NAPLAN Online
Over the last decade, the world of education has undergone significant transformations due to advances in technology. An increasing number of schools are now integrating technology not only into their day to day classroom practice, but also into how they are measuring student performance. Increasingly we are seeing a shift from traditional paper-and-pen testing to online and computer-based assessments, where not only is the functionality and the efficiencies of the test improved, but the design of the assessment is modified to meet the needs of the students. This delivers an improved experience for the test takers and increased accuracy in the data collected on student performance.
Consistent with this trend, in 2019 NAPLAN will be administered wholly online, with the exception of the Year 3 Writing assessment. The format of the testing will be heavily influenced by the paper based version from previous years, however, there will be interactive features such as calculators, rulers, protractors, clicking, typing and dragging and audio that will support students to complete each test.
In addition, the online assessment is a tailored test design that is broken into sections. The pathway or degree of difficulty of the assessment will be determined based on the students' performance in the previous sections. This design feature is to try and encourage students to show what they can do rather than highlight what they cannot do, by adjusting the test to provide questions at their level. If they perform at a high or reasonable standard in the first section, the test will increase in difficulty. If the first section provides too much challenge, the test will take them to a lower level where they have the opportunity to build confidence. Regardless of their performance in Testlet A, each student has the ability to sit the last test at the highest complexity. (See diagram below)
In order to prepare our boys for NAPLAN online, they will be given access to a platform where they can familiarise themselves with the features of each test and discuss what to do if they encounter any technical issues during the assessment. As the platform only has a limited number of questions, the classroom teachers may also use previous paper based assessments to prepare the boys. At Scotch the boys will be using their own device to complete the assessment, whether that be the iPad (Year 3 and 5) or the MacBook Air (Year 7 and 9), and their own headphones.
The following is a schedule of dates:
|
|
Writing |
Reading |
Language Convention |
Numeracy |
|
Year 3 |
14 May |
15 May |
20 May |
21 May |
|
Year 5 |
14 May |
15 May |
20 May |
21 May |
|
Year 7 |
14 May |
14 May |
15 May |
16 May |
|
Year 9 |
14 May |
20 May |
21 May |
22 May |
Although NAPLAN is a significant test it is important to remind the boys that, although they are encouraged to do their best, they should not worry about the outcome. The information collected is simply one of the many data points used to track progress and, as a school, we are well informed about how the boys are performing against a national standard.