Features of the Student Testing Application

This section describes the layout of the student testing application and the available testing tools. Note that tools and features vary depending on the assessment being taken; not all tools are available for all assessments.

Test Layout

Figure 1 shows the main sections of the layout for a test page that includes a stimulus.

Figure 1. Sample test layout

A test page can include the following sections:

• The Global Menu section displays the global navigation and tool buttons. The banner above the Global Menu displays the Questions drop-down list, test information, [Help] question mark [?] button, and [Test Settings] universal access [] icon (if present).
• The Stimulus section appears only for questions associated with a stimulus. A stimulus is a reading passage or other testing material (such as a video or graphic) that a student reviews to answer associated questions. This section contains the stimulus content (such as a reading passage or graphic), context menu, and Expand Passage tool.
• The Question section contains one or more test questions (also known as “items”). Each question includes a number, context menu, stem, and response area.

For more information about the global menu and context menus, refer to the subsection Using Menus and Selected Tools.

Test Tools

This section provides an overview of the TDS’ available tools.

Figure 2 shows the location of primary features and tools available in the TDS.

Figure 2. Test page

Table 1 lists the global tools available to students in the testing application.

Table 2 lists the other tools available to students in the testing application.

Using Menus and Selected Tools

This section describes how to use the global and context menus to access on-screen tools. This section also provides further details for using some of the student testing application tools.

About the Global Menu

The global menu at the top of the test page contains navigation buttons on the left and tools on the right (refer to figure 3).

Figure 3. Global menu

To open a test tool in the global menu:

1. The student selects the button for the tool. The selected test tool activates.

About the Context Menus

Each test question may include several elements, such as the question number and answer options (refer to figure 1). The context menu for each element (including the stimulus) only contains tools applicable to that element (figure 4).

Figure 4. Context menu for a mathematics question (sample screen)

Opening a Context Menu for Passages and Questions

A student can access context menus by right-clicking elements or by selecting elements and then selecting the context menu button.

To access the context menu for a passage or question:

1. The student selects the [Context Menu] parallel line [] icon in the upper-right corner of the passage or question. The context menu opens.

2. The student selects a tool to activate or open it. Figure 5 shows a context menu for a sample ELA item.

   

   Figure 5. Context menu for ELA passage (sample screen)

Opening a Context Menu for Answer Options

A student can use the context menu to access tools for answer options in a multiple-choice or multiselect question.

To access an answer option’s context menu:

1. To open the context menu, the student performs one of the following actions:
   • If the student is using a two-button mouse, right-click an answer option.
   • If the student is using a single-button mouse, select an answer option while pressing the [Ctrl] key.
   • If the student is using a Chromebook, select an answer option while pressing the [Alt] key.
   • If the student is using a tablet, tap the answer option and then tap the [Context Menu] icon; this selects the answer option until selecting a different option.

2. The student selects a tool from the context menu. Figure 6 shows a context menu for a sample ELA item.

   

   Figure 6. Context menu for ELA answer options (sample screen)

About the Toolstrip

A student who has the text-to-speech or ASL accommodations assigned can access these features on a toolstrip next to the context menu.

Figure 7. Toolstrip with the [Text-to-Speech] and [American Sign Language] buttons

About the Masking Tool

A student who has masking as a designated support can use the masking tool to hide sections of the test page the student finds distracting (figure 8).

Figure 8. Test page with masked area (sample screen)

To mask an area of a test page:

• To activate the masking tool, the student selects [Masking] in the global menu. The button changes color and becomes orange.
• The student selects and drags across the distracting area of the test page using the mouse (desktop or laptop) or a finger (tablet).
• The student releases the mouse button or lifts a finger. The selected area becomes dark gray. The tool remains active until the student deactivates it.

To deactivate the masking tool:

1. The student selects [Masking] in the global menu again. The button becomes green. Any masked area remains on the screen until the student removes it.

To remove a masked area from a test page:

1. The student selects the [X] in the upper-right corner of a masked area. Note that this does not delete any masked content on the screen.

About the Line Reader Tool

A student moves an on-screen horizontal line that surrounds each line of text with shading after selecting the [Line Reader] line icon (indicated in figure 9). To move the line reader, the student selects (clicks) anywhere on the next line to be shaded.

