South Carolina ELDA and EOCEP Spring 2014 Technology Coordinator Training for Online Testing

1. South Carolina ELDA and EOCEP Spring 2014 Technology Coordinator Training for Online Testing This presentation is available on eDIRECT: under Documents/Presentations, ELDA Spring 2014 and EOCEP Spring 2014

2. Agenda • Contacting DRC • Changes from Fall/Winter 2013-14 • Key Dates • System Overview and Supported Configurations • System Requirements – Testing Engine and TSM • Live Demo: Testing Site Manager (TSM) Overview & Installation • Live Demo: Testing Engine Installation • System Readiness Check and Software Updates • Tutorial and Online Tools Training (OTT) • Oral Administration (HVA) and Video Sign Language (VSL) – Helpful Hints

3. Contacting DRC

4. Technology Coordinator Contact Information • DRC is compiling a database of technology coordinator contact information to help ensure that both DTCs and Technology Coordinators receive necessary information for online testing. • If you haven’t already, please provide your Technology Coordinator contact information by sending the following in an email to the SC Project Team: • Name • Phone number • Email address

5. Technology Updates • Testing on iPad/Chromebooks • Likely by F/W 2014-15 • Other Touch Devices • We are actively evaluating and testing Windows touchscreen devices for upcoming releases • DRC is sensitive to the need to offer online testing on as many devices as possible; our top priorities are focusing on student usability and ensuring test security

6. What’s Changed from Fall/Winter 2013–14? • Testing Site Manager (TSM) • Suite of tools that includes the Local Caching Service (LCS) • Version 6.0.0 • Must be installed for spring 2014 testing (ELDA and EOCEP) and EOCEP fall/winter 2013-14 alternative testing • Testing Engine (client) updates • If you installed software on or after November 13, 2013 and enabled automatic updates, updates will take place automatically upon launch of the software; no new installation is necessary. • Version 5.1.0 • Changes made to System Readiness Check • Video Sign Language • Available for EOCEP spring 2014 • Tutorial – updated to include ELDA information

7. We did not install the new software for EOCEP Fall/Winter 2013-14 Testing. What do we need to do for Spring 2014 testing? • The current client testing engine software must be uninstalled, and the new (web-based) software must be installed (on or after January 29). • The Testing Site Manager is new for spring 2014. The current LCS must be uninstalled, and the TSM must be installed. • Note: A TSM is required for ELDA since the Listening/Speaking test contains audio for all students.

8. We did install the new software for EOCEP Fall/Winter 2013-14 Testing. What do we need to do for Spring 2014 testing? • If Automatic Updates are enabled on the testing engine client, this software does not need to be uninstalled/reinstalled. • The Testing Site Manager is new for spring 2014. The current LCS must be uninstalled, and the TSM must be installed. • If new software has not been installed since November 13, 2013, existing software must be uninstalled and the new software installed.

9. Key Dates for Online Testing The SC Project team will send an email when installers and Test Setup are available. DTCs and Technology Coordinators should not use the installers or Test Setup until the email is received.

10. Questions

11. System Overview Web Browser Student Workstation SC eDIRECT SC Online Assessments (Student Interface) Testing Site Manager (TSM)**includes LCS System Readiness Check SC Online Tutorials Link = Used by Student = Used by Technology Coordinator

12. Supported Configurations • Student interface software is primary delivery engine for test content to the students • Desktop installed client-server application • Supports automatic updates • Configurations: • Standard single-user desktops • Remote desktops/Terminal Servers (Citrix, Microsoft Remote Desktop, NcomputingVspace)* • Virtual machines* *Oral administration and video sign language functionality not supported on remote workstations or virtual machines

13. Bandwidth • Difficult to determine precisely, but can be estimated • Each test is delivered in its entirety at student login (most bandwidth is used at this time). • Boost capacity by increasing wait time or staggering student logins • Use of the Testing Site Manager (TSM) decreases internet bandwidth requirements by approximately 50%.

14. System Requirements— Student Workstations *ClearType should be turned on to ensure fonts look smooth in the test engine. ClearType defaults to on in Windows 7 and Windows Vista. The default is set to off for Windows XP. +HVA and VSL do not run in Windows Vista. **Does not include touch-screen devices.

