APS CMAS Spring 2015 Technology
Site Readiness - Final Version
1. Spring Overview
2. Online Testing Components
3. Network Preparation
4. Device Preparation
5. Support During Testing
Acronyms
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CBT:
Computer-Based Test
EOY:
End-of-Year
PBA:
Performance Based
Assessment
PBT:
Paper-Based Test
S&SS: Science and Social Studies
STC:
School Test Coordinator
(STC = SAC)
SAC:
School Assessment
Coordinator (SAC = STC)
TTS:
Text-to-Speech
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EWS: Early Warning System
SRF: Student Response File
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Administration Overview
 PARCC English Language Arts and Mathematics (two
windows)
 Performance Based Assessment (PBA)
 End-of-Year Assessment (EOY)
Content Area
Grades
English Language
Arts
3-11
Mathematics
3-8, three high school assessments
• Integrated/Math I, Integrated/Math II,
Integrated/Math III
 CMAS Science and Social Studies
 Elementary and Middle School (one window)
Content Area
Grades
Science
5 and 8
Social Studies
4 and 7
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Spring 2015 Assessment
Calendar
Grades
Paper
Assessment
Based
Windows-CBT
Window*
PARCC
PerformanceBased Assessment
(PBA)
3-8, High School
3/02/15 to
3/02/15 to 4/03/15
3/13/15
CMAS and CoAlt:
Science and
Social Studies
4 and 7 (Social
Studies)
5 and 8 (Science)
4/13/15 to 5/01/15
3-8, High School
4/20/15 to
4/20/15 to 5/15/15
5/1/15
Assessment
PARCC End-ofYear Assessment
(EOY)
4
NA
*Elementary only: Paper based window only applies when entire grade level is taking the paper based assessments. Paper
based assessments have a two week window.
PearsonAccess
Two PearsonAccess Systems
Science and Social Studies
PearsonAccess
PARCC: English Language
Arts and Mathematics
PearsonAccessnext
• For a refresher on PearsonAccess for Science and Social
Studies, tutorials and guides are located on the Support
tab at PearsonAccess.com.
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Online Resources
Science 7 Social Studies User Guides in PearsonAccess:
http://www.pearsonaccess.com/cs/Satellite?c=Page&childpagename=Colorado%2FcoPALPLayout_v2&cid=1205794393634
&p=1205794393634&pagename=coPALPWrapper&resourcecategory=Reference+Guides
ELA & Math PearsonAccessnext : More for SACs Use
https://support.assessment.pearson.com/display/PAsup/PearsonAccess+Next+Online+User+Guide
ELA & Math PearsonAccessnext Complete Tech Guides (District Use) :
http://parcc.pearson.com/technology-setup/
TestNav Pearson Technical and Error Documentation: Setup and Support Section Helpful for Site
Techs https://support.assessment.pearson.com/display/TN/TestNav+8+Online+Support
CMAS & PARCC System Check for TestNav8
• CMAS: http://systemcheck.co.testnav.com/
• PARCC: http://systemcheck.parcc.testnav.com/
Important links for
conducting capacity
tests
Sci. & SS Online Resources
PARCC Online Resources
X
http://parcc.pearson.com/technology-setup/
Specific technical details are located under Troubleshooting
Online Testing Components
Diagram
TestNav Technology Dependencies
 Browser Dependencies for Windows
Devices: *District IT has taken care of all
of these requirements
* Firewalls, content filters and spam
filters must allow the Pearson domains
* Java runtime plugin version 1.5 and
higher
* Allow pop-ups for Pearson sites
* Accept Java applet
* Allow Local File access to home
directory
 Minimum Screen Resolution of 1024 x
768 is required
 Mobile Devices
 * Native TestNav Apps have been developed for
use on iPads and Chromebooks.
Complete requirements can be found at https://support.assessment.pearson.com/display/TN/TestNav+8+Online+Support
Windows Device Highlights
Processor
Memory
Screen Resolution
Input Device
Requirements
Headphones/earphones/e
ar buds
Any
512 MB RAM
1024 x 768
Keyboard–wired or wireless/Bluetooth
Microphone
Requirements
Specifications Reference
None -
Headphones/earphones/ear buds are only required for English Language
Arts/Literacy testing sessions, not mathematics testing sessions (except
for students who need them for accessibility or accommodations such as
text to speech).
Technology Guidelines for PARCC Assessments version 4.3 p. 4-6
http://www.parcconline.org/technology
• XP must use HTML 5 compliant Browser & cannot support Java
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Proctor Caching- District IT
•
Allows you to pre-cache test
content to your local network
before a test.
•
Reduces the burden on your
ISP by eliminating redundancy
in requests for test content.
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Stores an encrypted local copy
of all pre-cached tests
CanStock Photo
Proctor Caching is Pearson-supplied software that is used in conjunction
with TestNav to reduce bandwidth requirements and accelerate the
delivery of test content.
APS Kiosk User
 The APS kiosk user account creates a secure
environment and launches TestNav in full screen mode.
Without this kiosk account:
 1. Any software that would allow secure test content on
student computers to be viewed on another computer
would need to be turned off.
 2. Any applications that may automatically launch on a
computer would have to be configured not to launch
during testing sessions.
Login is cmas with no password
Student Responses
TestNav will save student responses to an encrypted backup file so the student can either
