Video transcript
This is a video about using Polly, the text to speech reading tool that comes with the NZQA online digital assessment platform, and how to use it in the 2024 English Language Writing and Numeracy Assessments.
Polly text to speech can be used in the digital assessments and English Writing Standard 32405 and English Numeracy Standard 32406 during the two assessment events happening in 2024.
Polly is not available for the Reading standard 32403 as the Ministry of Education is investigating the suitability of using text to speech tools in reading assessments.
Polly is available within the NZQA digital assessment platform. It is available for all students to use.
Polly will support students who need help with reading by giving them an option to listen to any text in the assessment being read aloud. Polly supports:
- students with learning differences like dyslexia
- students who are neurodiverse
- students with low vision
- and students who need help with reading or prefer listening to reading.
Students need headphones when using Polly.
In 2023, we tried Polly with the Literacy and Numeracy assessments and received positive feedback.
Students liked being able to listen and enjoy the independence that Polly gave them. Students also said that using Polly helped them understand the questions and improve their answers.
Students entered in the writing and numeracy assessments are also able to bring their own text to speech applications that they regularly use in the classroom, such as Google Read and Write.
More information about this is available from your Principal's Nominee or SENCO, or visit the Literacy and Numeracy page on the NZQA website.
How to use Polly, a demonstration
Polly needs to be turned on by the student. They can do this by clicking on the Polly on/off button which is located in the top right-hand corner of the assessment screen.
Once Polly has been turned on, it's available to be used in the assessment. When you highlight text, the Polly toolbar will display. To turn Polly off at anytime, click on the on/off button in the top right-hand corner of the screen.
To use Polly, highlight text in the assessment. Then click on the play button on the Polly toolbar. The text will be read aloud.
Click on Pause to pause Poly. Click on Stop to stop Polly. You can move the toolbar by dragging it around using your mouse. Click on the X to close the play bar when you have finished listening.
Preparing students and ākonga for using Polly
Consider how best to accommodate students for the assessment. Students can sit in the main exam room with other students, or the students using Polly can be accommodated together.
Students using Polly will need to use headphones to avoid disturbing other students. They can use any headphones compatible with their device. They can bring their own headphones or you can help source headphones that can be used during the assessment.
You should provide the instructions for students to anyone who wants to use Polly in the assessments. The instructions are available from the Literacy and Numeracy page on the NZQA website.
Get your students to practise using Polly by using the 2023 Term 2 Writing or Numeracy assessments available from the Past Digital Assessments page on the NZQA website.
Students will need a login to access the assessments. The access code is 0000.
How to practise using Polly
Open the Past Digital Assessments page on the NZQA website. If students don't have credentials to access the Past digital assessments, teachers can access the credentials at the school's NZQA portal via the Access Copyrighted Past Exam Content and Past Digital Exams links.
Find the Literacy Writing or Literacy Numeracy Assessments for 2023. Open the assessment. Turn Polly on.
Practise using Polly to listen to the questions being read aloud. Also, enter text into the response boxes and listen to the response being read aloud.
Things to think about.
Schools and kura are responsible for organising the 2024 English Literacy and Numeracy Digital assessments and are encouraged to support the use of Polly.
Think about how rooms will be arranged. How are you going to accommodate students using Polly? How will the students using Polly source headphones?
Remember, they can bring their own or the school can supply them. Any headphones compatible with their device can be used.
Think also about how to prepare students for their assessment and for using Polly. Make sure students have access to the instructions in the video about using Polly, and have practised using Polly with the past writing and numeracy assessments.
Finally, think about how you're going to manage any requirements for technical support of Polly during the assessment.
Reminders and next steps
Information about using Polly is available on the NZQA Literacy and Numeracy web page and will also be emailed to Principal's Nominees and SENCOs.
There may be further opportunities to use Polly in other assessments. We will let you know when we have more information about this.
If you have questions or feedback about Polly, please get in touch with our contact centre.