O ATIS

O nline Assessm ent Tools Integration System

W hy Integrate Technology?
In the state of Ohio our end of year testing
system is moving to all on-line. We need to
prepare our students not only to take these
tests, but to work comfortably with the online
interface as well.
The educational system is also moving toward
an online interface, therefore as educators we
need to be able to adapt to the changing times.
Students respond well to new technologies,
therefore to reach our students we have to get
to them through technology.

O nline Testing
In 2015 the state of Ohio introduced the new online
testing system called PARCC (Partnership of Readiness
for College and Careers). Due to the outcry of opposition
from teachers and school districts, the state decided not
to renew their contract with PARCC, however they are
sticking with an online testing format.

O nline Testing
Ohio chose to replace the PARCC testing system with AIR
(American Institute for Research), which is also an online
testing system.
This shows us that online testing in the state of Ohio is
not going away anytime soon and we as educators need
to prepare our students for this format.

Reducing Stress Levels

The most important thing we can do as
educators is to help reduce our students stress
levels during these tests. One of the most
stressful aspects of the online testing is the fact
that many of our students may not be familiar
with online applications and how to work the
testing formats.

W ays to reduce stress levels

We know that we need to help our students reduce
stress levels during their online testing, but what
are ways we can go about this?
There are many online programs for every subject that
allow educators to get their students working with
computers.
IXL.com
Khan Academy
Practice Tests
Edmodo
And many others!

Sim ulate Standardized Testing Procedures

Another major form of stress during
standardized tests is the time constraint that
students are put under.
Ways we can reduce the stress of this time constraint is to give
students the online practice tests with a time limit. Or to give
them other tests or quizzes, or assignments in general with a
time constraint so they can get used to working under the
pressure.

Sim ulate Standardized Testing Procedures

Students may also struggle with the change in
classroom setting.
When we test our students we may change the way the classroom is set
up, so when we test them during the school year we can practice the
new room arrangement, helping to further reduce stress levels.

Sim ulate Standardized Testing Procedures

a major factor is the actual method by which they are
administered. They are rigidly timed, the instructions are
complicated, and the rules are inflexible. For most students and
teachers, this differs greatly from day-to-day classroom life. Often
the room itself needs to be rearranged. Kids who've been sitting in
circles and groups all year may suddenly find their desks lined up in
straight rows. And their teacher will be acting differently, too
(Clovis, 2016).

G et Students W orking W ith Technology

Many students may not have access to
technology or the technology required to take
theses online assessments. These are students
that need to work with the online programming
as much as possible.

G et Students W orking W ith Technology

Teaching students the basics of using
technology and getting them to work with the
technology throughout the school year will help
them adapt and lower stress levels come test
time.

Starting Technology at an Earlier Age

When we can get our students working with
technology at an early age, they have a better
chance of being successful in a technology
classroom, as well as being better prepared for
online assessments.

Starting Technology at an Earlier Age

first graders who participated in the program
made significant reading gains over the school
year. Their post-test scores were slightly (but
not significantly) greater than the post test
scores of control children who received regular
reading instruction without the program
(Macaruso, Hook, & McCabe, 2006, p.162).

Starting Technology at an Earlier Age

This also helps once the students get into
middle and high school because they are not
mesmerized by the technology in front of them
because they have used it before.

Resources
Clovis, D. L. (n.d.). Take Out Your No.2 Pencils: Taking the Stress Out
of Standardized
Tests. Retrieved March 14, 2016, from
http://teacher.scholastic.com/professional/assessment/take_out_pen
cils.htm

Dealer, P. O. (2015, February 15). Testing season starts this week for
Ohio students with new Common Core exams: What to expect.
Retrieved March 14, 2016, from
http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2015/02/testing_season_s
tarts_this_wee.html