Online Testing for Rookies

The Basics • • •

Assessments Available Online Technology Preparing Your Environment – – – – – – –

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The Process Resources Available for Administrators – –

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Manuals and Guides Training

Resources Available for Students – –

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Minimum System Requirements Proctor Caching Student Response Files Configure TestNav in the Texas Assessment Management System System Check for TestNav Online Test Sessions in the Texas Assessment Management System Early Warning System

Practice Tests and Tutorials Accommodations Available for Online Testing

Contacts

Assessments Available Online •

STAAR® –

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STAAR L (online only) – – – –

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grade 4 reading and mathematics (English only) grade 7 reading and mathematics grade 8 science and social studies

TELPAS (online only) –

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grades 3–8 mathematics grades 5 and 8 science grade 8 social studies Algebra I, biology, U.S. history

Standardized Oral Administration (online only) – – –

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Algebra I, biology, English I, English II, U.S. history

grades 2–12 reading

TAKS –

exit level English language arts (ELA), mathematics, science, social studies

Technology

Don’t worry! Rely on your technology personnel. Grant them access in the Texas Assessment Management System, delivered through PearsonAccess, and they can assist you with these items.

A few things that are good to understand: • minimum system requirements • proctor caching • configure TestNav • Java and Flash • System Check Utility • Early Warning System • resources

Technology – TestNav

TestNav is Pearson's test delivery platform for online testing. It delivers tests via a web browser on desktop and laptop computers.

NOTE: Adobe Flash Player 10.0 or higher and Java 1.5 or higher must be installed in order to use browser-based TestNav 7.

Technology – Requirements •

Minimum System Requirements: The Minimum System Requirements PDF has been updated for 2013–2014 and is posted at the following location: http://www.TexasAssessment.com/reqs

Technology – Online Testing Components

Technology – Preparing Your Environment

Technology – Proctor Caching Proctor caching refers to pre-caching (downloading) test content from the Pearson testing server to a secure "local" computer prior to starting a test session. Because test content exists on the local network, the demand for external (Internet) bandwidth for online testing is reduced. With proctor caching, if your Internet "goes down" during testing, your students still have access to test content and can continue testing while your technicians resolve your Internet connection issue. Proctor caching software does not require the addition of a dedicated server. It can be installed on an existing server or computer to serve test content to student computers.

Technology – Proctor Caching •

Download proctor caching installer from the Downloads tab on the Information page.

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Run the installer and start proctor caching if it is not already started by the installer.

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Use System Check from the client computer to verify that proctor caching is functional.

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Create a TestNav configuration for the proctor caching setup within the Assessment Management System at the district or school level.

Technology – Proctor Caching

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Select the Contents tab for information about test content and caching status. Select the Client List tab to monitor client connectivity.

Technology – Student Response Files TestNav will save student responses to an encrypted backup file during testing and when the student exits the system to avoid losing response data. • TestNav requires at least one working save location. • TestNav, by default, saves student response data to the home directory on the computer the student is using to test. Pearson recommends designating two response file save locations . Create a TestNav configuration to specify custom primary and secondary file locations. • The primary response file save location should be on student computers. • The secondary response file save location should be a shared network location. • Students must have full read/write access to designated response file save locations.

Technology – Configure TestNav Configure TestNav is used to tell the Pearson servers what decisions have been made on where the tests are coming from, the proctor cache location, and where the student response files will need to be saved during testing—the student testing computer hard drive and/or a network location. When a student logs into TestNav to take the test, the Pearson servers will use the information in the Assessment Management System to tell TestNav what test to give the student, where the test is located, and where to save the student responses. The technology staff role has the permission to set up a TestNav configuration in the Assessment Management System. Technology staff, district testing coordinator, and district testing assistant roles can view and edit the TestNav settings for the test session from the Session Details screen.

Technology – Configure TestNav

The proctor cache location

The student response file save locations during testing

Technology – Configure TestNav When the district or campus coordinators create a test session, the session will be defaulted to the TestNav configuration that was created for the school. District or campus coordinators will be able to choose a different proctor caching computer from the drop down list if it is available.

The district coordinator can also view and edit the TestNav settings for the test session from the Session Details screen.