Figure 9. Line Reader (sample screen)

• This universal tool applies to both items and passages.
• Selecting an answer option with the line reader universal tool also will cause an option such as a radio button or checkbox to be selected.
  • If the student selects the Option B radio button in a vertical list of answer options, selecting (clicking) Option B’s text will both shade the line of text in the line reader and select that answer option as the student’s response to the test question (figure 10). The student must select a line of text away from a radio button answer option—in a passage or the test question, for example—to unselect the selected line as the focus of the line reader universal tool. However, that answer option is still selected as the student’s response unless or until the student selects a different option.

  

  Figure 10. Line Reader with a radio button (sample screen)

• For answer options with checkboxes, if the student selects the third option’s checkbox in a vertical list of answer options, selecting (clicking) the third option’s text will both shade the line of text in the line reader and select that answer option as one of the student’s responses to the test question (figure 11). The student must select a line of text away from a checkbox answer option—in a passage or the test question, for example—to unselect the selected line as the focus of the line reader universal tool. However, that answer option is still selected as one of the student’s responses unless or until the student selects the checkbox to unselect it.

  

  Figure 11. Line Reader with a checkboxes (sample screen)

About Text-to-Speech

A student testing with text-to-speech can listen to passages, questions, answer options (figure 12), and responses in a response area, including to CR items (figure 13). Note the following about text-to-speech:

• Text-to-speech is only available for operational testing when using the secure browser and only when assigned as an embedded accommodation (Smarter Balanced for ELA and CSA reading passages) or designated support (mathematics, ELA, CAST, and CSA items).
• Text-to-speech with line tracking causes the entire line to be highlighted lightly. Each word that is spoken is highlighted in a contrasting color as it is read aloud.
• Any warning or advisory pop-up boxes can also be read aloud after a student selects the [TTS] speaker icon on the box.
• Text-to-speech in Spanish is available for the Smarter Balanced for Mathematics.
• Text-to-speech is only available for the practice tests in conjunction with a supported Chrome or Firefox web browser.

For information about configuring text-to-speech, refer to the Accessibility Guide.

Figure 12. Speak tool options for questions (sample screen)

The following details apply for a student to listen to question content with the text-to-speech tool:

• To listen to a passage, a student selects the [TTS] speaker icon and selects a Speak option, either Speak Question (stimuli or passage), Speak Option (test question), or from both menu options. The student can also select a portion of text to listen to, such as a word or phrase. To do this, the student selects the text, selects the [TTS] icon, and selects Speak Selection.
• A student has a number of ways to listen to a question or answer options:
  • To listen to the question and answer options, the student selects Speak Question from the [TTS] icon.
  • To listen only to one answer option, the student selects the answer option and then selects Speak Option from the context menu. The student can also right-click the answer option and select Speak Option [#].
  • To listen to all answer options, the student right-clicks before the first word in the first option and then selects Start Speaking From Here.

To listen to a written response, the student selects the [Speaker] icon to hear what has been entered into the response area (indicated in figure 13). If the student also has the embedded word completion accommodation assigned, the TDS will read the options in the pop-up list when the students hovers the mouse pointer over it or presses a number key associated with the response.

Figure 13. [Speaker] icon in a constructed response (sample screen)

Figure 14 shows the menu that appears when a student selects the [Test Settings] icon. The student can adjust the volume, pitch, rate, and TTS tracking while testing.

Figure 14. Text-to-speech settings

About Speech-to-Text

The speech-to-text tool allows a student to dictate responses to items that support the use of speech-to-text. The student’s spoken words are then transcribed as text in the item response area (refer to figure 15).

For information about configuring speech-to-text, refer to the Accessibility Guide.

Figure 15. Speech-to-text response

To begin dictating, the student selects the [Microphone] [] icon that is displayed at the top of the item’s text response area. Note the following about the student’s use of speech-to-text:

• The formatting toolbar scrolls along with the page and remains visible while the item is in focus.
• As the student speaks, the words are transcribed into the text response area. However, there may be a slight delay while the text is being transcribed and dots appear in the text response area to indicate that the transcription is in process.
• The student can dictate for five minutes at a time.
• The entered text may be auto punctuated. The student can also control the punctuation and grammar of the text through speech commands to some extent. For example, the student can say, “New Paragraph” to create a new paragraph.
• It is ultimately the student’s responsibility to ensure the accuracy of the transcription as well as grammar and punctuation.
• The student selects the [Microphone] icon to stop dictating.

