This project is made possible through a grant from the US Department of Education's Enhanced Assessment Instruments program
Project Home Page
Project Description
Examining the Feasibility, Effect and Capacity to Provide Universal Access through Computer-Based Testing. New Hampshire Department of Education.
This project seeks to examine the feasibility, effect, and capacity to deliver state achievement tests using a computer-based test delivery system specifically designed to provide universal access to test content for students with disabilities or special needs. The project will use a comprehensive test delivery system (NimbleTools®) that employs principles of universal design to flexibly meet the accessibility and accommodation needs of individual students. The project brings together 12 states to examine the feasibility and effect of using this comprehensive test delivery system to improve test validity for students with disabilities and special needs who are believed to benefit from one or more of the accessibility and accommodation tools built into the system.
Members of this collaborative project include: New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Maine, South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Montana, Iowa, Connecticut, Maryland, and Florida. In addition, the proposed project includes partnerships with the National Center for Educational Outcomes, Nimble Assessment Systems, and the NECAP state contractor (currently Measured Progress). This is a Grant for Enhanced Assessment Instruments funded by the U.S. Department of Education. January 2009 – October 2010
Fall 2010 NECAP Use of NimbleTools
Who is participating?
In the Fall of 2010, selected students from high schools in New Hampshire, Vermont, and Rhode Island will participate in the project by using NimbleTools in the 11th Grade NECAP Reading and Mathematics Assessments. Based on the decision of teachers and test coordinators, students will have access to the following tools:
- Read Aloud Standard: reads text aloud (for mathematics only)
- Background Music
- Magnification
- Color Overlay
- Reverse Contrast
- Choice of Font and Background Colors
- Masking
Detailed Descriptions of the tools
NimbleTools Orientation movies
What training is required to have students in my school participate?
New Hampshire:
A required workshop will be provided on September 1, 2010 at SERESC (9-12 am) and simultaneously through video conference at three satellite PD centers: Keene - Bev Straneva (358-2750); NCES – Becky Ring (466-5437); and Exeter - Jennifer Middaugh (775-8693).
- Each participating entity must send a test coordinator and technology coordinator to attend together. (This may be at either the school or district level.)
- To register to attend this training session at SERESC, please visit: (http://iregister.measuredprogress.org ).
- To participate by attending one of the video conference sites, contact the PD site directly.
Rhode Island
- A required workshop will be provided on August 25, 2010 from 9am-12pm at the Sheraton in Warwick, RI.
- We recommend that your school’s technology coordinator and your NECAP test coordinator (and/or a test administrator) attend the scheduled training. In addition, it may be helpful to have a member of a team that determines student accommodations (e.g., IEP team) attend the training as well.
- To register to attend the NimbleTools training session, please visit: (http://iregister.measuredprogress.org).
Vermont
- A required workshop will be provided on August 31, 2010 from 9am–12pm at the Capital Plaza Hotel in Montpelier VT.
- Each participating entity must send a test coordinator and technology coordinator to attend together. (This may be at either the school or district level.)
- To register to attend this training session at SERESC, please visit: (http://iregister.measuredprogress.org ).
How do I know if my school meets the minimum technology requirements?
In order to participate, your school must have Internet connected computers that meet the minimum technology requirements listed below:
- Windows: Intel Pentium 1.0 GHz or faster, 256 MB RAM, Windows 2000 SP4, XP SP2, Vista
- Macintosh:
a) PowerPC G3 1.0 GHz or faster, 256 MB RAM, Mac OS X 10.4.10 or 10.5.x
b) Intel Core Duo 1.83 GHz or faster, 256 MB RAM, Mac OS X 10.4.10 or 10.5.
All participating schools will be required to complete a network load test to ensure your school network has appropriate capacity. Information about conducting the network load test will be distributed at the workshop sessions.
Which students can participate in this project?
Only those students who would be better able to access the test content by using one or more of the above accessibility tools are allowed to participate.
How will students know how to use NimbleTools and the accessibility tools?
There is a general NimbleTools orientation and specific accessibility tool orientations posted at on the orientations page. Please have students view these orientations before taking the practice test.
Practice tests will be available beginning September 1st, 2010.
How do I select accessibility tools for students to practice with?
After linking to the practice test, you will see a screen where you can select accessibility tools. Click on the tools you would like the student to have access to for the practice test. If you would like to change the accessibility tool settings, just exit NimbleTools and restart.
Will the practice test be scored?
No, the purpose of the practice test is to have students become familiar with the accessibility features in NimbleTools. There will be a summary screen at the end of the testing session showing all students answers, you will have the ability to print this screen.
Do computers need Internet connectivity for the practice test?
You will need to have Internet connectivity to practice NimbleTools and to take the Operational test in October.
How many times should a student practice with NimbleTools?
The student should practice as many times as is appropriate for them to understand how to use the accessibility tools. We suggest that each student practices at least two times.
Students will have September and until scheduled testing begins in October to become familiar with the accessibility features included in this project. Teachers or test coordinators must register students to participate in the operational test use of NimbleTools using the Administrator Tool interface.
How do I register students to use NimbleTools?
If...
- your school meets the technology requirements,
- you had school representatives attend the training workshop,
- you have completed the network load test,
- you have students who would both benefit from using NimbleTools and want to use NimbleTools
...you must register them to participate using the Administrator Tool interface. There are specific instructions on how to use the Administrator Tool at the Nimble Administrator Instructions page. There is no cost to register students!
Who may register participating students and assign accommodations?
Access to the School Administrator Tool, which permits student registration and assignment of accommodations to specific students, is controlled by access to the school’s assigned password. Passwords will be distributed at the workshop training sessions.
Which students are listed in the rosters available in the Administrative Tool?
All 11th grade students in NH, VT, and RI that are currently in Measured Progress’s student database are listed in the Administrator tool. Each school will only have access to their student names. If students are not listed, schools will be able to add students to the test roster.
How Can I Get Help or Ask Questions?
If you have questions about NimbleTools or the specific accessibility tools, please go to the Detailed Description of Tools page. If you have further questions, please email Jen Higgins at jen@nimbletools.com or call Nimble toll free at 1-877-636-0371.
Please send your comments to uaa@nimbletools.com