15. System Requirements— Testing Site Manager (TSM) * The amount of disk space required is based on the size and number of forms and audio files stored for each assessment. For example, a TSM with all forms installed may exceed 1 GB.

16. Network Requirements—Student Workstations • Network Connectivity • All testing computers should have access to the Internet and be able to access the DRC servers using HTTP/HTTPS protocols on ports 80 and 443 • All firewalls at the testing computer and network level should allow connectivity on ports 80 and 443 • Whitelist the URLs below on your content filtering systems or other proxy/firewall software that is used locally: http://sc-insight-client.drcedirect.com for HTTP https://sc-insight.drcedirect.com for HTTPS (secure HTTP)http://wbte.drcedirect.com

17. Installation • Testing Engine and Testing Site Manager (TSM) require separate installations • Reminder: Testing engine does not need to be uninstalled/reinstalled if the software was installed on or after November 13, 2013 and Automatic Updates are enabled. • DTCs will be notified via email when installers are available (January 29) • An eDIRECT account with “Online Testing – Secured Resources” permission is needed to access installation software • Location is under Test Setup/General Information • The same installers will be used for ELDA and EOCEP • INSIGHT Technology User Guide is also available on eDIRECT for reference with installation and troubleshooting. • If using a TSM, it is recommended this is installed prior to installing the client software. • All installations of the LCS must be uninstalled before the TSM is installed.

18. Installation—Software Downloads

19. Installation • Silent/unattended installation for Windows • Windows MSI installer is capable of running in silent mode • Custom attributes can be sent to MSI, such as AUTOUPDATEFLAG=“true" LCSURL="https://NameOrIP:8443" • The software can be installed using tools such as: • Microsoft System Center • Specops Deploy • Symantec Altiris • Apple Remote Desktop • Automatic updates available for testing engine and TSM

20. Testing Site Manager (TSM) • Installed using an installation wizard; requires administrative rights • Runs on a computer within the local network • Increases reliability by caching student responses when Internet connection fails • Reduces Internet traffic by caching test content • Student workstations must be connected to TSM or Internet; otherwise, test will terminate • Highly recommendedwhenever possible • Mandatoryfor the oral administration (HVA), video sign language (VSL) online testing accommodation(s), and ELDA Speaking/Listening

21. Testing Site Manager (TSM)

22. Testing Site Manager (TSM) Features: • Content Caching • Response Caching • Tools • Ping Trends • Latency • Failures • Load Simulator

23. Testing Site Manager (TSM) Benefits: • Ability to update or not update form types—standard, HVA and VSL • Tools provide visibility to potential issues with a network and/or individual machines • Automatic TSM version updates available if enabled during install

24. Uninstalling Local Caching Service (LCS) • Old LCS software must be uninstalled prior to installation of Testing Site Manager (TSM) • Follow Windows/Mac normal operating procedures to uninstall program • After LCS is uninstalled, the TSM software can be installed • If the LCS is not uninstalled, users will receive an error message when trying to load the TSM page. At this point, the LCS would need to be uninstalled, and the TSM page restarted.

25. TSM Installation

26. TSM Installation • Prompt for TSM name upon initial launch: • Naming convention: district + school + location in building • To edit name, click on blue text

27. TSM Client Configuration • Student interface can be configured to use a TSM during software installation • TSM can also be modified through System Readiness Check

28. TSM—Content Caching • Content List • By administration name, displays all tests available for downloading • Standard forms will automatically download • Can select oral administration (HVA and TTS) and video sign language (VSL) manually • Both HVA and TTS checkboxes must be selected for oral administration • If test content requires updating, Status column will indicate ‘Out of Date’ in red text • All test content must be ‘Up to Date’ before tests can be administered: • TSM will automatically update every 4 hours • Press blue ‘Update Content’ button to update manually

29. TSM—Content Caching

30. TSM—Response Caching Student Responses – Unsent • Displays information about student responses stored in the TSM and waiting to be transmitted • Use the School, Test Session, Student Name, State ID, and Earliest Response options to filter the data • Check all TSMs – check individual workstations to confirm which TSM is connected • Student Responses must be transmitted before a test can be continued • Responses sent to DRC automatically every 15 minutes • Response can also be manually transmitted • Be sure to check DAILY that all responses have been transmitted from all TSMs • Also confirm all TSMs are clear at the end of testing