About Word Completion

When this resource is turned on, options appear in a box that is near or under the response the student is entering (figure 16). When the options appear, the student can either select a word from the list or type the number of the predicted word to apply it to the response.

Figure 16. Example word completion

Constructed-Response Text Response Formatting Toolbar

In addition to the standard test tools described in the subsection Test Tools, a student can use a formatting toolbar for part 2 of the ELA PT and the CSA CR writing item above the response field for text response questions (refer to figure 17). The formatting toolbar allows the student to apply styling to text and use standard word-processing features.

Figure 17. Text response question with formatting toolbar (sample screen)

Table 3 provides an overview of the formatting tools available.

Spell Check

The spell check tool identifies words in the response field that may be misspelled.

To use spell check:

1. In the toolbar, the student selects the [Spell Check] a-b-c [] icon. Potentially incorrect words change color and become underlined.
2. To exit spell check, the student selects the [Spell Check] a-b-c [] icon again.

Special Characters

A student can add mathematical characters, accented characters, and other symbols to responses that use the formatting tools.

To add a special character:

1. In the toolbar, the student selects the [Special Characters] omega [] icon.

2. In the window that pops up, the student first selects the category of special characters from the Category drop-down list—either All, Currency, Mathematical, or Text—and then selects the required character (refer to figure 18).

   

   Figure 18. Special characters window

   In the CSA, only the special characters used in Spanish writing, such as ñ or ¿, appear (figure 19).

   

   Figure 19. Caracteres especiales window for the CSA

Keyboard Navigation for Students

A student can use keyboard commands to navigate between test elements, features, and tools.

Sign-In Pages and In-Test Pop-Ups

Table 4 lists keyboard commands for selecting options on the sign-in screens or pop-up windows that appear during an assessment.

Keyboard Commands for Test Navigation

Table 5 lists keyboard commands for navigating assessments and responding to questions.

Keyboard Commands for Global and Context Menus

A student can use keyboard commands to access tools in the global and context menus. For more information about tools, refer to table 1.

Global Menu

Table 6 lists keyboard commands for accessing the global menu tools.

Context Menus

Table 7 lists keyboard commands for accessing the context menus.

To select text and open context menu options, the student first navigates to the element containing the text to be selected and then takes the following steps:

1. The student presses [Ctrl] + [M] to open the context menu.
2. If multiple options are available, the student uses the arrow keys to navigate to [Enable Text Selection].
3. The student presses [Enter]. A flashing cursor appears at the upper-left corner of the active element.
4. To move the cursor to the beginning of the text the student wants to select, the student uses the arrow keys.
5. The student presses [Shift] and an arrow key to select text. The text the student selects appears shaded.
6. The student presses [Ctrl] + [M] again and then chooses the tool to use for the selected text, for example, Highlight Selection.

Keyboard Commands for Grid Questions

Technology-enhanced questions with the grid response area (figure 20) may have up to three main sections:

• Answer Space: This is the grid area where a student enters the response.
• Button Row: Action buttons may appear above the answer space. Buttons may include [Delete], [Add Point], [Add Arrow], [Add Line], [Add Circle], [Add Dashed Line], and [Connect Line].

• Object Bank: This is a panel containing objects a student can move to the answer space.

  

  Figure 20. Grid question

To move between the main sections:

1. To move clockwise, the student presses [Tab].
2. To move counterclockwise, the student presses [Shift] + [Tab].

To add an object to the answer space:

1. With the object bank active, the student uses the arrow keys to move between objects. The active object has a blue background.
2. To add the active object to the answer space, the student presses [space bar].

To use the action buttons:

1. With the button row active, the student uses the left and right arrow keys to move between the buttons. The active button is white.
2. To select a button, the student presses [Enter].
3. The student presses [space bar] to apply the point, arrow, or line to the answer space.

To move objects and graph elements in the answer space:

1. With the answer space active, the student presses [Enter] to move between the objects.
2. The student presses [space bar]. The active object displays a blue border.
3. The student presses an arrow key to move the object. To move the object in smaller increments, the student holds [Shift] while pressing an arrow key.

Keyboard Commands for Equation Questions

Equation questions allow a student to use keyboard commands to open a menu listing the special characters the student can insert into the response area.

To insert special characters in the response area:

1. With the focus in the text field of the response area, the student presses [Alt] + [7]. The Special Characters window opens.
2. To move between options in the context menu, the student uses the [Up] or [Down] arrow key.
3. To add the selected option to the response area, the student presses [Enter].