Technology – System Check The online System Check Utility for TestNav 7 is designed to help technology personnel identify whether the network infrastructure and student testing computers are ready for online testing prior to scheduled testing dates. Network infrastructure readiness is a key component in assessing and planning for online testing. http://www.TexasAssessment.co m/SystemCheck

Technology – System Check The TestNav 7 tab checks to make sure the computer meets the minimum software requirements to deliver tests online. Additionally there is TestNav verification at the bottom of the page that should be used to confirm the workstation’s ability to access TestNav and launch a test.

Technology – System Check The Network User tab tests Internet bandwidth and proctor caching connections, providing volume estimates to assist in planning the number of students that can successfully test concurrently.

Online Test Sessions Managing test sessions is one of the main administrative activities for online testing. The Manage Test Sessions screen is located in the Test Management tab.

All students that are testing online must be placed in a test session in the Assessment Management System. Test sessions are virtual groupings of students who will test at the same time or place. This is where the Assessment Management System will be utilized by online session administrators and online test administrators who oversee online testing.

Online Test Sessions

Online Test Sessions

Online Test Sessions The Session Details screen allows the online test administrator to manage the details of each test session. This is their “dashboard” during the test.

Online Test Sessions In the Session Details screen, you will find most of the test administrator’s functions. From this screen, you can start and stop a test session, print Student Authorizations and/or seal codes, print Proctor Authorizations (for Read Aloud administrations), proctor cache test content, print a session roster, update TestNav configurations, monitor individual student’s tests, resume a test, mark a test complete, and add/remove/ move students.

Online Test Sessions The online test administrator can monitor the status of each student in the session. Status

Meaning

Ready

The student has not yet started the test.

Active

The student has logged in and started the test.

Exited

The student has exited TestNav but has not submitted test responses, e.g. took a break. (Student must be resumed by a test administrator to continue testing.)

Resumed

The student has been authorized by a test administrator to resume the test.

Resumed-Upload

The student has been authorized to resume the test, and any responses saved locally can be uploaded when the student is ready to continue testing.

Completed

The test has been submitted by the student through TestNav and the data has been processed.

Marked Complete

The student has exited TestNav and will not resume the same test, e.g left due to illness.

Technology – Early Warning System The Early Warning System (EWS) is integrated functionality that gives TestNav a high degree of fault tolerance and provides additional fail-safes in the event of unexpected network disruptions during computer-based testing.

Technology – Early Warning System •

The Early Warning System writes continuously in the background to the student response files (SRF). Both the primary and secondary files are written to at the same time.

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The SRF has a response data threshold that, once reached, triggers TestNav to send response data to Pearson servers.

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Uploading of response data is continuous. If an upload to the Pearson servers fails, student responses continue to be saved locally and TestNav cycles and attempts another upload.

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If the response data upload is successful, TestNav creates a new empty SRF and begins the process again. TestNav only deletes an SRF once it is successfully uploaded to the Pearson servers.

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A combination of the test ticket ID combined with the session token is used to uniquely identify the SRF.

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TestNav can identify the correct student response file if a test is successfully resumed.

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Only the SRF from the student’s last test attempt can be used when the student resumes a test.

Technology – Early Warning System Scenario 1: TestNav determines that neither saving response file location is viable. – Results in an immediate Test Proctor Click Here notification. Scenario 2: TestNav is unable to download portions of the test. – Results in an immediate Test Proctor Click Here notification. Scenario 3: TestNav is unable to upload student responses to Pearson. – Results in a Test Proctor Click Here notification only if the student attempts to Exit or Submit the test.

Technology – Early Warning System One of the following screens will appear when scenarios 1, 2, or 3 occur. Students should be instructed to ALWAYS raise their hand when presented with either of the Test Proctor Click Here notifications. They should NEVER click the Test Proctor-Click Here button. NOTE: Details on Early Warning System errors are located in the TestNav 7 Combined Technical Guide available at Home > Resources > Information in the Technology Information tab in the Assessment Management System.

