standards of learning sol online testing

PearsonAccess & TestNavTM7 Spring 2012

Standards of Learning SOL Online testing


Today’s Agenda• Online testing Implementation schedule• Benefits of online testing• Online vs. Paper• TestNavTM 7: Features/Functionality Overview• SOL online field writing test • Early Warning System (EWS)• Day of testing reminders

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Online Implementation Schedule• By Spring 2013, ALL schools will participate in

state assessments in online format (SOLs & VMAST Math and Reading Tests)

• Exceptions to online testing:• Students with special needs where IEP/504

plan indicate no participation in online format• Students needing Braille, Large Print, and

multiple test session• Homebound, Homebased, Private Placement

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Online Implementation Schedule• High Schools (online testing last 8+ years):

• ALL End-of-Course tests administered online • Spring 2012, field writing test (March)

• Middle Schools (Online testing since 2008):• Spring 2011, History, Science, & Mathematics tests online• Spring 2012, Online field writing test (March) • Spring 2012, Reading tests online• Spring 2013 ALL SOL tests administered online

• Elementary Schools:• Spring 2012, Field writing test (March) & 7 Schools to pilot

non-writing tests (Grades 4 & 5, history & science)• Spring 2013 ALL SOL tests administered online

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Benefits of Online Testing• One question on screen at a time, less distraction• System lets students know if they skipped a question• Students have less chance for procedural errors:

• Can’t mark two answers• Difficult to leave answers blank

• Easy to change answers• Less paperwork for teachers

• No coding of answer documents• Fewer test booklets to handle

• Fewer testing irregularities• Technology interests children

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Online vs. Paper Testing• Online tests are directly equated to paper tests

• No difference, High validity• Early reports indicate no difference in pass

rates• Most testing accommodations are available in

online format, including Read Aloud & Audio• Large Print, Braille, and students needing

multiple test sessions are not available online

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Basic Online Terminology• Pearson – State testing vendor• PearsonAccess – Online test administration system• TestNavTM 7 – Student online testing application• Training Center – Online testing practice tool• ePATs- Electronic Practice Assessment Tools• Student Authorization Ticket – Student test ticket• Proctor Authorization Ticket – Proctor ticket• VMAST – Virginia Modified Achievement Standards Test

(online alternate assessment)• Technology Enhance Items (TEIs) – New test item types

that are interactive and tests higher-level thinking

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TestNavTM 7 Functionality Overview


TestNavTM 7• Browser-based test delivery

technology• TestNav installs its components

when the student launches it to take a test, and removes its components once the test is over.

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TestNav 7TM – Login Screen• If the shading is not apparent

to the student, you may need to adjust the contrast setting on the student’s monitor until the shading is visible.

• Computers with monitors that do not display the shaded rectangles correctly should not be used for testing.

• Password is not hidden

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TestNav 7TM – Test Screen

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Tools available for this particular test

Student Name Test NameExit Button

Mark a test item for review

Item # of total number of test items

Opens up Section Review screen

Navigates to Previous or Next test item


TestNav 7TM – Review Screen

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Can filter on column headers (Flagged for Review, Answered, and Unanswered)

Students will click here after completing a section or when they are at the end of the test


TestNav 7TM – Overview Screen

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Students can click here to return to a previous unlocked section

Students can click here to Submit or Exit a test


TestNav 7TM – Exit/Submit Screen

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Return to the Test – Returns the student to the Test

Exit the Test – Exits the student from the test. Test would need to be resumed in PearsonAccess before the student can continue.

Submit the Test – Submits the test for scoring. Student’s status in PearsonAccess changes to Completed.


TestNav 7TM – New Tools

• Eraser – Available on all online tests

• Highlighter – Available on all online tests except for the short paper component of the writing test

• Choice eliminator - Available on all online tests except for the short paper component of the writing test

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TestNav 7TM – New Tools (continued)

Exhibit • Formula Sheet – Available only on grades 6 –

8 mathematics, algebra I, algebra II, and geometry

• Periodic Table of Elements – Available only on the chemistry test

• Z-table – Available only on the algebra II test

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TestNav 7TM – New Tools (continued)• Four function calculator – Available only on all

science tests (except for grade 3 science), and part II of the grades 4 and 5 mathematics tests

• Compass – Available only on the geometry test

Note: There is not a reset button in TestNav 7, to clear your answer on a multiple choice item, thestudent must click on the radio button to deselect an answer.

