Smarter Balanced TRT Parameters - Fall 2012

A list of the parameters collected by the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium's Technology Readiness Tool (TRT) for the fall 2012 data collection.

The Technology Readiness Tool (TRT) assesses each school's current capacity and compares them to the technology that is expected to be required for new Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium assessments. The tool collects information in four major areas or dimensions:

Devices (i.e. testing computers)
Device-to-tester Ratio
Network Infrastructure
Staff and Personnel Technology Readiness

Parameters marked with an asterisk (*) denote new parameters for the Fall 2012 data collection window.

Device Specifications Readiness

Parameter	Collection Method	Required or Optional?
Operating system	Auto	Required
Processor (Type/Speed/Capacity)	Auto	Optional
Memory	Auto	Required
Resolution	Auto	Required
Monitor/Display size	Survey	Required
Web browser	Auto	Optional
Wireless connection?	Survey	Optional
Device type	Survey	Optional
Assessment environment *	Survey	Required
Device owner *	Survey	Required

Device-to-Tester Readiness

Parameter	Collection Method	Required or Optional?
Number of devices	Calculation	N/A
Number of students in each grade *	Survey - preloaded	Required
Maximum number of simultaneous test takers	Survey	Required
Length of testing window in school days	Survey	Required
Number of testing sessions per day	Survey	Required
Ratio of Devices/Testers/Sessions	Calculation	N/A
School classification *	Survey	Optional

Network Infrastructure Readiness

Parameter	Collection Method	Required or Optional?
Maximum Size of Test (Data to be Downloaded)	Calculation	N/A
Estimated Internet Bandwidth Available	Survey	Required
Estimated Maximum Network Speed	Survey	Required
Estimated Network Utilization	Survey	Required
Number of Wireless Access Points	Survey	Optional
Ratio: Wireless Devices to Access Points	Calculation	N/A
Maximum Number of Simultaneous Testers	Survey	Required
Available Bandwidth for Maximum Number of Testers	Calculation	N/A

Staff & Personnel Readiness

Parameter	Collection Method	Required or Optional?
Level of concern: Having a sufficient number of test administrators to support online testing	Survey	Required
Level of concern: Test administrators having sufficient technical understanding to support online testing	Survey	Required
Level of concern: Providing all appropriate training needed for test administrators	Survey	Required
Level of concern: Having a sufficient number of technology support staff to support online testing	Survey	Required
Level of concern: Technology support staff having sufficient technical understanding to support online testing	Survey	Required
Level of concern: Providing all appropriate training needed for technology support staff	Survey	Required

Legend

Collection Method	Description
Auto	Tool can automatically capture this information on the computer on which it is run (however data for this parameter may also be uploaded or entered manually).
Survey	The data for this parameter can only be provided manually, either by uploading via a batch data import or by entering online in the space provided within the tool.
Calculation	The tool will calculate these values based on the data already entered by the user. No data entry is needed for these parameters.
Required	Data for these parameters is required in order to report on readiness for online assessments.
Optional	Data for these parameters is NOT required to report on readiness, but may be used to further assist in planning for a transition to common core assessments.