The ACT® taken online for ACT District Testing Programs Kevin Rauch & April Hansen 1

Share key information about the ACT taken online as part of the District Testing program. Share some of the enhancements that will be new for the ACT in TODAY’S GOAL 2

DISTRICT TESTING DATES 3 Testing WindowPaperOnline Mid March 2016 Initial test date– March 15 Makeup test date– March 29 March Weekdays April 2016Initial test date– April 19 Makeup test date – May 3 April 19-May 3 Weekdays

Participation Go to the ACT District Testing testing/index.html testing/index.html “Enroll” in a timely manner Provide accurate information “More Information” option Choose Online or Paper 4

5 Spring 2016 Highlights The ACT taken online ACT has partnered to use the latest technology to provide a successful online testing administration of the ACT. Zero footprint - browser based (secure) Works with both Mac and Windows Authenticates user logins credentials Controlled environment This technology provides a seamless and transparent administration oversight for states districts and schools. End-to-end administration interface Access to reports

6 Answer Eliminator Tool. This tool enables students to use the process of elimination as they answer test questions. The tool applies an “x” to an answer option if the student chooses to rule it out. Flag Button. With this feature, students can flag questions they may want to review again before submitting their answers. The Flag Button marks questions so they can easily be revisited. Review Button. When the Review Button is clicked, a Test Overview screen appears for the subject test students are completing. The screen allows students to see which questions they have answered, not answered, or flagged for review. This helps them to easily navigate back to specific questions. Magnifier Tool. Students can use this tool to magnify portions of their screen. The size of the text can also be adjusted. Onscreen Clock. The Onscreen Clock helps students manage their time during testing. Online Testing Enhancements

7 The ACT taken online Expanded number of Test Dates 11 Days of testing Device offerings School owned desktops and laptops only – this includes student assigned that meet requirements. No Chromebooks or iPads. Accommodations offerings Only extended time will be offered –all timing codes No alternate formats Delivery modes Mode – paper or online – must be decided at the school level Exceptions for accommodations

What will we change from 2015 to 2016? Identify updates from lesson learned – MC combine with writing – Visibility to district Test Accessibility and Accommodations – All schools will use online system – Changes to pre-id file 8

What is PearsonAccess next ? PearsonAccess next (aka Pa next) is the browser- based system utilized for student management and online testing administration activities. Secure user log-in that controls access to organizations, tasks and students. 9

What is TestNav? TestNav™ is the online testing engine ACT has contracted to utilize for delivering the ACT taken online. TestNav offers the following features: – Scalability — supports thousands of simultaneous testing sessions in the schools – Reliability — students are protected from technical failures – Compatibility — operates on existing school computers and networks – Consistency — a similar experience for every student regardless of location or computer platform – Security — the highest levels possible for test content, desktop security, and user access 10

How is TestNav accessed TestNav is browser based and can be used without having to install anything on a local PC or Mac® but beginning this upcoming fall there will also be an option to use an installed application called TestNav Desktop. TestNav Desktop serves the same role as TestNav, which is to deliver tests electronically to students. TestNav Desktop offers the same levels of security, reliability, and scalability as does TestNav, but does not require Java. The system can be run using the appropriate browser and operating systems. Recognizing that technology (such as operating systems, platforms, and devices) is ever-changing, TestNav minimum system requirements are continually being updated to reflect the latest compatibility. 11

What is Proctor Caching? 12

What is Proctor Caching? 13 Proctor Caching software is used in conjunction with TestNav to reduce bandwidth requirements and accelerate the delivery of test content. 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. Stores an encrypted local copy of all pre-cached tests

Getting Ready 14

Preparing Computers 15 The following steps must be taken— Any software that would allow secure test content on student computers to be viewed on another computer must be turned off. Examples are things such as screen savers, calendar reminders, instant messaging programs, IM and notifications Any applications that may automatically launch on a computer are configured not to launch during testing sessions. Cannot allow local file access to home directory. /Pearson/ and any alternative SRF save locations

SystemCheck Tool 16 SystemCheck estimates the number of concurrent testers that could be supported, at the time the check is performed. SystemCheck was developed as a tool for customers to use to validate their computers meet the technical requirements. SystemCheck also provides the ability to run bandwidth speed checks to help plan for online testing capacity Support can also use SystemCheck to validate the computer for any technical problems. Special Note: To gather realistic results, SystemCheck must be run from a student testing machine on the same day and time that it is anticipated to deliver online testing.

Early Warning System 17 What happens if issues are encountered with the network during testing? 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.

Links to Additional Information Technical Requirements 18

19 For Fall 2015, the ACT will have an expanded number of reporting categories, in addition to the current subscore categories, with breakdowns provided for every subject The reporting categories are based on the ACT College Readiness Standards and are aligned to the Common Core State Standards The additional information and new report format will make it easier for students, parents, and educators to understand the makeup of any subject score and see their strengths and areas for improvement New Reporting Categories What’s Next for the ACT

New Readiness Indicators The familiar 1–36 score range used on the ACT will not change Starting in 2015, students who take the ACT also will receive additional new readiness scores and indicators – English Language Arts (ELA) Score – STEM Score – Understanding Complex Texts Indicator – Progress Toward Career Readiness Indicator 20

21 English Language Arts Score – 1–36 range – Combines achievement on the English, reading, and writing portions of the ACT for those who take all three sections What’s Next for the ACT

22 STEM Score – 1–36 range – Represents the student’s overall performance on the science and math portions of the exam What’s Next for the ACT

23 Text Complexity Progress Indicator – Tells students if they are making sufficient progress toward understanding the complex texts they will encounter in college and during their careers What’s Next for the ACT

24 Progress Toward Career Readiness Indicator – Provides an indicator of future performance on the ACT National Career Readiness Certificate™ (ACT NCRC ® ) – Indicates progress toward Bronze-level, Silver-level, or Gold-level ACT NCRC. And whether the student is making insufficient progress toward an ACT NCRC level What’s Next for the ACT

25 Beginning in fall 2015, the writing test will emphasize student ability to evaluate multiple perspectives on a complex issue and generate an analysis based on reasoning, knowledge, and experience The writing test will remain an optional essay test with a single prompt. The scoring will move from holistic, single-score reporting to analytic reporting of four domain scores: Ideas and Analysis Development and Support Organization Language use Enhanced ACT Writing Test What’s Next for the ACT

26 Go to the ACT District Testing webpage Online Testing Technical Requirements Stay up to date – – – Next Steps

27 Your ACT Contact information April Hansen -- Questions?