Technology Requirements

for Online Testing

Training Module

Copyright 2014 American Institutes for Research. All rights reserved.

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

2
Objectives
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.

3
Technology Coordinator Tasks
Logins and passwords
Minimum system requirements
Secure browser
Determining system readiness/network
capacity
Troubleshooting technical issues

4
Network Requirements
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
networks bandwidth, number of students simultaneously
testing, size of test content, proxy server (if used), and
other factors.

5
Network Requirements
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 6570 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.

6
Network Requirements
Whitelisting:

Content filters, firewalls, and proxy servers should

be configured to allow the URLs for the servers
being used.

7
Network Requirements
Performance Factors:
Bandwidth
Number of students simultaneously testing
Wireless networking configuration
Secure browser

8
Network Performance
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

9
Network Diagnostics Tool
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.

10
Network Diagnostics Tool

11
Network Performance
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.

12
System Requirements
Computers
Minimum Requirements for Current Recommended Minimum
Operating System
Computers Requirements for New Purchases

Windows Pentium 4 or newer processor that supports SSE2 Pentium 4 or newer processor that supports
XP (service Pack 3), Vista, 7, 8.0, 8.1 512 MB of RAM SSE2
Server 2003 and 2008 200 MB of hard drive space 2 GB+ RAM
Minimum screen resolution 1024x768 80 GB+ hard drive

Mac OS X Intel x86 or PowerPC G4 or G5 processor Pentium 4 or newer processor

10.410.9 512 MB RAM 2+ GB RAM
200 MB free hard drive space 80+ GB hard drive
Minimum screen resolution 1024x768

Linux Pentium II or AMD K6-III 233 MHz processor Pentium 4 or newer processor
Fedora 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 64 MB RAM 2 GB RAM
openSUSE 13.1 52 MB hard drive 80 GB hard drive
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.5 Minimum screen resolution 1024x768
Ubuntu (LTS) 10.04, 12.04, 14.04

13
System Requirements
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

14
Supported Mobile Devices
Operating Supported Tablets Browsers for TA Sites Browsers for Student
System Sites
Windows 8.0 and Surface Pro Internet Explorer 10-11 Windows Secure Browser
8.1 (Not RT) Asus Transformer 7.2
Dell Venue
Android 4.0.4 to 4.4 Google Nexus 10 Native browser Android Secure
Motorola Xoom Browser
Motorola Xyboard Google Chrome 31-39
Samsung Galaxy Note (10.1) (AIR Secure Test Mobile
Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (10.1) Secure browser)

Chrome OS v31 to Chromebook Google Chrome 31-39 AIR Secure Test Kiosk
v39 Application
iOS 6.0 to 8.1 iPad 2 Safari 6-8 iPad Secure Browser
iPad 3
Fourth-generation (Retina Display) (AIR Secure Test mobile
iPad Air Secure Browser)

15
Supported Mobile Devices
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

16
iOS Tablet Requirements
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).

17
Thin Client
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

18
Ncomputing
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.

19
Secure Browser
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.

20
Secure Browser
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.

21
Secure Browser
Computer/Device Secure Browser Location
Windows, Mac, and Wa.portal.airast.org
Linux computers
Android tablets Play Store
iPad tablets App Store
Google Chromebooks Chrome Web Store

22
Secure Browser Installation
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.

23
Secure Browser Installation
Windows
MSI file type enables deployment using a
number of tools:
Active Directory Group Policy
Microsoft SMS
Microsoft SCCM
Microsoft WSUS
Windows NT Batch

24
Secure Browser Installation
Mac and Linux
Mac
DMG file type enables deployment using Apple Remote Desktop.
Munki
Filewave

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

25
Secure Browser Installation
Tablets
Android
The secure browser can be downloaded from the Google
Play Store.

iPads
The secure browser can be downloaded from the App store.

26
Secure Browser Installation
Chromebooks
Chromebooks app is available at the
Chrome Web Store
Installation varies for managed and
non-managed Chromebooks

27
Proxy Settings
Secure browsers attempt to auto-detect the
settings for your networks web proxy server.
The following proxy values are supported:
0Direct connection, no proxy
1Manual proxy configuration
2Proxy auto-configuration (PAC)
4Auto-detect proxy settings
5System proxy settings (this is the default)

28
Pop-Ups
Configure internet browsers on Test
Administrator devices to allow pop-ups
from your testing websites.

29
Secure Browser Configuration

Mac 10.7 and Above

Spaces, Launchpad, and Fast User
Switching must be disabled
Microsoft Windows
Fast User Switching must be disabled

30
Text-to-Speech
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

31
32
Desktop Monitoring
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.

33
Thank You!
Further Information
Washington Help Desk
American Institutes for Research
Tel 1.844.560.7366
wahelpdesk@air.org
For questions regarding state policy decisions and
protocol, please contact OSPI at assessment@k12.wa.us

34