Transcript ACT Online Testing--Training Powerpoint for Room

ACT Plus Writing Online Format
Alerts for Room Supervisors and
Proctors
Spring 2015
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General Alerts
1. The ALSDE requires that Test Administrators/Room Supervisors must be
certificated employees. Proctors must be full-time employees involved
with the education of examinees.
2. No relative of an examinee who is taking the test may serve as a Room
Supervisor or Proctor for that examinee.
3. Anyone who coaches high school or college athletics may not serve as
the Room Supervisor for one-on-one testing of a student athlete. An
athletic coach may serve as the Room Supervisor if there is more than
one examinee in the room.
4. No student or student teacher may serve as a Room Supervisor or
Proctor.
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General Alerts, continued
5. Room Supervisors and Proctors must read and comply with the policies
and procedures described in ACT’s Administration Manual for the Online
Format.
6. Before test day, Room Supervisors and Proctors administering online tests
must read and be familiar with ACT’s Administration Manual for the Online
Format; hereafter, this document will be referred to as the Online
Administration Manual.
7. Room Supervisors and Proctors must be familiar with all information
contained in the ACT Plus Writing Online Format Alerts for Room
Supervisors and Proctors; hereafter, this document will be referred to as
Online Alerts for Room Supervisors and Proctors.
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General Alerts, continued
8.
Room Supervisors and Proctors must participate in test
administration training prior to test date and attend a briefing
session on the morning of the test.
9. Room Supervisors and Proctors must read and understand specific
responsibilities listed on pages 8-10 of the Online Administration
Manual.
10. A Proctor is required for one to twenty-five examinees assigned to
a room.
11. Test materials must be secure at all times. Test materials must be
kept in a secure location as examinees enter and exit the test room.
A test room must never be left unattended, even if only one
examinee is in the room.
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General Alerts
12. Testing should not begin for any student who has not completed the pretest session prior to test date. Do NOT admit any student to the test room
who has not completed the pre-test session.
13. Testing must begin by 9:00 a.m. in all rooms. Testing begins when the
Room Supervisor starts reading the Verbal Instructions. If testing begins
after 9:00 a.m. in any room, scores for that room may be cancelled.
14. In the event of an irregularity, an Online Irregularity Report must be
completed. In addition, an Alabama State Department of Education
(ALSDE) Irregularity Report has also been provided on page 9 of the
Online Alerts for testing staff to report other irregularities and prohibited
behaviors that are not reported to ACT. This is the same ALSDE
Irregularity Report that is used for the other state assessments.
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Use of Digital Devices By Staff
15. School personnel involved in administration of state testing
may not use digital devices (including but not limited to
telephones, cell phones, MP3 players, cameras, or other
telecommunication devices capable of capturing or relaying
information) during test administration. Violations may
result in disciplinary action/certification revocation.
Additional disciplinary action may be taken by the (LEA).
16. All printers that have scanning or copying capability and all
copy machines must either be disabled or removed from all
rooms being used for a testing session.
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Online Testing Overview
17. PearsonAccessnextTM is the web application used by testing staff (i.e.,
Test Coordinators, Room Supervisors) to start and monitor tests. It is
located at http://actonline.act.org.
18. TestNavTM is the secure web application used by examinees to take
the tests. It is located at http://tn.actonline.act.org.
19. The ACT Plus Writing Online Format must be given using a “locked
down” testing application; TestNavTM .
20. Disabling the lock-down is strictly prohibited. Computers used for
testing must also be configured to prevent examinees from
accessing any application, content, or other service beyond
TestNavTM during testing.
21. To help ensure test security, all software applications, including
internet browsers, cameras (still and video), screen capture
programs (live and recorded, such as Skype), email, instant
messaging, application switching, media players (such as iTunes),
and printing must be closed before testing begins.
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Online Testing Overview continued
22. To ensure the confidentiality of examinees, their results, and exam
content:
• Keep your staff login details confidential. Don’t share them.
• Keep all student authorization tickets secure until test day
when
ready to provide them to examinees.
23. Seal codes are a combination of letters and numbers examinees must
enter at the beginning of each test to begin that particular section. Seal
codes are unique to each test session and ensure standardized
progress through the tests by all examinees in the room. The Room
Supervisor provides each seal code as part of reading the Verbal
Instructions. Each seal code must be announced verbally and cannot
be written on the board.
