Smarter Balanced Assessments

After attending Brighton's staff professional development day on Monday, I am even more convinced that 1:1 Chromebooks (or something similar) needs to be implemented for our district. We will be partaking in the national standardized test through Smarter Balanced Assessments like many other states in the country. This testing will take place for the state of Michigan in 2014 and it is an assessment that will be aligned with the Common Core State Standards. There were two national tests to choose from, and from my understanding we chose the Smarter Balanced route due to the "computer adaptive testing" that will provide great feedback and make the testing more meaningful with data that is useful in a timely fashion. I am excited for these new assessments for a variety of reasons. First and foremost - NO MORE MEAP! Second, it sounds as if the testing that will take place does work towards student success, rather than an amount of data to provide schools with government money. Also, what I have heard so far, it seems that the test is more focused on real world learning rather than to memorize facts that don't really make an impact on student understanding. That being said, the shift in education is here and we need to be ready. The Common Core State Standards are the basis of 21st Century Learning and I feel overwhelmed and anxious that many districts may not be prepared for what is to come. Brighton has an opportunity to be leaders in this regard - due to the recent bond passed in the community. I really do think that putting Chormebooks in the hands of students 3rd grade and up on a very frequent basis would be so beneficial and would give us an advantage that we need. As the elementary teachers sat through the morning's PD on Monday, we saw an example performance task and test question. The third grade students need to be able to read digital text, view multi-media content on a computer screen, go back and forth to several internet websites using tabs, and type a lengthy essay using supporting evidence from the media reviewed. I do think third graders can do this. They can do it well with practice, opportunity and access to devices on a regular basis. As I investigated more on the Smarter Balanced Assessment website, I did find out that Chromebooks do support this testing in the system requirements specifications executive summary.

I know the timing of when this test needs to be taken has not yet been determined. However, I do worry about how and when my future students may take this assessment. Of course I want my students to perform well. If this testing is used towards my evaluation (like the MEAP) I want to be sure that my students get to take the test at the ideal time, especially if there are not enough machines or devices for everyone to take it simultaneously. If my students are allocated the computer lab or cart right after lunch recess on a Friday, but Mrs. Smith who teaches next to me has her students take it Monday morning before snack, I will be very discouraged and disappointed. If we had Chromebooks available to all kids this wouldn't be an issue and the results for our students would be even more accurate and useful.