On-Line Administration

On-line Administration

Table of Contents

Introduction

PurposeandDesignoftheAssessment

DefinitionofRoles

StatementofSecurity

Test Administration Procedures

PreparingMaterials

PreparingtheEnvironment

PreparingStudents and Starting the Test

MonitoringTesting

Accommodations

UniversalTestAdministrationConditions

AdditionalAccommodationsforSpecialEducationStudents

AdditionalAccommodationsforEnglishLanguageLearners

CompletingandExitingtheTest

AccessingData

Appendix A: PCG Guidance Document Student Tracking

AppendixB: TroubleshootingOn-LineTesting

Appendix C: Proctor Directions Card

Appendix D: Student Desktop Card

Introduction

Congratulations.You willsoonbe implementing aMCESA ContentSpecificAssessmentthat is a collaborativeeffortbyteachers,administrators,policy makers,and students.This assessmenthas undergonearigorous developmentprocess toensure validityand reliability.Pleaseread this manual carefully.Itis designed toassist you withcreating asmoothand efficienttesting experiencefor students, thereby collecting the mostaccurate data.

PurposeandDesignoftheAssessment

MCESA ContentSpecificAssessments werecreatedto measurestudent achievementintraditionally non-tested courses.TheTransition assessmenthas twoe forms to serve as apre-assessmentanda post-assessmentto measure student growthfor the course.

DefinitionofRoles

TestCoordinator–thepersonresponsiblefor scheduling thetestadministrationdates and coordinating all preparations including communicating informationaboutlog-inuser names and passwords and testing procedures.

Test Administrator–theperson(s) responsiblefor administering thetesttostudents and proctoring the studenttesting experience.

MCESA TestAdministrationManual, On-lineAdministration, MCRSD

StatementofSecurity

Becausethis assessment wasdesigned tobe used to measurestudentgrowthas apartof teacher effectiveness models,itis imperativetoadheretoprofessionalsecurity measures.Listed belowis an excerpt fromthetestsecurityagreementfor theMCESA ContentSpecificAssessments.Please notethat items 5-10 applytoon-linetestadministration and 1-4applytopaper administration.

1. Access totestbooks and answer documentsshallbe restricted toassigned TestCoordinator(s)

during theprescribed assessmentadministration.

2. Alltestbooks and answer documents shallbe kept under lockand keyand inpossessionof the

TestCoordinator exceptduring actualtesttimes.

3. Testbooksand answer documents shallbe checked outor delivered andsigned for by the Test

Administrators nosooner thanthedateof testing and returned at theend of eachdayof testing.

4. Testbooksand answer documents shallbe kept secure untiltheyaredistributed tostudents.

5. Onlyteachers and studentsinparticipating classes shallbe allowed toaccess and useMCESA ContentSpecificAssessments.

6. TheMCESA ContentSpecificAssessments shall notbe examined,read,or reviewed.

7. No contentof thetestshallbe disclosed, hand-copied,electronicallystored,photographed, or photocopied.

8. Notestitemshallbe discussed at anytime.

9. Nostudentresponses shallbe examined,read,or reviewed.

10. Ethics and professionalismregarding testadministrationwillbe upheld throughouttheentiretest administrationwindow.

MCESA TestAdministrationManual, On-lineAdministration, MCRSD

Test Administration Procedures

PreparingMaterials

Inorder to log-inand takeanon-lineassessment,students will need to knowtheiruser nameand password.TestAdministrators shouldbe prepared tosupportstudents inlearning their user nameand password.Test Administrators should havea copyof the user names and passwords availableduringthetesting sessiontosupportstudents who may haveforgottenor need help entering their information.Toexpeditethetesting sessionand allowmoretimeforstudents totakethe test,a testproctor couldenter student usernames and passwords prior tostudents entering thetesting location. For students toaccess PCG: EdPlan, theuser nameis thestudent’sStudentIDand thepasswordis thestudent’seight-digitbirthdate (mmddyyyy).

