DAY OF TESTING GUIDE. Contact Information. Websites. Please do not bookmark the Proctor Interface or the Student Interface.

Transcription

1 DAY OF TESTING GUIDE Contact Information General Contact (212) ITS Technical Support Monday-Friday, 8 AM-8 PM ET (800) Outside of business and weekends, press 1 to be taken to after-hours support or 2 to leave a voic . (you will be contacted the next business day) Websites Proctor Interface: Student Interface: Users Portal: Please do not bookmark the Proctor Interface or the Student Interface. Copyright 2018 Council for Aid to Education

2 Quick Reference for Proctors The following list summarizes the proctoring procedures that occur each day of testing. 1. Prior to testing: Log into the Proctor Interface to ensure you have access to the system and the ability to create Test Sessions. Use the Check Readiness site ( to run the system check, evaluate your network, and utilize the advanced readiness and troubleshooting tools. 2. Before students arrive: Make sure you have the phone number for your institution s computer services/help desk in case of technical difficulties. Ensure that you have a phone available during testing. Log in to the Proctor Interface and set up the testing session: Go to Select Test Delivery. Enter a Session Name and select the Test Administration. Click Create Session, which will bring you to the Proctor Session page. Record the Test Session Number. Write the session number on the classroom board. Place a few pieces of scrap paper at each computer station (optional). All scrap paper should be collected and disposed of after testing is complete. 3. Administering CWRA+ to students: Take attendance and place a sign on the outside of the classroom door noting that CWRA+ testing is in progress. Direct students to Assist students with downloading of the secure browser. Read the Proctor Script. Provide students with the Test Session Number. Use the Waiting for Approval table to approve students into CWRA+. Verify the students and click Approve All Waiting; or Approve students individually by clicking Approve next to each name. If students ask you questions during the exam, refer them to the Help button on their screen. Collect all scrap paper before students leave. If a student has moved past the Performance Task by accident, have the student stop work, and contact your CWRA+ Rep immediately. If a student has issues logging in or has any other technical irregularities, call ITS Technical Support at (800) immediately. Contact your CWRA+ Rep if your problem is not resolved. 4. When the institution has completed all CWRA+ testing: Contact your administrator or CWRA+ Rep to confirm all testing at your institution is finished. 1

3 On The Day of Testing This section details the steps necessary to proceed with the CWRA+ on the scheduled date and time of a test session. Remember to utilize the Check Readiness tools prior to testing; this can be found by clicking on the Check Readiness link on the Proctor Interface log in page. PROCTOR PERSPECTIVE CHECKING MATERIALS On the day of testing, we suggest you bring the following: The Day of Testing Guide, paying attention to the following sections in particular: Quick Reference for Proctors CWRA+ Configuration Requirements We encourage you to distribute copies of the Day of Testing Guide to all proctors for reference at each test session. Please be sure you have access to a phone to contact your CWRA+ rep or Technical Support in case issues arise while testing. CREATING A SESSION In order for students to access the test, a proctor must first initiate the login process by creating a test session from the Proctor Interface. Each test session will contain a unique ID number that students will use to log in. To create a test session from the Proctor Interface, select Test Delivery on the left, which will bring you to the following screen. If any test sessions have already been created for the day, they will appear in table format as shown in the image below. All sessions must be created on the day of testing. The three steps the proctor must take to create a new session are outlined below. If all testing will take place during one session on one day, we recommend creating unique test sessions for each proctor so attendance and approving students into the interface may be done carefully and accurately. All other testing scenarios will require the creation of multiple testing sessions. Sessions must be created on the day of testing (not before) and will expire at 11:59 PM local time on the day of the session. 2

4 1. Enter a Session Name under Create a New Session. The name of the session can be anything you wish. We recommend using unique session names for each individual session. As an example, you may name your session after the proctor, location, and the time of testing. 2. Select the CWRA+ test type from the Test Administration drop-down menu. Select the Fall [current year] CWRA+ Test Administration for testing in the fall testing window and the Spring [current year] CWRA+ Test Administration for testing in the spring testing window. 3. Click Create Session. PROCTOR SESSION DETAILS Once you have created a session, you will be brought to the Proctor Session page. This page will provide the Test Session Number, which students use to access CWRA+. You will also use this page to approve students into CWRA+. The next image illustrates what the page will look like if there are no students waiting for proctor approval. While students are waiting for approval, they will appear in the Waiting for Approval table. You have two options to approve the students to test: you may click Approve next to each individual student s name, or you may click Approve All to approve the students as a group. 3

5 VIEWING THE STUDENT ROSTER To view a roster of the students who tested within the active CWRA+ testing window, select Test Administrations on the left-hand menu and then click on the Roster under the Manage colum. This will bring up the Roster page, where you can review the students who tested Locally or Remotely. These lists will be populated with all students who have tested within the active CWRA+ testing window. Please note that only users with Administrator privileges have access to the Roster. 4

