• Web Browser-based online assessment - all features should work with many recent browsers (listed below) running on workstations and laptop computers.
  • Web browsers to be used to perform the Online Assessment Tutorial AND online assessments must have add-ons other than Acrobat PDF Reader and Flash/Shockwave temporarily disabled.  Extra add-ons including toolbars have proven to interfere with the display of items.
  • Mobile and tablet devices are not certified for use at this time (September 12, 2011).
  • 1024 x 768 Screen resolution for best performance.  Lower vertical resolutions for netbook devices is possible, but will increase the amount of scrolling required to fully view items.
  • The following operating systems are supported: Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Mac OS X 10.4 or greater. NOTE: We are working on adding full support for iPads. Currently, the calculator is Flash-based and needs to be replaced. Other features such as drag and drop (used to order items when creating assessments), strike-out and highlight will also need to be redesigned to work on iPads.
  • Adobe Flash 10 or better required to be able to use the current virtual calculator
  • JavaScript must be allowed in web browsers used to access the test(s)
  • Session state cookies must be allowed in web browsers used to access the test(s)
  • LEAs/schools must allow all web traffic from center.ncsu.edu (standard and secure).
  • Pop-up windows must be allowed from center.ncsu.edu in order to force the web browser into full-screen mode
  • Pop-up windows must be allowed to open in a new window. Pop-up windows must NOT open in a tabbed window.
  • Test takers WILL NOT have to move to windows outside of the test administration window.
  • Supported browsers and how to launch for testing while maximizing security (this section may be revised):
    • Microsoft Internet Explorer (MS IE) 7, 8 on Windows XP, Vista, and Windows 7 (IE 6 is NOT supported), MS IE 9 on Windows 7
      • To start use kiosk mode Run>iexplore -k [web address]
      • Enter Subject+School for Test and follow testing directions
      • To end Alt-F4
    • Firefox 3.6+
      • To start use F11 for full screen after starting Firefox
      • Enter Subject+School for Test and follow testing directions
      • To end F11 and close the window
    • Safari 5+ on Windows and Macintosh (this is not iOS/Mobile devices)
      • To start
      • Enter Subject+School for Test and follow testing directions
      • To end
    • Chrome 10 + 
      • To start use kiosk mode Run>chrome.exe --kiosk [web address]
      • Enter Subject+School for Test and follow testing directions
      • To end close the window
  • Bandwidth footprint per student test session is similar to many other Internet applications. For a responsive testing environment, please attempt to allot 56 Kbps per student of clear bandwidth to accommodate both upstream and downstream traffic. In situations where clear bandwidth is limited or widely fluctuates during the test, administrators should prepare for the test to respond more slowly and therefore students may need more time to complete the test. Since the Online Assessment Tutorial uses the Internet and the same hosts as the test environment it can be used to estimate the number of students that may be able to concurrently test at your location. Run as many concurrent tutorial sessions as possible during a day and time that matches the day and time tests are planned to be given -- if problems occur reduce numbers of sessions unless other issues are suspected.
Last modified: Friday, 23 March 2012, 3:22 PM