Spring Infrastructure Trial Readiness Guide Version 1.2

(1)

(2)

Document Revisions

Revision Date Revision Summary Description

January 17, 2014 Version 1.0 Initial Post

March 5, 2014 Version 1.1 Reorganized document and updated with Infrastructure Trial Survey and TestNav

app details

(3)

(4)

PARCC Infrastructure Trial Readiness Guide – April 2014 4

Glossary of Important Terms

PearsonAccess is the website used for the registration, setup, preparation, and management of both the computer‐based and paper‐based formats of the PARCC Field Test. PearsonAccess is a secure site for PARCC Field Test participants that requires username and password setup and can be found at http://PARCC.Pearson.com. Additional information about setup and operation of computer‐based testing for the PARCC Field Test is available in the PearsonAccess User Guide.This document is available at http://PARCC.Pearson.com/Support.

PearsonAccess Training Center is an online portal that provides an opportunity to practice Test Administrator and Technology Coordinator tasks. It is also the means of managing the

(5)

About This Guide

This guide is intended to provide a comprehensive list of tasks involved in conducting an Infrastructure Trial. For technical issue resolution or further information on tasks involved for managing student data, the manuals posted at http://PARCC.Pearson.com/Support can be referenced. Section To be used by 1.0 Implementing an Infrastructure Trial This section will provide instructions and information on contacting PARCC Support with questions or technical issues. LEA/District and School Test Coordinator 2.0 PearsonAccess Training Center This section discusses the PARCC PearsonAccess Training Center. LEA/District, School Test Coordinator, and Technology Staff 3.0 Technology Set Up This section covers all of the technology aspects of the Infrastructure Trial, and provides instructions on configuring the Infrastructure Trial Environment. Technology Staff 4.0 Creating Sample Students This section describes how to create sample students in the PearsonAccess Training Center for an Infrastructure Trial. LEA/District or School Test Coordinator 4.0 Setting Up a Test Session This section provides all the necessary information and steps for setting up sessions for an Infrastructure Trial and managing student assignments for sessions. LEA/District or School Test Coordinator 6.0 Conducting a Test Session This section provides all the necessary information and steps for conducting an Infrastructure Trial including printing Student Authorization Tickets and instructions about starting, monitoring, and stopping sessions in the PARCC PearsonAccess Training. LEA/District or School Test Coordinator 7.0 Follow‐Up This section includes instructions for providing your LEA and PARCC with feedback regarding the Infrastructure Trial. All Staff

(6)

(7)

(8)

(9)

(10)

(11)

2.0 PearsonAccess Training Center

Tasks in this section will be performed by:

LEA/District School Test Coordinator Technology Staff The PARCC PearsonAccess Training Center is the site used to set up and administer an Infrastructure Trial. Within the PARCC PearsonAccess Training Center, users can create sample students, assign the Infrastructure Trial test to sample students, create sample test sessions, and add students to these test sessions. The PARCC PearsonAccess Training Center is also used to monitor sessions during the Infrastructure Trial. Because most of the setup for computer‐based testing occurs at the school level, these instructions are directed to the School Test Coordinator and Technology Coordinator. However, depending on the state and local policy, these tasks could also be completed by the District Test Coordinator. Note: Disable pop‐up blocking software for the PearsonAccess website. A pop‐up blocker will block screens from opening on testing devices.

2.1 Log in to the PearsonAccess Training Center

The LEA Test Coordinator will be responsible for creating an account for the School Test Coordinator (and possibly Technology Coordinators) in the Training Center. If you are responsible for creating other school user accounts (such as your Technology Coordinator and staff that will administer the test), your LEA Test Coordinator will provide you with instructions for how to do this. You should receive an email with your username (which is your email address) and instructions for creating your password. If you have not received these instructions, contact your LEA Test Coordinator. Most PearsonAccess users will have two login credentials; one for the Training Center, and one for the live site. You will need your PearsonAccess Training Center account to setup the Infrastructure Trial. Log in for the first time After you receive the email containing your username, complete the following steps: 1. Click on the link within the email. 2. Create a password; you will be prompted to enter it twice, and then click Set Password. 3. Click OK. 4. To return to the Training Center, go to http://PARCC.Pearson.com/TrainingCenter. 5. Then click Sign In to log in to the PearsonAccess Training Center. 6. Read the Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions of Use, then click Accept. To reset your password (If needed)

(12)

(13)

(14)

d. Click Start to view the results of the test. e. You can add, change, or delete proctor caching computers. In order to recalculate the results, click Start. 2. Configure Internet firewalls, content filters, and spam filters. Internet firewalls, content filters, or spam filters must be configured to allow pass through to the Pearson domain. Verify content filter/firewalls and allow the appropriate sites, including:  *.testnav.com:80  *.testnav.com:443  S3.amazonaws.com  Allow javaw.exe to communicate  Set browsers to allow pop‐ups  Allow local file access to home directory Next, configure the common applications listed below to NOT launch on any student test taking devices during testing sessions:  Anti‐virus software performing automatic updates  Power management software on laptops warning of low battery levels  Screen savers and sleep mode  E‐mail with auto message notification  Calendar applications with notifications, such as Google Calendar  Pop‐up blockers  Set automatic updates (iTunes) For additional details on PARCC Technology Specifications, see the Full Technology Specifications for 2014 PARCC Field Test Participation at http://www.parcconline.org/field‐test‐technology For more information about Pearson domains review the Technical Setup Training module found at https://parcc.tms.pearson.com/ or review the TestNav 8 User Guide located on the

