NimbleTools School Information

A few number of schools were selected to participate in a sub-component of this project. Your school principal will know whether your school is participating in the Accessibility Helper research. more info

• Accessibility Helper Participation Page

SAAS/NimbleTools School Information

Taking the Operational Test

Students will log into the test using the NimbleSecure test application. While practice tests are taken using links on this page, the actual test uses the secure application. You can download that application using the Operational Test links on the left side of this page. Please read the Technical Information if you are installing the application for students. More detailed information is provided below.

Important Dates – 2012

March 12: Have students start practicing using NimbleTools to help determine what tools would best suit the student's needs.

April 17: The Nimble School Administrator online tool is available to use by schools.

April 17: Deadline for Principal or designated Test Coordinator to express interest in having students use NimbleTools.

April 17 - May 4: Register students, assign tools to students, install the NimbleSecure application, then conduct the Nimble Network Load Test.

May 7 – May 25: Operational Test Administration

Instructions

• Nimble Administrator Instructions (for the online registration application)

• Adminstration Manuals will be available for download at this site.

Administrative Procedures for Participating Schools

How do I get ready for the operational test?

Load the NimbleSecure test application onto school computers.
Conduct network load test between April 11 and May 4.
Information about how to conduct the network load test will be sent to schools that express interest before April 13th.
Print test tickets from the Administrator Tool.
Ensure that computer volume is turned on for computers that will have read aloud or auditory calming enabled.

Will the results from the computer-based test count as the official score of record?

YES. Students who take the NECAP Science test online will produce an official test score based on their responses to this computer version of the test. This is NOT a pilot. The online version and the paper version of the test will both be scored in exactly the same way. Student scores will be assigned and will count. It is essential that all participating students, their parents, and school personnel clearly understand this fact when they make their participation decision. Should students encounter any problems while performing the online version or decide that this is not the right option for them, they will have the option of completing the remaining test sessions on paper. (If this occurs during a test session, contact your Department of Education assessment staff for procedural guidance.)

How should I distribute test materials to students?

With the exception of Grade 11 Read Aloud of Text and Graphics, student test booklets and student answer booklets should be distributed to students using normal procedures. Please try to ensure that all forms are evenly distributed to students using NimbleTools. All Grade 11 students using Text and Graphics Read Aloud should be assigned to Form 1.

How do students login to NimbleTools?

Using the administrator tool, test coordinators will print a report listing participating student login and ticket number information. Test coordinators will be responsible for logging students in and out of NimbleTools during the operational test. Students will launch the NimbleSecure application from their computer to begin testing. NimbleSecure should have been installed on computers prior to conducting the Network Load Test.

Students will have a different ticket number for each of the testing sessions. After logging into NimbleTools, students will be asked to enter the the 10-digit answer booklet number (sometimes called the lithocode number) from the bottom right hand corner of the student answer booklet that has been assigned to them. Students will be asked to enter the answer booklet number twice to confirm accuracy. Entering the answer booklet number will allow the proper form to be delivered to the participating student.

Are all three NECAP Science Test Sessions available within NimbleTools?

All three grade 11 test sessions are available within NimbleTools. For grades 4 and 8, sessions 1 and 2 are available within NimbleTools, session 3 is NOT.

Can students use other accommodations in addition to NimbleTools?

Yes. If needed, students can also use regular accommodations, like D2: (Student answers on separate paper and school personnel transcribe answer to student answer booklet), or D5: (Student dictates constructed responses and school personnel scribe into test booklet exactly as dictated.) Any approved standard accommodations, as appropriate, may be used, and if used – must be documented on page 2 of the Student Answer Booklet in the normal way. Use of the computer accommodation version of the test will be documented by data collected online during administration.

What other accommodations are provided that are not listed as 'Tools'?

Allow Breaks: Students are allowed to log out of a test session, take a break, then continue with the same session by logging back in. Answers will be saved and restored when they return. This should only be assigned to students who specifically require breaks, as their test session will require more careful supervision (to ensure test security). This accommodation is assigned in the Nimble Administrator online application.

Extended Time: All students participating will be allowed extended time when taking the tests. You do not need to assign the student to this accommodation.

Magnifying Glass: All students using NimbleTools will have access to the Magnifying Glass tool that can increase the size of text or graphics for any part of the test.

Will students be shown how to use the accessibility tools as part of the testing session?

No. Students should view the general NimbleTools orientation and specific accessibility tool orientations posted at www.nimbletools.com/necap/orientations.htm before taking the operational test.

Will we need to provide our own earphones for students using read aloud or auditory calming?

Yes. Also, there will be a reminder when students start the test to check the system sound volume. While they will be able to change the volume within the test, they can not unmute or change the computer system volume from the computer screen.

What happens if there is a technology problem while students are taking the test?

Student’s test answers will be recorded on Nimble’s servers as the student answers each question. If an Internet connection problem occurs during testing, please have the student resume testing when the connection has been reestablished. You will need to notify Nimble if the application was closed. In these cases, Nimble will need to reset testing sessions for students. You need to provide your school Administrator username and password in order to have a test session reset.

