Demonstrating ATI’s New Technology Enhanced Online Testing Interface

If you haven’t seen our new Online Testing Interface, you should check it out. We have provided a demonstration test covering multiple grades and subjects with a variety of technology enhanced (TE) items so that you can experience first-hand all of the cool new features and tools in the interface. The first thing you will note is how easy it is for the student to navigate from one item to another. You can go forward and backward one item at a time or you can select a particular item and navigate to it immediately. As you progress through the test, you will receive continuous information indicating how many questions you have answered and how many questions remain to be answered. When you move from one question to the next, your response to the initial question will be saved automatically. If you are a worry wart, or if you are in the middle of something when you need to navigate, you can click on the Save button and peace of mind will be restored. 

When you think you are finished with the test, click on the Exit Test button. Before the Test Fairy will let you go, you will be reminded of questions that have not yet been answered and questions that have been marked for review with graphical icons. You can return to a given question simply by clicking on the question number. When you are really finished with the test, you can exit the test by clicking on the Exit Test button to go back to the Review Your Answers screen. Once you are happy with your responses, you can exit the test by clicking the Exit button.

The interface is optimized to display TE items, and we have included a variety of TE item types so that you can see how they work in the interface. There are math items, science items, and English language arts items. The first thing you will see when you open the test is a series of math items. I have to warn you that some of these are not easy, but don’t worry. There are tools that can help you. If you are stuck for the moment, you can table the item by clicking on the Mark for Review flag accessed through the Item Menu icon. If you need to craft an argument or remind yourself of a critical point, you can write yourself a note. For selected items, you can also highlight portions of a text. When you are dealing with some of the testy math items, you may find it helpful to use a calculator. Simply click on the calculator in the upper right hand corner of the test and you will become an instantaneous math wizard. OK, not really. Nevertheless you will find it useful.

You may also be happy to note that the interface has been designed to work well with tablets. The interface is now in use, and has been implemented with approximately 30,000 students. Approximately three thousand students have taken assessments using tablets. The most popular tablet at this time is the iPad. 
 
Now it’s your turn. Here’s how you can experience the new online testing interface.

• Go to ATI’s Home Page, click the orange Home tab in the left corner of the screen. Find the User Logins below the Home tab and click on the K-12 Student-Parent Center link.  You are now entering the world of Galileo.
• Log in with a Login Name: ATIdemostudent. Your password is testdemo. When you log in, you will be in the STUDENT CENTER. 
• On the right-hand side of your screen, you will see the test sample called Multi-grade TE items. Click on the link and get ready to start the sample assessment.

You are now a student in the ATI online testing interface ready to respond to various TE items. Please Note: Others have taken the sample test before you and the answers have been saved. The good news is that all of the questions have been answered and you may feel a sense of gratitude as some of the items are not particularly easy. The bad news is that there is no guarantee that any of the answers are correct. You may want to pave the road for those to follow you by correcting as needed inaccurate answers you see on the test. Your own responses to the TE items will be automatically saved as you progress through the test and, while answers cannot be deleted as long as they occurred within the scheduled time period for the test, your answers will replace the ones that proceeded them. In any case, enjoy your trip through the assessment.

We know how hard you are working to prepare your students for the new world of online testing with TE items. We feel privileged to provide assistance in your efforts. Stay tuned, there will be many more enhancements to the testing interface. The next one to be released will be a tool enabling students to write equations online in response to questions.

Until then, enjoy the sample test.
Login name: ATIdemostudent  and password: testdemo.

John R. Bergan, Ph.D.
ATI President