6 Standardizing Testing STANDARDIZING TESTING: PROCTOR SCRIPT OR TEST OVERVIEW VIDEO Proctors have two options before students enter the Student Interface: Read the Proctor Script Instruct students to watch the Test Overview by going to Please read the script in the bordered box to students when you are ready to begin taking CWRA+. It is important to adhere to this script because it permits standardization of testing environments within and across institutions. PROCTOR SCRIPT Thank you for coming today to take CWRA+. Your performance on this test will help (name of school) assess how it contributes to your critical-thinking and written communication skills. It is important that you put forth your best effort on this assessment. As a test-taker, you will complete a Performance Task and a group of selected-response questions. The Performance Task is an essay-based question and requires a written response. Please be sure that you have finished writing before moving past the yellow warning screen to begin the selected-response questions. The entire testing process will take up to 90 minutes*. For test security reasons, we ask that you do not discuss the specific contents of the exam with other students. Testing will occur through a secure Internet browser; you will not be able to access websites or computer files while testing. Please launch CWRA+ by going to When you are ready, please enter the following Test Session Number:, and fill out the requested information in the student profile presented to you. Please do not talk during the assessment. Raise your hand if you have any questions or difficulty with your computer. If for some reason you are unintentionally logged out of the assessment, please notify me immediately. It is vital that proctors do not comment on, or add in any way to, the assessment. During the session, if the student has a task-related question, say, Do the best you can or refer them to the Help button on their computer screen. *Adjust time for students receiving extended time. Students receiving time and a half (50%) will have 135 minutes. Students receiving double time (100%) will have 180 minutes. 5

7 Student Perspective STUDENT LOGIN INSTRUCTIONS This section outlines the CWRA+ experience from the student perspective. To begin the assessment, students computers must be open to the CWRA+ Student Interface: As a precaution, please do not allow students to use a bookmarked version of this website. SECURE BROWSER Students will take CWRA+ through a secure browser, which prohibits access to any other programs. To download the secure browser, students testing on a PC will click the Download Button on the Student Interface. They will select Run to access CWRA+ in secure browser mode. Mac users will click the Download Button, prompting the browser to automatically begin downloading to a default location (usually the desktop). If the computer does not automatically unzip the file, double-click the file to decompress the secure browser. At this point, Mac users may double-click the icon on the desktop and begin taking CWRA+. The secure browser will auto-update on dekstops and laptops. Once downloaded, you will not need to download an updated version. SESSION NUMBER Students will enter in the relevant Test Session Number provided by the proctor and click Submit. Next, students will enter their addresses. It is recommended that school addresses be used. First time test takers: When asked if they have registered, select No, I Have Not Registered and click Submit. Students will be prompted to provide their last and first names, student ID, and date of birth. Returning test takers: Enter the same address they used previously and select Yes, I have Registered. When prompted, enter date of birth and click Submit. If a student tested in the past, but is having issues logging in, the proctor can assist the student by looking up registration information through the Students component of the Proctor Interface. 6

8 Next, students will enter their addresses. It is recommended that school addresses be used. First time test takers, when asked if they have registered, should select No, I Have Not Registered and hit Submit. Students will then be prompted to provide their last and first names, student ID, and date of birth. Students who have previously taken CWRA+ (in most cases as freshmen) should enter the same address they used previously and select Yes, I Have Registered. They will then be prompted for their date of birth. If a student tested in the past, but is having issues logging in, the proctor can assist the student by looking up registration information through the Students component of the Proctor Interface. Students will then see a Waiting for Approval screen. They will not be able to begin CWRA+ until they receive proctor approval. PROCTOR APPROVAL At this point, the proctor must approve students for access to CWRA+. As a reminder, this process takes place on the Proctor Session page, which appears after the session has been created. The proctor will approve students into the test once they appear in the Waiting for Approval table. This page automatically refreshes every 30 seconds. The proctor must approve each student into the exam. 7

