(Tucson, AZ February 27-28, 2001) -- For the second consecutive year the Association of Test Publishers will present a computer based testing conference, with this year’s focus on “Emerging Technologies and Opportunities for Diverse Applications.” The conference will be held at the Sheraton El Conquistador in Tucson, AZ and provide keynote addresses and panel presentations for a sold-out audience of 350 attendees.

“The positive response to last year’s CBT conference in Carmel, California was so overwhelming that we doubled the size of both the program and capacity for this year’s conference,” said ATP Executive Director William G. Harris, Ph.D.

“Computer-based testing continues to be a topic that cuts across all facets of the assessment community. Whether your focus is education, industry, certification or clinical testing or any of the myriad of related professional arenas,” Harris added.

The Conference will be kicked off on Tuesday, February 27th by Keynote speaker Donald E. Melnick, President of the National Board of Medical Examiners (“NBME”) whose address is titled “Technology-Based Testing: Panacea or Placebo?”

Content Sessions include such topics as: Ethical and Practical Issues in the Use of Computerized Tests for Employee Selection; Psychological Issues in Computer Based Testing; Combining Technology with Content to Unlock the Potential of Electronic Testing in K-12 Schools; Accreditation of Computer-Based Tests Used in IT Certification; and many others.

The conference will conclude on Wednesday, February 28 with a keynote address by Kurt Landgraf, President and CEO of the Educational Testing Service (“ETS”) entitled: Changing Paradigms in a Changing Environment.

This year’s conference will also include Pre-conference workshops presented by Platinum Level sponsors: ACT, ETS and Chauncey Group International, Computer Adaptive Technologies, Inc.,  Galton Technologies, Inc., Kroll & Associates, Prometric and VUE.

The Association of Test Publishers will also hold its annual meeting Tuesday morning, February 27th. Both members and nonmembers will hear from ATP Executive Director, Dr. William G. Harris and ATP Chairman, Dr. David Foster of Galton Technologies, who will provide an update on ATP's activities including legislative and legal advocacy, public relations, membership recruitment and plans for future conferences and learning opportunities.

There will also be a special presentation on Internet liability protection by Mack and Parker, Inc., ATP's Insurance, Risk Management and Consulting firm.

This year’s ATP conference is being sponsored, in addition to the Platinum level sponsors listed above, by Gold level sponsors which include: Mediatec Publishing, Question Mark and Vantage Learning; and by Silver Level Sponsors which include: Buros Institute for Assessment Consultation and Outreach, The College Board and D’ Squared Assessments, Inc.

ATP HOLDS MILLENNIUM CONFERENCE ON COMPUTER-BASED TESTING GUIDELINES AND PRACTICES

Leaders in test development attend WASHINGTON, D.C. (Feb. 18, 2000) The Association of Test Publishers (ATP) brought together leaders in test and certification development for a one-day conference to address emerging directions in testing, focusing on ATPs recently completed guidelines for computer-based testing.

Dr. Ron Hambleton, Professor of Education and Psychology, and Chairperson of the Research and Evaluation Methods Program at the University of Massachusetts, opened the event, commenting that, a strong research base, improved psychometric methods, and expanded item banks are critical for achieving the potential of CBT.

Participant presentations included a combination of traditional / classical test theories with leading-edge technologies. Presenters discussed best practices associated with CBT delivery as attendees learned about the potential CBT provides for developing and delivering tests with improved test validity, fairness, and reliability due to the increased capability of computer delivery.

Representatives from the ATP standards committee provided the 150 attendees with an overview of ATPs recently released Computer-Based Testing Guidelines.

Concise working sessions covered the relevance of computer administered testing as representatives from Alpine Media, ETS, University of Nebraska, HumRRO, Microsoft Corp, Lotus Development, Northwest Evaluation Associates, Novell, Hewlett-Packard presented research in these areas:

New strategies for computer based testing (CBT)
Educational Implications of the ATP Guidelines
Implementing the ATP guidelines
Applications for high-stakes licensure testing
The use of innovative item types for testing higher-level cognitive abilities
Issues and challenges in test planning and design for CBT

"The unique size and structure of the conference allowed for great interaction," commented John Oswald, ATPs President. As conference attendees included representatives from industrial/organizational, clinical, education, certification, and licensure groups.

G. William Harris, the Executive Director of ATP, was especially pleased with the outcome: "We have designed a forum that provides continuous learning for the testing community at large. Our plan is to offer a conference on an annual basis to address the issues and realities of the computer-based testing arena."

