Copyright © 2012

American Institutes

for Research.

All rights reserved.

Computer-Based Adaptive Testing of Blind Students

Presented by:Elizabeth Greenberg, State Program Director

National Conference on Student Assessment, June 2012

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Overview of System

• First used in Oregon in November 2011• Students access test questions and

stimuli through: Text-to-speech (JAWS: screen reader for the

blind) Refreshable Braille display (displays a line of

Braille and some navigational controls) Real-time embossing of test items (View Plus

Tiger embosser)

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Overview of System (continued)• Reading and social sciences items available in

contracted and uncontracted literary Braille • Math and science items available in Nemeth

Braille• All math and science items, as well as reading

and social science items with graphics, are automatically sent to the embosser (RBD does not display Nemeth or graphics)

• Other items can be embossed if requested by the student

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Refreshable Braille Display (RBD)

• Refreshable Braille Display: Only displays literary Braille (no Nemeth

or graphics) Displays exactly what JAWS reads from

screen. Content cannot be edited by Braillists as it is for embossed files.

Can be configured for contracted or uncontracted Braille

Display follows along with what JAWS is reading aloud

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Embosser

• Embosser: Can be used for literary Braille, Nemeth,

and tactile graphics Files can be reviewed and edited by

Braillists prior to being presented to students. Better quality control than RBD.

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Required hardware and software

• Student: Computer with Windows 7, AIR secure

browser, JAWS, and Internet access Refreshable Braille Display (Oregon uses

ALVA 40-cell display)

• Test administrator: Computer with View Plus desktop embosser

driver (for printing .prn files), Duxbury Braille translator (for printing .brf files), and Internet access

View Plus Tiger Max embosser

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Preparation of Test Items for Braille Testing

• Items classified into categories: Appropriate for Braille: no graphics Appropriate for Braille: includes graphics Appropriate for Braille: no graphics but requires

some simple transcriber notes Appropriate for Braille: includes graphics and

requires some simple transcriber notes Not appropriate for Braille

• First two categories included on 2011-2012 test (over 15,000 total items available in Braille)

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Pilot Testing and Training

• Pilot testing conducted across Oregon in May 2011 (13 students).

• Braille practice tests launched in August 2011.

• Trainings for test administrators conducted across Oregon in September 2011. Software and hardware (embossers, refreshable Braille displays) provided at trainings for test administrators to take back to schools.

• Test launched November 2012.

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Braille Tests Completed in Oregon: 2011-2012

• 81 online Braille tests completed in Oregon during academic year 2011-2012

• 23 students tested

• Tests administered in all grades: 3 through high school

• Tests administered in all subjects: reading, mathematics, science, social sciences

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Hawaii

• Same system used in Hawaii, but Hawaii elected not to use RBD (embosser only)

• Hawaii Braille Practice Test launched in January 2011

• Training for test administrators conducted in February 2012

• Online adaptive Braille test launched in March 2012

• Eight students tested in Spring 2012