Technology readiness
Devices
People
Devices
Support
Adequate
Devices
School
Staff
Infrastructure
Test Administration
Number of
Testers
Number of
“Seats”
External
Test
Window
Internet
Bandwidth
Internal
Internal
Network
(WAN)
Wi-Fi
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
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Device specifications
 Refer to the Technology Guidelines for PARCC Assessments, Version 5.2,
at http://www.parcconline.org/technology
 Has specifications for Windows, MAC, and Chromebook devices, Linux
machines, iPads, and Android tablets
 Provides minimum and recommended specifications:
 Minimum specs: Devices can be used this spring (2016); might not be usable
beyond spring 2016
 Recommended specs: Devices can be used in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019;
projected by PARCC to meet the minimum specs in 2018-19
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Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Determining # of devices for testing
Steps
Considerations
Example
1. Over how many days will you give
the test?
The maximum amount of days in the testing window is 20
5
2. How many sessions will you give per
day?
Schools give 2-3 sessions per day
2
3. How many testing sessions do you
have available?
Multiply the # of days in your testing window by the # of
sessions/day
10
4. How many students are you testing?
This is the enrollment count across tested grades
100
5. What is the max # sessions per
tested student?
At most, students sit for 7 sessions
6. What is the total # of “seats” needed
for testing?
Multiply # of tested students by # of sessions per tested
student above
700
7. What is the total # of devices needed
for testing?
Divide total # of seats above by total # of sessions
available in #3 above
70
7
3
NOTE: This model yields the minimum # of devices for online testing. Schools may want to adjust figures to account
for different grade configurations and simultaneous grade level testing, or use the PARCC “Rule of Thumb” described
in the Technology Guidelines for PARCC Assessments.
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Infrastructure and bandwidth recommendations
 Refer to the Technology Guidelines for PARCC Assessments, Version
5.2, at http://www.parcconline.org/technology
 Proctor-caching (offline testing) is strongly recommended to ensure
an uninterrupted testing experience, minimize data loss, and
maximize # of simultaneous test-takers.
 Bandwidth demand of test sessions (per student):




Minimum w/caching: ≥ 5 kilobits per second
Minimum w/o caching: ≥ 50 kbps
Recommended for instruction + assessment: ≥ 100 kbps
SETDA target for 2017-18: 1,000 kbps
 Bandwidth available for testing must account for common school
technology activities such as email, web browsing, online learning,
audio/video streaming, etc.
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
4
Changes from spring 2015 to spring 2016
Phased out:
Phased in:
 Operating systems:
Windows Vista/XP,
MacOS 10.6, iOS 7
 Browser versions:
Internet Explorer 9/10,
Safari 5.x, Google
Chrome (all versions)
 Java versions: 1.6, 1.7
 Installable TestNav app for desktops &
laptops eliminates dependency on external
browsers (both installable & browser-based
versions support Mac OS X & Windows)
 New TestNav home screen design
 Headphones required for ELA/L
 Larger screen size for ELA/L constructed
response
 Spell check available for ELA/L responses
 End of session review screen for students:
can flag/review unanswered items
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
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TestNav and PearsonAccessnext –
Version Updates visible 2/1/16
PearsonAccessnext
TestNav8
 Lock/Unlock Units in Test Sessions
 Accommodation indicators in Test
Sessions
 Import/Export TestNav
Configurations
 Secondary Save Location for mobile
devices in TestNav Configurations
 Modified Student Testing Tickets
 New PNP option “Text-Only” on
Text-to-Speech for Mathematics
 New PNP option for Non-Screen
Reader Assistive Technology
 Enhanced Line Reader Mask Tool
 Spell-check on constructed response
questions in ELA
 TI-Graphing Calculator available in
Practice Tests
 Spanish translation on system
buttons and menus within TestNav8
when Spanish PNP is selected
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
6
Preparing students & staff for online testing
 Refer to http://parcc.pearson.com/
 PearsonAccessNEXT
 Technology Setup
 Manuals & Training
 Test Preparation
 Bulletins
 Support
 Provide plenty of opportunities across the curriculum for students to gain
fluency with computers and digital tools
 General Navigation Skills
• Using navigation buttons
• Browsing tabs/windows
• Keyboarding, etc.
 Universal Access Features
• Using glossaries
• Text-to-speech
• Masking answers, etc.
 General Answering
• Using line readers/guides
• Selecting hot spots
• Highlighting text, etc.
 Math Tools
• Manipulating objects
• Understanding simulations
• Editing equations, etc.
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
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Reminder:
Application Versions for Spring 2016
 All final versions of Proctor Caching and the TestNav Apps that will be
used for the PARCC Spring 2016 administration are available at
http://download.testnav.com.
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Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education