Battle over school testing company for NC students heats up

That panel had recommended a different company.

At the Friday news conference, speakers said they wanted a teaching method that favored people over computer programs.

"I will take human interaction over screen time any day," said Paula Dinga, a third grade teacher.

And they criticized using computers to evaluate young readers.

"They need adults to listen to them read," said Michelle Burton, an elementary school librarian.

The online system chosen by the superintendent will teach students by using computerized games.

But that approach has come under fire from some who say the company is going to put students in front of computers instead of having them learn from teachers..

"That couldn't be further from the truth," said Ossa Fisher, president of Istation, which was selected by Johnson.

The company's software works by asking students questions.

The more questions they get right, the more difficult the test questions become.

If a student is struggling and not getting those selecting correct answers, the Istation software will adjust the difficulty level of the questions.

The resulting data then tailors lesson plans for teachers and students.

"In approximately 30 minutes, the teachers are going to have the data in hand to be able to make those instructional decisions and go back to the classroom and teach," said former teacher Vickie Whitfield, a vice president at Istation.

Istation leaders say they want the chance to prove their product.

"We're just going to help you do it better and faster so you'll be able to make those differences for children," Whitfield said.

Teachers across the state are already training on the new assessment ​software.

The State Board of Education delayed data collection until next year to give teachers more time to get comfortable with the new technology.

But Amplify, the company that lost the contract, is mounting a challenge tp the new deal.