NECAP Online Writing Fall 2011

1. NECAP Online Writing Fall 2011 August 24, 2011 Measured Progress Training Presentation for Test and Technology Coordinators

2. Training Topics Help Desk Information About NECAP Online About the Online Tests iTest Components New for Fall 2011 Key Dates Training Workflow Technology Test Session Basics Q & A

3. Help Desk Information NECAP Service Center 877-632-7774 Hours of operation: Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Contact the service center for questions relating to policy or the NECAP Online Writing Assessment in general Measured Progress Technical Support Center 888-465-2740 Email address: mptechhelp@measuredprogress.org Hours of operation: Monday – Friday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Contact the technical support group for any questions relating to the iTest software or any technical issues

4. About NECAP Online Pilot test was administered for the first time in the spring of 2011 Schools that successfully participated in the 2011 Spring Online Writing Pilot may participate this fall Feedback was solicited via electronic surveys for the following areas: Student experience Technical implementation General logistics of implementing computer-based testing Feedback from the surveys was used to build enhancements for this fall’s assessment

5. About NECAP Online Administrative requirements for the fall 2011 assessment: Operational testing must occur within the testing window, October 3 – 25, 2011 and must follow testing protocols and schedules contained in the NECAP Principal/Test Coordinator Manual, and the grade appropriate Test Administrator Manual for Online Writing. Schools must test between 90-100% of their eligible students. The use of pencil and paper will be viewed as an exception necessary to meet individual student needs only.

6. About NECAP Online • If you cannot test the full group of students at the same time, then you must take steps to maintain test security. The groups of students may not interact between administrations of the same test session. Your school must have a number of technically compliant computers to accommodate your testing plan/schedule. • School assigns a single point of contact (principal, test coordinator, or technology coordinator) for all communication about the online writing assessment • Technology coordinator must be present in the school during testing of students

7. About the Online Tests Please note that both the practice and operational tests follow the following format: NOTE: Maine only testing Grade 8 NOTE: The fall 2011 practice tests are the same tests which were administered for the spring 2011 pilot

8. iTest System Components Three web-based components Data Administration System (DAS) https://necap.measuredprogress.org/das/ Used by Test Coordinator to manage test administrators and student rosters Proctor Test Workstation (PTW) https://necap.measuredprogess.org/tds/proctor/ Used by Test Administrators to manage administering tests to students Student Test Workstation (STW) Software used by students to take the test

9. New for Fall 2011 Enhancements or new functionality in NECAP Online Writing: User names for student logins are shorter. Convention: first initial + last name (example: George Washington = user name: gwashington) For two students with the same name an integer is added (example: gwashington1 and gwashington2).

10. New for Fall 2011 Practice tests are available for students September 1-27 Content same as the Spring 2011 NECAP Online Pilot tests Practice and operational tests are automatically assigned to students by grade. • Grade 11 tests (Session 2 only) have multiple forms. They are spiraled by student, as students are imported or created in the DAS.

11. New for Fall 2011 Character counter for constructed/extended response questions. • Added text editor functionality for constructed/extended response items: Indent, Outdent, Undo, Bulleting

12. New for Fall 2011 • Test Administrator controls when students are allowed to exit the test session • End of session in the STW: • Test Administrators choose the Close Test step in the PTW:

13. New for Fall 2011 • Students first click Complete to finish the test: • Students then click Close to exit out of the test and software

14. New for Fall 2011 Students will complete an online survey to provide feedback about their experience. The survey can be accessed at:https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NECAPOnline-Student Documentation materials Updated User Guide Quick Start Guide Test Administrator Manuals (TAMs) for practice tests

15. Key Dates System setup: September 1 – September 30 Configure network and download student software (Technology Coordinators). Note: Last spring’s Student Test Workstation software, if still available on student computers, can be used again. Technical requirements have not changed since the spring Pilot Test Coordinators can download STW software at https://necap.measuredprogress.org/das/support/necap/stw-portal.htm

16. Key Dates System setup: September 1 – September 30, continued Download appropriate documentation and training resources from DAS. Also available via iServices at http://iservices.measuredprogress.org. Add and remove students as necessary This is a critical step that must be done in advance of testing. Please allow enough time to prepare your student roster. Students pre-loaded by state Each state’s student label files, provided in August, are the basis for the import. Add staff (Test Administrators) and distribute login information Develop in-school schedule for roll-out of testing to students

17. Test Administration NECAP Online Assessment: October 3 – 25 Administer tests to students following the required NECAP test session schedule Contact the NECAP Service Center or the Measured Progress Technical Support Group for assistance Recommendation: Record observations of staff and students during testing After testing has concluded, school staff who administered the tests will be asked to complete a short survey Students will also complete a web-based questionnaire following operational testing. The survey will be available beginning October 3 at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NECAPOnline-Student

18. Training Online Writing Training for Test Administrators (in addition to training for administering paper-based NECAP tests.) Test Coordinators are expected to train test administrators on important aspects of the online test system, such as the proctor test workstation (PTW) and the student test workstation (STW). Test administrators are referred to as proctors in the iTest system. The training should provide time for teachers to practice logging into their workstations. Test Coordinators may want to create a “demonstration student” in order to show Test Administrators how the STW and PTW interact.

19. Training Test Administrators are expected to administer the online test in the same manner as the paper-based NECAP Writing Test. This means Test Administrators must follow the directions and scripts in the Test Administrator Manuals, available for download from the Data Administration System (DAS) on September 1, or via iServices beginning August 24th at: http://iservices.measuredprogress.org

20. Workflow – “Top 10” Tasks

21. Technology – Accessing the STW files From the Technology Portal page download the STW files and instructions for Windows, Macintosh, Multi-User (thin client), or Maine MLTI Technical requirements can also be downloaded from this page. Note: They have not changed since the spring 2011 Pilot The portal is available from both Measured Progress iServices (http://iservices.measuredprogress.org) and the home page of the DAS

22. Technology Windows: The STW will appear as a shortcut on the desktop and will be added to the Start menu. Start the STW to get to the student login screen. Macintosh (non-MLTI): The STW will appear on the dock. The student must logout and login as another user to access the application: User: MPSC_01 TestingEnvironment Password: secure From the dock, open the My Applications folder and click the Portable Firefox icon. Once testing is complete, the computer should be logged out / logged in under its normal account.

23. Technology Macintosh (Maine MLTI III) The MLTI III image includes a new user account: NECAP User: NECAP Password: necap An arrow points to the Portable Firefox icon in the dock. Clicking the icon launches the STW. Once testing is complete, the computer should be logged out / logged in under its normal account. Macintosh (pre-Maine MLTI III): The STW will appear on the dock. The student must logout and login as another user to access the application: User: MPSC_01 TestingEnvironment Password: secure From the dock, open the MyApps folder and click the Portable Firefox icon. Once testing is complete, the computer should be logged out / logged in under its normal account.

24. Test Session Basics

25. Q & A