Tennessee Gateway Technology Training

Technology Topics Important Dates and Information…………………………………………3 TestNav: Online Testing Platform…………………………………………4 Proctor Caching for TestNav: Overview…………………………….11 System Check for TestNav: Overview……………………………….32 TestNav: Early Warning System………………………………………...48 Contact Information…………………………………………………………….60 Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved.2

Important Dates and Information for Spring 2012 Gateway Online Testing For Spring 2012 Online Gateway, there will be three (3) testing windows: –February Window: February 20 – 24 –March Windows:  Window 1: March 19 – 23  Window 2: March 26 – 30  PLEASE NOTE: There are two windows because of spring break schedules. Systems/districts must select one of the two windows. –April Window: April Also note that for Spring 2012 there will be the inclusion of Friday testing. Students may test only once per week, Monday – Friday. TDOE will notify systems of the availability of reports: Class Reports, Individual Performance Reports (IPRs), and Student Labels. Students are allowed to test only once per window but up to three (3) times during the Spring administration. Students must receive remedial instruction between windows. Student Data Uploads (SDU), Session Management, and Proctor Caching are now available.

TestNav Online Testing Platform

Online Testing Components Administrative Website – –Used by Test Coordinators, Test Administrators, etc.  Manage student data  Create, Modify, Monitor online test sessions  Access reports  Manage user accounts & security TestNav –Used by Students to take computer based test. –Browser-based application. Proctor Caching –Accelerates the delivery of test content. –Reduces the amount of bandwidth required for online testing. System Check –Assists technology personnel with site readiness. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved.5

What’s New with TestNav The next-generation TestNav is a “zero-footprint” browser- based test delivery system that requires no download or installation. Centralized configuration through PearsonAccess website. Compatible with industry standard browsers on Macintosh and Windows platforms. Compatibility with standards and releases of third party technology must be maintained by the customer. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved.6

TestNav Technology and Dependencies Firewalls and Content Filters must allow Pearson sites. The following domains and ports must be allowed to pass through your Internet firewall or proxy system launcher.testnav.com 80 proctorcaching.pearsonaccess.com , 443 Minimum Screen Resolution of 1024 x 768 is required. Browser Dependencies: –Adobe Flash Player must be enabled. –Java runtime plugin must be enabled.  Windows Firewall configured to allow javaw.exe to communicate. –Allow pop-ups for Pearson sites. –Accept Java applet. –Allow Local File access to home directory. Note: Pearson continually monitors and evaluates the hardware and software requirements. As vendors release newer versions of their products, we update the recommended requirements accordingly. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved.7

TestNav Directories TestNav creates a Pearson directory in the home directory of the testing computer: –Windows XP C:\Documents and Settings\username\Pearson\... –Windows Vista and 7 C:\Users\username\Pearson\... –Mac //Users/username/pearson/... Student Log files: –Pearson/student/logs SRF file default location: –Pearson/student/srf TestNav and test content is temporarily stored locally: –Pearson/temp Note: Pearson recommends that the Pearson directory be excluded if desktop restoration tools such as DeepFreeze are used. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved.8

Test Setup – Configure TestNav TestNav preferences are accessible only from PearsonAccess website. A configuration can be created at the district or school level, with a school level configuration taking precedence over the division. Four simple parameters: –Add a Configuration Name. –Add an Organization for the configuration. –Add Proctor Caching Server(s). –Specify Response File Backup Locations.  Note: There is a 50 character limit for backup location settings. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved.9

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Proctor Caching for TestNav Overview

Proctor Caching for TestNav Proctor Caching is Pearson-supplied software that 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. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved.12

Proctor Caching – The Network Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved.13

What’s New with Proctor Caching Integrated with PearsonAccess and On-Line Testing. Oracle Java and Apache Web Server based. Allows for viewing, deleting and importing of test content. Easy viewing of connected client computers. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved.14

