After delaying the transition from paper to computer-based testing as long as possible, Denison College Bathurst High Campus has introduced online NAPLAN testing for the first time.
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Although support for external testing is not unanimous, principal Ken Barwick is happy with this advance in testing.
"What's great about the difference is that in the paper test if a kid can't do the question they can be disheartened," Mr Barwick said.
"In the online version, the test is automatically adjusted ... if you get it right then they'll increase the difficulty and if you get it wrong then they'll throw a question that they believe the child can do.
"They'll continue to do that to encourage the child to get the best possible result and I think it's a very smart system."
While the online test is expected to take longer than NAPLAN's traditional three-day period, Mr Barwick is looking forward to seeing positive results.
"Speaking to principals that went online three years ago, they've told me that they had an immediate spike and better results based on the online version," he said.
"It's one test, it's a snapshot but it's an important snapshot and there's multiple other ways we assess kids and encourage kids to do well."
NAPLAN tests the literacy and numeracy skills of students across the country, benchmarking them against where they should be, at that current stage in the curriculum.
It provides students with the basic skills that they will need when they venture from the confines of the school yard into the 'real world'.
"A lot of the stuff is real world applications, from filling out forms or even applying for positions, they need to be literate. When it comes to numerate, all aspects of life from running a household, to the level of numeracy involved in all types of jobs," Mr Barwick said.
"That's the aim of it, that kids exiting school are able to be numerate and literate in society to a level that is acceptable to the Australian standard."
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