24. Examinees testing with standard time and those with extended time
(time-and-a-half, ACT Timing Code 6) may not test in the same room
together. If they do, scores for that room will be cancelled.
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Testing Facility Requirements
25. Lapboards are not allowed under any circumstances.
26. ACT online testing must be administered on school-owned computers that are
housed permanently at the school. They cannot be “checked out” to examinees
for use at home. iPads are not permitted.
27. Make sure bulletin board materials related to potential test questions
(mathematics, reading, etc.), charts, and maps that provide strategies for
solving problems or writing essays are removed or covered. Geographical maps
and periodic tables need not be covered.
28. Rooms must be free from distractions and be able to provide an uninterrupted
period. Post signs outside the test rooms to warn others that testing is in
progress and quiet is required. Bells, intercoms and public address systems
must be turned off during the test session.
29. Test rooms must be set up according to ACT requirements. If these
requirements are not met, scores may be cancelled.
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Testing Facility Requirements continued
30. Whenever possible, individual testing workstations should be divided
by test carrels that provide adequate privacy between examinees.
31. Testing workstations do not need to face the same direction. They may
face the walls and/or each other as long as there is adequate privacy
between examinees.
32. There must be sufficient aisle space for staff to get to every seat during
testing without disturbing examinees.
33. Staff must be able to see every examinee clearly.
34. The workstations must provide enough space for examinees to work
comfortably and use calculators and scratch paper.
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Computer-Based Test Administrations (Not in Manual)
35. Each online testing room must have a separate computer workstation
the Room Supervisor will use to access the platform, begin and close
the test session, and monitor testing progress.
36. The workstation must pass the System Check and be located in an
area where the Room Supervisor can see all examinees in the room.
37. Whether a desktop or a laptop is used as the workstation, the
computer must remain stationary on a table or a desk throughout the
test session.
38. The Room Supervisor may not exit the program and enter any other
site on the computer during the test session.
39. No iPads, cell phones, tablets, or other electronic devices may be used
in the test room. These devices may not be used as timers.
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Approved Test Materials to be Provided for Testing
40. The Pretest Instructions for Online Testing contains
instructions for the examinees to complete their pretest
information online. Each examinee will have a personal
set of instructions with a unique claim code.
41. Examinees are instructed to use the blank space on their
student authorization ticket as scratch paper. ACT will
supply blue scratch paper for you to distribute to
examinees as requested.
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Preparing Examinees
42. Examinees are allowed to use a permissible calculator.
The examinees are responsible for ensuring their
calculators meet ACT standards. The ACT Calculator
Policy for 2014-2015 is located on page 8 of the Online
Alerts.
43. Examinees may not bring cell phones or other electronic
devices, scratch paper, notes, reading materials or
unauthorized testing aids to their testing session.
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Use of Digital Devices by Examinees (Not in Manual)
44. The possession of a digital device (including but not limited to
cell phones, MP3 players, cameras, or other telecommunication
devices capable of capturing or relaying information) is strictly
prohibited during the administration of a secure test.
45. If an examinee is observed in possession of a digital device
during the administration of a secure test then the device will be
confiscated.
46. If an examinee is observed using a digital device during the
administration of a secure test, testing for the examinee will
cease, the device will be confiscated and is subject to search,
the examinee will be dismissed from testing, and the
examinee’s test will be invalidated.
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Completing Pretest Information for Online Testing
47. If an examinee has not completed any of the pretest
portions before the initial test date, that examinee is NOT
permitted to test. Instead, the student must be scheduled
for makeup testing. The BTC must arrange for the student
to complete the pretest portions before the makeup test
date. If the student does not complete the pretest portion
before the makeup test date, the student cannot test on
the makeup date.
48. Pretest portions may NOT be completed on ANY test date
– not before and not after any of the tests.
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Test Accommodations for Online Testing
49. For an examinee testing online, you may provide locally
approved test accommodations without review and
approval by ACT if ALL of the following conditions are met:
• The examinee must test with standard time.
• The examinee must not receive additional breaks.
• The examinee must use the same workstation
configuration as other examinees.
• The accommodations must be consistent with the
examinee’s plan on file at the school.
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Test Accommodations for Online Testing continued
50. Examples of locally approved test accommodations that can be made
without ACT approval are:
• Preferential seating (e.g., at the front of the room, at a table
instead of a desk).
• Testing in a quiet environment (e.g., small group or individual
room).