Proctor Caching Requirements Runs on both Windows and Mac OS X. Does not require an underlying server-based operating system. Same hardware requirements as TestNav. TCP Ports: 80 (Internet), 4480, & 4481 (Local Network) Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved.15

Setup Download Proctor Caching installer from PearsonAccess. Run the installer and Start Proctor Caching if not already started by the installer. Use System Check from client computer to verify that Proctor Caching is functional. Create a Proctor Caching setup or add Proctor Machine within PearsonAccess at Division or School level. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved.16

PearsonAccess: Test Setup: Configure TestNav Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved.17

Adding Proctor Caching Server Location Add internal IP Address or LAN Hostname. Default port is Multiple Proctor Machines can be added under one setup. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved.18

Configuration Details Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved.19

PearsonAccess and Proctor Caching Setups TestNav Configurations work from school to district. A School Proctor Caching machine will take precedence over a District. If a School does not have a setup, then the District setup will apply. The Proctor Caching Server option in Session Details will show only if there are two or more Proctor Caching machines to choose from at the School or District. Sessions created prior to setup will state “No server assigned”. You can use the Apply TestNav Configuration option and Edit Session to choose a specific Proctor Caching machine. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved.20

No Server Assigned in Session Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved.21

Changing the Proctor Caching Machine Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved.22

Pre-Caching Test Content Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved.23 For EVERY Proctor Caching Server, EVERY form must be cached at least once. –Example: If you have 6 math (main form) sessions that use the same Proctor Caching server, you only have to cache one session. –Example: If you have 6 math (main form) sessions, and 2 math (audio) sessions that use the same Proctor Caching server, you have to cache each session type once. –To verify that you have cached the needed forms, the Proctor Caching Diagnostic tool can be used.

Proctor Caching Diagnostics Easily accessible by any computer on the LAN. Browser based URL: Visit Links accessible inside of PearsonAccess. Contents tab for content visibility. Pearson On-Line Testing integration. Client List tab for monitoring client computer connectivity. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved.24

Proctor Caching Diagnostics Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved.25

Contents tab Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved.26

Contents tab – Content Details Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved.27

Client List Tab Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved.28

Proctor Caching – Windows Directories apache2: caching engine cache: test content jetty: Monitoring Interface jre: Java runtime is included on Windows based version. start.bat & stop.bat: start and stop Proctor Caching services. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved.29

Proctor Caching – Mac OS X Directories Similar setup as Windows. Use start.command and stop.command instead of bat files. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved.30

Additional Technical Notes For setting up an upstream proxy edit httpd-cache.conf inside of the apache2\conf\extra directory. See Apache Manual: xyremote xyremote Java runtime is included with Windows install. Java runtime plugin required for PearsonAccess functionality. Use System Check for TestNav capacity planning instead of documentation’s 40 clients per Proctor Caching guideline. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved.31

System Check for TestNav Overview

System Check for TestNav System Check was developed as a tool for customers to use to validate their computers to insure that TestNav software could run on their computers. Support can also use System Check to validate the computer for any technical problems Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved.33

System Check - URL Readily accessible via URL: Domain pointers will be used for some customers to have easier access. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved.34

System Check – Loading… System Check is Java based and requires that you run and accept an applet. For troubleshooting purposes, you can enable Java debugging and Show console settings in the Java Control Panel. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved.35

System Check Functionality Validates computer environment for TestNav. Bandwidth testing for Internet and Proctor Caching connections. Testing Volume Calculator Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved.36

TestNav 7 Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved.37

TestNav 7 - Results Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved.38

Network User Capacity Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved.39

Network User Capacity - Functions Internet bandwidth testing to Pearson & Akamai Network. Bandwidth testing to Proctor Caching machines on Local Network. Calculates approximate bandwidth available to computer. Based on Administration can provide number of students that can test concurrently. Notes: Bandwidth tests are based on 2MB binary file download: Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved.40

Add Caching Computer Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved.41

Network User Capacity - Results Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved.42

Testing Volume Calculator Input number of students testing concurrently. Modify network links and network utilization sliders as necessary. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved.43

