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North Carolina Online Test of Computer Skills

North Carolina Online Test of Computer Skills - Read Aloud Accommodation

Beginning in the First Semester (Fall) of the 2006-2007 school year, a new read aloud option for the North Carolina Online Test of Computer Skills is available.  The new option, Computer Reads Test Aloud - Student Controlled, is not designed to replace in full other available read aloud accommodations.  All read aloud options available for the North Carolina Online Test of Computer Skills in the past remain available for the 2006-2007 school year. 

Computer Reads Test Aloud - Student Controlled option: The new read aloud option uses streaming MP3 audio files that are activated and delivered from the host server when a student clicks a speaker button [] located by any block of text for which there are audio files available.  Audio files are human vocalization and not computer-generated modulation.  This option is limited in the functionality of what text on the screen is read.  Unlike screen reading software [i.e., JAWS], this option is not designed to read all parts of the computer screen.  Audio files are only available for item stems and, in cases of multiple-choice items, possible answer choices.  There are no audio files within the test environment for application content, menus, embedded tools [i.e., Restore, Flag], error messages, warning/reminder messages, or section summaries.

Eligibility and additional considerations: In order for a student to be eligible for the Computer Reads Test Aloud - Student Controlled accommodation for the 2006-2007 school year, all of the following must be true:

• The student's IEP, Section 504 Plan, or LEP documentation must list Read Aloud by Student Request as an accommodation for the North Carolina Online Test of Computer Skills.
• The student has had access to and completed the Test Simulation using the Computer Reads Simulation Aloud option at least one day prior to his or her test administration.
• The student is physically capable of manipulating the mouse sufficiently to activate the audio files.
• LEA and school Technology and Accountability leadership have been consulted, are aware of the additional technical challenges, and have approved of the use of this option for dates/times determined to be acceptable for use in the school.  See Technical considerations below.
• Students using this accommodation must also be identified for Testing in a Separate Room (one-on-one) unless using headphones.

It is not necessary to convene IEP teams, Section 504 committees, or LEP school-based teams/committees to address this accommodation for the 2006-07 school year, as long as the student meets the requirements stated above. However, it is the expectation of NCDPI that beginning with the 2007-08 school year, IEPs, Section 504 Plans, and LEP documentation will specifically address the method by which the test will be read aloud to the student: (1) Test Administrator Reads Test Aloud (in English), (2) Computer Reads Test Aloud - Student Controlled, or (3) a combination of the two methods.

NCRegistration and SIQs: For the 2006-2007 school year, if a student meets the eligibility requirements for the Computer Reads Test Aloud - Student Controlled option as outlined above, question 11 on the SIQ page in NCRegistration may be filled out as "Yes" where appropriate.  This question must be filled out "Yes" for the option to be enabled in the test environment.  In cases where this option is not warranted, by default, question 11 should be filled out as "No."

Technical considerations: The Computer Reads Aloud - Student Controlled accommodation will dramatically increase the stress on bandwidth and network connectivity at both the school and LEA level.  Although the audio files are condensed into an MP3 format, considerable bandwidth is used when streaming audio files are activated.  Individual audio file sizes range anywhere from 15 Kb to 200 Kb.  At this time, based on the variability of student use of the option [i.e., number of times a student activates an audio file(s)], it is difficult to gauge the exact impact this will have on the LEA and school IT resources.  The use of this option may negatively impact LEAs and/or schools network performance, so it is imperative that caution be used when considering this option and making final decisions on the numbers of students testing and when those students test within the window.  Testing/accountability and technology staff at the LEA and school level must work together to ensure their IT infrastructure is capable of accommodating this option, to determine reasonable limitations, and to minimize potential risks of excessive stress on the LEA's and/or school's IT backbone that may lead to problems and/or a failure to complete administrations.

Computers that will be used to access the Computer Reads Test Aloud - Student Controlled accommodation during testing must be tested for audio functionality. The current Test Simulation is enabled with the new read aloud option and can be used to test client side computers for compatibility with the delivery of audio.  However, use of the Test Simulation does not mimic the use of the option during operational testing.  Successful demonstration of this functionality on a computer using the Test Simulation does not guarantee the performance of this feature during an actual test administration. The Test Simulation use of this feature does not use network resources and cannot determine if streaming audio files from a host server can be activated and delivered.  Likewise, LEA and school networks need to be permitted to receive audio files from data.ncsu.edu.

LEAs and schools are urged to visit http://cskills.ncsu.edu/ncdesk/ and follow the Installation Instructions link for the Computer Reads Simulation Aloud option.  Once NCDesk is installed or updates are taken, the simreads.jar (1.8 Mb) file needs to be downloaded on the client computer running NCDesk for implementation of the audio files.  After following all instructions on the website, NCDesk should be opened and the Computer Reads Simulation Aloud option should be enabled.  To enable this option:

• Select the File in the menu bar on NCDesk's main page.
• Select Preferences [Ctrl + P] from the drop down menu.
• In the Preferences dialogue box, under the GENERAL tab, check the box labeled COMPUTER READS SIMULATION ALOUD [when enabled a green checkmark will be appear in the box].
• Click the APPLY button at the bottom of the dialogue box; then CLOSE the dialogue box.
• Open the Test Simulation.
• A message should be displayed stating: 'The Computer Reads Simulation Aloud' option is enabled.  WARNING: This feature is not supported on Windows 98.
• Click the START button to begin the Test Simulation.

Please note: If the student does not have an IEP, Section 504 Plan, or LEP documentation that states that the student needs the read aloud by student request accommodation, question 11 must be answered as “No”.  Allowing students access to this accommodation without the appropriate documentation (i.e., IEP, Section 504 Plan or LEP documentation) is a misadministration.

This file was modified on Tuesday, October 09, 2007; at 3:26:05 PM