9 Configuration Requirements This page includes a list of supported and recommended operating systems, browsers, connection speeds, and hardware. Please remember to conduct Check Readiness prior to your testing session(s). Check Readiness can be accessed using the following URL: Click the Check Readiness link on the upper right hand corner of the screen. The Secure Browser does not need to be re-downloaded if you already have it on your computer. The Secure Browser will auto-update if you attempt to launch an older copy of it. We recommend downloading the most current browser(s) for both the Proctor and Student Interface. OPERATING SYSTEM AND BROWSER REQUIREMENTS Proctor Interface Student Interface Operating Systems Browsers Special Notes Windows 7 or higher Mac OS X 10.9 or higher Windows 7 or higher Mac OS X 10.9 or higher Mac ios7 or higher (ipads) ipad 2 or higher Edge 1 Chrome 1 Internet Explorer 9.0 Safari 6 Internet Explorer 9.0 Safari 6 RECOMMENDED CONNECTION SPEEDS AND HARDWARE Internet Connection Monitor Size Mac OS X 10.9 or Windows 7 without Service Pack 3 installed are not supported. The most recent version of Flash is required Mac OS X 10.9 or Windows 7 without the Service Pack 3 installed are not supported. 1. Edge and Chrome support is limited to the current version plus one previous version due to forced automatic updates. Resolution Color Depth While dial-up modems are supported, we recommend a broadband connection (DSL, Cable, or T1) for best results. We recommend a 17 monitor or larger. Tests can be delivered at any resolution. Most are designed for resolutions of 800x600 or better. We recommend a 1024x768 resolution or higher. On Windows, the highest resolution is 32-bit color. Ninety-seven percent of users have 16-bit color or greater. Although 8-bit color resolution is supported, it may not present complex graphics perfectly. We recommend a 16-bit color depth or greater. VISUALLY IMPAIRED STUDENT ACCOMMODATIONS Students with visual impairments are able to use a magnification feature in the Secure Browser. The minimum system requirement for this function for PCs is Windows 7 operating system and Internet Explorer 10 (or higher). To zoom in, students should press Ctrl+ and to zoom out, students should press Ctrl-. On Macs you may use Command + and Command -. PLEASE CONTACT YOUR CWRA+ REP IF YOU PLAN ON USING: Thin clients Laptops Virtual machines WiFi for test delivery XBoxes Tablets/iPads with Cloud environments keyboards Remote desktops Chromebooks 8

10 Common Testing Issues and Troubleshooting Through feedback collected from institutions, we have compiled a list of six common testing issues and solutions. SCENARIO 1 A student has clicked through the test, passed the yellow warning screen, and a pop-up reads: Warning! Time remaining. This is the end of the task. You have not used all the time allotted for completing this task. Once you click Next you will not be allowed to return to this task. If you would like to review your responses, please use the Back button. Click the Next button only if you are finished with the task. In this scenario, the student will no longer be shown to be in the PT on the Proctor Session page. Solution: If this occurs, the proctor should have the student stop and call the institution s CWRA+ Rep for additional instructions. SCENARIO 2 A student s computer fails or a power outage occurs during testing, causing the student to be logged off of the Student Interface. Solution: If this happens during testing, your institution will have one week for the student to log back in using the same address and date of birth. The student s work and location in the exam will be saved automatically (the system automatically saves student answers every 10 seconds). The remaining time will resume when the student logs back in. SCENARIO 3 A test may freeze when the Internet connection becomes slow, causing the connection to time out. Solution: Run the system check found in the Check Readiness feature to see if current bandwidth is an issue. If bandwidth is not a problem, we advise you to clear the cache and resume. In Internet Explorer, this can be found under Tools and then Internet Options. When the window appears, click Delete under Browsing History. When prompted, delete all files, including Temporary Internet Files, Cookies, and History. It is also recommended you restart the computer after clearing the cache. In Safari, this can be found under Preferences in the Security tab on the top browser menu bar. Click the Show Cookies button and then Remove All. It is also recommended that you restart your computer. SCENARIO 4 A student completes the exam and clicks exit, but is brought back to the login page instead of receiving messaging that he or she has completed the task and should close the browser. Solution: Proctors should not worry if this occurs. This is often the result of local browser settings. Instruct the student to exit the Student Interface by closing the browser. By default, a student s work is saved every 10 seconds and by clicking exit, the task is marked complete. 9

11 SCENARIO 5 There is an emergency event where a student is unable to complete CWRA+ testing (e.g. an unplanned fire drill, a student becomes suddenly ill, etc.). Solution: Proctors should instruct the student to shut down his or her computer by clicking the manual power button. Students will be able to complete their CWRA+ exam where they stopped by logging back into another proctor session within seven days. Please contact your CWRA+ Rep for further instructions. Do not instruct students to click through the test, or they will not be able to reenter. SCENARIO 6 In the selected response section, a student accidentally hits the Review button on the lower left hand corner and is brought to the end of the section. Solution: On the Review Screen, the student may return to the section by clicking on the Review All or Review Incomplete button on the lower left hand corner. The student should not click Mark Complete, as it will complete and end the section. COMMUNICATION ERRORS If you are receiving communication errors, restart your local Internet connection. This doesn t necessarily mean that the connection is down, but it usually means that the connection was running at a high level at that time, causing the connection to slow down to a point at which it timed out. This can happen because your Internet connection is shared with other people around you, so the more people who are using the Internet, the slower your connection will be. When your connection slows down, it can cause your test link to disconnect. You should be able to click OK to continue testing if any error messages appear. If you continue to have issues, you should close out of the test altogether and restart your computer. When the computer powers up again, please log in to your test again, and you will be able to pick up where you left off. If this continues to happen, please contact ITS Tech Support or your institution s IT department. 10