Smarter Balanced Practice Tests: Leaping In!
Author: Rick Phelan
Published: 06.03.13
California’s high-stakes testing will change in the 2014-15 school year. The new computer-based tests are being created to evaluate learning aligned with the Common Core State Standards for English and mathematics. The Smarter Balance Assessment Consortium (SBAC) will manage the testing system for California and at least 20 other states.
This spring, a number of Sonoma County schools participated in the SBAC scientific pilot. I took time to visit with some of the educators who took part in the pilot. Here are some of the reflections teachers and administrators shared with me.
Why did your school choose to participate in the 2013 Spring pilot of the Smarter Balance Assessment?
- We felt we had to leap in and try it. We wanted to see how our students would do in a computer-based testing situation.
- We wanted to understand the logistics of SBAC administration in comparison to the STAR assessment; what was the same and what was different?
- Our school initially wanted to get SBAC results and compare them to STAR results. We learned that this wasn’t possible in the 2013 pilot. We decided to follow through with the pilot for three reasons. We wanted to (1) learn about SBAC administration, (2) see how our current technology worked, and (3) observe our students working with SBAC tasks.
What were your observations about the 2013 SBAC pilot?
- It was very time consuming. We had to learn about the Test Information Distribution Engine (TIDE) system, setup computers with ‘secure’ SBAC web browsers, and organize testing schedules.
- The test was suppose to take two hours, but we found that our students could not sit for two hours straight. We revised our two-hour schedules to allow for shorter 30-minute sessions with breaks from the computer.
- Students had to write about their thinking and make justifications for their answers; it wasn’t only about finding the ‘right’ answer.
- The test items were interesting for the students.
- The students didn’t know how to carry out computer-based tasks in some situations. Four challenging situations: (1) tasks that involved moving between two or more screens, (2) operating spreadsheets and calculators, (3) manipulating virtual objects such as geometric constructions, and (4) editing electronic text.
What advice can you offer schools preparing for the Smarter Balance Assessments?
- Administrators, teachers, and students need to see and experience the SBAC firsthand before 2014-15.
- Plan time to prepare and do trials with your students. You won’t do well if you wait until the last minute.
- Use the SBAC Help Line. They are knowledgeable and helpful.
- Have a master list with State Student Identifier numbers and student names.
- Take time to produce 3x5 cards with student names and their State Student Identifier numbers. They need this information to login to the SBAC system.
- Do the practice assessment.
- During the testing period, there needs to be a dedicated person who will manage the SBAC; it is not reasonable to think the classroom teacher can do it alone.
Preparation & Practice Tests
On May 29, SBAC released practice tests to provide an early look at sets of assessment questions aligned to the Common Core for grades 3–8 and 11 in both English language arts/literacy and mathematics. See the practice tests.
SCOE encourages individuals and groups to spend time examining the new SBAC assessments. 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 SBAC assessment tasks.
These awareness activities will provide a springboard for shared conversations on how districts are responding to 21st century career and technical needs, technology, and the Common Core Standards. Some districts are creating road maps for integrating the Common Core and SBAC assessments into five-year planning documents.
Blog: Technology for Learners
