Smarter Balance or a Clumsy Concept?

Imagine this: a talented swimmer is training for a national race and is very nervous for there is a large academic scholarship on the line that will affect their future. Their coach has also made it very clear that his job is on the line as well. This student arrives at Nationals to find that the rumors were true; the pools there aren't filled with water but instead are filled with Jell-O. Our swimmer knew this was the case but did not know how much more difficult swimming in these pools would be for him. How do you think he placed against those with Jell-O pools at their homes or schools?

This fabricated situation is how I am guessing many students feel when faced with the task of completing a standardized test on a computer interface that they have not had experience with. I know for myself that navigating the test and its features on a computer were a point of stress for me whilst I was taking the GRE. Before the GRE I had taken all of my standardized tests on paper. I even tried to become more comfortable with the test module by taking computer practice tests a couple months prior. However, the amount of stress that I actually had that day and the environment of the testing center made for an entirely different, and more stressful, test experience. As a person who gets pretty anxious for tests, this added stress only seemed to hinder me and my actual capabilities.

It is also important to keep in mind that I have had a lot of experience with computers; from growing up with one in my home, to doing many academic assignments on one, and even taking computer science classes. Many of the students today do not have the privilege of having computers at their sides. While technology is more prominent today than ever, it is still safe to say students who have persistent access to computers at home and in their schools are clearly advantaged, in terms of testing, because they have a higher likelihood of being computer literate. Meanwhile, youth who don’t have the same access are being scored on both how to use the technology in addition to what is in the content of the test. There is a technology gap which could affect the achievement gap. I do believe that technology, and even technology integrated with standardized testing could be a good thing and (almost) standardized if there was a way to ensure that the technology used on these tests was equitably available for all students taking the test. Tests like the Smarter Balance test that we took does not seem to account for these economic disparities and overall seems to be poorly designed and inconsistent where it is now. Perhaps with more development and research, that tests like Smarter Balance could be utilized and used effectively.

So now, imagine this: a talented student is practicing story problems for a standardized test and is very nervous for their teacher told them that there is a lot on the line for their school based on this test. Their teacher has also made it very clear that his job is on the line as well. This student arrives on test day to find that the rumors were true; the test is to be taken on a computer instead of on paper. Our student and their teacher knew this was the case but did not know how much more difficult taking the test on the computer would for him. because he did not have access to a computer at home or at school. How do you think he placed against those with computer at their homes or schools?