Closing keynote speaker, Craig Mills, Executive Director of Examinations for the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, summed it up when he said, "There will be an explosion of new item types and testing methodologies. We must be ready with good tools and approaches to manage this explosion."

About ATP

Established in 1992, The Association of Test Publishers is a non-profit organization representing providers of tests and assessment tools with psychometric properties, and/or services related to assessment, selection, screening, certification, licensing, educational or clinical uses.

ATP members are pledged to promote and advance the integrity of assessment services and products and their value to society; and dedicated to the highest level of professionalism and business ethics within the test publishing community.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Lauren Scheib
717.755.9747

May 4, 1998

The Association of Test Publishers and Computer Adaptive Technologies Co-host Meeting on Technology-based Standards for the Testing Community

Evanston, IL -- The Association of Test Publishers' ("ATP") Committee on Technology-based Testing Standards held its second two-day meeting on March 19-20, 1998 at the headquarters of Computer Adaptive Technologies ("CAT") in Evanston, Illinois. More than twenty-five test development organizations and delivery firms sent representatives to participate in this second meeting of an eighteen-month project. Participants represented the educational, certification, clinical and business sectors of the test publishing and test delivery market.

During this second working session, the members of the Committee defined their task as drafting standards to guide the development of new item formats, delivery and security systems. The task of drafting standards was divided among six subcommittees with the requirement that each subcommittee produce a draft document by the July 23-24, 1998, full Committee meeting in Philadelphia.

"The response from the testing community to the technology-based standards project has been overwhelmingly positive and supportive," stated ATP Board Member and Psychometric/Certification Manager, Cyndy Fitzgerald, Ph.D. of Microsoft Corporation. Certification Program Manger, Jamie Mulkey, Ed.D. of Hewlett Packard Company added, "These standards will stand on their own merit, but will be most effective when applied with existing test guidelines and standards." Once the new standards have been drafted, they will be distributed worldwide for review by practitioners and academics. ATP's Executive Director, William G. Harris, Ph.D., added that the standards will be user-friendly, flexible and practical.

Test publishers, developers and delivery organizations interested in the development of technology-based testing standards are invited to contact Dr. Harris at 770.650.7592 or by visiting the ATP website at http://www.testpublishers.org.

Established in 1992, the Association of Test Publishers is a non-profit organization representing providers of tests and assessment tools and /or services related to assessment, selection, screening, certification, licensing, educational or clinical uses.

Contact: Lauren Scheib, 717-755-9747

February 6, 1998

The Association of Test Publishers and Microsoft Corporation Promote the Development of Technology-Based Guidelines for the Testing Industry

Redmond, WA --The development of technology-based guidelines for the testing industry was the focus of a one-day session held Monday, January 12, 1998 at the Redmond Washington headquarters of Microsoft Corporation. The proposed guidelines would be used to aid in the development, delivery, and use of computer-based examinations. The session was co-hosted by Microsoft and the Association of Test Publisher’s ("ATP") Certification Division, and was attended by Information Technology ("IT") companies involved in developing and delivering examinations. A second session is planned for March 19-20, 1998 in Chicago.

"We want to see the proposed guidelines used to aid in the development, delivery and publishing of technology-based tests ("TBT") and assessment instruments. The guidelines would cover applications for use on the Internet and various multimedia computer strategies used to deliver, administer and score tests," said ATP Executive Director William G. Harris, Ph.D. He added that the goal for the proposed guidelines will be international adoption by companies involved in technology-based testing.

During the January 12, meeting attendees identified a host of issues that have not been adequately addressed by existing standards and guidelines. Some of these issues include the development of standards on immediate score reporting, item banking, and models for estimating parameters. "TBT testing allows for a greater variety of access to multiple response models," said Certification Program Manager Jamie Mulkey, Ed.D., of Hewle Psychometric and Certification Manager, Cyndy Fitzgerald, Ph.D. of Microsoft Corporation added, "We need to recognize these new models and create standards for them that everyone can use."

The two-day session which is planned for later this Spring in Chicago, will focus on defining and preparing an action plan for drafting technology-based guidelines. More information on the location and time schedule for the spring meeting will be posted February 9, 1998 on ATP’s website along with a list of participating organizations. The ATP website can be accessed at http://www.testpublishers.org.

Test publishers, developers and test delivery organizations interested in the development of technology-based testing guidelines are invited to contact Dr. Harris via the ATP website or by calling 770.650.7592.

Established in 1992, the Association of Test Publishers is a non-profit organization representing providers of tests and assessment tools and/or services related to assessment, selection, screening, certification, licensing, educational or clinical uses.