1. Online Testing: What is an SRF and Why Should I Care? District and Campus Coordinators, Technology Staff, and Test Administrators

2. Online Testing Early Warning System Student Response Files Resources Pearson and TEA Contact Information 2

3. Early Warning System (EWS) 3

4. Purpose – Keep the online testing environment secure and to store responses in the event of a connection disruption Common EWS triggers –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 –Email with Auto message notification –systray icons if clicked by the student can cause TestNav to exit. –Student tries to access something outside the online testing environment 4

5. Early Warning System (EWS) Best practices – Turn off updates, screensavers, etc. – Install the manufacturer’s monitor and/or graphics drivers  Generic drivers sometimes prevent EWS messages from being properly displayed – Gray/blue/white screens 5

6. Student Response Files (SRF) 6

7. Student Response Files (SRF) - Overview SRF files provide a secure backup to prevent the loss of student responses in the event of an interruption to testing A unique SRF is saved for each student test attempt SRF files are encrypted to prevent unauthorized tampering or viewing of responses Only responses are saved to SRF files, no test content is saved SRF save locations are configured in the Test Setup > Configure TestNav screen of the Assessment Management System. Each Proctor Caching location has its own unique save location configured. Each test session has a Proctor Caching machine assigned to it and the save locations configured for that machine will apply to all students in the test session. A SRF is only valid to recover responses on the student’s next attempt to test –Test proctors must be careful to ensure that SRFs are not accidentally deleted and are available from the computer a student uses to resume the test TestNav knows the exact SRF to find to resume a student and will not use another student’s SRF file 7

8. Student Response Files (SRF) TestNav prompt for SRF file If a student resumes a test while in Resumed-Upload status and TestNav can not find the correct SRF for the student it will display prompt notifying the student/proctor Click Browse to navigate to the location of the SRF file If you do not know where the SRF file is located click Close TestNav, locate the SRF and resume the student Do NOT click Skip Upload unless you are sure there are no save responses which need recovered. This will invalidate the last SRF file and responses may be lost. 8

9. Student Response Files (SRF) TestNav locates unexpected SRF file If a student resumes a test while in Resumed status and TestNav finds a valid SRF for the student it will display prompt notifying the student/proctor This occurred because TestNav did not expect to find an SRF for this student because the student was in Resumed status instead of Resumed- Upload status Click Continue Testing and the student will be resumed back into the test 9

10. Student Response Files (SRF) Scenario 1 - SRF file configured for local save locations only All response files will save only to each individual student’s testing workstation Student must resume on the same workstation or SRF files must be moved to the workstation where the student will resume the test If the SRF files are not placed in the same location on the new workstation TestNav will prompt the student to navigate to where the SRF files are saved when they resume testing 10

11. Response file will be saved to both the individual student’s testing workstation and a network location Student may resume on any workstation that has access to the shared network save location 11 Student Response Files (SRF) Scenario 2 - SRF file configured for network and local save locations

12. Response files will save to one or more network locations Student may resume on any workstation that has access to the shared network save location(s) 12 Student Response Files (SRF) Scenario 3 - SRF file configured for network save location(s) only

13. Resources 13

14. What resources are available for online testing? 14 Online Testing Resources –User's Guide for the Texas Assessment Management System –Unified Texas Minimum System Requirements –PearsonAccess Overview Training Modules –TestNav 7 Combined Technical Guide –TestNav 7 and Proctor Caching Quick Start –Tips for TestNav 7: Adobe Flash Player and Java –TestNav 7 32/64 Bit Browser Configuration (N EW !) –2012 District and Campus Coordinator Manual These and additional online resources for TAKS, TELPAS, and STAAR EOC can be found at http://www.TexasAssessment.com/resources or from within the Assessment Management System at Support >Resources.http://www.TexasAssessment.com/resources

15. Software Downloads http://www.TexasAssessment.com/Downloads Proctor Caching – Mac Proctor Caching – PC/Windows 15

16. Training Administration/Technology Staff – Texas Assessment Management System Practice Center  Flash Written Composition Tool — Texas Assessment Practice Administration  Proctor Caching Testing Tool — Texas Assessment Practice Administration  Texas Practice Test — Texas Assessment Practice Administration – PearsonAccess Overview Training Modules Students – Electronic Practice Tests (ePATS) –Texas Specific Testing Tools –TAKS Written Composition Tool –STARR End-of-Course Writing Tool –STAAR End-of-Course Analytical Essay Tool –TELPAS Online Reading Test Student Tutorials 16

17. Pearson and TEA contact information 17

18. Pearson’s Austin Operations Center 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM CT Monday–Friday Toll free: 800-627-0225E-mail: TxPearsonAccess@support.pearson.comTxPearsonAccess@support.pearson.com information about online testing or online testing procedures navigating the Texas Assessment Management System accessing and using the Practice Center managing examinee data setting up test sessions assigning login IDs and passwords accessing resources questions about Pearson Online Testing communications questions about oral administration of test sessions Call or e-mail Pearson’s Texas Online Team for assistance with: setting up a test run of the TestNav test delivery system network problems proctor caching issues evaluating infrastructure hardware and software requirements or problems the TestNav Early Warning System wireless networking issues technical emergencies solving online testing set-up issues 18

19. Texas Education Agency’s Student Assessment Division Telephone 512-463-9536 Fax 512-463-9302 TEA Student Assessment website – http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment Call TEA’s Student Assessment Division for assistance with: testing accommodations requesting changes to the testing schedule questions about the policy on taking breaks and lunch testing beyond normal school hours handling unusual circumstances on test days violations of test security handling school emergencies that affect testing questions about general online testing policy questions about TEA communications 19