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TestNav 7TM – New Tools (continued)

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• Pencil• Available on all online tests

• Notepad• Available on all online tests• Notes remain with each item


TestNavTM 7 – New Tools (continued)

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• Ruler• Transparent• Several inches larger than the

previous online ruler• Available on all online

mathematics and science tests

• Protractor• Transparent• Available only on the Grade 5

and 6 Mathematics tests


TestNavTM 7 – New Tools (continued)

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• Dot tool• Available only on the online 2009

standards mathematics tests.

• Straightedge tool 1 draws a line.• Available on all online mathematics and

science tests•Straightedge tool 2 draws a line segment.

• Available only on the online 2009 standards mathematics tests.


English/History online Format• For passage-based items, the passage will

be on the left side of the screen, and the questions will be presented on the right hand side of the screen, one at a time.

• Passages will page or scroll. Functional passages scroll.

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Pages “stick” when moving between test items for the passage.

Example of TestNav 7 Format


Online Writing Field Test• Mandatory for ALL Writing test grade

levels:• Grades 5, 8, and EOC

• Will be conducted AFTER regularly scheduled paper writing test in spring 2012• March 5th–March 9th paper writing test window

• Does NOT count toward Accreditation/AYP• RPS window: Week of March 19th (New)

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TestNav 7 – Online Writing Field TestGrades 4-12

2010 English SOL Standards• Provide students with opportunities to compose

using computer technology.

• Teaching writing is an expectation of every grade, not only “tested” grades.

• Self and peer-editing opportunities for students are essential.

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Online Writing Web Page• http://

www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/sol/standards_docs/english/2010/online_writing/index.shtml

• Sample lesson plans aligned to the 2010 English Standards of Learning• Plans divided into grade bands: K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12• Focus is on writing process and expository and

persuasive writing• Lessons provided are part of the new English

Enhanced Scope and Sequence available in fall 2012

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http://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/sol/standards_docs/english/2010/online_writing/index.shtml





Online Writing Web Page

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Writing Resources

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Downloadable Writing Process graphic


Writing Resources• The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) writi

ng Web page

• ReadWriteThink

• http://learner.org/index.html Video workshops for teachers that provide practical advice for teaching writing

• National Writing Project a collection of writing resources for teachers

• Keyboarding Methodology Instructional Guide for Teachers and Administrators (currently being revised) - 28 -

http://www.doe.virginia.gov/home_files/leaving/redirect.cfm?url=http://www.ncte.org/search?q=Writing

http://www.doe.virginia.gov/home_files/leaving/redirect.cfm?url=http://www.ncte.org/search?q=Writing

http://www.doe.virginia.gov/home_files/leaving/redirect.cfm?url=http://www.readwritethink.org/

http://learner.org/index.html

http://www.doetest.vi.virginia.gov/home_files/leaving/redirect.cfm?url=http://www.nwp.org/

http://www.cteresource.org/downloads/3/Keyboarding_Gd.pdf



Graphic Organizers

• Clustering • Process • Comparison / Contrast • Order Importance • Sensory Chart • Connected Relationships • Persuasive Paper Checklist

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http://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/sol/standards_docs/english/2010/online_writing/graphic_organizers/clustering.pdf

http://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/sol/standards_docs/english/2010/online_writing/graphic_organizers/process.pdf

http://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/sol/standards_docs/english/2010/online_writing/graphic_organizers/comparison_contrast.pdf

http://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/sol/standards_docs/english/2010/online_writing/graphic_organizers/order_importance.pdf

http://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/sol/standards_docs/english/2010/online_writing/graphic_organizers/sensory_chart.pdf

http://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/sol/standards_docs/english/2010/online_writing/graphic_organizers/connected_relationships.pdf

http://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/sol/standards_docs/english/2010/online_writing/graphic_organizers/persuasive_paper_checklist.pdf


SOL Writing BlueprintsGrades 5,8, and end-of-course

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Online Writing Practice Tool• Online Writing Practice Tool & Guide Resources at:• http://

www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/sol/standards_docs/english/2010/online_writing/index.shtml

• Online Writing Practice Tool is available at:• https://va.testnav.com/vaqc/epatLogin.jsp?testnavTestI

d=5001&testnavFormId=wptg5b

• Recorded state training webinar:• http://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/sol/standards_docs/

english/2010/online_writing/webinar/january_2012.shtml - 31 -





https://va.testnav.com/vaqc/epatLogin.jsp?testnavTestId=5001&testnavFormId=wptg5b

https://va.testnav.com/vaqc/epatLogin.jsp?testnavTestId=5001&testnavFormId=wptg5b