31. TSM—Response Caching Student Responses – Historical • The Historical Reponses option displays information about student responses that were previously stored on the TSM

32. TSM—Tools: Ping Trends • Latency—Pings are transmitted every 15 minutes following software installation • Allows districts/school to see times where internet traffic is heaviest • May provide assistance with scheduling online testing sessions • Failures—Often if a long latency, failures will occur

33. TSM—Tools: Ping Trends

34. TSM—Tools: Load Simulator • Provides a comparison on the speed of download of content from the TSM, from DRC, or a specific client configuration • To run the simulator, the System Readiness Check must be open on each computer to be compared • Computer names will appear in the ‘Registered Computers’ list • Provides assistance with troubleshooting • Identifies machines not functioning as well as others in a lab setting • May show potential whitelisting issues since data will take longer to download or will fail • Simulator uses a content file representative of a form a ‘typical’ student would use. HVA and VSL forms may take longer to download.

35. TSM—Tools: Load Simulator

36. TSM—Tools: Load Simulator

37. Installation – Troubleshooting Tip • If a workstation is experiencing issues connecting to the TSM, access the following file from the client workstation: • Open the DRCConfiguration.json file, which can be found here: C:/Program Files/SC Online Assessment System/ • Confirm that the LCSURL = https://NameOrIP:8443 • Confirm that CONTENTCACHE = https://NameOrIP:8443 • If it does not, modify the file appropriately and ‘save’ • Complete a System Readiness Check on that workstation to ensure the TSM is connected

38. Questions

39. Installation— Testing Engine • Software installs require administrative rights • Similar process for Windows and Macintosh

40. System Readiness Check • Runs as part of the installation • Can be run on-demand for troubleshooting purposes

41. Software Updates • Student interface capable of updating automatically with the latest published version of the code • Automatic Update property set during the software installation; can also be modified through the System Readiness Check application • Automatic updates recommended • If enabled, the student interface software will check the version each time the application is started

42. Software Updates • If Automatic Updates are DISABLED, student interface software will not check the version when the application is started • When a student tries to log into a test, they will be notified they are not on the latest version and will not be able to test • The software will need to be updated manually by downloading the latest version from eDIRECT and reinstalling • Run the System Readiness Check application at any time to see if you have the latest version

43. Tutorial and Online Tools Training (OTT) • Tutorial • Available via eDIRECT link under Test Setup/General Information (login not required) • Also available via desktop link once software has been installed • Video presentation that guides test administrators and students through testing experience including testing tools and navigation • OTT • Opportunity for test administrators and students to become familiar with online testing tools • Can be used to check that testing engine and HVA are working correctly • Actual student test tickets should NOT be used to ensure the system is working. • Available via testing engine once software is installed • Oral administration (HVA) OTT available for EOCEP English and ELDA (Listening items) • Must use TSM to access OTT with HVA • EOCEP English HVA login: Username—englishhva, Password—test1234

44. Helpful Hints—Oral Administration • Prior to testing: • Ensure audio works correctly by completing a System Readiness Check: • Start – Programs – SC Online Assessments – Readiness • Check for green OK status next to Audio Capability • Ensure the appropriate number of working headphones are available for students • Adjust the volume on each machine to a comfortable level for students • Check student accommodations to ensure oral administration has been assigned • Do not use student test tickets to test that software is working. OTT logins should be used to ensure software is working correctly. • During testing: • When a student logs on, the student should see the audio buttons on the “Welcome Student” screen • Students will hear a human voice for directions and test items. They will heara text-to-speech (synthesized) voice for help content. • If a student needs to adjust the volume up or down during testing they should click the ‘Options’ button and select ‘Audio Settings.’

45. Helpful Hints—Video Sign Language • Prior to testing: • Ensure the appropriate number of working headphones are available for students testing signed administration (PSE only) • Adjust the volume on each machine so that it is at a comfortable level for students using headphones to test PSE • During testing: • When a student logs on, the student should see these video buttons on the “Welcome Student” screen • Students testing with a Pidgin Signed English (PSE) administration will see the sign language video and will hear an audio voiceover • Students testing with an American Sign Language (ASL) administration will see only the sign language video. Voiceover audio is not an option for ASL

46. Questions

47. Contacting DRC