Will students record their answers to both multiple choice and open response items using NimbleTools?

All multiple-choice items will be answered using NimbleTools. Open response items will be presented through NimbleTools, but because some items encourage students to draw graphs or pictures, all open response items must be answered in the normal paper based student answer booklets. NimbleTools will instruct students to respond in their student answer booklet for all open response items.

How will NimbleTools Testing Session End?

When students finish a testing session, they will be shown a summary of their answers, asked to confirm that they want to exit the session.

What happens if a student’s paper-based student answer booklet is damaged or destroyed?

If a student's answer booklet is damaged or destroyed, call us at 1-877-636-0371.

What happens if a student decides that they would rather not use NimbleTools after starting a testing session?

If a student begins a testing session using NimbleTools, please encourage the student to finish the test session on the computer. Try to switch to paper only at the beginning of a new session. If the change to paper is critical, simply have the student answer all remaining questions in the current session in the answer booklet. The test proctor should ensure that the student locates the proper starting point in the answer booklet to begin entering his or her remaining responses in the paper answer booklet. Standard NECAP test administration procedures should be followed after switching to paper.

How Can I Get Help or Ask Questions?

If you have questions about NimbleTools or the specific accessibility tools, please view the orientation files on the Detailed Description of Tools page. If you have further questions, please email saas@measuredprogress.org, or call (877) 636-0371. During the testing window, the help line hours are 7:30am to 4pm Eastern.

Schools Participating in the Accessibility Helper Portion of the Study

A few number of schools were selected to participate in a sub-component of this project. Your school principal will know whether your school is participating in the Accessibility Helper research.

The Accessibility Helper is a tool that is focused on helping educators make more informed decisions about assigning access and accommodation tools to students. The use of the Accessibility Helper is voluntary and information from the use of this tool will be used for research purposes only. As part of this tool, educators and parents will be asked to provide information about students’ specific learning needs and preferences. Students will be asked about their preferences and will also complete short pilot tests to understand more about the impact that tools have on student performance. The end result of this tool will be a final recommendation of accommodation tools that a student can use for the 2012 NECAP Science test.

Adding Students

The Accessibility Helper is part of the Nimble Administrator application, which is used to register and assign tools to students who will be using NimbleTools to take the NECAP Science test. The first step in using the Accessibility Helper is adding students who you would like to have participate in the Accessibility Helper research components.

Connect Code

Each student that is added to the Accessibility Helper list will be assigned a unique 6 digit "Connect Code.” This code will allow students, parents, and support educators to submit their recommended tools for individual students using an online form. Educators will have the option of distributing student Connect Codes by email or by printing.

Students, Teachers, and Parents should start their participation at the Accessibility Helper page.

Checklists

The first step in completing the Accessibility Helper recommendation is completion of the checklist. Once students, parents and educators have received the Connect Code they can launch the checklist and enter the 6 digit Connect Code to link the user with the correct student. The checklist consists of five questions that give the user a chance to identify their relationship with the student and their beliefs about the student’s accommodation needs. Checklist users are also asked to provide a rationale for their selection to tools. Multiple support educators and parents can submit checklists for each student.

It is important that parents and educators view information about the available access and accommodation tools on the project website before completing the checklist so that they can appropriately match student needs with available tools. It is also important for checklist users to understand that assigning too many tools to students can make the testing environment confusing – only choose tools that are fit to the students access needs.

Initial and Contrasting Tool Recommendation

After viewing parent, student, and support educator’s tool recommendations that were submitted via checklists, the lead educator then prepares for pilot testing by setting initial tool recommendations and contrast tool recommendations.

Educators make initial tool recommendations by selecting tools that they think are most appropriate for each student, taking into account student, parent, and support educator opinions as expressed through submitted checklists. The access tools in the initial tool recommendation will be activated for the first 10 items of the pilot test.

Educators make contrast tool recommendations by selecting either no tools or a minimal amount of tools for each student. The contrast tool set will be activated for the second 10 items of the pilot test and will help provide a comparison score for the recommended tools.

Pilot Test

After initial and contrast tool recommendations are made by educators, students are ready to take the 20 item pilot test. Pilot test items consist of released multipe choice NECAP Science items. After launching the pilot test, students will be asked to enter their Connect Code. The first set of pilot test questions will use the tools recommended by the teacher and the second set will use the contrasting set. After completion of each set of questions the student will be able to see how many questions he or she answered correctly. This information will also be available to the educator on the Accessibility Helper page.

View Reports/all collected information

The Accessibility Helper allows educators to view all of the information gathered for each student including all of the completed checklists, initial and contrast tool recommendations, comments, and pilot test scores for the initial and contrasting tool set. At this point, the educator should have all of the information needed to make a final tool recommendation.

Final Tool Recommendation

The goal of the Accessibility Helper is to provide educators with more information to make access tool decisions for individual students. The final decision on which tools students should use to take the NECAP Science test is made when educators complete the "final tool recommendation." The tools captured in the final recommendation are transmitted to the Nimble Administrator, which assigns tools to students for the operational NECAP Science test.

Please send your comments to saas@measuredprogress.org