Preparing for Online
Testing with NCTest
2014-2015
Webinar Purpose
• Provide list and information about the
various NCTest secure applications
• Provide guidance for tasks required to be
completed in NC Education
NC Education versus NCTest
• NC Education is a web-based Learning
Management System
– Where all pre and post test administrative
activities take place
– Can be accessed through any internet browser
(i.e. Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome)
– Any changes that are completed in NC
Education will take overnight to populate into
NCTest!
NC Education versus NCTest
• NCTest is the platform where tests are
administered on test day
– Can be accessed through NCTest Secure Browser,
iPad App, Chrome App or Chromebooks with
security configurations (Android App is in
development – 9.5” screen at a MINIMUM)
– Test Administrators use NC Education Username
and Password to access assessments in NCTest
NCTest Options 2014-15
• Secure Browser – 2014-15 will be the last
year the Secure Browser will be an option.
– Browser installation is available through files
located in TNN
– Local security systems may need to be adjusted
Chromebook with appropriate
security settings
• Available on Chromebooks with appropriate
security settings found on NCTest technical pages
• Does require system set-ups
• Required settings found at
https://center.ncsu.edu/nc/mod/page/view.php?id=
3264741
• Helpful video can be found at
http://youtu.be/be5urraBjJE
iPad and Chrome App
• 2014-15 versions will be available soon for
download or update in the Apple/Chrome
Store
– Allows for quicker loading of application
– Apps should not interfere with local security
systems
– Will require periodic updates when announced
(scheduled for once a year – prior to fall testing)
Tips
• Device sleep settings
• Ensure all updates are complete before
assessments begin
• Do not allow alerts on computers
• No Screensavers
• Volume control settings (not an issue on iPads)
• Wireless Access Point load/dedication
• Have back up devices launched and ready if
needed
• Provide power supplies, just in case
Helpful Websites
• NCTest Technical Requirements
https://center.ncsu.edu/nc/mod/page/view.php?id=515171
• NCTest Technical Support
https://center.ncsu.edu/nc/mod/page/view.php?id=3264741
• NCTest Capacity Test (2012)
https://center.ncsu.edu/nc/mod/resource/view.php?id=1527
101
• MCNC Support pages
https://www.mcnc.org/support/knowledgebase/k12technical-papers
Assessment Guide
To-Do Lists
• To-Do lists for
Before and After
Testing
• New NC Final
Exam Online
Guide
NC Education
• Staff can find
their username
https://center.ncsu.edu/nc/login/index.php
and/or reset their
password on the
login page
• If staff members
have NEVER
had an NC
Education
Account, they
must Create and
account and link
to their school
Linking to a School/LEA
• Test
Administrators
new to a school
must complete a
link request
• After the user
completes a link
request, a user
with one role
higher must
approve or deny
the link request
• Accounts must
be linked to a
school for the
use of testing
tools
User Linking – LEA TC/TA
• LEA TC/TA (Local Education Agency Test Coordinator/Testing
Assistant): Users linked to a LEA with this role can perform the
following actions for any school within the LEA:
• login to NCTest and get students to the start page of an online test
• approve or deny link requests for any school within the LEA
• remove linked users from LEA and/or schools
• use CREATE STUDENT under Manage Students
• use enrollment picker to manually enroll/unenroll students
throughout the LEA into an online test
• enter/edit SIQs, Accommodations Provided, Special Codes for
student tests
• enter/edit Test Window Scheduler
• view student test start and end date and time
• use Reset, Resume, and Finalize functions
• assign NCEXTEND1 assessors
User Linking -- STC
• STC (School Testing Coordinator): Users linked to a school with
this role can perform the following actions:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
login to NCTest and get students to the start page of an online test
approve or deny link requests for school(s) to which they are linked
remove linked users from school(s) they manage
use enrollment picker to manually enroll/unenroll students within
the school into an online test
enter/edit SIQs, Accommodations Provided, Special Codes for
student tests
view student test start and end date and time
view the Test Window Scheduler
assign NCEXTEND1 assessors
User Linking – Teacher-School
• Teacher-School: Users linked to a school with this role linked to a
school(s) can perform the following actions for students within the