Technology Information tab on the PearsonAccess resources page at http://PARCC.Pearson.com/TechInformation

For additional details on PARCC firewall and content filter instructions by device, see the Full Technology Specifications for 2014 PARCC Field Test Participation at

(15)

(16)

(17)

(18)

4. Click Continue to complete the configuration. 5. Cache test content Proctor Caching is completed at the session level on the Session Details screen. Click on Proctor Caching to download test content to the proctor caching machine. See the Technology Setup training and the Configure TestNav and Proctor Caching Training at https://parcc.tms.pearson.com/. In addition the TestNav Users Guide includes additional

(19)

3.2 Preliminary System Test

Prior to students taking part in the Infrastructure Trial, School Technology Staff should perform a Preliminary System Test. The Preliminary System Test is an informal, small‐scale Infrastructure Trial that is recommend to help ensure systems are setup and in place before student participation. Technology Staff should work with the Test Coordinators to follow the steps in

Sections 4.0 and 5.0 to create sample students and a test session. Then, Technology Staff will log in to several computers to ensure cached test content is delivered to TestNav. This process is designed to help ensure a successful full‐scale Infrastructure Trial.

3.3 Conducting an Infrastructure Trial

The following section describes the roles and responsibilities of the Technology Staff during the Infrastructure Trial. As a reminder, in order to complete set up, the test administrator will need to follow the steps in Sections 4.0 and 5.0 to create sample students and a test session. The detailed steps for conducting the Infrastructure Trial are provided in section 6.2 Conduct an Infrastructure Trial at a School. 1. Ensure proctor caching software is running (if applicable) In your browser, type http://<IP address>:4480 and hit Enter to view the proctor caching interface. You will see three tabs. The Home tab provides an at‐a‐glance view. Select the Contents tab for information about test content and caching status. Select the Client List tab to monitor client connectivity. 2. Monitor Network Performance for slowdowns or ISP bandwidth usage  If using a wireless connection, monitor the connections and verify that access point placement is sufficient for testing  Provide technology support to LEA/district test coordinators and test administrators

3.4 After Conducting the Infrastructure Trial

The following section describes the roles and responsibilities of the Technology Staff after conducting the Infrastructure Trial. 1. Purge cached test content (if applicable) In your browser, type http://<IP address>:4480 and hit Enter to view the proctor caching interface. You will see three tabs. The Home tab provides an at‐a‐glance view. Select the Contents tab for information about test content and caching status. Select the Content tab to

See the How to Proctor Cache a Test Session Training at https://parcc.tms.pearson.com/. In addition the TestNav Users Guide includes additional information and scenario descriptions

(20)

(21)

(22)

(23)

(24)

(25)

(26)

(27)

(28)

4. Read Script Test Administrators are required to adhere to the scripts provided in this manual (Appendix C) for administering the Infrastructure Trial. You may repeat any part of these directions as many times as needed while you are delivering the script, but you may not modify or paraphrase the wording. Use your professional judgment in responding to student questions that arise during the testing session. Remember that you may not answer student questions about the test items or assist students in responding to test items. Read word‐for‐ word all text that is boxed and printed in bold type and preceded by the word ‘Say’. Text that appears outside the boxes in regular type or italics should not be read aloud to the students. 5. Conduct Test Session The Script provides instructions for students to log in to TestNav, and concludes with instructions for students to ‘Start Test Now’, this marks the beginning of the Test Session. The students will be given 30 minutes to complete the practice test or tutorial as part of this test session. 6. Supervise Test Administration During each test session, circulate around the room and check to see that students are recording their answers in the correct session of the computer‐based testing environment.

6.3 Monitor Sessions

Once a session has been started, there are a number of actions that may need to be carried out in order to complete the Infrastructure Trial. These actions include resuming sample students, resuming sample students with saved responses, and marking tests complete. The Test Administrator should have their own device to perform these actions. The following table lists the statuses that may appear for a student in the Session Details and a description of what each status indicates. Student Status Key Status Description Ready The student has not logged in to the session yet, but is ready to log in. Active The student is currently in the test. Exited The student has exited the session, but has not submitted his or her responses yet. Students in Exited status will need to be resumed by a Test Administrator to re‐enter the test. Completed The student has completed the test and has successfully submitted his or her responses.

(29)

(30)

(31)

(32)

(33)

(34)

(35)

(36)

(37)

(38)

Appendix E: Training Resources for Technical

Coordinators

Training Resources for Technical Coordinators During Tech Prep Week

(39)

Appendix F: Training Resources for Test

Coordinators/Administrators

Training Resources for Test Coordinators/Administrators During Tech Prep Week

(40)

Appendix G: Guides and Manuals for Tech

Prep Week

Guides and Manuals for Tech Prep Week

(41)

(42)

Guide/Manual Description Target Audience (Role)* Location SystemCheck Tool This tool is used to check devices and network readiness. Technology Coordinators http://systemcheck.parcc.testnav.co m/ Using TestNav on a Chromebook This document provides instructions on how to setup TestNav for secure testing on a Chromebook. Technology

Coordinators http://PARCC.Pearson.com/TechInfo_rmation Using TestNav on an iPad This document provides instructions and options on how to setup TestNav for secure testing on an iPad. Technology