Examplefor studentbornon January1st, 2015

User Name - 123456

Password - 01012015

Beforestudents begintheir testing session, TestAdministrators should validatethat the correctstudents are enrolled inthe class and thatatest has beenreleased tothestudents inthe class. To conducta validation,the Test Administratorsshouldlog-intoPCG’sEdPlanand usetheStudentTracking featureto navigate tothespecificsectionof students that willbe testing. See Appendix A for a guidance document on how to access this feature. In the Student Trackingview, TestAdministrators should check that allstudent names arelisted and checkthat thestudent has a 0* under thenameof thetestthat has beenreleased. The0*indicates that thestudent has thetestassigned to him/her and canproceed totake thetestinthedesignated window.If astudentis missing,the TestAdministrator should notifytheperson(s) responsiblefor enrolling students.If thestudentispresent,but does not havethetestreleased, notifythe TestCoordinator. The chart below shows the names of tests that could be released.

Transition ELL Pre 2015-16 / Transition Gen Ed Pre 2015-16
Transition ELL Posttest 2015-16 / Transition Gen Ed Posttest 2015-16

PreparingtheEnvironment

Carefulpreparationof thetesting environmentis animportant step toensurethattheassessmentmeasures student knowledgeof thestandards. Aroomthat is quietand freefromdistractingnoises or interruptions shouldbe scheduled for thetesting session. Theseatingarrangementsshouldsupportstudents inworking individually, not collaboratively,ontheassessment.Assigning students specificseats is agood strategy for maintaining aroomwherestudents workindividually.Also,anybulletinboards,posters,or signs that could cuestudentanswers shouldbe removed or covered.

TheMCESAContentSpecificAssessment for Transitioncontains35 itemsand is designed to be administered inone class periodof approximately45minutes. Students may take longer than 45 minutes, but should not take more than one day to complete the test. Students can stop testing and restart gain later if needed, but co,[letting the test in one session is recommended.

PreparingStudents and Starting the Test

Students whoaretaking anon-linetestshouldbefamiliar withtheprocess toaccess theURLof thetest deliverysystem,log-intothesystem,and selecttheir appropriatetest.See AppendixCfor theProctor Directions Cardand Appendix D for the Student Desktop Cardwithspecificdirections about howstudents access their tests inthe PCG: EdPlan assessmentsystem.Itisrecommended that studentsviewa demonstration of theprocess or read through the Student Desktop Card if they havenever seenthe on-linetestdelivery systembefore.For a demonstration of PCG’sEdPlansystem,pleaserefer tothevideo presentationavailable through the TestCoordinator.

Beforestudents taketheir test,they shouldbe informed of thepurposeof theassessmentand what to expect.Askstudents tolistentoalldirections beforelogging inand beginning their tests.Anappropriatescriptfor communicating withstudents is provided here,but itmaybemodified toinclude district,school,or class specificinformation.

Today you will betakinga testthat measures your knowledge of the things we study in Transition class.You will be working independently. This test in not timed, and you will have the entire class session to work on it. Read each question and answer choice carefully. Choose only one answer for each question, and answer every question. After you have completed the test, raise your hand and I will check if you are ready to submit the test. If you have questions, please raise your hand. You may begin.

Theschool’s technologyteammay puta shortcutoneach computer for students toaccess thetest. If students do not havea shortcutonthedesktop,thelog-inpage totaketheassessment canbe accessedby goingtoyour district’sURLlisted below.

Itis agood strategytostagger startthestudents.For example, havestudents wearing a whiteshirt begin first. Then wait 60secondsand haveanothersetof students begin.This strategyoftensupports electronic testing systems withtheir efficiencyand also helps toreduce cheating if students are notalways onthe sameitemas their neighbor.MCESA ContentSpecificAssessments areintentionally notdelivered with randomized items,becausetheyaredesigned topresentstudents witheasier andharder questions ina specificorder.

MonitoringTesting

Students may have multipleassessments assigned tothem.Ensurethat eachstudenthas selected the appropriateassessment.

