Return-Path: <nifl-assessment@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id j9PEqAG17818; Tue, 25 Oct 2005 10:52:10 -0400 (EDT) Date: Tue, 25 Oct 2005 10:52:10 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <16776850.1130251888142.JavaMail.root@web3.mail.adelphia.net> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-assessment@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-assessment@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-assessment@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: <bonniesophia@adelphia.net> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-assessment@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-ASSESSMENT:1295] RE: FW: [NIFL-LD] computer assessment X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 Status: O Content-Length: 6266 Lines: 135 Apologies to the list for sending a personal message. I should never be near electronics jetlagged... Bonnie ---- bonniesophia@adelphia.net wrote: > Hi, Ajit, > Great to hear from you from afar. Great stuff about CT PD and all... I'm plugging along at Post University, directing the Writing Center and teachinf First Year foundations and a reading comprehension course. Many of the same types of populations, just younger. Their for-profit status makes life interesting. I'm still singing: just did a lot of Taizé for a pilgrimage to Chartres Cathedral in France, and the Waterbury Chorale is doing a very popular style of program for the Palace. Notr as challenging as one would want, but that's ok; with my schedule, I don't have time for challenge... > Take care, > Bonnie Odiorne, Ph.D. > Director, Writing Center; Adjunct Faculty > Post University > 800 Country Club Road > Waterbury, CT 06708 > writingcenter@post.edu > bodiorne@post.edu > ---- Jane Eguez <jeguez@casas.org> wrote: > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Gopalakrishnan, Ajit > > Sent: Thursday, October 06, 2005 11:37 AM > > To: Marie Cora > > Subject: RE: [NIFL-ASSESSMENT:1259] Computer assessment and adult > > learners > > > > I conducted a very small study with 2 programs who piloted the use of > > CASAS computer-based testing (CBT) with a total of 55 students. This was > > done a year and a half ago. We collected student and teacher feedback on > > their experience with implementing CBT. We also aggregated student > > performance in the reading and math assessments. > > > > My general observations are that CBT is probably not for everyone. > > Students should definitely be given the choice. That said, staff comfort > > with the CBT is a pre-requisite for them to be equipped to better guide > > this student choice. If staff members themselves are intimidated with > > the technology, they may underestimate a student's ability. > > > > Student reaction was mixed in our little study. Though some students > > found the CBT to be a difficult experience, many more found it to be > > easy and a better way of taking the test. The technology has definitely > > gotten better and more intelligent. Almost all screens of the CASAS CBT > > for example can be navigated without the use of a mouse which I know can > > be problematic for some students to master. > > > > Our N was very small but a student's ability level in reading/math and > > their self-assessment of their computer skills seem to affect their > > experience with the CBT. Those with lower functioning levels and lower > > self-assessments of technology abilities rated the CBT as generally > > being more difficult than others. Nancy's concern about using CBT with > > students with "LITTLE literacy skills" and also with no computer > > experience is an important concern. For those of us that use computers > > everyday, we may not realize how we take so much of our understanding > > about how a computer works for granted. > > > > Given the importance of technology today, I prod programs to encourage > > students to attempt the CBT at some point during their participation in > > the program, even if they choose not to try it at entry. Many employers > > have entry assessments now that are computer-based and CBT in our > > programs can be good preparation for that as well. > > > > CBT can not only change the assessment practices but can also positively > > impact intake, placement, student feedback, and alignment of assessment > > to instruction. > > > > Cheers, > > Ajit > > > > Ajit Gopalakrishnan > > Education Consultant > > Connecticut Department of Education > > 25 Industrial Park Road > > Middletown, CT 06457 > > Tel: (860) 807-2125 > > Fax: (860) 807-2062 > > ajit.gopalakrishnan@po.state.ct.us > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Marie Cora [mailto:marie.cora@hotspurpartners.com] > > Sent: Thursday, October 06, 2005 9:30 AM > > To: Multiple recipients of list > > Subject: [NIFL-ASSESSMENT:1259] Computer assessment and adult learners > > > > Hi everyone, > > > > I wanted to prod you all to add your thoughts to Nancy's questions from > > the other day regarding testing via computers in ABE/ESOL. What are > > your thoughts, and what have been your experiences on this? > > > > I have done a little bit of work using the BEST Plus with adult learners > > - but in that case, it is the teacher/test administrator who actually is > > using the computer and asking questions of the test-taker. As an aside, > > the great thing about this type of computer testing is that the software > > program automatically stops you when the student has reached as far as > > they can go, and it also jumps over questions that it realizes the > > student will have no problem answering. Thus, you avoid the unnecessary > > and sometimes painful process of forcing students to answer way too easy > > questions, for example. > > > > But! This is not the situation Nancy is describing here - so do folks > > have thoughts on adult students personally using a computer for > > assessment purposes? I am also sending this reply to the > > NIFL-Technology List to see if folks over there have something to > > contribute to this discussion. > > > > Thanks! > > marie > > > > marie cora > > Moderator, NIFL Assessment Discussion List, and Coordinator/Developer > > LINCS Assessment Special Collection at > > http://literacy.kent.edu/Midwest/assessment/ > > > > marie.cora@hotspurpartners.com > > > > > > > > On Wed 10/5/2005, Nancy Hansen wrote: > > > > I also have a question to those who test using > > > computers: Do you find the skills of the learner who has had next to > > > NO exposure to computers and LITTLE literacy skills are accurately > > > being portrayed via this style testing? > > > > > > I have men and women in our adult literacy program who had never sat > > > down at a computer - much less used a mouse before. I cannot imagine > > > that their extensive life skills would be evaluated appropriately when > > > > > they hit and miss at the computer - sometimes even striking incorrect > > > keys. > > > > > > Nancy Hansen > > > Sioux Falls Area Literacy Council > > > sfallsliteracy@yahoo.com > > > > > >
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