals and Test Settings window:
To approve an individual student, click
in that student’s row.
To approve all students in the list, click Approve All Students at the top of the window.
If you need to deny a student (for instance, if the student selected the wrong test), click
in that student’s row and enter the
reason in the box. Click Yes to confirm the denial.
The Approvals and Test Settings window closes when you approve or deny all students in the list.
If there are any additional students awaiting approval, you must approve or deny them as well.
Approvals and Test Settings Window
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Monitoring Students’ Testing Progress
Once students begin testing, they appear in the Students in Your Practice Test Session table.
1. Monitor the students’ progress throughout their tests.
Statuses include the following: approved, started, review, completed, submitted, reported, and paused.
When a student is actively testing, the Student Status column indicates how many test questions the student has answered out of the total number of test questions.
Note: This table also includes a Requests column, displaying
print requests. To view the print request, click in this
column and then approve or deny the request.
Students in Your Practice Test Session Table
Click to view a student’s information,
including test settings. Note: You cannot change students’ test settings with this feature.
Important: If you pause a guest student's test, that student will lose all answers and must restart the test from the beginning.
Ending the Test Session
1. When the time is up, stop the test session and log out.
a. Click next to the session ID
to end the session. This automatically pauses any in-progress tests in your session.
b. Click Log Out to exit the TA Practice and Training Site.
TA Interface: Stop Session
Important: Once you stop a session, you cannot resume it. If students need to continue testing, you must start a new session so students can sign in again. Please note that students must start a test from the beginning if they were signed in as guests for the original session.
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Section IV. Understanding the Practice and Training
Test Site This section provides information about the online testing environment and includes the following sections:
Test Layout
Basic Test Rules
Test Tools
Test Layout
This sample image shows the primary features and tools available in practice tests.
Sample Page for a Mathematics Practice and Training Test
Basic Test Rules
You cannot skip test questions. You may mark a question for review and return to it later. You can use the Questions drop-down list at the top of the page to easily return to those questions.
Some pages contain multiple questions. You may need to use the scroll bar to view all the questions on a page.
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Test Tools
This section provides information about the online tools available in practice and training tests.
General Test Tools
The following tools are available for all assessments:
Highlight text in passages and questions
Zoom in and out of test pages (to increase or decrease font and image size)
Mark questions for review
Make notes about a question in the notepad
View tutorials about a question type
Strikethrough (cross out) answer options
Access the Test Instructions and Help window at any time
About the Calculator Tool
In addition to the above, students also have access to calculators for mathematics assessments:
Calculator Type Practice Tests Training Tests
Basic Calculator Grade 6 Mathematics Math 6–8 Training Test
Scientific Calculator Grades 7 and 8 Mathematics Not Available
Scientific, Graphing, and Regression Calculator
Grade 11 Mathematics HS Math Training Test
Note: In the Practice Tests, the online calculator only appears in the second half of the mathematics tests. The online calculator is not available for the first several questions of each mathematics practice test.
About the Expand Passage Tool
Some tests have pages displaying two panes: a reading passage or stimulus on the left, and questions on the right. Students can expand the left pane so that it displays a larger portion on the screen.
Expand Passage Button
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To expand the passage:
Click the double arrow icon in the left pane. The pane expands to the right and covers the questions.
To collapse the passage:
Click the double arrow icon again. The pane collapses to its original size and the questions become visible again.
About the Masking Tool
The Masking tool allows students to hide distracting areas of the test page.
Test Page with Masked Area
To mask an area of a test page:
1. To activate the Masking tool, select Masking in the global menu at the top of the page. The button becomes orange.
2. Click and drag across the distracting area of the test page.
3. Release the mouse button. The selected area becomes dark gray. The tool remains active until you deactivate it.
To deactivate the masking tool:
1. Select Masking in the global menu again. The button becomes green. Any masked areas remain on the screen until you remove them.
To remove a masked area from a test page:
1. Select X in the upper-right corner of a masked area.
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About the Response Recovery Tool
The Response Recovery tool allows students to view and restore responses they previously entered for an Extended Response or Short Answer question type. For example, if students type a response, click Save, delete the text, and enter new text, they can use this tool to recover the original response.
To use the response recovery tool:
1. Select Response Recovery from the context menu. The Response Recovery window appears, listing all the saved responses for the question in the left panel.
Response Recovery Window
2. Select a response version from the left panel. The text associated with that response appears in the right panel.
3. Click Submit. The selected response appears in the text box for the question.
Note: This tool is only available for Extended Response or Short Answer type questions. If the test
pauses, any responses entered prior to pausing will no longer appear in the Response Recovery
window.
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American Sign Language Video Tool
Students can use the American Sign Language (ASL) tool to view test content translated into ASL by a human signer.
Passage Context Menu with ASL Sample ASL Video in Test
To access the ASL tool:
1. Right-click the question stem. The context menu appears.
2. Select American Sign Language to view the translation.
The video appears in the lower-left corner of the page. The student may move the video as needed.
The student may pause and replay the video.
About Text-to-Speech
Students testing with text-to-speech (TTS) in the secure browser can use the TTS tool to listen to passages, questions, and answer options. Because TTS is only available in the secure browser, students who require TTS for testing should use a supported secure browser when taking practice and training tests as well. For more information, see the Secure Browser Installation Manual.
Speak Tool Options for Questions
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Students testing with TTS must use headphones to listen to the audio. It is recommended that students use headphones with a built-in volume control for maximum audio adjustment capability.
Note: Text-to-Speech settings should be tested and verified as working properly before students begin their tests. Students who use this test setting can check that their settings work as part of their test login process.
To access the Speak tool:
1. Right-click an area that contains text. The context menu appears, displaying “Speak” options.
Students who select a portion of text and right-click it can listen to the selected text. This feature is primarily used with reading passages.
Note: On mobile devices click the context menu icon on the upper right corner of the item to view Text-to-Speech options.
2. Select the desired Speak option and the text is read aloud.