On the left sideof thescreen,students willseea navigationbar showing the numberof items completed and the number of items onthetest.Depending onthe hardware used,it may be necessaryforstudents to scrollthroughthis navigationbar toseethetotal number of items onthetest. It may be necessarytoremind students to maximizethe windowif thebrowser is notsettoautomaticallydisplayfullsize windows. If the test hasreading passages,thestudent willseethepassagerepeated at theside of eachassociated item.

For hardware or internet technical problems during testing, call the school or district technical support team. For other technical issues including application problems, call the ADE Help Desk (602-542-2222).

Additionally, referto the Troubleshooting Guide in Appendix B.

TestAdministrators shouldinformstudents whenthey have10 minutes and 5 minutes of testing time remaining.

A quiettestenvironment willsupportstudents inconcentrating ontheir work.Therefore,itis recommended that students whofinishthetestearlyareprovided anadditional activitysuchas reading or completing workquietlyat their seat.Providingcomputer free-timeor games after thetestingsessionmay discourage students fromputting forththeir besteffortonthetest.

MCESA TestAdministrationManual, On-lineAdministration, MCRSD

Accommodations

Accommodations cansupportstudents inaccessing thecontentof thetestand are,thus,animportantpart of thetesting environment.TheArizona DepartmentofEducationhas provided anexcellentdocument describing theallowableaccommodations for studentsduring AIMStesting.The mostsalientand applicableaccommodationsfromtheAIMSprotocols havebeenextracted andapplied totheMCESA ContentSpecificAssessments

UniversalTestAdministrationConditions

Thefollowing excerpt fromAIMS Testing Accommodations: Guidelines for 2013-2014 describes the Universal Test AdministrationConditions thatshouldenableallArizonastudents to haveanappropriate testing setting tosupporttheir success ontheassessment.These conditions areapplicabletothe administrationof MCESA ContentSpecificAssessments.

Universal Test AdministrationConditions arespecifictesting situations and conditions that may beoffered toanystudentinorder toprovide him/her a comfortableand distractionfreetesting environment.

Universal Test AdministrationConditions include:

 Testing ina smallgroup,testing one-on-one,testing inaseparatelocationor ina study carrel,

 Being seated ina specificlocationwithinthetesting roomor being seated atspecialfurniture,

 Having thetestadministered bya familiar testadministrator,

 Using devices that allowthestudenttoseethetest:glasses, contacts, magnification,special lighting,and color overlays,

 Using devices that allowthestudentto hear thetestdirections: hearing aids andamplification,

 Reading thetestquietlytohimself/herself as long as other students are notdisrupted,

 Wearing noise buffers after thescripted directions havebeenread,

 Having thescripteddirections included inthe TestAdministrationDirectionsrepeated (at student request) and having questions aboutthescripted directions or thedirections that students readon their ownanswered. (They may also bedisplayed inwriting ontheboard.)

Whilesomeof theitems listed asUniversal Test AdministrationConditions mightbeincluded ina student’s IEPas a required testing accommodation,for testing purposes theseare not considered testing accommodations and arenotlimited toonlystudents withIEPs.

MCESA TestAdministrationManual, On-lineAdministration, MCRSD

AdditionalAccommodationsforSpecialEducationStudents

Allteachers areexpected to implementanytesting accommodationsspecifically noted onstudent Individual EducationPlans (IEP)or 504 Plans.Also,specialeducationstudents mayuse the accommodations listed below,extracted from theAIMSTestingAccommodations: Guidelines for 2013-2014.

 Morebreaks and/or severalshorter sessions

 Testing at a differenttimeof day

 Simplified directions for thescripteddirections

 Read aloud thetestitems,onlyas neededand requested bythestudent*

AdditionalAccommodationsforEnglishLanguageLearners

Students who havebeen classified asEnglish LanguageLearnersby theAZELLA assessment may usethe accommodations listed below,extracted fromthe AIMSTestingAccommodations: Guidelines for 2013-2014.

