Schools say they're ready for computerized math portion of FCAT; students are worried

The FCAT is going to present a new type of challenge next week for sophomores across Florida.

Instead of taking the test with traditional pencil and paper, students will take the math portion on a computer.

“I don’t like it at all,” said South Walton High School sophomore Rafae Ledo-Massey. “I wish they did reading on it (the computer) instead of math.”

Ledo-Massey said even though she likes math and isn’t worried about the test questions, she worries some about the new format.

In the past, Ledo-Massey said she would draw on diagrams in the FCAT booklet to help her solve questions. That’s not an option this year with the test being on a computer.

“I’m really visual,” she said.

Ledo-Massey and classmate Tayler Menard also are concerned about concentration.

“I can stare at Facebook for hours, but probably not concentrate that much (on the test),” Menard said.

She said she had trouble focusing recently when she took a different test on the computer that lasted only about 20 minutes. The FCAT will take closer to three hours.

“I’m more nervous about concentrating than failing,” Menard said.

School district officials and teachers aren’t overly worried.

“This is a very high achieving school,” said South Walton Assistant Principal Charlie Marello. “Our students do extremely well.”

Teacher Elizabeth Fairweather said the students’ familiarity with computers likely will help them on the test. They might even learn to like it with the possibility for faster feedback down the road, she said.

As far as test day, the school has three labs set up, so all the students should be able to take the test at the same time.

Okaloosa County school officials said they are prepared for the new format.

“We’ve been working on this since summertime,” said Beth Barnes, the school district’s test coordinator. “I think we’re ready.”

Officials have run done test runs of the hardware to make sure the system won’t overload when students start taking the exam. The also have bought some new mobile units to ensure they have enough computers for students.

“We did retakes last week … it was just a textbook day,” said Superintendent of Schools Alexis Tibbetts. “It was just fabulous.”

Unforeseen circumstances such as a power outage or an Internet disturbance won’t mean students have to restart the test. Their responses will be saved frequently in two separate locations, Barnes said.

Testing schedules have also been established at the schools, she said.

Students across the state will begin taking the FCAT on Monday.