Revolutionizing the Way Students Prepare for Testing

How did the SRT begin?

It is the right of the test-taker to be informed—with adequate time prior to testing—about an online test’s format and functionality. The Student Readiness Tool (SRT) is designed to be a communicative way for students to not only learn about relevant tools and question types but have chances to interact with and practice them in the real test environment.

Students testing online need to understand the format, tools, question types, and additional supports they will experience prior to a high-stakes test. Lack of experience and practice using the available technology can affect student outcomes. Research shows offering students learning opportunities that result in a true understanding of the testing platform and its features are more effective than using practice tests—which traditionally focuses on test content—in preparation for achievement testing.

The SRT is the innovative and engaging tool that accomplishes this goal for students.

Why the SRT?

The SRT aims to support students’ understanding of TestNav for developed statewide assessments, while minimizing the amount of time it takes to do so. Students and teachers can use the SRT during group instruction, and students can also use the SRT independently, as it’s available for families to access at home through an internet browser (we recommend Google Chrome), rather than the TestNav application.

The SRT is an interactive online resource. Students can watch a video and then practice in the actual TestNav environment, guided by step-by-step instructions. The SRT continually prompts the student to demonstrate their understanding of the tool, question type, or support feature, providing a more ‘hands on’ approach to learning.

The SRT is NOT a high stake or scored test, nor is it a mandatory unit of content for students. It is designed only as a support for students as they prepare for statewide online testing in TestNav. Each student can interact with the SRT in a way that best fits their learning styles and needs.

Students see New! In the Review List when their SRT includes a tool or question type is that they have not yet engaged with on an online test. This yearly routine helps students zero in on content that they have not seen before. Of course, the SRT remains constant year after year for review, which will also support students new to a district.