Tech Readiness Tool Updates
Tech Readiness Tool updates, issued as part of the Smarter Balanced Weekly update to the State Assessment teams will be posted here. Feel free to ask questions and pass this information along to those who may need it, or be interested in receiving it.
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01/07/2013 - 12:00pm by stanfreeda
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How are teachers involved in creating the Smarter Balanced assessment system?
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Do students and administrators need to be entered in TIDE before beginning the
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What happens after Smarter Balanced assessments are implemented in the 2014-15
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If states administer a paper-and-pencil version of the assessment, will scores be
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Will Smarter Balanced assessments replace the SAT and ACT?
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Technology Readiness Update 20 April 2012
Technology Readiness data collection efforts are currently underway across member states, and data collection reports are available. These reports describe back to districts and schools what has been submitted to help improve data quality and to inform the two consortia about which types of hardware and operating systems are currently being used in schools. After the data collection window closes and minimum technology specifications have been determined, gap analysis reports will be available.
Tech Readiness Tool
Why does the Tech Readiness Tool show all our indicators as TBD when our submission status is Green?
TBD indicator
The TBD indicates "To Be Determined". This is the spot in the report where the tool will give you your readiness indicator. Right now, there are no minimum guidelines in the tool, so the "answer" is yet to be determined. Once the standards are in the tool, they were released today, oddly enough, and will be in the tool in January, the TBD will be replaced with your readiness indicator.
I hope that helps.
Technology Framework Released
The Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium has released a technology strategy framework that describes minimum hardware specifications and basic bandwidth calculations for the implementation of the Smarter Balanced assessments during the 2014 - 15 school year. These minimum requirements will support the deployment of an innovative assessment system that will measure the depth and breadth of the Common Core State Standards. Smarter Balanced estimates that the majority of schools and districts in member states will be able to successfully administer the assessments with their existing infrastructure.
The technology strategy framework was developed in collaboration with Smarter Balanced member states, work groups, and the Consortium’s test delivery service provider. Data from the Technology Readiness Tool provided baseline information about the infrastructure available in schools across Smarter Balanced member states.
The technology strategy framework and a Q & A is currently available on the Smarter Balanced Web site(www.smarterbalanced.org/smarter-balanced-assessments/technology). On December 5, users will be able to access an online tool to check school bandwidth and estimate the number of students who can test simultaneously.
When reviewing this framework, it is important to note that the minimum requirements apply only to the Smarter Balanced assessments and should not be considered minimum specifications to support instruction.
It is very important to keep information updated on the Technology Readiness Tool since the tool will be populated with these specifications to allow districts to conduct a gap analysis in January. At that time, you will be able to get a “tech readiness index” based on a comparison between your existing conditions and the minimum requirements.
The Office of Educational Technology and the NH Department of Education recommends that you input your information into the Technology Readiness Tool as soon as possible and check back in January to determine your readiness index. Readiness information should be used to construct your technology budget and plans for the coming year.
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New Role Assignment options to be set on April 13.
The Technology Readiness Tool development team has created two new role assignment options. The following roles can be assigned to a user at any organization level and will be available for use on April 13, 2013.
· Data Management: The Data Management role is designed for personnel who will be entering data into the tool but who should not access or edit Organization Management or User Accounts & Permissions screens. Users with Data Management access can only enter device and survey data and mark data entry complete.
· Reports: The Reports role is designed for users who need access to view reports. They will not have access to any other screens or activities within the tool.
The table below describes activities available to each account type.
User Role Assignment
Management Area
Typical Activities and Access*
Data Management
Organization Management
• No access.
User Accounts & Permissions
Device Inventory Management
• Enter and maintain device (hardware and software) information.
School Readiness Survey Questions
• Enter and maintain network infrastructure information.
Mark Data Entry Complete
• Enter completion status for each organization.
Batch File Importing and Exporting
• Import and export batch files.
Reports
• View reports.
Reports
Organization Management
• No access.
User Accounts & Permissions
Device Inventory Management
School Readiness Survey Questions
Mark Data Entry Complete
Batch File Importing and Exporting
Reports
• View reports.
*Users may access information for only the organizations to which they are assigned.
Please review page 5 of the User’s Guide, which is posted to the Technology Readiness Tool home page, for information about other user role assignments. New user role assignment will be posted to the User’s Guide on April 13, 2013.
Updates to TRT- Aprl 9, 2013
The Technology Readiness Tool has deployed the following changes to the system.
1. URL to the login page has been added to the create and reset password emails.
2. A disclaimer has been added to the Device Indicators, Device to Test-Taker Indicators, and Network Indicators reports.
3. The Legend on the reports no longer shows a gray box for the TBD indicator.
4. Text on the legend of the Network Indicators report has been changed from “Test Data Capacity” to “Percent Coverage”.
5. Text on the Submission Status Report has been changed from “…Schools in the Consortium have Indicated Data are Submitted and Ready for Review and Verification” to “… of Schools have Indicated Data are Complete”. This removes the Org-level information that is only shown on this report.
6. The following User Roles are now ready for use and can be assigned to any user at any organization level
a) Data Management: The Data Management role is designed for personnel who will be entering data into the tool but who should not access or edit Organization Management or User Accounts & Permissions screens. Users with Data Management access can only enter device and survey data and mark data entry complete.
b) Reports: The Reports role is designed for users who need access to view reports. They will not have access to any other screens or activities within the tool.
Please see below for details about each user role assignment and their activities. This information can also be found in the User’s Guide, which is posted on the home page of the Technology Readiness Tool.
User Role Assignment
Management Area
Typical Activities and Access*
Data Management
Organization Management
• No access.
User Accounts & Permissions
Device Inventory Management
• Enter and maintain device (hardware and software) information.
School Readiness Survey Questions
• Enter and maintain network infrastructure information.
Mark Data Entry Complete
• Enter completion status for each organization.
Batch File Importing and Exporting
• Import and export batch files.
Reports
• View reports.
Reports
Organization Management
• No access.
User Accounts & Permissions
Device Inventory Management
School Readiness Survey Questions
Mark Data Entry Complete
Batch File Importing and Exporting
Reports
• View reports.
*Users may access information for only the organizations to which they are assigned.