Smarter Balanced Field Test
Technology Requirements
9:00 a.m.
January 22, 2014
Source Material
Throughout the presentation, we will be referring to
the Technical Specifications Manual (TSM),
available at
http://sbac.portal.airast.org/wpcontent/uploads/2013/07/SmarterBalanced_Techni
calSpecificationsManual.pdf.
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Technology Requirements| 2
Student Participation
Expectations
•
5% of students will take Field Test items from one
content area (i.e., ELA or math) and 95% of
students will take Field Test items from both content
areas.
•
Participation expectations:
– Grades 3–8: All students are expected to participate.
– Grades 9 and 10: Only students selected for the
–
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scientific sample are expected to participate.
Grade 11: Students selected for the scientific sample are
expected to participate; all others are encouraged to
participate.
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Student Participation
Expectations
The only students exempt from participating in the
Smarter Balanced Field Test are:
•
Students who participate in the CAPA
•
For the ELA test only, English learners (ELs) who
have been attending school in the United States for
less than 12 months
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When are we testing?
• The statewide testing window starts March 18
and ends June 6.
• Each school will have an assigned six-week
testing window during which all testing must be
completed.
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Technology and System
Requirements
Internet/Network Requirements
•
A constant, stable, high-speed Internet connection
is required for the test.
– The average response time for each assessment
depends on the reliability and speed of your school’s
Internet connection.
•
Content filters, firewalls, and proxy servers must be
configured to allow testing.
•
Recommend a minimum of 20 kbps for each
student testing, but this will likely spike at startup
time.
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Internet/Network Requirements
•
Make sure that you have enough Wireless Access
Points to support the number of students testing at
any given time.
– Wireless traffic must use encryption. WPA2 and AES
standards are strongly recommended.
•
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Try out the Network Diagnostic Tool, available at
https://air.tds.airast.org/student/Pages/LoginShell.as
px?section=sectionDiagnostics&c=SBAC_PT.
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Technology Requirements
• For more specific information about technology
requirements, see TSM 5–16.
• For more background on overall technology
readiness, watch the Technology Readiness
Webinar recorded on November 4 at
www.cde.ca.gov/sbac/.
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System Requirements
Desktops and Laptops
Supported Operating
Systems
Minimum Requirements
for Current Computers
Windows
XP (Service Pack 3), Vista, 7,
8.0
Server 2003 and 2008
• Pentium 233 MHz
• 128 MB RAM
• 52 MB hard drive free space
Mac OS X
10.4.4–10.9
• Intel x86 or PowerPC G3,
G4 or G5
• 256 MB RAM
• 200 MB hard drive free
space
Linux
Fedora Core 6+ (K12LTSP
4.2+)
Ubuntu 9–12
• Pentium II or AMD K6-III 233
MHz
• 64 MB RAM
• 52 MB hard drive free space
Minimum Recommended
Specifications
• 1.3 GHz processor
• 1 GB RAM
• 80 GB hard drive
TSM 13
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System Requirements
Mobile Operating Systems and Browsers
•
Operating
System
Supported Tablets
Browsers for
TA Sites
Browsers for
Student Sites
Android 4.04–4.2
(likely also 4.3,
but not 4.4)
•
•
•
•
•
• Native browser
• Google
Chrome
• Android Secure
Browser (AIR
Mobile Secure
Browser)
Chrome v18 and
above
• Chromebook
• Google
Chrome
• Google Chrome
iOS 6.0–7.0
• iPad 2, 3, and
generation
(Retina Display) (and iPad Air)
• Safari
• iPad Secure
Browser (AIR
Mobile Secure
Browser)
Google Nexus 10
Motorola Xoom
Motorola Xyboard
Samsung Galaxy Note (10.1)
Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (10.1)
4th
If you plan to use Android-based tablets, be aware of the Smarter
Balanced device certification process outlined at
http://certification.airast.org/.
