Technical Logistics for Computer Based AssessmentsTechnical Logistics for Computer Based Assessments A.J. Kupps, Coordinator of Digital Learning Tools, Office of Digital Learning,

Technical Logistics for Computer Based Assessments A.J. Kupps, Coordinator of Digital Learning Tools, Office of Digital Learning, ESE !Mark Racine, CIO, Boston

What does readiness mean?

★Counting devices and checking bandwidth is the tip

of the iceberg….

★Can schools actually deliver the tests?

★Is your IT department ready to handle the deployments,

upgrades, setup?

★Are test administrators ready for the logistics?

★Do teachers, students, and support staff know what is

expected of them and are they prepared?2

Mark Racine, CIO Boston Public Schools

http://www.bostonpublicschools.org/

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Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

Boston –Overview★57,000 students

★130 schools

★About 10% with dedicated tech support

★2013/14 - 81 schools participated in field test

★54 online, 27 paper/pencil

★2014/15 – All schools delivering PARCC

★60% online, 40% paper/pencil4


Testing Responsibilities

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Central Office 1. Network and proctor caching servers 2. Device management 3. District/school tech support School Admin 1. Rosters & session management 2. Accommodations 3. Test admin (starting/stopping sessions) 4. Classroom tech support Teachers 1. Test administration (starting & stopping students)


Infrastructure

Our Environment ★24 sites with fiber connection, 90 with TLS ★All sites have wireless, although not all have

classroom access points ★All sites have file/print server !Lessons Learned 1. Proctor Caching is a must 2. Provide mobile access points to schools w/out

classroom wireless 3. Create separate SSID for PARCC if possible

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Devices

Our Environment ★Average of 4.7 students-to-device ratio ★Mixture of device types (Chromebook, Mac, PC) ★Multiple management tools (GAFE, Meraki, &

Casper) !Lessons Learned 1. Chromebooks performed flawlessly, Macs & PCs

had too many issues with software updates 2. Management is a must, GAFE is recommended 3. Create a separate login for PARCC test if possible 4. Avoid iOS

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Support

Our Environment ★Central department of 70 FTEs ★Some schools, mostly High, have dedicated Tech ★Full-time help desk with 9 FTEs !Lessons Learned 1. Dedicate one person in each school to serve as

technical lead 2. Communicate with other schools to identify

common problems 3. Keep central bank of spare devices to minimize

support time 8


Professional Development

Our Environment ★Dedicated PD team ★Teachers have 18 hours of PD in contract ★Centralized PD sessions and project manager for

school administrators !Lessons Learned 1. Pearson’s training was overkill 2. Create one-page handouts for common tasks 3. Remove as much from the teacher’s plate as

possible

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Top 5 Recommendations

1. Use Chromebooks whenever possible; other devices have too many points of failure

2. MDM is a must; GAFE for Chromebooks and Airwatch or Casper for Macs. Avoid free MDMs

3. Set up proctor caching on dedicated server in the school, not centrally

4. School personnel must familiarize themselves with testing process and accommodations ASAP

5. Create a “testing mode” for devices and network

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A.J. Kupps, Office of Digital LearningMA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

http://www.doe.mass.edu/odl/

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Guidelines: Version 4.3 Release

★ Please keep in mind, computers meeting the minimum

specifications can be considered as satisfying PARCC

guidelines for 2014-2015.

★ Computers with these minimum specifications may not be

adequate for the second year of PARCC assessments in

2015-2016.

★ Alternatively, computers meeting the recommended

specifications can be expected to satisfy PARCC guidelines

through the 2018-2019 school year. 13


Noteworthy updates in version 4.3

★ Firefox browser versions 28-33

★ Chrome browser versions 35-38

★ Java versions based on your

browser

★ Java updates are scheduled for

January 20, 2015, and April 14,

2015.

★ Android and iOS8 support added

★ Whitelist requirements updated

for MAC and Windows users.

★ Tests/accommodations requiring

proctor caching listed.

★ Macintosh OS 10.5 was

discontinued

★ Macintosh OS 10.8 and 10.9

support added for Proctor Caching

★ Windows RT removed

★ Accessibility and accommodations

information updated for spring

2015 testing. ★ NOTE: A new Proctor Cache tool

was released on October 15, 2014.

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Infrastructure Trial

Create a fictitious testing day; a full “dress rehearsal” of the online administration with all staff included.

★ Will your infrastructure work?

★ Are the devices ready?

★ Is your staff ready?

★ Are the students ready?

★ Go to Technical User Guides on http://parcc.pearson.com/technology-setup/ for the PARCC Infrastructure Trial Guide

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http://parcc.pearson.com/technology-setup/


Student Readiness in Massachusetts

★ How do we properly prepare our students for online

PARCC assessments?

1. Digital-learning-rich curriculum

2. PARCC sample items, practice tests, and tutorials

3. The State of Massachusetts has compiled two documents for

educators reference on technology skills for PARCC and

classroom instruction.

• Technology Skills Required for the Online Assessment

• Keyboarding Standards and Expectations 16


Sample Items

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Practice Tests

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Tutorials

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Associate Commissioner from MA

★“The overarching goal is to prepare all of our

students for careers and/or colleges where

technology is used in myriad ways. With these

ends in mind, the best way to ready students for

future success is to develop curricula and

assessments integrating varied, authentic

opportunities to use technology in conjunction

with rigorous standards-based learning

activities.”20

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http://www.doe.mass.edu/news/news.aspx?id=10327

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Keyboarding Skills / Touch-typing

• Developing keyboarding skills as part of regular instruction has potential benefits for students' writing, thinking and facility with technology. It is also important for both Math and English Language Arts PARCC items. !

• The State of Massachusetts found one particular report useful and captured some recommendations in the one-page handout. !

• The handout - Massachusetts 2008 Technology Literacy Standards and the writing standards of the 2011 Massachusetts Curriculum Framework for English Language Arts and Literacy includes additional details regarding student keyboarding skills. 22

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Technology Skills for Online Assessments

• The document Technology Skills for Online Assessments has been included as a handout and includes sections on: • General Navigation • Universal Access Features • General Answering • Math Tools !

• All skills begin in grade 3 (unless otherwise noted), and that the complexity of tools may vary by grade. !

• We highly suggest that teachers view available practice tests and sample items. 24

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Additional Resources

★ Digital Learning and PARCC Preparedness ★http://www.doe.mass.edu/news/news.aspx?id=10327

★ PARCC Bulletins ★http://parcc.pearson.com/bulletins/

★ PARCC Training Center ★http://parcc.pearson.com/manuals-training/

★ PARCC Tech Set Up ★http://parcc.pearson.com/technology-setup/

★ Tutorials ★http://parcc.pearson.com/tutorial/

★ Sample Items ★http://parcc.pearson.com/sample-items/

★ Practice Tests ★http://parcc.pearson.com/practice-tests/

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http://parcc.pearson.com/bulletins/

http://parcc.pearson.com/manuals-training/


http://parcc.pearson.com/tutorial/

http://parcc.pearson.com/sample-items/

http://parcc.pearson.com/practice-tests/

Contact Information

!★Andrea Kupps, Coordinator of Digital Learning Tools

– MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Office of Digital Learning ★[email protected] !

★Mark Racine, CIO, Boston ★[email protected]

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mailto:[email protected]



Documents

Technical Logistics for Computer Based AssessmentsTechnical Logistics for Computer Based Assessments A.J. Kupps, Coordinator of Digital Learning Tools, Office of Digital Learning,