continue testing or exit the system without losing response data.
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TestNav by default saves student response data to:
C:/Users/cmas/Pearson/student/srf
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Secondary SRF location - From the Start Button type
\\onlineassessfsØ and then Enter. ASSESSSHARE/
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Devices using iOS & Chromebook operating systems cannot use an
Secondary SRF file save location.
School Site Required Tasks
 Performance:
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Use System Check extensively to test Proctor Caching and network
environment before live testing.
Use System Check to test wireless network capacity if using wireless clients and
provide results to SAC for planning the schedule.
 Testing Computers:
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Make sure Chrome Browser is installed on student test computers.
Run the Java script from the T drive on all test desktops and laptops.
Log into each desktop and laptop computer as cmas with no password to test
kiosk user account.
Online Resources
TestNav 8 Hardware and Software Requirements
https://support.assessment.pearson.com/display/TN/TestNav+8.2+Requirements
CMAS System Check for TestNav8
CMAS: http://systemcheck.co.testnav.com/
PARRC: http://systemcheck.parcc.testnav.com/
System Check for TestNav
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System Check was developed as a tool for customers to use to validate their computers to ensure
that TestNav software could run on their computers.
To gather realistic results System Check must be run on the same day of week/time of day,
location and conditions (wired or wireless) as when you anticipate performing online testing.
TestNav Verification
Start a Browser or App.
Select a URL: http://co.testnav.com
 You may have to allow the Java plugin.
Enter credentials:
 Username: username
 Password: password
Important - Test Sound
Choose "Sign In".
Click the "Start Test Now" button.
If you see the "Congratulations" screen then your computer is correctly configured to run TestNav.
Verify Bandwidth
Capacity
Use the
SystemCheck tool to
find estimated
student testing
capacity.
Identify network
restraints or
bottlenecks such as
wireless access points
using SystemCheck.
Verify Bandwidth Capacity
Based on the bandwidth test SystemCheck can provide the
number of students that can test concurrently. It can be used
to identify network restraints. Use SystemCheck to verify
student capacity and inform SAC for scheduling purposes.
Proctor Caching cannot alleviate your
local network constraint
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Communicate the estimated student testing capacity for
each assessment environment to your SAC for session
planning purposes.
Schedule fewer students than the SystemCheck
estimated student testing capacity number. For
example: If you have a wireless access point with an
estimated student testing capacity 32 for the assessment
environment, best practice would be to schedule no
more than 29 per session for that assessment
environment.
Caching Server Details
Display name = Your school name
Host = IP address associated with your school in the list
Port = 4480
Testing Capacity Demo
http://systemcheck.parcc.testnav.com/
APS IT recommends not using a student test computer
for the Testing Capacity tests.
Pearson Windows Device Preparation
TestNav creates a Pearson directory in the home directory of the testing
computer.
 Student Log files: Pearson/student/logs - Pearson support may be needed to recover
logs.
 SRF file default location is the C drive:
C/User/cmas/Pearson/student/srf
 Secondary SRF location is a district network folder
 To locate secondary file: From the Start Button type \\onlineassessfsØ and Enter.
Navigate from ASSESSSHARE folder to srf file.
Java Set-up on Testing Computers
Java Install for TestNav 8
TestNav User Java Prompts
 First student on the computer will see two prompts. The first
one is asking if you want to update Java.
 1. Check Later.
 2. Don’t check the “Do not ask again box…”.
Windows 7
Windows XP
Java
nd
2
Prompt – Allow Java to Run
 Click the “Do not show this
again….” box.
 Then click Run.
 The two popups will not
appear after this is done for
the first test.
 The “Java Updated Needed”
popup may appear after April
14 when the new Java version
is released. Follow these same
directions at that time if
necessary.
Note: TestNav could time-out if the Run button is
not clicked in a timely manner and student would
need to login again.
Chromebook Highlights
OS Version/App Version
Screen Size
Screen Resolution
Input Device Requirements
Chrome OS 35-38/ TestNav App version 1.2.53
9.5 inch screen size or larger
1024 x 768
Keyboard–wired or wireless/Bluetooth
Headphone Requirements
Headphones/earphones/ear buds are only required for English
Language Arts/Literacy testing sessions, not mathematics testing
sessions (except for students who need them for accessibility or
accommodations such as text to speech).
None Technology Guidelines for PARCC Assessments v4.3 p. 10-11
http://www.parcconline.org/technology
Microphone Requirements
Reference
• Requires TestNav App for security.
• Chromebook must be set to Kiosk
mode.
• Chromebooks have only one save
