1. CAASPP Preparing Technology for 2016–17 Online Testing
Michael McDaniel, ETS
Jesse Kramasz, ETS
Ben Iiams, ETS
Will Piferrer, AIR
September 21, 2016

2. Purpose
The purpose of this Webcast is to review your local educational agency’s (LEA’s) technological resources to ensure they meet the requirements for the online California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) tests.
Preparing Technology for 2016–17 Online Testing

3. Preparing for Online Interim and Summative Testing
Internet and Network Requirements
Hardware Requirements
Software Requirements
Secure Browser Installation
Mobile Secure Browsers
Questions

4. Preparing for Online Interim and Summative Testing
Preparing Technology for 2016–17 Online Testing

5. Data Readiness
The California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System (CALPADS) is the sole source for student demographic, enrollment, and program data for the student test registration system known as the Test Operations Management System (TOMS).
Update CALPADS regularly.
Set all student demographic information in CALPADS.
LEAs cannot update student demographic, enrollment, or program data in TOMS
Review grade levels.
Assessed grade and enrolled grade must be the same for testing.
Preparing Technology for 2016–17 Online Testing

6. Data Readiness
Confirm that your students’ demographic data are up to date in CALPADS prior to the completion of your selected testing window. CALPADS data are used throughout the CAASPP Assessment Delivery System, including for the CAASPP public summary results reporting Web site.
Review your student demographic information in CALPADS and TOMS throughout and prior to the close of your LEA’s test administration window. Any changes to student demographic information must be made in CALPADS.
Important: Remember that student demographic data changes in CALPADS can take up to two business days to process through the CAASPP Assessment Delivery System. Any changes to student demographics data in CALPADS must be completed at least two days prior to the close of your testing window for these changes to be captured for the CAASPP public summary reporting Web site.
Preparing Technology for 2016–17 Online Testing

7. Staff Coordination
Planning the technology components for online testing requires close coordination and collaboration among:
LEA CAASPP coordinator(s)
CALPADS administrators
IT/LEA technology coordinators
Curriculum staff
Preparing Technology for 2016–17 Online Testing

8. Internet and Network Requirements
Preparing Technology for 2016–17 Online Testing

9. Network Configuration Settings
To ensure proper communication and optimal performance:
Configure network firewalls and proxy servers to allow traffic to the URLs, IP addresses, and ports without content filtering (see Appendix A of the Technical Specifications and Configuration Guide for CAASPP Online Testing).
Give the URLs high priority settings if your network uses network traffic management techniques (e.g., traffic shaping, packet prioritization, Quality of Service).
Configure Web proxy servers to NOT cache data from the test delivery system (TDS).
Maintain a good bandwidth.
To avoid time-outs during tests:
Set session time-out values to be longer than the average scheduled testing time.
Preparing Technology for 2016–17 Online Testing

10. Bandwidth Considerations
Number of students testing concurrently
Size of test content (number of items and average size of each item)
Low bandwidth: selected-response items
High bandwidth: items with animations, audio clips, or American Sign Language videos
Bandwidth competition
Reduce other Internet-enabled applications that compete for bandwidth (e.g., attendance, bell time, sending grades)
Note: opening the secure browser and accessing a test for the first time consumes more bandwidth than accessing a test a subsequent time.
Preparing Technology for 2016–17 Online Testing

11. Bandwidth Considerations
Location where the secure browser is installed
Installing the secure browser locally on each testing workstation is recommended. This avoids bandwidth competition that would occur if workstations access the browser from a network or shared drive.
Wireless networking solutions
Load balancing
Wireless access points (WAPs)
Independent of overall network capabilities
Preparing Technology for 2016–17 Online Testing

12. Bandwidth Considerations
Average bandwidth used by the secure browser for testing:
Preparing Technology for 2016–17 Online Testing

13. Determining Bandwidth Requirements
To determine a reasonable number of concurrent test sessions:
Consider bandwidth for both online testing and all other non-testing-related Internet traffic.
Run a network diagnostic.
Bandwidth Checker is available on
Other network diagnostic tools are listed in the Technical Specifications and Configuration Guide for CAASPP Online Testing.
Consider using switches for wired networks instead of hubs.
Consider the speed of the Internet Service Provider’s (ISP’s) router connection for Internet networks.
Preparing Technology for 2016–17 Online Testing

