TMCnet News
BRIEF: How Many States Deliver Tests with Technology?Dec 06, 2012 (Converge - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Answer: At least 33 states deliver at least one test via technology, according to the State Educational Technology Directors Association. That doesn't mean that local schools and districts do, though. As the 2014-15 Common Core assessments deadline comes closer, schools and districts will need to check their technology readiness. The new assessments for both the Smarter Balanced and Partnership for the Assessment of College and Career Readiness (PARCC) consortia will both be on the computer within two years. To prepare for the new assessments, the association recommends that schools have external Internet connections to an Internet service provider of 100 Mbps for every 1,000 students and staff. In the 2017-18 school year, that number jumps to 1 Gbps. Computers, servers and networks that will be five or more years old by the deadline may not give schools the most reliable assessment experience. Virtualization is one way that schools can still use their older hardware while minimizing disruptions, the association says. ___ (c)2012 Converge Visit Converge at www.convergemag.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |