Transcript Online Testing - PearsonAccess.com

Online Testing:
TestNav 7.5
System Check Tool,
Proctor Caching
District and Campus Coordinators,
Technology Staff, and Test
Administrators
Online Testing
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Online Testing Permissions
Browser-based TestNav
Proctor Caching 2.0
Configuring TestNav
– Creating a New Proctor Caching Location
– Deleting a Proctor Caching Location
– Editing a Proctor Caching Location
Setting Up Your Infrastructure
System Check
Resources
Pearson and TEA Contact Information
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Online Testing Permissions
In order to perform many tasks necessary to setup your infrastructure for online
testing you must have the appropriate user role.
District Testing Coordinators and District Testing Assistants can:
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View TestNav Configurations
Create, Edit, and Delete TestNav Configurations
Proctor Cache a test session
Campus Testing Coordinators and Online Session Administrators can:
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View TestNav Configurations
Proctor Cache a test session
(NEW) Technology can:
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View, Edit, and Delete TestNav Configurations
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View sessions, students currently testing, and student progress
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Proctor Cache a test session
Refer to the User Roles and Permissions for the Texas Assessment Management
System for details
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TestNav 7 - Requirements
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Flash Player version 10 and higher
Java runtime plugin version 1.5 and
higher
Complete requirements can be found at
http://www.pearsononlinetesting.com/TestNav/7/
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Proctor Caching – What’s New
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Proctor Caching has been upgraded as of Oct. 15.
Increased performance on Windows and Mac operating systems
You can still use the previous version of Proctor Caching, but you can’t take
advantage of the performance benefits of the new version.
Upgrading Proctor Caching installs should not be a large effort due to the
limited number of installs per district
The latest version of Proctor Caching for PC and Mac computers can be found
at http://www.TexasAssessment.com/downloads or from within the
Assessment Management System at Support > Resources > Downloads.
For information about Proctor Caching and the steps involved in pre-caching
test content refer to the TestNav 7 Combined Technical Guide located at
http://www.TexasAssessment.com/techinfo or from within the Assessment
Management System at Support >Resources >Technology Information.
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Diagram of How Proctor Caching Works
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Configuring TestNav
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Configure TestNav
Using Configure TestNav, you can manage proctor caching computer
configurations. For the proctor caching computer to receive requests for test
content, TestNav must be configured to use the proctor caching computer as a
proxy computer via the Assessment Management System.
This means that adding a proctor caching computer configures TestNav to use
that designated proctor caching computer.
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Creating a New Proctor Caching Location
To create a new configuration
1. Enter http://www.TexasAssessment.com into your browser to go to
the Assessment Management System and log in.
2. Go to Test Setup > Configure TestNav.
3. Click the New Configuration button to open the configuration details
screen, add a descriptive name for the new configuration setting and click
Continue.
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Creating a New Proctor Caching Location
1. Click the Add Organization button to select the organization(s) that will
use the TestNav configuration (called the Configuration Name on the
screen). At least one organization must be selected in order to create a new
TestNav configuration. Make sure to establish a configuration for the
organizations that are testing.
2. Select an organization it will be associated with and click the Add button.
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Creating a New Proctor Caching Location
1. If you need to add another organization to the configuration click the Add
Organization button again to select another organization. When you have
added all the organizations to the configuration click the Continue button.
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Creating a New Proctor Caching Location
To create a new server
1. Add a descriptive name, proctor caching IP address, port (4480) and designate
the primary and secondary response file backup locations and then . and a for
the new proctor caching computer, and then click the Continue button.
– You must select a primary save location when configuring TestNav. A
network location is the recommended primary save location.
– Selecting an alternate save location is highly recommended. The alternate
save location must be different from the primary save location. A local
client computer location is the recommended alternate save location.
– The student must have read and write access to the primary and alternate
save locations in order for the student response file to be saved
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Creating a New Proctor Caching Location
NOTE: Pearson recommends specifying two save locations—a network
location (primary), and a local client computer location (alternate).
The use of UNC paths is not recommended.
By designating one or more file save locations, you are stipulating where a
student’s responses will be saved if the connection to the testing server is
interrupted. The default primary save location is:
\{your servername}\{your shared_location}\TestNav\temp
The save locations for the response file must be locations to which all
clients have read and write access.
If you use the default alternate locations, responses will be saved locally on the
C:\drive. Therefore, you must ensure that students have write access to that
particular location, otherwise responses will not be saved and you will
receive an error message. Change the default location to another location
on the shared drive if you do not want responses saved locally on the client.
For more information about the proctor caching console, see the TestNav 7
Combined Technical Guide, available at
http://www.TexasAssessment.com/techinfo or from within the Assessment
Management System at Support >Resources >Technology Information.
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Deleting a Proctor Caching Configuration
1. Go to Test Setup > Configure TestNav.
2. Select the radio button next to the configuration name you wish to delete,
and then click the Delete button.
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Editing TestNav Configurations
To change a proctor caching machine assigned to a session.
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Go to Test Management > Manage Test Sessions.
Select the session name to go to the Session Details screen.
Click the Edit button.
