Technology Requirements for Online Testing

Training Module

Copyright © 2014 American Institutes for Research. All rights reserved.

Site Readiness Network Requirements Hardware and Software Requirements Secure Browser Installation Network Diagnostics and Configuration

Topics

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By the end of this presentation, you should be able to: Understand your role and responsibilities Prepare for online tests at your school Install the secure browser Troubleshoot technical problems during the tests.

Objectives

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• Logins and passwords• Minimum system requirements• Secure browser• Determining system readiness/network

capacity• Troubleshooting technical issues

Technology Coordinator Tasks

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Network Connection:• A stable, high-speed (wired or wireless) network and

internet connection are required for the test. • The response time for each test depends on your

network’s bandwidth, number of students simultaneously testing, size of test content, proxy server (if used), and other factors.

Network Requirements

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Network Configuration:• Session timeouts on proxy servers and other devices should be set to

values greater than the average scheduled testing time. For example, if test sessions are scheduled for 60 minutes, consider session timeouts of 65–70 minutes.

• Web proxy servers must be configured to NOT cache data received from servers.

• For any device that performs traffic shaping, packet prioritization, or quality of service, the IP addresses to be used for testing should be given a high priority to ensure the best performance.

Network Requirements

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Whitelisting:

Content filters, firewalls, and proxy servers should be configured to allow the URLs for the servers being used.

Network Requirements

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Performance Factors:• Bandwidth• Number of students simultaneously testing• Wireless networking configuration• Secure browser

Network Requirements

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Bandwidth:• At least 20Kbps bandwidth per student being tested• Affected by both Local Area Network (LAN) traffic and

internet traffic from the router• LAN should always be analyzed to determine potential

traffic bottlenecks

Network Performance

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Number of students simultaneously testing:• Network performance may slow when large numbers of

students are testing at one time. • Multiply the number of students being tested by 20Kbps to

get an estimate of bandwidth needed, and compare that estimate with the network speed test.

• Perform network analyses at different times to ensure adequate capacity.

Network Diagnostics Tool

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Network Diagnostics Tool

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Wireless Network Configuration:Wireless traffic must use encryption.• Wi-Fi Protected Access II (WPA2) • Advanced Encryption Standard (AES)

Wireless access points have limits on total bandwidth and number of simultaneous devices in use.

Network Performance

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System RequirementsComputers

Operating SystemMinimum Requirements for Current

ComputersRecommended Minimum

Requirements for New Purchases

WindowsXP (service Pack 3), Vista, 7, 8.0, 8.1

Server 2003 and 2008

Pentium 4 or newer processor that supports SSE2512 MB of RAM

200 MB of hard drive spaceMinimum screen resolution 1024x768

Pentium 4 or newer processor that supports SSE2

2 GB+ RAM80 GB+ hard drive

Mac OS X10.4–10.9

Intel x86 or PowerPC G4 or G5 processor512 MB RAM

200 MB free hard drive spaceMinimum screen resolution 1024x768

Pentium 4 or newer processor2+ GB RAM

80+ GB hard drive

LinuxFedora 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

openSUSE 13.1Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.5

Ubuntu (LTS) 10.04, 12.04, 14.04

Pentium II or AMD K6-III 233 MHz processor64 MB RAM

52 MB hard driveMinimum screen resolution 1024x768

Pentium 4 or newer processor2 GB RAM

80 GB hard drive

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Appropriate Monitor Display• Monitor settings may need to be adjusted if test items with

shaded images are very light or cannot be seen. • The larger the monitor, the more “real estate” students will

have.• Resolution: 1024 x 768 or better

System Requirements

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Supported Mobile Devices

Operating System

Supported Tablets Browsers for TA Sites Browsers for Student Sites

Windows 8.0 and 8.1 (Not RT)

Surface ProAsus TransformerDell Venue

Internet Explorer 10-11 Windows Secure Browser 7.2

Android 4.0.4 to 4.4 Google Nexus 10 Motorola Xoom Motorola XyboardSamsung Galaxy Note (10.1)Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (10.1)

Native browser

Google Chrome 31-39

Android SecureBrowser

(AIR Secure Test Mobile Secure browser)

Chrome OS v31 to v39

Chromebook Google Chrome 31-39 AIR Secure Test Kiosk Application

iOS 6.0 to 8.1 iPad 2iPad 3Fourth-generation (Retina Display)iPad Air

Safari 6-8 iPad Secure Browser

(AIR Secure Test mobile Secure Browser)

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Tablets must have at least a 10” screen. iPads with a 9.5” display are acceptable

A minimum screen resolution of 1024x768 is required for all testing devices

An external keyboard is required

Students may also use a mouse with their devices

Supported Mobile Devices

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For iOS tablets running versions earlier than 7.0, Guided Access must be enabled.