• Wheelchair access.
• Diabetics may eat snacks in the test room, but should test
separately to avoid disturbing other examinees.
• A written copy of the Verbal Instructions or a sign language
interpreter to interpret the Verbal Instructions.
50. If you provide locally approved test accommodations, please complete
an Irregularity Report.
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Approved Test Materials to be Provided for Testing
52. The school is responsible for providing the following items
for each test room:
• A supply of soft lead No. 2 pencils with erasers to
lend to examinees who do not bring them
(examinees must not use mechanical pencils or ink
pens).
• Two reliable timepieces: watch, stopwatch, interval
timer, or accurate wall clock. Cellphone cannot be
used as a timer.
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Test Day Activities
53. Every Room Supervisor must have a complete copy of Online
Administration Manual in order to verify procedures for any
situation that may occur.
54. Examinees must not bring cell phones or other electronic
devices into testing room, including during the break.
55. Highlighters, colored pens or pencils, and mechanical pencils
are not allowed.
56. Examinees must not bring backpacks or bags of any kind into
testing room.
57. Neither examinees nor staff may have access to food or
beverages, including water, except during the scheduled break.
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Setting up Computers
58. Room Supervisors will set up computers before admitting
examinees to the room.
59. On the administrative workstation, open
PearsonAccessnextTM at http://actonline.act.org.
60. On each testing workstation, open TestNavTM at
www.tn.actonline.act.org.
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Identifying & Admitting Examinees
61. Control who enters and leaves the test room at all times. Do not allow
examinees to enter the test room until the room is properly prepared, the test
materials are in a secure location where examinees cannot access them, and
the Room Supervisor is ready to admit examinees.
62. Admit examinees by checking them in, one-by-one, at the door of the test room.
63. Do not allow an examinee to enter the room unless the Room Supervisor has
verified the examinee’s identification and marked the roster.
64. If an examinee cannot present acceptable ID at the door or cannot be verified
by a member of the testing staff, do NOT admit him or her to the room.
65. Admitted examinees must stay in the test room. If it is necessary for an
examinee to leave, recheck ID when the examinee is readmitted.
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Identifying & Admitting Examinees continued
66. Do NOT admit examinees with ANY electronic devices (other than permitted
calculators) to the test room.
67. Never allow examinees to choose their own seats.
68. All examinees are required to present an acceptable form of photo identification
or be personally recognized (face-to-face) by a school faculty member before
being admitted to the test room.
69. If an examinee without acceptable photo ID is permitted to begin testing, the
examinee must be dismissed and the answer document will not be scored—
even if acceptable ID is presented later.
70. Mark the roster to indicate the type of ID accepted for each examinee.
71. Identification issued or verified by a relative is NOT allowed.
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Identifying & Admitting Examinees continued
72. Do NOT delay testing waiting for an examinee to bring
identification or allow testing of late examinees.
73. Do NOT admit any examinees to the test room once you
have started to distribute the student authorization tickets.
74. Examinees who are absent must be indicated on the
roster. The BTC will determine if the examinee is eligible
for makeup testing.
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Permitted Calculators
75. All problems on the Mathematics test can be solved without a
calculator.
76. ACT permits examinees to use a calculator on the Mathematics
test only.
77. The calculator must be turned off and put away during all other
tests.
78. Examinees are responsible for making sure their calculator
works properly.
79. Each Room Supervisor must have a copy of the current
Calculator Policy to refer to during Test 2.
80. Examinees may not share calculators.
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Administering the Online Test
81. Verbal instructions may begin as soon as all examinees
have been identified and seated, no later than 9:00 a.m. in
all rooms.
82. If any room starts later than 9:00 a.m., document the time
and reason on the Irregularity Report. Starting after 9:00
a.m. in any room may result in the cancellation of scores
for that room.
83. Prior to reading the Verbal Instructions, log in to
PearsonAccessnextTM at http://actonline.act.org.
84. Follow the steps listed on page 44 of Online Administration
Manual to start a test session.
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Viewing Examinee Progress in a Session
85. At the administrative workstation, take the steps listed
on page 45 of the Online Administration Manual to
view an examinee’s progress during testing.
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Testing Monitoring Responsibilities
86. All testing staff, Room Supervisors, and Proctors are to remain
attentive to their testing responsibilities throughout the entire
administration.