14. Network Configuration
All communication with the TDS takes place over the following Internet port/protocol combinations:
Make sure the above-mentioned ports are open
Preparing Technology for 2016–17 Online Testing

15. Wireless Networking
Recommendations for the optimal number of testing workstations per wireless connection:
Preparing Technology for 2016–17 Online Testing

16. Wireless Networking
A best practice is to maintain a ratio of wireless systems to WAPs of no more than 20 to 1.
15 to 1 for older WAPs
Wireless traffic should use WPA2/AES data encryption.
Reminder: try out the Bandwidth Checker, available at
Preparing Technology for 2016–17 Online Testing

17. Hardware Requirements
Preparing Technology for 2016–17 Online Testing

18. Ncomputing and Terminal Services
Preparing Technology for 2016–17 Online Testing

19. Hardware Requirements
Device displays
Use 10" diagonal display or larger (iPads with 9.5" screens are acceptable).
Set 1024 x 768 display resolution or better.
Check monitor settings and brightness.
On-site printers
Print out test session information.
Print test stimuli or items for students with the print-on-demand accommodation.
Allow only the test administrator’s computer to have access to a single local or network printer in the testing room.
Preparing Technology for 2016–17 Online Testing

20. Hardware Requirements
Headphones are required for each test station
English language arts/literacy (ELA) tests
Text-to-speech accommodation
Job Access with Speech® (JAWS)
USB headphones recommended
Microphones not required
External keyboards are required for tablets
Mechanical
Manual
Bluetooth-based
Avoid Keyboards with additional “shortcut” buttons
Preparing Technology for 2016–17 Online Testing

21. Software and Operating System Requirements
Preparing Technology for 2016–17 Online Testing

22. Supported Operating Systems and Devices (Windows/Mac/Linux)
Preparing Technology for 2016–17 Online Testing

23. Summary of Changes— Desktop Operating System Support
Windows:
Windows 10 support is now available.
OS X:
10.7–10.11 Power PC machines will not be supported in 2016–17.
Linux:
Support discontinued for Fedora Core version 16–2218.
Support discontinued for Ubuntu (latest is LTS).
Preparing Technology for 2016–17 Online Testing

24. Summary of Changes— Desktop Operating System Support
Windows XP is no longer supported.
Windows XP is no longer supported by the CAASPP Testing program. LEAs must update their Windows operating systems to a current and supported version for Interim and Summative testing for the school year. Users of Windows XP will receive an access denied message if the secure browser is launched.
Preparing Technology for 2016–17 Online Testing

25. Software Requirements
Disable pop-up blockers.
Install Verdana font on Linux machines used for testing.
Disable Windows Fast User Switching.
Disable Spaces in Mission Control for Macs.
Enable Single App mode, Autonomous Single App Mode, or Guided Access on iPads. (Guided Access is no longer recommended by Apple in order to maintain appropriate assessment security.)
Change the keyboard to AIRSecureTest for Android tablets.
Preparing Technology for 2016–17 Online Testing

26. Secure Browser Installation
Preparing Technology for 2016–17 Online Testing

27. What is the Secure Browser?
It is a type of software that must be installed on each testing workstation.
It prevents students from accessing other computer or Internet applications during testing.
There are different versions of the secure browser for different device types and operating systems.
Download the secure browser for your machine/device at:
Preparing Technology for 2016–17 Online Testing

28. Updating the Secure Browser
Secure Browser 8.x will be decommissioned and will lose access to all testing including Interim Assessments on 11/14.
Secure Browsers must be updated to Secure Browser 9.x for Interim Assessments after 11/14 and all Summative and Interim Assessments for 2016–17.
Preparing Technology for 2016–17 Online Testing