The Process

The Process

The Process

Resources for Administrators Manuals and Guides The following manuals and guides can all be found in the Texas Assessment website at http://texasassessment.com/info •

User's Guide for the Texas Assessment Management System (TAMS) – Learn about using the TAMS, including online testing. The following sections of this manual are particularly relevant to online testing: Student Data (section 6), Test Setup (section 7), and Test Management (section 8).

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User Roles and Permissions for the Texas Assessment Management System – Determine TAMS access based on roles and established permissions, including District Testing Coordinator, Campus Testing Coordinator, Online Session Administrator, and Online Test Administrator.

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Minimum System Requirements – Make sure your computer hardware, web browsers, and networks are adequate for online testing.

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System Check for TestNav Utility – An online tool for checking that computers and networks are ready for online testing.

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TestNav 7 Combined Technical Guide – A single source of technology guidelines for successful administration of online assessments providing technical information for using the TAMS, TestNav 7 (the browser-based test delivery system), and proctor caching.

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TestNav 7 and Proctor Caching Quick Start – A brief technical overview of TestNav 7 and proctor caching.

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Tips for TestNav 7: Adobe Flash Player and Java – Important considerations about how TestNav 7 uses updated versions of Adobe Flash Player and Java for test delivery.

Resources for Administrators Training The following training tools can all be located in the Texas Assessment website at http://texasassessment.com/training •

District Testing Coordinator Training for Online Testing – Video presentations providing essential information necessary for online testing including Online Testing Resources, Managing Student Data, Test Setup, and Creating and Managing Test Sessions.

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Technology Coordinator Training for Online Testing – Video presentations providing essential technical information for online testing including Online Testing Permissions, Proctor Caching, Configuring TestNav, TAMS, and Additional Technical Considerations.

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Texas Assessment Management System (TAMS) – Self-paced training modules and tutorials for learning about the TAMS.

Resources for Students The following manuals and guides can all be located in the Texas Assessment website at http://texasassessment.com/resources •

Student Tutorials, Released Tests, and Tools– Hands-on resources for students to become familiar with the online testing tools and environment. – – – – – – –

Standardized Oral Administration Student Tutorial STAAR End-of-Course Writing Tool STAAR L Online Student Tutorials TELPAS Online Reading Test Student Tutorials TAKS Written Composition Tool (ePAT) Texas-Specific Testing Tools (ePAT) 2010 TELPAS Reading Released Tests

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Grades 2-12 Reading Test Samples from the Educator Guide to TELPAS

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TAKS Study Guides – Guides to help students prepare for TAKS exit level assessments.

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Texas Assessment Student Portal – View an individual student's assessment results.

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Texas Assessment Student Portal Guide – A guide to navigating the Student Portal.

Resources for Students Accommodations Available for Online Testing There are two types of oral test administrations available online: • Traditional version - test administrator reads the assessment to the student •

Standardized Oral Administration (SOA) - assessment is read by the computer, paced by the student, and is available for select assessments and in specific grades

NOTE: STAAR L has an audio component for individual words or phrases, but this assistance is not sufficient for providing an oral administration. • •

Accommodations - http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/accommodations ARD Committee - http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/ard

Contacts TEA Telephone 512-463-9536 Fax 512-463-9302 TEA Student Assessment website – http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment Call TEA’s Student Assessment Division for assistance with: • testing accommodations • requesting changes to the testing schedule • questions about the policy on taking breaks and lunch • testing beyond normal school hours • handling unusual circumstances on test days • violations of test security • handling school emergencies that affect testing • questions about general online testing policy • questions about TEA communications

Contacts Pearson’s Austin Operations Center 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM CT Monday–Friday Toll free: 800-627-0225 E-mail: [email protected] Call or email Pearson’s Texas Online Team for assistance with: • information about online testing or online testing procedures • navigating the Assessment Management System • accessing and using the Practice Center • managing examinee data • setting up test sessions • assigning login IDs and passwords • accessing resources • questions about Pearson Online Testing communications • questions about oral administration of test sessions

• setting up a test run of the TestNav test delivery system • network problems • proctor caching issues • evaluating infrastructure • hardware and software requirements or problems • the TestNav Early Warning System • wireless networking issues • technical emergencies • solving online testing set-up issues