For iOS tablets running version 7.0 or later, either Guided Access or Autonomous Single App Mode must be enabled.

ASAM requires use of Mobile Device Management (MDM).

iOS Tablet Requirements

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The following steps should be taken when computers on a Terminal Services network setup have a shared or generic login account and multiple users need to use that same account when logging into Terminal Services

Create a batch file that runs the logon script for the secure browser

Create a shortcut on the desktop of each client machine

Thin Client

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The following steps should be taken to install the secure browser on a network that uses Ncomputing virtual desktops.

Create a batch file that runs the logon script for the secure browser

Create a shortcut on the desktop of each client machine.

Ncomputing

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• The secure browser prevents students from accessing other computer or internet applications and copying test information during testing.

• Practice and training tests can be accessed with either the secure browser or with Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Internet Explorer 10 and 11, or most native tablet web browsers.

Secure Browser

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• The Student Testing Site requires the use of a secure browser.

• The correct secure browser for each operating system must be downloaded and installed on all computers that will be used for student testing.

Secure Browser

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Secure Browser

Computer/Device Secure Browser Location

Windows, Mac, and Linux computers

Wa.portal.airast.org

Android tablets Play Store

iPad tablets App Store

Google Chromebooks Chrome Web Store

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Installation Method:• Download the secure browser from your portal and install

it.• Download and save the secure browser onto a media

device (such as a flash drive), and copy and install the files on each computer.

• Download and save the secure browser to a network folder, and then copy and install the files on each computer.

Secure Browser Installation

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MSI file type enables deployment using a number of tools:• Active Directory Group Policy• Microsoft SMS• Microsoft SCCM• Microsoft WSUS• Windows NT Batch

Secure Browser InstallationWindows

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MacDMG file type enables deployment using Apple Remote Desktop. Munki Filewave

LinuxTAR file type enables deployment using a number of tools including the following: Shell scripts Puppet

Secure Browser InstallationMac and Linux

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AndroidThe secure browser can be downloaded from the Google Play Store.

iPadsThe secure browser can be downloaded from the App store.

Secure Browser InstallationTablets

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• Chromebooks app is available at the Chrome Web Store

• Installation varies for managed and non-managed Chromebooks

Secure Browser InstallationChromebooks

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Secure browsers attempt to auto-detect the settings for your network’s web proxy server.

The following proxy values are supported:

0–Direct connection, no proxy1–Manual proxy configuration2–Proxy auto-configuration (PAC)4–Auto-detect proxy settings5–System proxy settings (this is the default)

Proxy Settings

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• Configure internet browsers on Test Administrator devices to allow pop-ups from your testing websites.

Pop-Ups

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Mac 10.7 and Above• Spaces, Launchpad, and Fast User

Switching must be disabledMicrosoft Windows• Fast User Switching must be disabled

Secure Browser Configuration

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• Voice technology must be available and functioning for students who require this accommodation.

• For Windows and Mac operating systems, default voice packs are generally pre-installed.

• Linux users may need to install a Text-to-Speech package if one was not installed with the operating system.

• Headphones are required for test items being read aloud with the text-to-speech feature

Text-to-Speech

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If your testing location uses remote desktop monitoring software to monitor the computers that will be used for testing, you should disable the monitoring software on these computers during test times to guarantee adequate security. The particular steps you need to take vary, depending on the monitoring software you are using and the operating system of the testing computer.

Note: If it is not feasible to disable your monitoring software, you must ensure that any staff members who can use the monitoring software refrain from using it during testing periods.

Desktop Monitoring

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Further InformationWashington Help Desk

American Institutes for ResearchTel 1.844.560.7366

wahelpdesk@air.org

For questions regarding state policy decisions and protocol, please contact OSPI at assessment@k12.wa.us

Thank You!

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