1. Technology Literacy Assessment
Grade 8
April 11, 2017
Student Assessment

2. (713) 349-7460 www.HoustonISD.org/OA
Meeting Facilitators
Diana Bidulescu
Noe Cervantes
Manager, Online Assessment Houston ISD
Online Assessment Administrator Houston ISD
Alex Mamontoff
Vania Willms
Online Assessment Administrator
Houston ISD
Online Assessment Administrator
Houston ISD
(713)

3. Meeting Facilitators Nettie McDonalds Briggs
Senior Education Specialist
Learning.com
(800) x3207 (713)

4. What is new this Year?
To better support them, we are asking testing coordinators to submit their planned testing dates at
Testing coordinators will not create classes or enroll students.
Testing coordinators will assign the test to existing Math classes as they appear in Chancery. The Math classes are synced automatically overnight from Chancery.
Verify that you are not testing students twice if they are enrolled in more than one Math class.

5. Preparing Technology
Ensure you have the current computer image - Windows with dark grey login screen.
Ensure you have the Chrome browser (preferred), or Internet Explorer 11.
If using Chrome, enable Adobe for Chrome: chrome.html
If using Internet Explorer 11, install the most current version of Adobe Flash Player:
Enable pop-ups (Disable pop-up blockers). Here are the instructions for Chrome at and for Internet Explorer 11 at .
If using a Mac, ensure the Mac is running OS X.

6. Governing and Support Documents
District-Mandated Assessments Test Coordinator’s Manual
TLA Quick Reference Guide – April 2017
Under Resources (bottom center of screen), click on Grade 8 TLA
Academic Services Memo

7. Critical Dates April 11, 2017 Campus Training Date
April 17 – May 19, Test Window
May 22-25, Check-In Materials at TMC
May 23, Anticipated Score Reporting Date (Online Only)

8. Mandate and Purpose
In 2007, the Texas Legislature made the Grade 8 Technology Literacy Assessment (TLA) part of the Texas Education Code and mandated the assessment. Technology applications instruction became mandated and districts are required to demonstrate the students' technology proficiency. The TLA assesses students' technology proficiency in:
Creativity and Innovation
Communication and Collaboration
Research and Information Fluency
Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making
Digital Citizenship
Technology Operations and Concepts

9. Eligibility 8th Grade students only
Students are tested on the objectives listed in the 8th Grade Technology Applications TEKS found in 19 TAC Chapter 126

10. Exemptions STAAR Alternate 2 students will not take the 8th Grade TLA
Students who are identified as Beginning Level LEP are not required to take the 8th Grade TLA. This should be determined by the campus LPAC.
Allow exemptions from the 8th Grade TLA for first-year immigrant students

11. Assisting Students Please observe all the test security requirements
Proctors may not help students with the assessment itself. They may help students log in and begin the 8th grade TLA.
Proctors may help students with any hardware or Internet connectivity issues during the assessment.
Technical problems should be recorded in the Proctors notes section in the management system.
Proctors may pronounce words in the QUESTION items on the assessment. Proctors may not provide definitions for any words.

12. Assisting Students
Student must follow the same testing rules as with any assessment: No looking around, no talking, no comparing answers.
Right-clicking and keyboard shortcuts are not acceptable forms of responding to items on the assessment. All answers must be made with traditional left-click mouse actions.

13. Assisting Students
Follow Students’ IEP guidelines or other accommodations, such as reading aloud to ELL students, as indicated for any standardized assessment.
Record any accommodations in the Proctors notes section in the management system.

14. Assessment Management
Testing irregularities must be reported to the campus CTC. The CTC must then notify the HISD Student Assessment Department.
Call (713) or your assigned Student Assessment Specialist (SAS) immediately to report any incident.
Complete the Incident Report Form found on the HISD Student Assessment SharePoint.

15. Assessment Management
You should monitor the progress of your students during the assessment via the Teacher Management System.
When a student submits a test for scoring, you will see a check mark under the submitted column, as well as an option to reset the test if a student has submitted the test prematurely.

16. Assessment Completion
The assessment is in two parts and should be given over two minute long sessions. The survey is optional.
If a student does not complete the assessment during the initial time period, click on the Exit button in the student’s assessment window and the answers will be saved.
If a student does not submit the assessment, a score report will not be produced for that student.

17. Testing Environment No distracting noises or interruptions.
The test may be proctored in a variety of settings including, but not limited to labs, libraries, mobile wireless labs, and classroom computers.
Have a way to ensure students who finish the assessment early do not disrupt the rest of the class. For example, students may bring a book, homework, or a project.

18. Setup
Students are uploaded nightly from Chancery rosters by an automated data feed.
Only students in 8th Grade Math classes will be tested.
The Test Coordinator will not set up any test groups or manually upload students. The Test Coordinator will assign (schedule) the test for each of the 8th grade math classes.
Ensure students are NOT tested twice if they are enrolled in more than one math class on your campus.

19. Administration Instructions
The test consist of the required Post Test Parts 1 and 2, and the optional Survey.
The test should be administered in a group setting in two class periods of minutes (for a total of 90 minutes). It can be administered in one or multiple sittings.
Assessment Setup and Proctoring Guide. Follow all the steps except steps 2 and 3.
21st Century Skills Proctor Script. Follow Alternate Ending 2 instructing students to login at

20. TLA Quick Reference Guide
We will now review live all the functions covered in the TLA Quick Reference Guide.
Please log into learning.com - provide link

21. Reports
The assessment reports become available 24–72 hours after students have completed ALL PARTS of the assessment. Proctors may generate reports at that time.
If your campus has finished testing, then you can request the reports for your campus. Coordinator reports can be requested from Retrieve Score Reports under Assessment Tools in the coordinator interface. Requests for coordinator reports can take between hours to process.

22. Materials Check-In
You may check-in secure documents in person or via eSubmission.
In Person: Sign-Up for a check-in appointment as instructed by the Test Materials Center (TMC)
eSubmission: On the Student Assessment SharePoint, click on CTC/Principals and then click eSubmission.
The CTC must check-in the following materials to TMC All signed oaths (Principal, CTC, and test administrators), and All online seating charts.

23. Thank You https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5q7S3p3
April 11, 2017
Student Assessment