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1 March 2013 Number: 018/13
Senior secondary
Queensland Core Skills (QCS) Test Research project — Writing Task
Purpose
To invite schools to participate in a research project that will investigate the viability of having students respond online to the Writing Task (WT) component of the Queensland Core Skills (QCS) Test.
Background
In February 2012, QSA received the Report of a review of aspects of the QCS Test. One of the recommendations of this review was:
Recommendation 24
That the QSA establishes a project team to investigate the issue of having students complete part of, or the whole, QCS Test by computer and to develop feasible options and timelines for further consideration.
In response to this recommendation, during 2013, QSA will research the viability of collecting responses to the WT testpaper online.
Information
As part of this research, QSA invites schools to volunteer to join a small group which, in preparing students for the 2013 QCS Test, will conduct two practices for the WT: one in which students respond online, and another in which students respond in handwriting.
QSA personnel will work with participating schools and will observe, on both occasions, the administration of the practice for the WT. They will then report on key aspects.
Practice 1 — online
The first practice will require students to use a word processor — either the word processor with which they are most familiar in the school environment, or a text editor (that is, a word processor with certain facilities disabled). The form of word processor will be negotiated with individual schools. The student responses will be marked by trained and qualified personnel and returned to students.
Practice 2 — on paper
The second practice will require students to handwrite their response, the form in which they will respond to the 2013 WT testpaper. Again, the responses will be marked and returned to students.
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School selection
Schools will be selected to be part of the research group so that:
• there is a range of schools across the different education sectors
• different geographical areas are represented
• different hardware and software resources are used
• the two practices for the WT can be conducted by 21 June 2013
• the project can be completed within the allocated budget.
During the course of the research project, QSA will:
• provide testpapers for two 2-hour WT practices
• observe the conduct of the practices
• make arrangements for a suitably adapted word processing platform to be provided if needed
• provide advice and support for the administration of the practices
• grade and provide feedback on achievement in the student responses to the practices
• provide the school with a report on the student responses.
Participating schools will be asked to commit to:
• providing access to a group of Year 12 students who will undertake both WT practices
• providing hardware and managing the necessary software to support completion of one practice online
• providing coordination and IT support as necessary
• providing suitable supervision for the practices
• having staff and students complete questionnaires/surveys and participate in interviews related to the research project.
What you need to do
Schools interested in participating in this research project should contact the Manager, QCS Test, by email at <[email protected]> to express their interest and receive further information.
Please provide, by 15 March 2013, the following information in your email:
• school name, type and location
• the number of Year 12 students who would be involved in the practices
• details of the hardware and software resources that students could use in the online practice
• the name and contact details of the person in the school who would coordinate the school’s activities in this research project
• details of students who would need special provision to undertake the practices.
More information
Please email <[email protected]>, or phone 3864 0270.
Peter Jordan
Acting Deputy Director
Assessment and Reporting Division
