Studies examined student performance when given math and writing items from the National Student Assessment educational progress on paper and pencil rather than by computer. The study results were released this month by the National Center for Education Statistics, which oversees the federal testing program. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why violent video games should not be banned"?Get an original essayIn the mathematics study, nationally representative samples of 4th and 8th graders took a test in 2001 computer-based mathematics and a computer science test, among other measures. Additionally, at the 8th grade level, a randomly selected control group of students took a paper-based exam containing the same mathematics items as the computer-based test. The average scores of 8th graders taking the computerized test were about 4 points lower than those taking the paper version, a statistically significant difference. On average, 5% more students answered individual questions correctly on paper than on the computer. At both grade levels, students' ability to use the computer, based on practical measures of typing speed and accuracy, predicted their performance on the online exam. The writing study compared the performance of a nationally representative sample of 8th grade students who took a computer-based writing test in 2002 with that of a second nationally representative sample of students 8th graders taking the same paper-based test as part of the regular NAEP administration. year. The results showed that mean scores on the computer-based writing test were generally not significantly different from mean scores on the paper-based exam. But, as with the math test, students with better practical computer skills tend to score higher online, after controlling for their paper writing skill level. week of August 30, 2005. How well students perform on computer-based tests depends, in part, on how familiar they are with the technology, concludes a set of studies by the Educational Testing Service, based in Princeton, New York. Jersey. Arnold A. Goldstein, director of reporting and dissemination for the NCES Assessment Division, said the results suggest a possible problem in administering the national assessment online, but that more research is needed. “I think we would need a broader field test within a more traditional NAEP testing framework in order to determine that,” he said. Goldstein added that while this is a one-time study, the NCES - a branch of the U.S. Department of Education - may continue its work in the future to explore the administration of assessment. online. a sample.Get a custom paper now from our expert writers.Get a custom essayNo difference in reading speed and comprehension for online test takers. Many people assume that reading speed and comprehension on a computer will naturally be slower than reading on paper. However, several recent studies, such as one carried out by psychologists Garland and Noyes in 2004, concluded that there was no significant difference in reading speed regardless of whether a subject read from paper or a screen. computer. Given that the majority of today's North American population is proficient in using a computer,..