TSM 14
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Hardware Requirements
•
Headphones are required for each test station
(needed for all students for the ELA test)
– Microphones not required
•
•
•
•
External keyboards required for tablets
10″ diagonal display or larger (iPads with 9.5”
screens are OK)
1024 x 768 display resolution
On-site printers are required for students with the
Print on Demand accommodations
– See TSM 15 for important information about printer
placement and security requirements.
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Software Requirements
•
•
•
•
•
•
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Disable pop-up blockers (TSM 17).
Install Verdana font on Linux machines used for
testing (TSM 17).
Disable Windows Fast User Switching (TSM 18).
Disable Spaces in Mission Control for Macs (TSM
34).
Enabled Guided Access on iPads (TSM 53; TSM
55-57).
For Android tablets, change the keyboard to the
AIRSecureTest (TSM 49).
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Accommodations
•
•
•
•
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Text-to-Speech Accommodation information can be
found in TSM 58-70.
Braille hardware and software information can be found
in TSM 22-25.
Print On Demand hardware information can be found in
TSM 15.
Additional information about accommodations can be
found in the A&A guidelines document on the Smarter
Balanced portal.
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What is the Secure
Browser?
What is the Secure Browser?
•
The secure browser is a type of software that must
be installed on each computer for the 2014 Smarter
Balanced Field Test.
•
There are different versions of the secure browser
for different device types and operating systems.
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What is the Secure Browser?
•
All Field Test secure browsers (Windows, Mac,
Android, Chromebook, iOS and Linux) are available
on the Smarter Balanced Portal Web page
(http://sbac.portal.airast.org/browsers/).
– Need to uninstall Pilot Test version of browser, if
previously installed.
– If you have a secure browser for your state testing,
no need to uninstall it.
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When Should the Secure Browser
Be Installed?
•
•
•
•
Install the Secure Browser as soon as possible.
This gives stakeholders time to become familiar with the
software, testing interface, etc.
The practice test can be accessed by anyone without
installing any special software at
https://sbacpt.tds.airast.org/student/.
The practice test can also be accessed via the secure
browser.
–
–
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Gives students a preview of the locked-down testing
experience.
Helps determine if network resources are sufficient for
testing.
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Installing the Secure
Browser
Smarter Balanced Portal Secure
Browser Web Page
URL: http://sbac.portal.airast.org/browsers/
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Secure Browser Installation on
Desktops and Laptops
•
One-by-One manual installation:
– Download and install on each computer either
directly or by transferring the installer via flash drive
or network drive.
– Additional information on one-by-one manual
installation, refer to TSM 27–36. (Note: Instructions
vary by system!)
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Secure Browser Installation on
Desktops and Laptops
•
Network installation:
−
−
−
−
−
•
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Install on a shared drive and install the Secure Browser
shortcut to each users profile.
Have the users login script install or copy the Secure Browser
installation.
There is an option for non-administrator installation.
Support available for Terminal Server/thin client and
NComputing virtual desktops.
Third-party options such as Apple Remote Desktop, MS
System Center Configuration Manager, LANDesk, etc.
For additional information on network installation,
refer to TSM 37–41.
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Secure Browser Installation on
Mobile Devices
•
•
•
•
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Install on iPads via the Apple App Store.
Install on Androids via the Google Play Store.
For managing large-scale iPad deployments, see
the Apple iOS Education Deployment Guide:
http://images.apple.com/nz/education/docs/ios_6_e
ducation_deployment_guide.pdf
For additional information on network installation,
refer to TSM 48 and 52.
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Proxy Configuration
•
The following proxy values are supported:
–
–
–
–
–
•
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0: Direct connection, no proxy
1: Manual proxy configuration
2: Proxy auto-configuration (PAC)
4: Auto-detect proxy settings
5: System proxy settings (this is the default)
For additional information on proxy configuration,
refer to TSM 42–46.