school:
• login to NCTest and get students to the start page of an online test
• use enrollment picker to manually enroll/unenroll students into an
online test
• enter/edit SIQs, Accommodations Provided, Special Codes for
student tests
• view student test start and end date and time
• view the Test Window Scheduler
• be assigned as an NCEXTEND1 assessor (enter NCEXTEND1
data for assigned students)
Test Window Scheduler NEW
• LEA TC/TA roles only – under
MANAGE heading
• Windows are editable if needed for
special test windows (e.g., CDM,
Flexible Testing Waiver)
• Requires communication among
School TC and LEA TC/TA
Test Window Scheduler
con’t
• Shows all
schools an LEA
TC/TA can
manage
• Can Filter by
School Name or
Number
• Select one
window per
school
• Click on the Edit
button to
schedule
Test Window Scheduler
con’t
• Enter start date
and end date for
that school’s test
window
• Select all the test
types that school
will administer
online
• Click submit
Test Window Scheduler
con’t
• Test window is
now visible
• Enrollment and
Accommodation
Data Feed will
begin the next
day for that
school
• All users linked
to the school will
be able to view
the test window
in their Sessions
Tab
NCTest Admin Pages
• Most of your test activities will
take place on these pages
• Courses appear the day after
test windows are scheduled
by LEA TC/TA
• One course per assessment
per school
• To access click on NC
Schools tab/link on My Home
NCTest Admin Pages
• After you click on NC Schools you should
see each course that has been created for
that school
• Select the NC Education course(e.g., Early
College Math I EOC Fall 2014) for the
assessment you need to manage
NCTest Admin Pages
• The NCTest Admin option will take you to the
administrative tabs
• The Enrolled Students option will allow you to
monitor and adjust course enrollments
NCTest Admin Page
Where
users VIEW
scheduled
test
windows
Where users
VERIFY, ADD and
EDIT student SIQs –
BEFORE test day
Where users
see student
lists and other
administration
info.
Where users
enter Accom
Provided
AFTER test
administrations
Where users can
monitor test
activity on test day
Where users enter
Special Code
information detailed
in the Assessment
Guide
Admin Entry Tab
• This is the list of
students that will
be available for
selection on test
day
• May have extra
students…no unenrollment
feature in NC
Education
• There are a
variety of Filter
options you can
use to narrow the
list shown
Admin Entry Tab
• The student
assessment start
and end time is
listed
• If a student has
Multiple Testing
Sessions marked
on their SIQ, it
appears here
• LEA TC/TA can
use the RESET,
RESUME and
FINALIZE keys –
USE WITH
CARE!!
What to do if a student’s name is not
listed in the Admin Entry Tab?
• Verify student is enrolled in PowerSchool
• Verify they are enrolled in a course with a course
code that flags the assessment
• Allow 3-5 business days for processing
• Use the Student Enrollment Page if needed
• If a student has been manually enrolled in a
special test window, they will not be autoenrolled.
Student Enrollment Page
• Recall this page: Appears after NC Schools
is clicked and the appropriate course is
selected.
• Users can also use the breadcrumbs at the
top of the screen to return to this page
Student Enrollment Page
• The School Tab
will list all students
enrolled in the
school on the right
• To enroll a student
within that school
to this course, click
the + to the right of
the student name
in the right pane
• The students who
appear on the left
will appear on the
Admin Tab
Student Enrollment Page
• Use in RARE
cases, a student
within the District
may need to be
assigned to a
different school
to take an
assessment
• This can be
accomplished
through the
District Tab
• Search for a
student and click
the ADD button
NCTest Admin Page
Where
users VIEW
scheduled
test
windows
Where users
VERIFY, ADD and
EDIT student SIQs –
BEFORE test day
Where users
see student
lists and other
administration
info.
Where users
enter Accom
Provided
AFTER test
administrations
Where users can
monitor test
activity on test day
Where users enter
Special Code
information detailed
in the Assessment
Guide
Sessions Tab
• Users with
School TC and
Teacher-School
roles can VIEW
test session
windows
• They should
verify accuracy of
windows for their
assessments
• If incorrect, they
should contact
LEA TC/TA for
corrections –at
least the day
before test day!!!
NCTest Admin Page
Where
users VIEW
scheduled
test
windows
Where users
VERIFY, ADD and
EDIT student SIQs –
BEFORE test day
Where users
see student
lists and other
administration
info.
