Measured Progress ©2011 DEVELOPMENT OF COMPUTER-BASED TESTING ACCOMMODATIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH VISUAL DISABILITIES JUNE 27, 2012 MINNEAPOLIS, MN

Goal: Creation of a fully functional computer based testing platform that supports refreshable braille interoperability Measured Progress: Development of product, enhancement, alpha and beta testing ETS: pilot and field testing Project Overview

Measured Progress ©2011 Development Key Steps 1. Creating code that allows the testing platform to communicate directly with commonly used electronic braille displays 2. Expanding meta-tag system to include braille representations of test content Capabilities: Focused on enhancing the NimbleTools platform to deliver the following testing accommodations: key-stroke navigation, refreshable braille output, braille keyboard input of responses, screen magnification, and audio output.

Measured Progress ©2011 NimbleTools computer delivery system Freedom Scientific Focus 40 Blue 8 th Grade level Reading passages and items from the National Accessible Reading Assessment Projects (NARAP) Content and instruments

Measured Progress ©2011

Conducted in Massachusetts in December 2011 with 6 students Recommendations Improving formatting and layout Creating an orientation to familiarize students with the system Improving read aloud tool Easier navigation of system Alpha Test

Measured Progress ©2011 Positive Feedback Navigating passage was easy Responding to test items on the braille display was unique and more effective than usual response method Answer Verification was helpful Alpha Test II

Measured Progress ©2011 Conducted at the Washington School for the Blind in March with 8 students Feedback Orientation file was effective in helping familiarize users with system New Shortcuts made navigation simple Read Aloud tool used a clear voice and changing speeds wasn’t difficult Beta Test

Measured Progress ©2011 On the orientation: “I don’t think it was too much. Nice having list at end with all the commands. The orientation was good to help understand it.” On answer input: “(Answering was) Not difficult at all. It was nice, just being able to put in an answer.” On the read aloud quality and its value: “I liked the voice, it compares well to (MAC) voice over. I would use just the speech (on a test) because I can’t read as fast as that with braille.” On the overall system: “Its set up really well. I wouldn’t change much.” “Its set up really well. I wouldn’t change much.” Beta Test II

Measured Progress ©2011 Measured Progress is in the process of a 3 month development and content production process right now in preparation for future testing Fall 2012 ETS will conduct pilot test with 20 students Spring 2013 ETS will conduct field test with 100 students Moving Forward