 Morebreaks and/or severalshorter sessions

 Simplified directions for thescripteddirections

 Exacttranslationof thescripted directionintheir nativelanguage,as needed uponstudentrequest

 Access to a nativelanguagedictionary

 Read aloud thetestitems,onlyas neededand requested bythestudent*

*Useof this accommodationshould notimpedethe TestAdministrators abilityto monitor theother students inthe class, nor shouldit provideanyteacher theabilitytostudy or readsecuretestitems that willbe used inhis/her teacher effectiveness plan.Thus,itis recommended that arrangements shouldbe madefor an additional Test Administrator tobe intheroomtoimplementthis accommodationif needed.Lastly, useof this accommodationshouldnot interrupt theprescribed testing environmentordistracttheother test takers.

CompletingandExitingtheTest

Whenstudents completetheir test,itis essentialthat theysubmittheir assessment. According tothe scripted directions, studentsmust notifythe Test Administrator that they have completed thetest and are readytosubmit.The Test Administrator should checkthat allitems havebeen completed andcanthen givepermissionfor thestudenttosubmitthetest. Thestudent will clickthesubmitbutton.

If students were notabletocomplete their testbeforetheend of thetesting session,then theyshould NOTsubmit,butinstead clicktheSAVEbuttonand log out.

A make-upsessionto complete theremaining questionsshouldbe arranged according totheschoolplan.

After submitting or saving thetest,thestudentshouldlogoutofPCG: EdPlan.Explaintostudents that they may notdiscuss the contentof thetest withanypeers,teachers,or parents.

AccessingData

After students have completed their test, their scores are immediately available to teachers and administrators. To access the scores, users should log-into PCG: EdPlan.

The fastest way to see the student scores is to use the Student Tracking function under the Performance icon and navigate into the school, teacher and class section that has completed the test. Scores that are below 60% are highlighted red, scores between 60-89% are highlighted yellow, and scores that are 90% or above are highlighted green. See Appendix A for a guidance document on how to access this feature.

Additional reports with more detailed information can be accessed through the Reports function. For more information on accessing and interpreting reports see the MCESA REIL webpage.

MCESA TestAdministrationManual, On-lineAdministration, MCRSD

Appendix A: PCG Guidance Document Student Tracking

MCESA TestAdministrationManual, On-lineAdministration, MCRSD

AppendixB: TroubleshootingOn-LineTesting

Page#

Howdostudentsaccessthewebsitetotakethetest? ...... 13

2.What doI doif astudent cannotlogin with theuser nameor passwordthatwas provided? ...... 13

3.What doI doif astudent clicksonthefolder toaccesstheassessmentbutnothinghappens?.....15

4.What doI doif studentsareabletologin, buttheexpectedtestdoesnotappear?...... 15

5.What doI doif thestudents testfreezeswhiletakingthetest? ...... 15

6.What doI doif Internetproblemsorothertechnicaldifficultiescomeupinthemiddleof atestandthestudent is unable tocontinuetakingthetestonline?…...... 16

7.What doI doif I amhavingdifficultieswith theentire class andcannotproceedwith testingonthe specifieddate?...... 16

8.What doI doif astudent accidentallysubmittedatestbutis notfinishedansweringall questions? ...... 16

9.What doI doif astudent started thewrongtest?...... 17

10. What doI doif studentswanttocontinueanincompletetest?...... 18

11. What doI doif studentswanttoretakeacompletedtest?...... 18

12. What doI doif studentsarenotdoneattheendofthetestingsession?...... 18

13. What doI doif studentstrytosubmitafter completingall questions andtheygeta notificationthatoneitemhasnotbeen answered?...... 18

14. WhodoI contactfor help?...... 18

MCESA TestAdministrationManual, On-lineAdministration, MCRSD

Appendix B:TroubleshootingOn-LineTesting

1. Howdostudentsaccessthewebsite totakethetest?

Your technologyteammay puta shortcutoneach computer forstudents toaccess thetest.If studentsdonot haveashortcutonthedesktop,thelog-inpageto taketheassessment canbeaccessed bygoingtoyour district’s URL, asshown below.Be surethatwebsecurityfilters allowaccesstotheURL.