Practice Writing Tool

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Typing Tools

Progress Bar

Current Line Location

Typing Tools


VDOE Writing Practice ToolSpell Check

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VDOE Writing Practice ToolCopy/Paste from Notepad

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Use short cut toolsto copy/paste


VDOE Writing Practice Tool

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VDOE Writing Practice ToolTips

• **Certain contractions and proper nouns may be identified as incorrectly spelled when they are spelled correctly. Instruct students to use their best judgment when deciding whether a word is spelled correctly.**

• Students should not double space. There are 52 lines of text are available; watch progress bar.

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• Text is saved as HTML.

• In order to edit saved text, it must be copied into Word format.

• When leaving the writing practice tool, always choose the 3rd selection.

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FAQ Writing Field Test• Q. May students use scratch paper?A. Scratch paper may be used on both the MC/TEI and the short-

paper components. Scratch paper must be of a single color and blank. Examiners must keep track of all scratch paper, ensure that it is all collected and accounted for before students are dismissed from the testing session.

• Q. How much time may students have?A. The Writing Field Test must be administered within one school

day.

Q.May dictionaries be used?R. No, students have access to spell check. No dictionaries are

permitted.

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FAQ Writing Field TestQ. Who will participate in the writing field test?R. Students who will complete classes in the spring semester requiring

the Grade 5, Grade 8, or EOC Writing SOL test will participate in the online Writing field test.

Q. What accommodations will be available?R. Read-aloud CANNOT be created for the short-paper portion of the

test. Several prompts will be assigned to each test session; therefore, an examiner may read the Checklist for Writers to the group but must read each student’s prompt individually at the student’s workstation.

• A. Any student who must take a paper/pencil test due to a documented need, or who requires large-print or Braille format, is exempt from taking the Writing field test.

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FAQ Writing Field TestQ. What keyboarding resources are available?• A. The

Keyboarding Methodology Instructional Guide for Teachers and Administrators available on the Writing Online Web page is being updated and will contain keyboarding resources.

Q. Will the writing tests be scored by hand?R. The writing tests will be scored using the current procedure. All papers are

read by at least two readers, with the student’s score for each domain being the total of the score assigned by both readers. Tests are scored by trained scorers, not by artificial intelligence.

Q. How soon will schools receive scores?R. This is a field test and scores will not be reported back to schools.

Q. Where are the rubrics?• A. The rubrics are available in the Writing blueprints.- 41 -




FAQ Writing Field TestQ. What kind of prompts will be used?• A. The SOL Writing Assessment is an invitation to write. Grades 5 and 8 do

not have a specified mode of writing. **The End-of-course prompt is persuasive.**

Q. Will there be a character or word count limit? If so, what?R. There are 52 lines of text available on the SOL Online Writing assessment,

which correlates to the previous amount of space given.

Q. Are grade 8 and EOC students required to write 5 paragraphs?R. There has never been a specified number of paragraphs required on the

SOL writing assessments.

Q. Will students have access to a thesaurus?• A. As with the previous SOL writing assessments, students may not use a

thesaurus.- 42 -


FAQ Writing Field TestQ. Will students be able to make up the writing field test?• A. A student may be offered an opportunity to take a make-up field test if he

is absent on the scheduled test date. Make-up testing sessions, however, are not required. Should a make-up test be offered, the student will be given the same field test that was offered to the other students in his/her level or course on the regularly scheduled testing date. No alternate form for any Writing field test is available.

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Day of Testing Reminders

• Student has been logged into ‘RPSSTUDENT’ user account

• Main TestNav 7 log-in screen should be up prior to student arriving to test

• TestNav url address should be that listed on the student’s authorization ticket

• Make sure student raises hand immediately when a TestNav EWS error message appears

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TestNavTM 7 Early Warning System

(EWS) Overview


Early Warning System (EWS)• A program that runs in the background to deal

with technical issues that may arise during testing.

• Student responses are saved to an encrypted backup file without being lost.

• Student responses can be retrieved if necessary.

• Teachers need an established procedure to follow if the Early Warning System reports a problem.

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TestNavTM 7 Classroom Participation Exercise


Questions??Call 780-7905