Rehearsing use of digital stimulus and digital response alternative formats in external assessment

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210540

1 September 2021 Senior secondary Number: 045/21

Rehearsing use of digital stimulus and digital response alternative formats in external assessment

Purpose

To advise schools to rehearse processes for external assessments between 1 September and 17 September 2021 for:

• QCAA subjects requiring digital stimulus

• alternative formats of assessment instruments, which are adapted for the use of assistive technology (AARA).

Background

The following subjects have digital stimulus that need to be accessed during the relevant external assessment.

General and Alternative Sequence (AS) Senior External Examination (SEE)

Languages • Chinese

• French

• German

• German AS

• Italian

• Japanese

• Japanese AS

• Spanish

• Chinese SEE

• Indonesian SEE

• Korean SEE

• Vietnamese SEE

The Arts • Dance

• Dance AS

• Film, Television & New Media

• Film, Television & New Media AS

• Music

• Music AS

• Music Extension

Memo

Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority

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Memo

Rehearsing use of digital stimulus and digital response alternative formats in external assessment Queensland Curriculum & Assessment Authority 1 September 2021 Page 2 of 3

The QCAA provides rehearsal files and instructions for USB and non-USB schools to use to prepare for assessments in subjects that have digital stimulus. These will be available in the fileShare application (app) from 1 September 2021.

The rehearsal provides staff and students with the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the processes (including backup processes) that support the use of digital stimulus in external assessment, including maintaining security of the stimulus files. The rehearsal is also a critical opportunity for schools to resolve any logistical or technical issues that may arise.

Depending on the subject, stimulus may include audio (MP3) and audiovisual (MP4) files.

Students should be given the opportunity to rehearse with file type/s relevant to the subject/s they are undertaking.

For students studying Senior External Examination (SEE) language syllabuses from other jurisdictions, the stimulus will be provided on a labelled CD. These subjects are:

• Arabic SEE

• Modern Greek SEE

• Polish SEE

• Punjabi SEE

• Russian SEE.

This rehearsal information does not apply to these subjects.

The QCAA provides assessment in digital format (PDF) for students approved the use of a computer and/or assistive technology (AARA). The PDFs are designed to operate in PDF reader software, e.g. Adobe Acrobat Reader. The fileShare app is used to manage school access to these files. It is imperative students do not open the PDF file in an internet browser as save facilities may be compromised.

Sample digital files will be made available to schools, through the fileShare app, where students are approved the use of a computer and/or assistive technology. Staff and students should use these to familiarise themselves with the format and the process of accessing AARA files through the fileShare app.

What you need to do

For languages and the Arts, EA coordinators must:

• access the fileShare app to download Digital stimulus rehearsal (USB) or Digital stimulus rehearsal (non-USB) documents

• conduct a rehearsal between 1 September and 17 September 2021 to

- plan the logistics related to use of digital stimulus in external assessment, including allocating supervisors to assessment sessions

- practice the school’s procedures for distributing assessment-related files in external assessment, including backup processes

- familiarise students and staff with the process of decrypting and accessing files - ensure that school and student devices are compatible for use in external assessment

• evaluate the rehearsal and resolve any issues that may arise.

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Memo

Rehearsing use of digital stimulus and digital response alternative formats in external assessment Queensland Curriculum & Assessment Authority 1 September 2021 Page 3 of 3

For AARA, EA coordinators must:

• access the fileShare app to download sample AARA digital files (if required)

• liaise with relevant staff to enable students approved the use of a computer and/or assistive technology in external assessment to become familiar with the format

• plan the logistics related to use of AARA digital files in external assessment, including the download and return of files through the fileShare app.

Students will require software that can read a PDF file. Note: students must not use an internet browser to open the PDF as saving features may be disabled and student work can be lost.

Finding out more

For subject specific information about languages, email EnglishandLanguages@qcaa.qld.edu.au or phone (07) 3120 6173.

For subject specific information about the Arts, email TheArts@qcaa.qld.edu.au or phone (07) 3120 6173.

For logistical information, email externalassessment@qcaa.qld.edu.au or phone (07) 3074 7570.

For AARA information, email aara@qcaa.qld.edu.au or phone 1300 381 575.

Claude Jones

Executive Director, Assessment, Reporting and ICT Systems Division

Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 | Copyright notice: www.qcaa.qld.edu.au/copyright — lists the full terms and conditions, which specify certain exceptions to the licence. |