e-volve Overview document: Change of online exam system

Transcription

1 e-volve Overview document: Change of online exam system

2 What is the current situation? Since November 2006 the CII has delivered its objectively-tested (multiple-choice) exams online in partnership with City & Guilds. CII customers, individual and corporate, have benefited from access to City & Guilds regional network of exam centres and its proven examining system, GOLA (Global Online Assessment). The arrangement made CII exams even more convenient, with candidates able to choose from a network of over 52 centres across the UK and Ireland, with each exam typically being offered more than 200 times annually. In addition, employer organisations have enjoyed the added flexibility of being able to establish in-house exam centres at their premises or other chosen locations, including mobile testing facilities, enabling them to host exam sessions for their employees as required. What is changing? The CII s relationship with City & Guilds is continuing, but the GOLA examining system is being replaced with a new system: e-volve. This is a tailored version of the BTL Group s industry leading Surpass system, which will provide improved user performance and centre efficiency. Over 1 million tests have been successfully delivered on the Surpass system. How will this benefit CII customers? The e-volve facility gives the CII, via City & Guilds, greater control over the assessment system, improves on the GOLA system and will provide: Enhanced functionality, flexibility and user-friendly navigation Quicker introduction of enhancements: City & Guilds are the largest user of the system and as such can drive its future and functionality. CII is part of the user group Simplified deployment process Automatic upgrades with no system downtime: these now happen in the background and apply automatically when logging on Reduced IT support required in respect of in-house exam centres, as principally web based access: not based on client server so easier to install and use on a range of available PCs Flexibility to cater for new assessment methodologies if required. It will ensure the CII has an online testing capability suitable for your needs both now and in the future. 2

3 What does this mean in practice? The nature of the existing multiple-choice CII exams remains largely unchanged. However, as they will be delivered via a new examining system, the style and appearance will differ slightly. To view an example exam in the new e-volve format go to (for ease of comparison an example current GOLA exam has also been provided). Is the transfer from GOLA to e-volve compulsory? Yes. The CII and City & Guilds will no longer be supporting the GOLA examining system. Will the change trigger any additional costs? There are no additional costs with the new system. The fees will be the same as before, both in terms of the CII examinations themselves and also the one-off fee (typically 1,250), which is payable in respect of establishing an in-house exam centre. Existing in-house exam centres will be transferred onto the new examining system free of charge. When will this change take place? There will be a phased introduction of the new system. Public centres The City & Guilds public exam centre network are currently in the process of being contacted and the new online assessment software is being installed. The plan is for all public centres to be simultaneously transferred onto the new assessment system on or before 11 October Corporate centres In the case of corporate in-house exam centres, the date of changeover will be agreed with each employer on a one-to-one basis to ensure maximum convenience. They will have a period of 27 September October 2011 within which the change will need to be made. The changeover process is as follows: Step one: agree a mutually convenient date for the changeover. At the same time, we would request that you engage your IT function/supplier as they will be integral to the changeover process. 3

4 Step two: new software will be supplied for download and installation. Both the Administration ( SecureAssess ) and Candidate ( SecureClient ) software are browser-based and only take a few minutes to download and install. If your PCs already have Flash Player and the latest.net software installed (which many will have), it should take no more than 3 minutes to install. If not, it may take up to a maximum of 10 minutes depending on download speed. From this point on, system upgrades and interim updates will be downloaded and installed automatically at the next log on. Step three: detailed support is provided on how to administer and navigate the system; this includes the provision of user guides, webinars, walkthroughs, example exams, example communications for use with staff, etc. Details can be found at Step four: GOLA tests stop on one day and resume the next day on e-volve (outstanding GOLA booked tests will appear on the new system). Step five: ongoing support will be available from City & Guilds to deal with any queries that arise. This will include a dedicated contact number and an enquiry service: e-volve.migration@cityandguilds.com To ensure a timely and painless transfer to the new examining system, a dedicated City & Guilds e-volve migration team will be on hand to guide corporate users through the process, providing support and resolve any client queries. Why does the migration to e-volve need to be completed by 16 October 2011? We had planned for the window for migration to e-volve from GOLA to remain open into November However, Pearson Vue, which owns and operates GOLA, has announced a compulsory upgrade of its software and stipulated that this must be implemented by 16 October Failure to upgrade will preclude the running of exams on GOLA after this date. We are therefore urging all organisations with in-house examination centres to complete the transition to e-volve before 16 October If you are not planning to run exam sittings immediately after this date, we can delay the migration. However, we will need to complete the migration before you run any exams on e-volve. If you cannot meet the 16 October 2011 deadline but wish to run exams after that date, you can opt to apply the GOLA upgrade (and to agree a later date for the migration to e-volve). Please note, however, that the migration must be completed in any event by end November

5 When will in-house installations of GOLA cease? The deadline has yet to be finalised. As soon as this is known we will share details, so that corporate users can make an informed decision on whether to proceed with GOLA and subsequently switch to e-volve or wait for the introduction of e-volve. Does e-volve offer a mobile examining solution? Yes: e-volve s mobile examining facility is provided via SecureAssess Local software, which can be installed on laptops running certain operating systems (see technical footnote). SecureAssess Local allows a single mobile/laptop to act as a server to other laptops (or other desktop PCs) connected to it by, for example, Ethernet hub or network or wireless networking. This master laptop takes the place of our central internet-based servers but with the benefit that it can be used in any location regardless of internet availability. Any laptops/pcs used by candidates will need to have the standard SecureAssess client software installed. Additionally the candidates machines will need to be configured to request exam content from the master laptop. Before use at an off-site location, the master laptop must be connected to the internet to obtain the exam questions and content. This can be done up to one week prior to exam day. Exam results will be processed by the master laptop at the end of the exam and candidates will see each their results which will be uploaded to CII once an internet connection is present. Technical note: SecureAssess Local can be installed on laptops running specific operating systems including: Microsoft Windows 7, Microsoft Windows Server 2003 or 2008 but excluding Windows XP. As SecureAssess Local is more complex to install than standard examining software, a Windows Server technician should carry out the installation. Will these changes affect CII exams offered at public exam centres? Yes. All CII online exams are being transferred from GOLA to e-volve. As far as our public centres are concerned, the change will go live simultaneously across all 78 locations on or before 11 October Prior to this date we will write to all candidates who are studying and/or entered for an exam which is examined online. We will provide them with access to a mock exam so that they can familiarise themselves with the style and appearance of exams on the new system in advance of sitting the real exam. In line with our standard procedures, candidates will also be given the opportunity at the start of every exam to run through an introduction containing a guide on how to use the examining system. 5

6 How will the CII communicate this change? A full programme of communications are being issued by the CII. These will include: Mailings to corporate customers and individual students booked into public centres Example assessments Tutorials Installation packs and guidance (on-and-off line) Online support via Telephone support: support: e-volve.migration@cityandguilds.com All interested parties and stakeholders will be communicated with. If I have any questions where should I go? Full details including FAQs and example exams are available at Additionally, you can contact your CII Corporate Development Manager. 6