29. Secure Browsers Download Web Page
Preparing Technology for 2016–17 Online Testing

30. Installing the Secure Browser on Desktops and Laptops
Secure Browser Auto Update Feature
The secure browser auto update feature mentioned in previous workshops and Webcasts will not be available for the 2016–17 test administration. Please refer to the secure browser page at CAASPP.org for the most current instructions for using the secure browser.
Preparing Technology for 2016–17 Online Testing

31. Installing the Secure Browser on Desktops and Laptops
One-by-one manual installation:
Download and install directly on each computer
Download and save to a media device (e.g., flash drive)
Download and save to a network folder
Current Secure Browsers Web page
Preparing Technology for 2016–17 Online Testing

32. Installing the Secure Browser on Desktops and Laptops
Network installation or distribution:
Shared drive
Directory push from the network to client computers
Installation without administrator rights
Thin client (Windows)
Terminal server
NComputing
Apple remote desktop (Mac OS X)
Preparing Technology for 2016–17 Online Testing

33. Secure Browser Proxy Settings
Secure browsers for Windows, Mac, and Linux are packaged with the proxy settings set to “auto- detect”
The following proxy values are supported:
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)
Preparing Technology for 2016–17 Online Testing

34. Secure Browser Notes
Old secure browsers must be replaced using one of the three specific methods used.
Installing the new Windows secure browser will uninstall previous versions automatically (in most cases).
Preparing Technology for 2016–17 Online Testing

35. Secure Browser Notes
Old secure browsers from the 2015–16 testing administration must be replaced using one of three methods:
Manual update
Network installation of the secure browser
Download and save onto a media device (i.e., flash drive)
Preparing Technology for 2016–17 Online Testing

36. Secure Browser Notes Mac secure browser installation:
Secure browser must be launched to successfully complete the installation.
Spaces must be disabled in Mission Control (Mac 10.7–10.11).
Function keys on Mac computers and keyboards must be disabled.
Preparing Technology for 2016–17 Online Testing

37. Secure Browser Notes Forbidden Applications and Testing
If a forbidden application is launched in the background while the student is testing, the student will be automatically logged off and a message displayed.
It is recommended to check all software auto updates and ensure that they are scheduled to occur outside of planned testing hours.
LEA technology coordinators, test administrators, and test examiners should take proper measures to ensure that forbidden applications are not running on student devices.
Preparing Technology for 2016–17 Online Testing

38. Mobile Devices
Preparing Technology for 2016–17 Online Testing

39. Mobile Operating Systems
Preparing Technology for 2016–17 Online Testing

40. Secure Browser Installation
Install on iPads via the Apple App Store
Install on Androids via the Google Play Store
Install on Chromebooks via the Chrome Web Store
Preparing Technology for 2016–17 Online Testing

41. Secure Testing on Tablets
iPads:
Single App Mode or Autonomous Single App Mode must be enabled and activated. (Guided Access is no longer recommended.)
iOS feature that
allows users to restrict activity to a single application
prevents screenshots
Android tablets:
Secure browser keyboard must be selected before students can access the logon page.
The default Android keyboard allows predictive text.
Preparing Technology for 2016–17 Online Testing

42. Secure Testing on Chromebooks
Chromebooks must use the secure kiosk application:
The AIRSecureTest kiosk application requires Chromebooks to be run in kiosk mode.
Kiosk mode must be deployed onto managed Chromebooks via the Chrome Management Console as a kiosk application rather than via a public session.
Kiosk mode must be set prior to logging onto the Chromebook.
The application has to be set up as a kiosk application via admin management on the device or from an account logged on with administrative authority.
Preparing Technology for 2016–17 Online Testing

43. Preparing Technology for 2016–17 Online Testing

44. Manuals to be available on the Manuals and Instructions Web page at
Technical Specifications and Configuration Guide for CAASPP Online Testing
Bandwidth Checker:
Linked on the Manuals and Instructions Web page
Title of Presentation (Do not include year.)

45. Available Monday–Friday from 7 a.m.– 5 p.m. Pacific Time
The California Technical Assistance Center (CalTAC) is there to support all LEA CAASPP coordinators!
Available Monday–Friday from 7 a.m.– 5 p.m. Pacific Time
Phone:
Web site: