1. The Office of Student Assessment Services October 26, 2018
Introduction to Computer-Based Testing Steps to Take in Fall/Winter to Prepare for the Spring 2019 MCAS Administration
The Office of Student Assessment Services October 26, 2018

2. Scott Kelley, Data and Reporting Specialist
Presenters
Scott Kelley, Data and Reporting Specialist
Robert Pelychaty, Accommodations and Appeals Coordinator
Jodie Zalk, Test Administration Coordinator
Liz Pennington, Pearson Project Manager
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

3. Logistics for This Session
Questions may be asked at any time using the Q & A feature on the WebEx screen.
Specific questions about a student or your district should instead be sent by to
We will attempt to answer all questions asked during the session; after the session, all questions will be answered and ed out to participants.
This session is being recorded and will be available online in about one week at:
MCAS Resource Center -- mcas.pearsonsupport.com/training
In the section entitled “Training Sessions Previously Offered This School Year”

4. Steps to Prepare for Computer-Based Testing This Fall/Early Winter01
Steps to Prepare for Computer-Based Testing This Fall/Early Winter 02
Resources, Support, and Next Steps
CONTENTS

5. Steps to Prepare for Computer-Based Testing This Fall/Early Winter01

6. Background Information: Transition to the Next-Generation MCAS
2017
CBT required * grades 4 and 8
CBT optional
grades 3, 5, 6, and 7
2018
CBT required *
grades 4, 5, 7, and 8
CBT optional grades 3 and 6
2019
CBT required* grades 3–8 and 10 and high school Biology and Intro Physics field tests
(Note: Retests are legacy paper-based administrations.)
* Paper-based testing will be available for students with disabilities who require a paper-based test as an accommodation as well as for EL students who are unfamiliar with computers.

7. Late Winter/ Early Spring
General Timeline for MCAS CBT Pre-Administration Tasks
Fall
(Ongoing) Read Student Assessment Updates.
Become familiar with CBT components.
Identify the test administration team.
Update contact info with DESE.
Fall/Winter
Plan for accessibility features and accommodations.
View online modules and participate in training.
Review tech specs, and prepare infrastructure and devices.
Update contact info in PAN and create additional accounts.
Complete the SR/PNP.
Late Winter/ Early Spring
Conduct an Infrastructure Trial.
Create TestNav Configurations
Precache tests.
Prepare students for online testing.
Review additional instructions in the Principal’s Administration Manual.
Expected to be available in late winter.
Delivered to schools two weeks before testing.

8. Steps Involved This Fall/Winter
Become familiar with the components for CBT.
Identify the test administration team.
Update contact info with DESE.
Update contact information in PAN and create additional accounts.
Plan for accessibility features (for all students) and accommodations for students with disabilities/ELs.
View online training modules, and attend additional training sessions.
Review tech specs, and prepare the school’s infrastructure.
Prepare devices and materials.
Conduct an Infrastructure Trial. (strongly recommended)
Prepare students for online testing.
Not all of these steps are in sequential order; some are ongoing tasks.

9. 1. Become familiar with the components for CBT: PearsonAccess Next.
Online test management system for principals, test coordinators, technology coordinators, and test administrators
Primarily used for the following:
Manage user accounts
Student registration (SR/PNP)
Managing computer-based test sessions
Resources:
PearsonAccess Next User Guide
User Role Matrix
Layout for importing users into PAN

10. TestNav
TestNav
Online testing platform used by students to take the computer- based MCAS assessments
Resources:
TestNav8 Online Support
Set up and Use TestNav
Troubleshooting

11. ProctorCache ProctorCache
Software that allows for precaching of test content on a designated ProctorCache machine located at the school or district.
Strongly recommended to reduce bandwidth requirements and to provide a more seamless testing experience for students
Resources:
Set Up and Use ProctorCache
ProctorCache System Requirements
Features and Demos

12. Logging into PearsonAccess Next
Demonstrations
Logging into PearsonAccess Next
Accessing resources in the MCAS Resource Center

13. MCAS Resource Center
mcas.pearsonsupport.com

14. Technology Setup Page on the MCAS Resource Center
mcas.pearsonsupport.com/ technology-setup/

15. Questions & Answers

16. 2. Identify the test administration team.
Identify staff members who can help with planning and management of CBT:
Test coordination
Accessibility features for all students
Accommodations for students with disabilities and English learners
Technology set-up
Determine local responsibilities:
Who will schedule and manage test sessions?
Who will configure devices for testing?
How will information be shared across the team?
Who needs to receive the SAS Update?

17. 3. Update contact information with DESE.
Update contact information for the following roles:
MCAS Test Coordinator (district- and school-level): Note: Can assign this role to multiple individuals.
Educational Technology Director (district-level only)
Principals
Submit updates to the District-Level Directory Administrator for:
Public school districts, public schools, charter public schools, educational collaboratives, approved private special education schools, and alternative education programs
Go online to the EOE Information Technology web page (select "District/School Information Update" as the subject) to submit updates for: (Include your District and School Code.)
Test sites, adult education programs, out-of-state schools, SEIS-DYS programs
DESE uses contact information to time-sensitive information and the Student Assessment Update (to principals, test coordinators, special education directors, EL directors).

18. 4. Update contact information in PAN and create additional accounts.
Two PAN sites: live site and training site
Passwords on one site will always match the other.
Dates that the PAN live site will be available for spring 2019:
Grade 10: January 14
Grades 3–8: January 23
Different roles provide different levels of access in PAN
Review the User Role Matrix.
Additional user accounts should be created by the school or district for the appropriate staff members.
Approximately three weeks before testing, schools will need to assign accounts for test administrators.
Refer to the PearsonAccess Next User Guide for instructions on creating and editing user accounts.

19. Include selected features and accommodations in the SR/PNP.
5. Plan for accessibility features (for all students) and accommodations for students with disabilities and English learners.
Review and assign accessibility features for all students and accommodations for students with disabilities and ELs.
Include selected features and accommodations in the SR/PNP.
Before testing: required for student to receive correct test forms
After testing: to update features or accommodations used during testing
Resources:
Accessibility and Accommodations Manual
Guide to the SR/PNP Process
Recording of the accessibility and accommodations training session
Online training module
Approved graphic organizers and supplemental Math & STE reference sheets

20. 6. View online training modules, and attend training sessions.
Modules to Assist with Pre-Administration Tasks
mcas.pearsonsupport.com/training
Modules to Assist with Tasks to Complete During Testing
Training Sessions Previously Offered This School Year

21. 7. Review tech specs, and prepare the school’s infrastructure.
Review specifications and resources:
CBT technical specifications
Minimum and recommended specs for hardware and devices
Recommended levels of bandwidth
Note special instructions for Chrome OS (Chromebook).
TestNav8: Recently Updated
Confirm whether all devices planned for testing will meet these specifications.
Identify/address gaps in technology capacity such as
Potentially insufficient bandwidth
USDE guide on building technology infrastructure for learning

22. 8. Prepare devices and materials.
Plan a sufficient number of devices for test administrators and for students.
Recommended tool: Device calculator
Ensure all devices will be charged prior to each test session.
Have materials available (and check to see if they are in working order):
Power cords, power strips, extra batteries, extra computers
If using tablets: external keyboards
If students are using text-to-speech: headphones

23. 9. Conduct an Infrastructure Trial. (strongly recommended)
Prepare for CBT by simulating test day network utilization
Strongly recommended, especially for schools new to CBT
When should we conduct a Trial?
Infrastructure Trials can begin on February 11, 2019
Conduct your school’s trial at least two weeks before testing.
Who should participate?
Test coordinators
Technology coordinators
Test administrators
Students
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

24. Why should our school do an Infrastructure Trial?
The Infrastructure Trial confirms that:
TestNav is configured correctly.
ProctorCache software is set up correctly.
Devices can successfully run TestNav and that online test content can pass through the content filters at the school.
The network can bear the full load.
Participating staff understand their roles during an MCAS computer-based administration.
Students are familiar with the computer-based tools and format.

25. Infrastructure trial Demonstrations
Training Site (for use by all test administration staff, based on role)
ProctorCache (for use by technology coordinators)
Precache (for use by technology coordinators)
Creating sample students (for use by principals and test coordinators)

26. Questions & Answers

27. 10. Prepare students for online testing.
Review technology skills and tools
Ensure the curriculum incorporates digital learning; review the DLCS Curriculum Framework
Student Tutorial
Demonstration of the navigation, tools, and features for CBT
Students complete it independently (no audio).
Practice tests
Simulation of the tools and features for CBT
Include accessibility features and special edition text-to-speech accommodated test forms

28. Additional Resources for Preparation
Additional resources for students
Sample student work and scoring guides
Answer keys and scoring rubrics
Click on the subject, and then click on the grade.
Equation editor guides and symbol keys for Math and STE
Reference sheets for Math and STE
 Resources for parents/guardians

29. Demonstrations
Student tutorial
Practice tests

30. Questions & Answers

31. Resources, Support, and Next Steps02

32. Additional Resources on the DESE MCAS website
Description
Home page
Access MCAS headlines and links to MCAS site (e.g., test schedule, test designs, training)
Student Assessment Updates
Biweekly with important updates about the MCAS program
If you do not already receive this , subscribe by ing the following information in the body of the "subscribe SASUpdate Your_Name" (Example: subscribe SASUpdate John_Smith). 
Resources from the Office of Digital Learning
Resources on acquiring technology, digital citizenship, and online courses may be particularly helpful for schools new to CBT

33. January 2019 Training Sessions
Date
Session
Audience
January 15
MCAS Accessibility and Accommodations
for new staff
Principals, test coordinators, technology coordinators, special education administrators and supervisors, test administrators
January 24
Overview of the SR/PNP
Principals, test coordinators, technology coordinators
January 29
MCAS Test Security and Administration Protocols
for returning staff
Principals, test coordinators, and test administration teams
January 31

34. February 2019 Training Sessions
Date
Session
Audience
February 12
Pre-Administration Tasks for Technology Staff
for new staff
Technology Coordinators
February 13
Overview of Infrastructure Trials
for returning staff
Principals, test coordinators, technology coordinators
February 15

35. Spring 2019 “Office Hours” Sessions
Date
Session
Audience
March 12
Session 1:
Creating, Preparing, and Starting PAN Sessions
Monitoring and Managing PAN Sessions (tasks for test administrators)
Enrollment Transfers in PAN
Principals, test coordinators, test administrators
March 21
Session 2:
Updating Accommodations in PAN Before Testing
Resolving Incorrect Accommodations After Testing Has Begun
Resuming Students from “Active” Status
Stopping a PAN Session
Not Tested Reasons
Principals, test coordinators

36. Email and Phone Support
MCAS Service Center
DESE Office of Student Assessment Services
All questions on logistics and technology (e.g., PearsonAccess Next, SR/PNP, TestNav)
Web: mcas.pearsonsupport.com/
Phone:
All policy questions (e.g., student participation, accommodations)
Web:
Phone:

37. Today: Complete the evaluation form.
Next Steps
Today: Complete the evaluation form.
Only available when you close this WebEx session
Responses associated with the name and address used to log in
your input to if you have problems accessing or completing the form.
Early next week: Receive with the following resources:
The recording of this session
The Q&A from this session
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

38. The Office of Student Assessment Services
THANK YOU
The Office of Student Assessment Services
75 Pleasant Street, Malden, MA 02148