file location.
• To locate SRF & Log files press
<ctrl><shft>z and the File Viewer
box appears.
Chromebook Login
TestNav 8 App TestNav URL http://co.testnav.com
cmas user computers will go directly to the login page and students will not have to
enter the URL.
Infrastructure Trial Description
 An Infrastructure Trial is a full scale dress rehearsal a
school can run to confirm that:
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TestNav is configured correctly.
Devices can successfully run TestNav.
Network will bear the full load of simultaneous test-takers.
School personnel know what to do for computer-based assessments.
Students are familiar with the computer-based tools and formats.
SACs create sessions before a complete infrastructure trial can be done.
Early Warning System (EWS)
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 online testing.
Early Warning System Design
 Minimal interruptions for students.
 Multiple physical file backups to safeguard against
data loss.
 Notification Screens designed for Test Proctors.
 Early Warning System notifications often involve IT
staff so an understanding is necessary to correct
any issues during testing.
Student Responses Files – SRF
 The EWS writes continuously in the background to the
student response files. Both the Primary and Alternate
files are written to at the same time.
 The SRF file has a response data threshold that once
reached will trigger TestNav to send response data to
Pearson.
 Uploading of response data is continuous. If an upload
fails, TestNav will cycle and attempt another upload.
 If the response data upload is successful, TestNav will
create a new empty SRF file and begin the process
again. TestNav will only delete an SRF file once it is
successfully uploaded.
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EWS Recovery - Resume a Test
If the student must resume the test on a different device, and the EWS saved a student’s response
file, you can use the SRF on the new device.
1.
Save the SRF from the original device to a thumb drive or a shared location
Windows
Vista and 7 C:\Users\username\Pearson\...
Windows XP C:\Documents and Settings\username\Pearson\...
2. Transfer the SRF to the new device.
3. Mark the student Resume-Upload in the assessment management system.
When the student launches and signs in to TestNav on the new device, the system
searches the default SRF location. When TestNav cannot locate the SRF in that location, it
prompts you to browse to retrieve the file. After you direct TestNav to the file, it
automatically uploads to the testing server.
TestNav 8 Error Codes
 The TestNav 8 Error Codes should be available to all test proctors to help support
students as they test.
 The Guide provides a list of all the warning messages that TestNav may show a
student and how to resolve them.
 Available through https://support.assessment.pearson.com/display/TN/Error+Codes
Submission Warnings
Error Resolution Steps
 Check to see all cords and cables are firmly plugged
in
 Have student log out
 TA or SAC resume the student test
 Have student log back in
 If these steps don’t work, move the student to a
different computer
 If still unresolved, refer to the error code list and/or
contact Pearson support 888-493-9888.
Google Doc Survey Concerns
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IT Support during testing
Number of students testing at the same time
PARCC technical issues
Touch pads on laptops and chromebooks
Resources
Proctoring
Setting up in the morning
Pre-written scripts for login
Completing testing within the window
How do we make sure students use correct login to computer
Students getting kicked off
Login information not working
Having enough working devices
Students not understanding test environment
Tech troubleshooting during testing
Reminders
 Accept or Run all Java pop-up screens
 Turn computers on prior to testing in case there are
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any updates that need to install
Test audio if using text to speech when login as cmas
If possible have a couple extra computers ready
Print out error codes and have them available in test
areas
Stagger student logins
Readiness Check For All Desktops and Laptops
 Make sure Chrome browser is installed
 Run the Java script from the T drive
 Test the kiosk user account – cmas with no password
 Run System Check capacity test extensively
 Provide SAC with capacity results
Support
Contact District IT for assistance with technical issues:

Help Desk
x28203
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Tuesdays
303-326-2154 x28288
2/10 – 2/24
c 720-556-4264
8:00 A.M. – 9:00 A.M.
sacollins@aps.k12.co.us
Dial: 866-239-3969
Adam Lovell (prefers email)
Conf Code: 8592021424
ablovell@aps.k12.co.us
Justin Allen – Network & APs
jwallen@aps.k12.co.us
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Open Conference Calls on
Susan Collins
x28227
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Test Administration Support
Contact your District Assessment Coordinator for assistance with:

Specific State Policies regarding PARCC Accommodations

Assessment Administration/logistics

Unusual circumstances on test days

Violations of test security/Misadministrations
Kimberly Terry 303-340-0861 or ext. 28335
kkterry@aps.k12.co.us
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