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Secure Browser Notes
•
The Secure Browser checks for “prohibited”
applications while it is running. This includes
Instant Messaging, Screen Capture, etc.
•
Ctrl-Alt-Del is disabled, so use Ctrl-Alt-Shift-F10 to
exit the software for Windows and Mac. Use CtrlAlt-Shift-Esc to exit in Linux.
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What Next?
I’ve Installed the Browser,
Now What?
•
Run the Practice Test.
–
–
•
Run the Network Diagnostics Tool.
–
–
•
•
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Open the browser and select “Training Test.”
Refer to the Practice Test User Guide:
http://sbac.portal.airast.org/wpcontent/uploads/2013/07/PracticeTest_UserGuide_Updated080513.pdf
Open the browser and select “Network Diagnostics Tool.”
Run at various times of the day, with varying numbers of students
indicated.
Establish points of contact within your district to respond
to technical issues during testing.
Review checklists for other tasks.
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Technology Coordinator Checklist
Technology Coordinator Activities
Estimated
Time to
Complete
Target Completion
Date (or fill in your
own date)
5–10 hours
Complete at least 3–4
weeks prior to testing.
5–10 hours
Complete at least 3–4
weeks prior to testing.
See TSM, Section II, page
12-15
5–10 hours
Complete at least 3–4
weeks prior to testing.
See TSM, Section V, page
24, and Section VI, page
46
5–10 hours
Complete at least 3–4
weeks prior to testing.
See Section III, page 16
5–10 hours
See TSM, Section III, page
17
5–10 hours
References in TSM
Direct Responsibilities
Verify that your school’s Internet and network are
properly configured for testing.
Work with technology personnel to:
 Conduct network diagnostics
 Download the Secure Browser (beginning late
November or early December)
 Resolve other technical issues before and during
testing
Verify that all of your school’s computers that will be
used for online testing meet the minimum hardware
requirements.
Verify that the secure browser is installed and
accessible on all computers that will be used for
testing.
Disable pop-up blockers and install any necessary
plug-ins or software.
Disable Fast User Switching.
See TSM, Section I, page 5
TSM, page 7
See TSM Section V,
page 24
TIDE User Guide
Complete at least 1–2
weeks prior to testing.
Complete at least 1–2
weeks prior to testing.
TSM 71–72
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Technology Coordinator Checklist
Technology Coordinator Activities
Disable Spaces in Mission Control on computers with
Mac OS X 10.7 (Lion), 10.8 (Mountain Lion), or 10.9
(Mavericks).
Work with TAs to close all “forbidden applications”
except those identified as necessary by the District
Technology Coordinator (DTC).
Load all accommodation software onto computers
that will be used for testing.

Braille

Test-to-speech

Voice Packs
References in TSM
See TSM, page 33
Estimated
Time to
Complete
Target Completion
Date (or fill in your
own date)
5–10 hours
Complete at least 1–2
weeks prior to testing.
See TSM, Section IV,
page 21-24 and Section
VII page 57 and 67
Monitor Administration Activities
Monitor testing progress during the testing window
and ensure that all students participate as
appropriate, addressing student issues as needed.
Follow up on any technical issues raised by the
School Test Coordinator for resolution.
As needed
As needed
TSM 71–72
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Other Reminders
•
Complete the Technology Readiness Tool.
– http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/sa/trt-basicsteps.asp.
•
Review Field Test window assignments.
•
And don’t forget… there are still some paper tests to
administer for CST, CMA, CAPA, and STS. (STS is
optional). Reminders for the paper testing:
– Test administration setup
– Pre-ID
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Resources and Support
Resources and Support
•
CalTAC help desk is there to support YOU!
– We can help determine the installation option that
works best for your LEA.
– Consider putting your technology coordinator in
touch with your CalTAC representative, who has
access to technology experts.
E-mail: caltac@ets.org
Phone: 800-955-2954
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Questions?