Where users
enter Accom
Provided
AFTER test
administrations
Where users can
monitor test
activity on test day
Where users enter
Special Code
information detailed
in the Assessment
Guide
SIQ Tab - NEW
• SIQs are auto
completed
through a data
feed from
CECAS and
other 3rd party
IEP vendors.
• At this time, 504,
LEP and
transitory
accommodations
will need to be
hand entered by
clicking Add SIQ
SIQ Tab - NEW
• New look! All
student SIQ
information can
be viewed from
SIQ tab
• Filtering tools are
available to find
students quickly
• To edit, click the
hand/pencil icon
to the left of the
student’s name
Editing or Entering SIQ
• First two SIQs
are available to
any student
where there is a
determined need
• Last 3 SIQs
should reflect
IEP, LEP, 504 or
transitory plans
• Do not click
“other” block for
Student Marks
Answers in Book
or One Item Per
Page
Accommodations
Editing or Entering SIQ
• Purple asterisk
will appear if SIQ
has been
manually altered
or added
• Once SIQ is
manually
manipulated, all
future data feeds
will not populate
SIQs for that
student
• Click Save after
making changes
NCTest Admin Page
Where
users VIEW
scheduled
test
windows
Where users
VERIFY, ADD and
EDIT student SIQs –
BEFORE test day
Where users
see student
lists and other
administration
info.
Where users
enter Accom
Provided
AFTER test
administrations
Where users can
monitor test
activity on test day
Where users enter
Special Code
information detailed
in the Assessment
Guide
Accommodations
Provided
• Will become
available after a
student with SIQ
(2) finalizes their
assessment
• MUST be
complete before
7:00 p.m. on the
day the test was
finalized
• Click on the
pencil icon to the
left of the
student’s name
to complete
Accommodations
Provided
• Select the
accommodations
that were
PROVIDED to
the student
(whether they
used them or not)
• “one or more not
provided” option
is available if SIQ
was incorrectly
completed or if
an
accommodation
was not provided
NCTest Admin Page
Where
users VIEW
scheduled
test
windows
Where users
VERIFY, ADD and
EDIT student SIQs –
BEFORE test day
Where users
see student
lists and other
administration
info.
Where users
enter Accom
Provided
AFTER test
administrations
Where users can
monitor test
activity on test day
Where users enter
Special Code
information detailed
in the Assessment
Guide
Special Codes Tab
• All Special
Codes must be
entered by 7:00
p.m. on day the
student finalized
the assessment
• Filter section is
available
• Can Download
results to as a
CSV
Special Codes Tab
• Hovers are available over each column
heading to remind users the purpose of the
Special Code (504 Only is showing below)
• Please refer to the Assessment Guide for
each assessment for more information
NCTest Admin Page
Where
users VIEW
scheduled
test
windows
Where users
VERIFY, ADD and
EDIT student SIQs –
BEFORE test day
Where users
see student
lists and other
administration
info.
Where users
enter Accom
Provided
AFTER test
administrations
Where users can
monitor test
activity on test day
Where users enter
Special Code
information detailed
in the Assessment
Guide
Stats Tab
• Gives summary
information about
test sessions.
• Quick reference
to determine how
many
assessments are
not finalized
NCTest Progress Screen
• From My Home
• Under Links
NCTest Progress Screen
Click here to
return to My Home
Click here for
NCTest Admin Page
Number and % of
completed tests
Number and % of Accom
Provided completed
LEA TC/TA Test Day Tools - NEW
• Under MANAGE heading in
My Home
• USE for RARE CASES only at
the discretion of LEA TC/TA
• Sync User
• Sync Student
Sync User
• Used when a
user has
changed user
settings on day of
testing and
cannot access
assessments
because of these
actions
• Changing
Password
• Linking to a
school on the
day of testing
Sync Student
• Use to allow
students
manually
enrolled on test
day to test.
• Use if student is
in the Admin Tab
for the
assessment but
is not appearing
in NCTest
student list
NCTest
Login Page
• Test Type needs to be selected first
• Then Test Name box will contain only tests of the type
selected
• Use NC Education Username and Password
Student Selection Page
• Student Selection Page can now be filtered by student
last name.
Questions
NCTest Helpdesk
ncdesk@ncsu.edu
Julie Molique
julie.molique@dpi.nc.gov