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Connecticut Smarter Balanced Assessment
Assessment Viewing
Application User Guide
2014-2015
Published April 30, 2015
Prepared by the American Institutes for Research®
Descriptions of the operation of the Assessment Viewing Application, Test Delivery System, and related
systems are property of the American Institutes for Research (AIR) and are used with the permission of
AIR.
Table of Contents
Introduction to this User Guide ................................................................................................................. 1
User Guide Content .................................................................................................................................. 1
Additional Resources ................................................................................................................................ 1
About Testing Policies and Procedures ............................................................................................... 2
Logging in to AVA ....................................................................................................................................... 3
About Usernames and Passwords ........................................................................................................... 4
Accessing Assessments ............................................................................................................................ 5
Step 1 – Choosing a Test Grade .............................................................................................................. 5
Step 2 – Selecting the Test ...................................................................................................................... 5
Step 3 – Confirming the Test and Selecting the Test Form ..................................................................... 6
Step 4 – Sound Check .............................................................................................................................. 6
Understanding AVA .................................................................................................................................... 7
Understanding the Test Page ................................................................................................................... 7
Test Tools ................................................................................................................................................. 7
Global Tools ......................................................................................................................................... 7
Context Menu Tools ............................................................................................................................. 8
Expand/Collapse Stimulus Tool ........................................................................................................... 8
Mark Items for Review .......................................................................................................................... 8
General Test Rules and Navigation........................................................................................................... 9
Responding to Items ................................................................................................................................. 9
Navigating to Items ............................................................................................................................... 9
Pausing Tests ........................................................................................................................................... 9
Test Timeout (Due to Inactivity) .............................................................................................................. 10
Finishing the Test Review....................................................................................................................... 10
Reviewing Items ................................................................................................................................. 11
Completing the Review and Logging Out ........................................................................................... 11
User Support ............................................................................................................................................. 13
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Table of Figures
Figure 1. User Cards ..................................................................................................................................... 3
Figure 2. AVA Card ....................................................................................................................................... 3
Figure 3. Login Page ..................................................................................................................................... 3
Figure 4. Choose a Test Grade Page ........................................................................................................... 5
Figure 5. Available Tests Page ..................................................................................................................... 5
Figure 6. Choose a Test Form Page ............................................................................................................. 6
Figure 7. Sound Check Page ........................................................................................................................ 6
Figure 8. Sample Test Page ......................................................................................................................... 7
Figure 9. Marked Item ................................................................................................................................... 8
Figure 10. Item Buttons ................................................................................................................................. 9
Figure 11. Questions Drop-Down ................................................................................................................. 9
Figure 12. Pause Test Message ................................................................................................................... 9
Figure 13. Finished Button in Global Toolbar ............................................................................................. 10
Figure 14. Attention Message ..................................................................................................................... 10
Figure 15. Want to see an item again? Page.............................................................................................. 11
Figure 16. Warning Message ...................................................................................................................... 11
Figure 17. Done Reviewing Assessment Page........................................................................................... 12
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Introduction to this User Guide
This user guide supports users of the Assessment Viewing Application (AVA). AVA is a
component of the Smarter Balanced Online Testing System that allows authorized users to view
the interim comprehensive assessments (ICAs) and the interim assessment blocks (IABs) for
administrative or instructional purposes. AVA is only for viewing assessments and does not
provide scores or answer keys. This introduction describes the contents of this document, and
includes a key for identifying icons and elements found throughout the guide.
User Guide Content
This user guide provides information about the following sections:
•
Logging in to AVA, explains how to access AVA.
•
Accessing Assessments, explains how to select a test.
•
Understanding AVA, describes the layout of AVA.
•
General Test Rules and Navigation, explains how to navigate through the test.
Table 1. Key Icons and Elements
Icon
Description
Alert: This symbol accompanies important information regarding a task that may cause
minor errors.
Note: This symbol accompanies additional information or instructions of which users must
take note.
Text
Bold text is used to indicate a link or button that is clickable.
Additional Resources
The following publications provide additional information:
•
For information about which operating systems and browsers are supported, see the
System Requirements document.
•
For information about student and user management, and rosters, see the TIDE User Guide.
•
For information about administering online tests via the TA Interface, see the Test
Administrator User Guide.
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Smarter Balanced Online Testing System
Introduction to this User Guide
•
For information about scoring hand-scored items, see the Teacher Hand Scoring System
User Guide.
•
For information about network and internet requirements, general peripheral and software
requirements, and configuring text-to-speech settings, see the Technical Specifications
Manual for Online Testing.
•
For information about installing secure browsers, see the Secure Browser Installation
Manual.
The above resources are available on the Connecticut Smarter Balanced Assessment Portal
(CT.portal.airast.org).
About Testing Policies and Procedures
This document describes the features and functions of the Assessment Viewing Application. It
does not provide information about test administration policies and procedures. For
information about policies and procedures that govern secure and valid test administration, see
the Test Administration Manual available on the Connecticut Smarter Balanced Assessment
Portal (CT.portal.airast.org).
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Logging in to AVA
Access to the Assessment Viewing Application is via the Connecticut Smarter Balanced Portal.