Change the assigned proctor caching server and select Save.
All students in this session will now use the new proctor caching
machine the next time they log into TestNav
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Setting Up Your
Infrastructure
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Hardware, Operating System, and Web
Browser Recommendations
The following programs are required for online testing:
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Adobe Flash Player 10.0 or higher must be installed on administrative
computers in order to view the TestNav 7 tutorial via a browser
(http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer).
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Java 1.5 or higher must be installed in order to use browser-based TestNav 7.
The minimum and recommended technical requirements for all computers accessing
the Assessment Management System and TestNav 7 are available as a separate
document at http://www.TexasAssessment.com/reqs or from within the Assessment
Management System at Support >Resources >Technology Information.
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Bandwidth
Best Practices for Saving Bandwidth
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Use the System Check Utility to verify that you have the appropriate
amount of bandwidth for online testing
Limit non–testing computer and network usage during testing
Adjust your network bandwidth “throttles,” if in place
Monitor network usage before and during testing
Use proctor caching and ensure it is properly configured
Stagger the logging in of students on the day of the test
– One room per minute (approximately)
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Wireless Computers in Testing
What is 802.11?
– Technology standard for wireless
networks
What does my school use?
– 802.11b – oldest
– 802.11g – most common
– 802.11n – fastest/newest
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Wireless Computers in Testing
Best Practices for wireless testing
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Wireless access points – more is better
Distance – closer is better
Limit number of computers per wireless access point
Try a small number first for proof of concept
– Do not roll out a few hundred on the first attempt (baby steps)
• Obstructions – limit obstructions
• Use the System Check Utility to verify that you have the appropriate amount
of bandwidth for online testing
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Online Testing System Check
http://www.TexasAssessment.com/SystemCheck
The online System Check utility for TestNav 7 is designed to help technology
personnel identify whether the infrastructure is ready for online testing prior
to scheduled testing dates. Network infrastructure readiness is a key
component in assessing and planning for online testing.
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System Check – TestNav tab
The TestNav tab checks to make sure the computer meets the minimum
software requirements to deliver tests online.
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System Check – Network User Capacity tab
The Network User Capacity tab provides a data throughput check that assesses
both the data transfer speeds and the estimated number of concurrent testers
that could be supported for a given test if testing were to occur at the same
moment the system check test is run. This result, however, may not accurately
represent the constraints that may exist when testing actually occurs, especially
if network conditions will be significantly different from their state when the
system check test is run.
This diagnostic tool should be run at the peak time of network utilization in the
day in order to obtain the most accurate results.
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System Check – Testing Volume Calculator tab
The Testing Volume Calculator tab provides a tool for modeling and calculating the
anticipated throughput and student testing volumes planned for a scheduled date
of testing. Since the calculation is based on network speed and expected
utilization, this is a purely theoretical calculation used for capacity planning.
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Resources
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What resources are available for online testing?
Online Testing Resources
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User's Guide for the Texas Assessment Management System
Unified Texas Minimum System Requirements
PearsonAccess Overview Training Modules
TestNav 7 Combined Technical Guide
TestNav 7 and Proctor Caching Quick Start
Tips for TestNav 7: Adobe Flash Player and Java
TestNav 7 32/64 Bit Browser Configuration (NEW!)
2012 District and Campus Coordinator Manual
These and additional online resources for TAKS, TELPAS, and STAAR EOC can
be found at http://www.TexasAssessment.com/resources or from within the
Assessment Management System at Support >Resources.
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Software Downloads
http://www.TexasAssessment.com/Downloads
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Proctor Caching – Mac
Proctor Caching – PC/Windows
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TestNav Links
The Texas Assessment Management System: Operational (Live) Site
– http://tx.testnav.com/TX
The Texas Assessment Management System: Practice Center
– http://tx.testnav.com/TXTRNG
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Training
Administration/Technology Staff
– Texas Assessment Management System Practice Center
 Flash Written Composition Tool — Texas Assessment Practice Administration
 Proctor Caching Testing Tool — Texas Assessment Practice Administration
 Texas Practice Test — Texas Assessment Practice Administration
– PearsonAccess Overview Training Modules
Students – Electronic Practice Tests (ePATS)
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Texas Specific Testing Tools
TAKS Written Composition Tool
STARR End-of-Course Writing Tool
STAAR End-of-Course Analytical Essay Tool
TELPAS Online Reading Test Student Tutorials
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Pearson and TEA contact
information
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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 e-mail Pearson’s Texas Online Team for assistance with:
• information about online testing or online
testing procedures
• navigating the Texas Assessment Management
System
• setting up a test run of the TestNav test
delivery system
• network problems
• proctor caching issues
• accessing and using the Practice Center
• evaluating infrastructure
• managing examinee data
• hardware and software requirements or
• setting up test sessions
problems
• assigning login IDs and passwords
• the TestNav Early Warning System
• accessing resources
• wireless networking issues
• questions about Pearson Online Testing
• technical emergencies
communications
• solving online testing set-up issues
• questions about oral administration of test
sessions
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Texas Education Agency’s
Student Assessment Division
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
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