The Australian Education Reporter
A rocky start for NAPLAN online
IN April this year the online NAPLAN test trial was plagued with technical faults, which saw Queensland, WA, South Australia, the ACT and Victoria opt out of the trial due to lack of confidence in Education Services Australia (ESA) ability to provide the platform and supporting technology in time for the tests in May.
Victorian Education Minister James Merlino said that he didn’t have confidence in ESA resolving the issues and completing comprehensive quality assurance testing in such a short time frame.
“The last thing we want is students being unable to demonstrate their numeracy and literacy skills because of technical faults,” Mr Merlino said.
“While we firmly believe in the benefits of NAPLAN Online, I will not put Victorian students in a situation that could compromise their results,” he said.
The decision meant that all Victorian students would paper tests in 2017, but the Victorian State Government, along with other States and Territories, will be working with ESA to ensure a successful NAPLAN Online roll out in 2018.
Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) chief executive Robert Randall said the confidence in the readiness of the online platform to deliver the tests was of the utmost importance and a key consideration for States and Territories.
“Moving NAPLAN online will result in better assessment, more precise results and faster turnaround of information. A phased transition over three years has always been the plan, and was established to ensure flexibility for when the transition is made,” Mr Randall said.
10 per cent of schools were meant to transition online this year, followed by 50 per cent next year and the remainder in 2019.
“Preparation for the move online will continue this year, with schools able to participate in a practice of the technology, or a ‘readiness test’, in August and September,” he said.
“ACARA and Education Services Australia have been working with the Australian Government and all States and Territories on the planning, research and development activity required for the transition online, including developing the NAPLAN online test, building the online assessment platform as well as trialling, testing and training in schools.”
While schools across Australia are examining their results from the test this year, next month they will start testing their internet systems and speed to ensure they have the capability to offer the exams online in 2018.
State and Territory education authorities are responsible for ensuring their schools are prepared and will determine the timing of their move to NAPLAN Online.
Schools will not require a computer, tablet or laptop for every student, with the test window expanded to two weeks to allow increased flexibility for tests to be staggered, however they will need reliable IT hardware systems and access to the internet.
“We anticipate that the tailored testing and the online presentation will better engage students and provide an opportunity for them to better demonstrate their individual skills in literacy and numeracy,” said Mr Randall.
ESA will train key staff from states and territories on the functionality of the platform, and direct students and staff to familiarise themselves with the online tests by using the public demonstration site and to practice on the type of device they plan to use for the exam.