87. To protect the validity of individual test scores and maintain the
security of test materials, the following must be observed:
• Walk around the room during testing to be sure examinees
are working on the test and to help prevent prohibited
behaviors.
• During the test, do not read, correct papers, or engage in any
tasks not related to the administration of the test.
• Do not engage in conversation during the test or allow
unauthorized personnel in the test room.
• Do not leave a test room unattended at any time.
• Complete detailed documentation of any irregularities of
which you are aware.
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Guessing and Questions about Test Items
88. Do not answer questions regarding individual test
items or how to use a calculator.
89. If examinees ask about guessing, inform them that
they will not be penalized for guessing.
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Retrieving Seal Codes
90.Follow the steps listed on pages 46 and 47 of
Online Administration Manual to retrieve seal
codes.
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Verbal Instructions
91. Read aloud the instructions in the shaded boxes, loudly
and clearly, exactly as written. Do not depart from the text.
92. Do not read aloud text in (parentheses).
93. Pause after each series of dots (…) and wait for
examinees to finish the task before proceeding. Look at
the examinees to be sure they are following instructions.
94. Perform all tasks only when directed to do so.
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Verbal Instructions continued
95. Provide only the seal code for the test that is about to begin. Do not provide
codes for other tests or write them on the board.
96. The tests must be administered in the order listed. If this order is altered, the
answer documents will not be scored or scores will be cancelled.
97. Walk around the room and collect the student authorization tickets and scratch
paper from each examinee. Do not allow examinees to handle the tickets or
scratch paper of other examinees. Keep each examinee’s scratch paper and
student authorization ticket together, with the examinee’s ticket on top of the
scratch paper. Do not collect tickets and scratch paper in separate stacks.
98. Make sure all examinees are logged out of TestNavTM.
99. Do not dismiss any examinee until you have verified that the number of student
authorization tickets collected equals the number distributed.
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Break
100.ACT requires that you allow a break of 15 minutes at the end of Test 2.
101.The break may NOT include lunch. If it does, scores for all examinees may be cancelled.
102.Do not delay or lengthen the break in your room to wait for other rooms. You MUST
resume testing no later than 15 minutes after STOP is called on Test 2.
103.If the break is longer than 15 minutes, explain why on the Irregularity Report.
104.Resume testing no later than 15 minutes after Test 2 ends. Do not delay the start of Test
3 waiting for examinees who return late. They may be readmitted, but may not make up
lost time. Keep conversation with late arrivals to a minimum.
105.During the break, ensure that no examinees have mistakenly logged out of TestNavTM
(status will show as “Exited”). If they have, resume the examinee’s test in
PearsonAccessnextTM.
106.Do not leave the test room unattended.
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Returning Materials to the Test Coordinator (BTC)
107.Immediately after testing is completed in each test room, the
Test Coordinator must account for all test materials.
108.Materials to be returned to the Test Coordinator include:
• completed roster with every name marked either as
absent, denied, or with the type of ID accepted
• the bundled student authorization tickets and
scratch paper for every examinee
• all unused tickets and scratch paper
• The ACT Administration Manual for the Online Format
with the information block completed on the front cover
• the completed Seating Diagram
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Irregularities
109.A group irregularity is something that affects a group of
examinees (e.g., one room or the entire site).
110.An individual irregularity is something that affects a single
person or several individuals involved in a single
circumstance (e.g., communicating answers to each
other).
111.Follow the steps listed on pages 61-62 to submit an ACT
Irregularity Report.
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Irregularities continued
112.Report and describe in detail any irregularity.
113.Examples of irregularities are provided on pages 62-63 and Prohibited
Behaviors are listed on pages 67-68 of the Online Administration
Manual.
114.If a disturbance, distraction or technical issue occurs that affects
examinees’ concentration and it cannot be stopped, contact the Test
Coordinator immediately for further instructions. DO NOT dismiss
examinees until you have received instructions.
115.Submit an Irregularity Report for all disturbances and distractions,
however minor (including examinee illness).
116.Failure to report any irregularity is a test security violation.
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Handling Examinees Who Leave and Don’t Return
117.If an examinee leaves the room during testing or at the
break and does not return to continue testing, stop his or
her test and determine eligibility for makeup testing.
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Handling Examinees Who Leave the Test or are Late
from Break
118.Refer to the table on page 64 of the Online Administration
Manual to decide how to proceed with examinees who
become ill during testing, leave during a test, or return late
from break.
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