Spring 2011 Computer-Based Testing for
Grade 10 Mathematics and
Reading & Mathematics Retakes
February 15, 16, and 17, 2011
• An FCAT OU was created in Active Directory at each school.
• Test Caching software was install on local file server.
• Test Nav software was installed locally on each testing machines at each
school.
• Group Policies were created to set the correct IE proxy settings, auto login as
nsa-sdoc-fcat, and made nsa-sdoc-fcat a local admin to the box.
• Infrastructure test run was completed in December to test network
connectivity.
Simplified view of SDOC
network for FCAT
Local School File Server
Test Nav Caching
ISP\WAN
SDOC Proxy\Firewall
Ports 80, 4480
Person Test
Content
Test Nav installed
locally to each machine
• Increases installation time.
• Identified machines had to have a local installation of Test Nav.
• Hot swapping with any machine was impossible.
• You had to swap a downed machine with a machine that had Test Nav
already installed.
• Requires that configuration changes to Test Nav be made on each machine.
• If any configurations needs to be changed then Tech has to touch each
and every machine.
Complete District Readiness Activities

Complete Final Phase of Computer-Based Assessments
Certification.
 All schools who will participate in the FCAT or EOC
computer-based assessments this spring must complete
the survey in the tool.

District-level submission is due three weeks prior to the first day
of testing. Districts will establish school survey deadlines.
Preparation Information

Practice Tests/ePATs
 All students must complete a practice test prior to participating in
any computer-based test administration.
 The Infrastructure Trial Test must be run on each computer to be
used for testing. (Not required to be part of district- or school-wide
administration, although this is preferred.)
Dial *1 to ask a question
Practice Test/ePATs
 Package was created for deployment thru LanDESK.
 Local school administration identified the computers
that ePATs was to be installed.
 Package was deployed to identified workstations.
 District Techs verified that the software worked on
20% of the computers of each site.
 School administration must come up with a schedule
to make sure that the students practice with ePATs.
Infrastructure trial test part 2
Test Nav & TestHear
Testing software
TestNav6.9
 The computer-based platform that Florida will use for high-
stakes assessments beginning in Spring 2011.
 TestNav6.9 is an application that is installed either on a file
server or on each computer that will be used for testing.
TestHear
 The computer-based platform that Florida will use for students
requiring computer-based accommodations (including assistive
devices) on high-stakes assessments beginning in Spring 2011.
Dial *1 to ask a question
• Single point of installation and configuration changes
• Test Nav is installed on the local file server and not on every machine.
• Easier to implement in a large-scale testing environment
• Group Policy pushes a short cut to any computer located inside the FCAT
OU. So hot swapping computers is much easier.
• Centralized location for log files
• All student log files are saved to the Test Nav folder on the file server as the
primary save location and the root drive (C:\) of the local box as the
secondary save location.
Simplified view of SDOC
network for FCAT
Local School File Server
Caching Server
Test Nav Software
ISP\WAN
SDOC Proxy\Firewall
Ports 80, 4480
Sets Auto login.
Sets nsa-sdoc-fcat as local admin.
Create Test Nav shortcut on local box
Policy
Person Test
Content
ISP\WAN
Group Policy creates a shortcut to
Test Nav on the desktop.
Policy
Organizational Unit
FCAT OU
Wireless Networks
Best Practices
 DO use a local installation of TestNav
 A local install for wireless testing increases the odds of success.
 Local installations reduce network traffic on access points to
just test content and student responses.
 DO NOT overload access points with too many clients.
 The bandwidth curve of online testing is different than normal
internet usage.
 Use common sense wireless networking principles and past
wireless performance as a guide.
 Reducing the client to access point ratio for online testing can
avoid the access point bottleneck.
Dial *1 to ask a question
TestNav Installation
Best Practices (contd.)
Disable Popup Blocking Software (for PearsonAccess)
 A pop-up blocker will block the pre-caching screens from opening on
administrative workstations.
Configure Applications that launch automatically
 Any applications that may automatically launch on a computer should
be configured not to launch during testing sessions. Common
applications that may launch automatically include:
 Anti-virus software performing automatic updates,
 Power management software on laptops warning of low batteries,
 Screen savers, and
 Email with Auto message notification.
Dial *1 to ask a question
TestNav Installation
Best Practices (contd.)
Screen resolution
 All tests are authored to a screen resolution of
1024x768 so make sure that your testing machines
are capable of 1024x768 resolution.
 Screen Resolutions below this setting will cause an
error as TestNav tries to load the test.
 Screen Resolutions above this setting will cause the
test to appear smaller than the available screen size.
Dial *1 to ask a question
TestHear Software
 Must be installed on all computers to be used by students requiring computer-based
accommodations (e.g., screen reader, zoom, color contrast, large print).
 Instructions will be provided in the Spring 2011 CBT Accommodations Guide (available
mid-February) at www.FLAssessments.com/SpringCBTAccommodations
 Requires the same System Specifications as TestNav/Proctor Caching computers, with
the exception of the Additional Specifications listed below.
Additional Specifications for TestHear (Accommodated Forms)
TestHear will operate on Windows PC workstations and on Macintosh workstations that can run
Windows and Mac OS 10.5 or later (e.g., via Boot Camp). TestHear will not work on Mac OS X
10.4.
TestHear requires one of the following browsers is installed on the workstation to be used for
testing:
-Internet Explorer 6 (do not use for accommodated forms with Zoom)
-Internet Explorer 7
-Internet Explorer 8
Dial *1 to ask a question
Pre-Caching Test Content
 School assessment coordinators are responsible for
setting up test sessions in PearsonAccess, and
technology coordinators are responsible for precaching test content prior to testing.
 Test content will be available to be pre-cached at
least one week prior to testing.
 Demonstration
 Configure browser settings
 Pre-cache test in PearsonAccess
Dial *1 to ask a question
SDOC EOC Think Tank
• Key People will be centralized at district for testing emergencies during
the FCAT window.
• District Techs will be deployed as needed to troubled sites.
Questions?