Online
WESTEST
2
Writing Assessment
ONLINE WRITING
Field Test
2008
Writing Assessment
• New Direction
▫ Operational 4th, 7th and 10th Writing Assessment
will not be administered in 2008
▫ Assessing grades 3-11
 Computer generated; computer scored
▫ Part of WESTEST 2 Reading/Language Arts
• New Name
▫ WESTEST 2 Online Writing
WESTEST 2
Online Writing Field Test
• Spring 2008 Testing Windows for Mingo County
▫ Middle schools
 March 6 - March 19
▫ High schools
 March 24 - April 2
▫ Elementary schools
 April 17 – April 29
WESTEST 2
Online Writing Field Test
• Students instructed in a home environment will
not participate.
• Students who have moved in after the preslugging will not participate.
• No make-up sessions are required.
• Private/parochial schools will not participate.
• Each student must have on file an Acceptable
Use of the Internet Form signed by the
parent/guardian.
• We will receive school, county, and state
Purpose
• Assess student performance on passages and
prompts
▫ Use responses to train the scoring engine
• Test security of system
• Test state/county/school bandwidth
• Serve as a practice for the operational test to
be administered in 2009
Procedure
• Site codes, user names and passwords
▫ Delivered to County Test Coordinators by Office
of Assessment and Accountability
• Security of information
▫ Keep this information as secure as a test booklet
Online Computer Program
• CTB/McGraw-Hill
▫ Bookette – Writing Roadmap 2
• Customized
▫ WV student papers – field test
▫ WV rubric
Advance Preparation
of Computers
• If Vanguard is on the computer,
remove it.
• Configure Internet Explorer to run
the WESTEST 2 Online Writing
security (ActiveX).
• Create the desktop short cut for
Desktop Shortcut
• The desktop shortcut allows
students and administrators to
quickly go to the WESTEST 2
Online Writing site.
• Prior to and after the testing
window the shortcut will be
redirected to another website.
WESTEST 2
Online Writing Demonstration
•Use with students prior to
their field test session
•Use with administration
manual, pp. 14 – 19
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What happens if there is a power outage
while students are constructing essays?
A: Every 10 minutes the system automatically
saves all completed work. This means that
when the system restarts, students will have
lost no more than 10 minutes’ work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What if all the students in our school are
testing at once? Can CTB’s system handle
hundreds of users at the same time?
A: Yes. Writing Roadmap 2.0 actually has enough
capacity to handle in excess of 15,000 essays
administered hourly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is the Internet secure enough for our students
to write and submit essays without outside
interference?
A: Yes. Important information is encrypted with
industry standard Secure Socket Layers (SSL)—
a protocol that permits the transmission of
private documents over the Internet. SSL
encrypts the data, which is further protected
by two fire/virus walls.
STUDENT LOGIN INFORMATION
▫ Secure Materials – Follow same security measures
as with test books
 Person receiving must sign for them
▫ Delivery Dates
 To schools – Two weeks prior to testing
▫ Alphabetically Arranged
 By grade
 Will not have tear apart cards this year; will need
to cut into strips to give each student his/her own
login info
Training
• Must include test security and test administration
procedures
• County training by the county test coordinator
▫ Principals
▫ Building level coordinators
▫ Central office staff who might be involved with
testing
• School training by the principal and building level
coordinator
▫ Examiners
▫ Other school staff who might be involved with testing
Read and follow the Administration Manual, especially:
•Pp. 2 – 5, General Test Administration
•P. 11, Responsibilities for Principal/BLC
•P. 23, Appendix 1 - Testing Code of Ethics
•P. 27, Appendix 3 - Principal Security Agreement
•P. 28, Appendix 4 – Building Level Coordinator Security
Agreement
Read and follow the Administration Manual, especially:
•Pp. 2 – 5, General Test Administration
•P. 12, Administration manual
•P. 23, Appendix 1 – Testing Code of Ethics
•P. 26, Appendix 6 – Examiner Security Agreement
SECURITY
• Secure Items
▫ Site Codes, User Names and Passwords, Passages
and Prompts, Student Responses
• Do Not Retain, Copy, Reproduce, Paraphrase,
Distribute, Discuss
▫ Passages and Prompts
▫ Student Responses
SECURITY (cont’d)
• Students are not allowed to bring paper or prewritten information into the lab. The examiner
is to distribute scratch paper and writing
instruments to the students.