2. WhatdoIdoif astudentcannot log inwiththeusername orpasswordthatwasprovided?

Doublecheckthatthestudent usedthe correctusernameandpassword. Theusernamewill bethestudent’sIDandthepasswordwill bethestudent’sbirthdate.

Examplefor studentbornonJanuary 1st, 2002

User Name- 123456

Password -01012002

Youcancall theADEHelpDesk(602-542-2222)toverifythestudent’sinformation, or you can look up the student information directly in PCG.

Step 1: Log into PCG using your email address and password.

Appendix B:TroubleshootingOn-LineTesting

Step 2: Click on Student Tracking, to the list of your sections.

Step 3: Click on the student’s name. This will open a separate window.

Step 4: Locate student information for User Name and Password.

Appendix B:TroubleshootingOn-LineTesting

If afterthreeattempts thestudent cannotlogin,thestudent’saccountwill belocked. If thishappens,contactthe

ADEHelpDesktore-activate theaccount(602-542-2222).

When callingtheADEHelpDesk, pleasebeprepared toprovidethefollowinginformation:

Districtname

School name

Student firstandlastname

Student ID

Student birthdate(month/day)

Nameofexam (gradelevel,subjectarea)

3. WhatdoIdoifastudentclicksonthefolder toaccess theassessmentbutnothinghappens?

If the studentis usingInternetExplorerversion9or 10, theremaybea compatibilityissue.Clickoncompatibility iconfoundnear theaddress bar.Thestudentwillthenbeabletoclickonthe folderandexpanditscontents.

If this doesnotresolvetheissue,contacttheADEHelpDesk(602-542-2222).

4. WhatdoIdoifstudentsareabletologin,buttheexpectedtestdoesnotappear?

Havethe student logout andcontacttheADEHelpDesk(602-542-2222)immediately tohavethetestreleased to that student.OncetheADE Help Deskhasreleased thetest,thestudentcanlogbackinto thesystem, clickonthe linktoaccesstheassessment,andtakethetest.WhencallingtheADEHelpDesk, pleasebeprepared toprovide the followinginformation:

Districtname

School name

Student firstandlastname

Student ID

Student birthdate(month/day)

Nameofexam (gradelevel,subjectarea)

5. WhatdoIdoif thestudent’stestfreezeswhiletaking thetest?

First,trytonavigatetoanother questionusing thenavigationbar atthesideof thescreenor thearrows. If thatis notpossible,then press alt+tabtotoggle backtothePCGAssessmentspage. SelectTakeAssessment againto reloadthe test.If thetestis still frozen, then closethetestandlogoutofPCG.Then login againandreselectthe test.Thesystemautomaticallysavesthestudent’sanswers duringtestingandthestudentshouldbeabletoreturnto thelastquestionhewasworkingon.

Appendix B:TroubleshootingOn-LineTesting

6. WhatdoIdoifInternetproblemsorothertechnicaldifficultiescome upinthemiddle of a testandthe student is unabletocontinuetakingthetestonline?

Thesystemwill automaticallysavethestudent’sanswersasthe student takesthetestonequestionatatime. All responsesupuntilthe pointof disruptionwill besaved.Oncetheissuehas been resolved, thestudentcanlog backinto thesystemandcompletethetest.Tohelpyouidentifypossible causesof yourtechnical difficulties of issue,followthesesteps:

a. If the technical issueis isolated toonestudent’scomputer trytoidentify thecause oftheproblem (internet issue,loosecords,hardwareproblem,etc.)Contact your districtor school technical supportstaff for helpas necessary.

b. If anerror 500 message (orother softwareerrormessage)is displayed, contacttheADE HelpDesk(602-542-2222).ADEHelp deskstaffwill askfordetailed information. Pleasenotethe exactwordingoftheerror message.

c.If thereareinternetortechnical difficultieswiththeentire class, contactyour district or schooltechnical supportstaff.Ifyoucannotcontinuethetestingsessionwiththeentireclass, notifyyour district Testing Coordinatorofthe issueandgetguidanceonreschedulingthetestingsession.