Interpretation - Green Example of where the Calculated results exceed the Planned. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved.44

Interpretation - Caution Example of where the Calculated results are in close proximity of the Planned. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved.45

Interpretation - Warning Example of where the Calculated results do not exceed the Planned. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved.46

Questions & Further Reading See System Check Manual for further information and definitions. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved.47

TestNav Online Testing Platform Early Warning System

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 Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved.49

Early Warning System Design Minimal interruptions for student. Multiple physical file backups to safeguard against data loss. Notification Screens designed for Test Proctors. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved.50

Student Responses EWS will save student responses to an encrypted backup file so the student can either continue testing or exit the system without losing response data. –TestNav requires at least one working save location. –TestNav by default saves student response data to: Pearson/student/srf –Create a TestNav Config to specify custom Primary and Alternate file locations. –Best Practice: Primary Response File Location should be on the student workstation. The alternate Response File Location should be on a shared network location. –Students must have full access to designated Response File Locations. Pearson recommends designating two Response File Save Locations. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved.51

Student Responses – SRF Files 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. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved.52

Student Responses - Identification A combination of the test ticket ID combined with the session token is used to uniquely identify a Student Response File (SRF). TestNav can identify the correct student response file if a test is successfully resumed. The SRF can only be used the next time the student resumes a test. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved.53

TestNav Early Warning System - Triggers Situation 1: TestNav determines that neither Response File Location is viable. –Will result in immediate Test Proctor Click Here notification. Situation 2: TestNav is unable to download portions of the test. –Will result in immediate Test Proctor Click Here notification. Situation 3: TestNav is unable to upload student responses to Pearson. –Will result in Test Proctor Click Here notification at the time of test submission. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved.54

TestNav EWS – Test Proctor Click Here Screens One of the following screens will appear when situation 1, 2 or 3 occurs. Students should ALWAYS raise their hand when presented with either of the Test Proctor Click Here screens. They should NEVER click the Test Proctor- Click Here button. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved.55

PearsonAccess – Resume Test Functions PearsonAccess will automatically determine whether a student’s test should be resumed or resumed with file. Users will only be able to select “Resume Test” when resuming a student’s test. If the student is in Active status, the system will Resume with File, and the “Resumed-Upload” status will display on the Session Details screen. If the student is in Exited status, the system will resume without looking for a student response file, and the “Resumed” status will display on the Session Details screen. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved.56

Best Practices and Recommendations –Use Proctor Caching for best network performance.  Available for installation now. –Use System Check extensively to test Proctor Caching and network environment before live testing.  Recommended at least one week prior to testing  Use the System Check (TestNav Verification Test) on each testing computer to validate that TestNav will load on machines –Use System Check to test wireless network capacity if using wireless clients.  Recommended at least one week prior to testing Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved.57

Best Practices and Recommendations Testing Computers: –Disable all applications that launch automatically (Recommended at least one week prior to testing)  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 – with Auto message notification –Systray icons if clicked by the student can cause TestNav to exit. Backup Save Locations: –Specify a local save location for the Primary. –Specify a network share for the Alternate. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved.58

Questions & Further Reading Software available on PearsonAccess > Support > Downloads area. (Separate downloads available for PC/MAC) Further reading: –System Check for TestNav 7 Manual –Proctor Caching 7 User’s Guide –TestNav 7 Technology Guidelines –Early Warning System Reference Guide Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved.59

Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved.60 Contact Information for Technology Assistance Contact the Pearson Customer Support Center at (888) or at

Technical Support Information needed to diagnose technical issues: –Session Details  Test Administration name?  Session Name?  Affected student name (s)? –Error messages/numbers? –What were you doing when the error occurred? –Do you have a student log file? –Basic network configuration  Are you using proctor caching?  Do you use a proxy server?  Firewalls/content filters? Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved.61

Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved.62Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved.62 Thank you for attending today’s session. Have a great day!