Colorado Strengthening Test Security With Computers To Prevent Cheating

The Denver Post:

Systems in Colorado designed to maintain the integrity of standardized academic tests don't use as many checks for cheating as some in other states.

But in light of cheating scandals across the country -- and higher stakes associated with the implementation of Senate Bill 191, which ties teacher evaluations to student test performance -- Colorado is considering changes.

Read the whole story: The Denver Post

Comments

[mp60mp32]

06:00 PM on 08/12/2011

Once a few more pilot assessments take place to iron out the issue that take place with the computer-based assessments, it would be great to see this take hold across the country.

[trinity]

05:43 PM on 08/12/2011

Indiana piloted some of their tests on computer last year, it was a nightmare. The state server kept crashing on the kids, we got error messages left and right, passwords did not work, questions were skipped...and we are supposed to take all the tests on computer this year, great....

[dbrett480]

01:26 PM on 08/11/2011

I thought honesty was one of the qualities that schools look for in hiring teachers. With all these scandals, clearly honesty has taken a back seat.

[1differentdrummer]

04:59 AM on 08/11/2011

And what will the data show, really? Nothing, absolutely nothing. CSAP and other NCLB high stakes tests mean zip. Teachers can't use the data and don't need it. CSAP is designed to punish teachers and schools, what a waste.

[sydneymoon]

10:19 PM on 08/10/2011

Several years ago our state tried it and it was a fiasco as the system couldn't handle it. Students were waiting very long periods just to log on. Perhaps the kinks have been worked out, but we haven't gone back to that except for a small trial run with the EC students this past spring.
Some of the EC students didn't handle the testing well as the scrolling was so distracting.

[trinity]

05:43 PM on 08/12/2011

Same here in Indiana, it was a nightmare last year...but they are planning on going through with it again this year...

[SeptimusDSX]

06:50 PM on 08/12/2011

Howdy partner, fellow state-mate here. :)

[Hlynn]

04:54 PM on 08/10/2011

We were informed several years ago all public schools would take state tests by computer by 2013 in our state. It's not about cheating, it's about faster results. Usually we don't results until students have gone on to the next grade, and sometimes another school. We were told that the computerized testing will give results much faster so we can used them for instructional purposes. Students will test in the fall and then retest in the spring. It's also suppose to save a lot of money--won't have to print separate test booklets for each subject for each student.

[SeptimusDSX]

06:53 PM on 08/12/2011

It does not matter what they do. The meaning of an exam was lost a long time ago, circa introduction of shade-the-bubble tests.

[ncconcernedcitizen]

03:37 PM on 08/10/2011

Because we want the grades to be fudged by computers, not people.

[SeptimusDSX]

03:19 PM on 08/10/2011

How long is it going to take for somebody to hack into the computer system?

[Desolati0n]

03:49 PM on 08/10/2011

Kids, we don't want ya to cheat. We want ya to try your darndest on hacking our computer system!!! Have fun kiddos!!

[trinity]

05:44 PM on 08/12/2011

Then we will get to see how clever American teens can be soon enough....