7. WhatdoIdoifIam havingdifficultieswiththeentireclassandcannotproceedwithtestingonthespecifieddate?

If thereare technical difficultieswiththeentireclassor ifthereare internetissues, contactyourdistrictorschool technical supportstaff. Ifyoucannotcontinuethetestingsessionwiththeentireclass,notifyyour districtTesting Coordinatorofthe issueandgetguidanceonreschedulingthetestingsession.

8. WhatdoIdoif astudentaccidentally submittedatestbutisnotfinishedansweringallquestions?

ContacttheADEHelpDesk(602-542-2222)immediatelytohavethelinkto thatstudent’stestreactivated. Once theADEHelpDeskhas released thattestagain,thestudent can logback intothesystem, clickonthelinktoaccess the assessment,andcompletethe test.Whencallingthe ADEHelpDesk,please bepreparedto providethe followinginformation:

Districtname

School name

Student firstandlastname

Student IDandbirthdate

Nameofexam (gradelevel,subjectarea)

Appendix B:TroubleshootingOn-LineTesting

9. WhatdoIdoif astudentstarted the wrong test?

If the studentdidnotsubmit thetest, havethestudentcloseoutofthat testbyclickingthe“X”atthe top rightside ofthetestwindow.

Once thetestwindowisclosed,the Assessments screen will appear.Thestudentcan thenclickonthe linkto the correcttest.

If the studentstartedtakingthewrongtestandaccidentallysubmitted it,followinstructionsaboveforthestudent toaccessthecorrecttestandbegintakingthetest. ContacttheADE Help Desk(602-542-2222)toprovide notificationthatthestudentsubmittedthewrongtest. ADEHelp Deskstaffwillreactivatethelink so thatstudent willbeable toaccessthe testfor thatspecificsubjectareaduringthecorrecttestingtime.

When callingtheADEHelpDesk, pleasebeprepared toprovidethefollowinginformation:

Districtname

School name

Student firstandlastname

Student IDandbirthdate

Nameofexamthatwas accidentallysubmitted andshouldbereassigned(gradelevel, subjectarea)

MCESA TestAdministrationManual, On-lineAdministration, MCRSD

Appendix B:TroubleshootingOn-LineTesting

10.WhatdoIdoifstudents wanttocontinueanincomplete test?

Studentsmaycompleteanincompletetestifthe testingsessionhas notendedandif thetesthasnotyetbeen submitted.

Studentsshouldfollowthenormalloginprocess.Whentheyseethelistof available tests,theincompletetest nameshouldappear.Whenstudentsselectthetest,itwillresume. Their answers fromprevious sessionswill appear in thetest.

11.WhatdoIdoifstudents wanttoretakea completedtest?

Studentsarenotallowedtoretakeatestafterithasbeensubmitted.

12.WhatdoIdoifstudentsarenotdoneat theend of thetesting session?

Student shouldsavetheir testandthen closethewindowandlogout ofthesystem.Followthe schoolor district planformake-uptesting.

13. WhatdoIdoifstudentstry tosubmitaftercompletingallquestionsandtheygetanotificationthatone item has notbeenanswered?

Us the questionnavigationbar to verifythat allquestions havebeencompleted.Ifquestions are unanswered,thenthe student should completethequestions. Click off ofthelastquestionandthen gobacktothe lastquestiontosubmit again.

14.WhodoIcontactforhelp?

For hardwareor internetissues, callyourschoolor districttechnical supportteam.

Forother issues includingapplicationproblems, calltheADE HelpDesk602-542-2222. For long-distanceoutside ofMaricopa County, usethis toll-freenumber1-866-577-9636.

MCESA TestAdministrationManual, On-lineAdministration, MCRSD

Appendix C: Proctor Directions Card

MCESA TestAdministrationManual, On-lineAdministration, MCRSD

Appendix D: Student Desktop Card

MCESA TestAdministrationManual, On-lineAdministration, MCRSD