Technology and Testing on the NYS ELA Assessment

By Sophia Sher

May 23, 2024

On April 11 and 12, 2024, JMS students took the New York State Assessment for ELA. The test was entirely digital, and used a program that was already prepared on students’ Chromebooks.

Prior to the test, many arrangements were made to ensure a smooth rollout of the exam. Eighth grade ELA teacher Ms. Vasko mentioned some of the possible concerns that administrators would need to address in advance, such as the “site crashing,...student Chromebooks not working,...[and] the internet not connecting.” As a result, the technology department and administrators made sure each issue was addressed in a detailed way so that the day of the exam would proceed without any hiccups.

After the change from paper to Chromebooks, it is now becoming even more apparent just how much technology is taking over our everyday lives. Whether it is tests, job interviews, or online assignments, more essential tasks now involve technology. When asked about her opinion on the increased use of technology, Mrs. Vasko explained, “I think that technology is such a wonderful tool, if you use it correctly. However, … technology shouldn’t just be social media [and] technology shouldn’t just be AI, though both of those could be great tools in your life.” The addition of technology brings various functions that were not available when the test was administered on paper. For example, the online test reviews each student’s answers at the end of each session and highlights any questions that were left blank. This is a change from taking the test on paper, where students had to look back on their own and confirm that all their answers were completed. This tool can be helpful to students because if a question is missed, it can negatively impact the student’s score. In addition, the online test allows students to highlight, eliminate answers, underline, etc. right on their screens.

Although it is only the second year of taking the New York State Assessments online, this change shows the pervasive use of technology in peoples’ lives. With the proper preparation and understanding of the tools available, students were able to make good use of the tools provided on the exam to do their best and show what they know.