• Students are not allowed to use the computers
after essays are submitted.
SECURITY (cont’d)
• Before students leave the lab, examiners must
collect login information, rough drafts, all
scratch paper, etc., and give to the
principal/building level coordinator for
shredding.
REPORTING PROCEDURES
• Report to County Test Coordinator immediately
▫
▫
▫
▫
▫
▫
Loss of materials
Cheating
Security breach
Testing administration breach
Copyright infringement
Other deviation from acceptable security
procedures
ACTIONS TAKEN
• County Test Coordinator will immediately
report to the County Superintendent and the
WVDE Office of Assessment and Accountability
• Investigation will follow
• Breach of test security or copyright
infringement can result in
▫
▫
▫
▫
License suspended
License revoked
Suspension
Termination
DELIVERY OF MATERIALS
• Distribution of testing materials
▫ Manuals – give to examiners at time of training;
must be kept for test administration
• Delivery of secure testing materials to schools
▫ Student login information – two weeks prior to
testing; must be kept secure
▫ Student is not to be given his/her login
information until the beginning of his/her testing
session
ALLOWABLE ACCOMMODATIONS
• Students with IEPs and Section 504 Plans
▫ Pp. 5 – 6, Administration Manual
▫ Print Student Test Options Report, WVS.326
▫ Correct any discrepancies between WVS.326 and
the IEP
 Passages and prompts may be read aloud only to
students who have that accommodation listed on
their plans
• LEP Students
▫ P. 7, Administration Manual
TRANSCRIBING
• Follow directions on pages 8 – 9 in the
Administration Manual
• Complete the Scribe Verification Form on page
21 in the Administration Manual
• Keep a copy of the Scribe Verification Form for
the school file and submit a copy to the county
test coordinator
Examiner Responsibilities
Prior to Session
• Read and become familiar with the manual
• Prepare students
▫ Distribute Parent Guide
▫ Present PowerPoint to students
• Check student logins with testing roster
• Prepare classroom/lab; remove or cover any
writing posters, graphic organizers, transitional
expressions, etc., on display in the testing area
• Remind students to bring appropriate reading
materials for after testing; have extra available
Examiner Responsibilities
Beginning of Session
• Create an effective atmosphere
• Have materials assembled for quick distribution
▫ Scratch paper; pencil or pen
▫ Reading materials after completion of test
• Distribute student one-page handout, p. 20
• Review the directions
• Distribute student login information
Examiner Responsibilities
During Testing Session
• Monitor testing vigilantly
• Maintain an atmosphere conducive to good testing
• Testing is not timed but must be completed within
one school day
• If a student has stopped working for more than 10
minutes, instruct him/her to submit the essay
• If irregularities occur that may affect a student or
group’s performance, complete the Irregularity Form
Examiner Responsibilities
After Testing Session
•
•
•
•
Collect scratch paper/outlines/rough drafts
Collect student login information
Deliver to principal/building level coordinator
Report any irregularities; submit the
irregularity form to the principal/building level
coordinator
Actions
Resulting in an Investigation
• Assisting a student with the content of the
essay
• Typing the essay for a student who is not
allowed to have a scribe
• Giving students advice or calling attention to
errors
• Copying rough drafts or final essays
SCHOOL-LEVEL VERIFICATION OF
TRAINING FORMS
• Completed Appendix 7, p. 31 in the
Administration Manual, must be on
file with the county test coordinator
at least five instructional days prior to
testing.
• Keep a copy for the school files.
SECURE MATERIALS AND TEST
PROCEDURES AGREEMENTS
• Completed Principal’s Agreements
and Building-Level Coordinator’s
Agreements (pages 27 – 28) must be
on file with the county test
coordinator. Keep a copy for the
school files.
• Completed Examiner’s, Proctor’s,
Scribe’s, and other school personnel
agreements must be on file at the
SCRIBE VERIFICATION AND TESTING
IRREGULARITY FORMS
• Must be submitted to the county test
coordinator immediately after testing.
• Keep a copy for the school files.
Discussion
Opportunities
Contact Information
• Karen Canterbury, County Test Coordinator
304-235-7212
krcanter@access.k12.wv.us
• Office of Assessment /Accountability
304-558-2546
• CTB/McGraw-Hill Technical Support Staff
866-282-2250