To access this site, you must have an authorized username and password.
1. Navigate to the Connecticut Smarter
Balanced Portal (CT.portal.airast.org).
Figure 1. User Cards
2. Select your user role.
3. Select AVA System. The login page
appears .
Figure 2. AVA Card
4. Enter your email address and password.
Figure 3. Login Page
5. Click Secure Login.
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Smarter Balanced Online Testing System
Logging in to AVA
About Usernames and Passwords
Your username is the e-mail address associated with your account in the Test Information
Distribution Engine (TIDE).
Note: Important Information Regarding Your Passwords
If you are a user who was recently added to TIDE, you should receive an email that contains a
temporary password and a link to log in to Connecticut Smarter Balanced systems. You must
log in with your temporary password within 30 days of receiving the email in order to activate
your account. You must update your password and select and answer a security question.
Did your first temporary password expire?
If you did not log in within 30 days of receiving the first password email and activate your
account, you can select the Click here to request one link on the First Time User section of
the login page to request a new temporary password. Enter your email address in the Email
Address field. The Connecticut Smarter Balanced Help Desk will send you a new email with a
different temporary password.
Did you forget your password?
If you forgot your password, you can reset it. Click the Forgot Your Password? link on the
login page and then enter your email address in the Email Address field. You will receive
another email containing a new temporary password, which also expires in 30 days.
Did you not receive an email containing a temporary password?
Check your spam folder to make sure your email provider did not categorize it as “junk” mail. If
you still do not have an email, contact your District/System Administrator or School Test
Coordinator to make sure you are present in TIDE.
Additional Help
If you are unable to log in, contact the Connecticut Smarter Balanced Help Desk for
assistance. You must provide your name and email address. Contact information is available in
the User Support section of this user guide.
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Accessing Assessments
This section explains how to select tests in AVA.
Step 1 – Choosing a Test Grade
After logging in, the Choose a Test Grade page appears.
Figure 4. Choose a Test Grade Page
To choose a grade:
1. From the Student Grade Level drop-down list, select the desired student grade level.
2. Click Next. The Available Tests page appears.
Step 2 – Selecting the Test
The Available Tests page displays the tests available for the selected grade level.
Figure 5. Available Tests Page
To select an available test:
•
Click the test name. The Choose a Test Form page appears.
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Smarter Balanced Online Testing System
Accessing Assessments
Step 3 – Confirming the Test and Selecting the Test Form
The Choose a Test Form page displays one or more test forms, as well as the session ID that
automatically generates after you select a test.
Figure 6. Choose a Test Form Page
To select a test form:
1. Select the appropriate test form from the drop-down list in the Test Forms field.
2. Click Next. If the test includes audio features, the Sound Check page appears. If the test
does not include audio features, the first page of the test appears.
Step 4 – Sound Check
The Sound Check page allows you to verify the functionality of any audio features that the test
may include.
Figure 7. Sound Check Page
To perform the sound check:
1. Unmute the speakers on your computer or tablet, if necessary.
2. Click
.
3. If you hear a sound, click Yes. The first page of the test appears.
4. If you do not hear a sound, click No and consult the technology coordinator.
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Smarter Balanced Online Testing System
Understanding AVA
Understanding AVA
This section describes an AVA test page and how to use it.
Understanding the Test Page
Figure 8 displays a sample test page. Some pages may have only one item, and others may have
multiple items.
Figure 8. Sample Test Page
Test Tools
AVA includes several on-screen tools, including global tools and context menu tools. Global
tools are those available on every page in the top banner. Context menu tools are available for
each item on the test.
Global Tools
•
Zoom buttons allow you to magnify font size. Four zoom levels are available.
•
The Questions drop-down list enables you to quickly return to a specific item page. Marked
pages display (marked) in this list.
•
The Pause button pauses the test and logs you out of AVA.
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Smarter Balanced Online Testing System
Understanding AVA
•
The Back and Next navigation buttons in the upper-left allow you to move between test
pages.
•
The Finished button appears at the end of the assessment. Click this button to end the test
review process.
Context Menu Tools
You can select tools from the context menu available for each item. To open the context menu,
click
next to an item. The following tools are available:
•
The Tutorial tool displays a tutorial that explains how to respond to the item.
•
The Mark for Review tool identifies an item as one you may want to return to later.
•
The Strikethrough tool strikes out response options in multiple-choice items.
Expand/Collapse Stimulus Tool
When items are associated with a stimulus, you can expand the stimulus section, so that it
overlaps the item section.
•
To expand the stimulus section, click
•
To collapse the stimulus section, click
in the corner of the stimulus section.
again.
Mark Items for Review
You can mark items for review.
To mark an item for review:
Figure 9. Marked Item
1. Open the context menu for an item.
2. In the context menu, select Mark for Review. The item
number appears in a dog-eared style flap. In the
Questions drop-down list, (marked) appears next to the
item number.
3. To review a marked item, select the appropriate item
number from the Questions drop-down list.
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Smarter Balanced Online Testing System
General Test Rules and Navigation
General Test Rules and Navigation
This section describes how to navigate a test, pause a test, and complete a test review.
Responding to Items
When viewing a test, you can practice responding to the test items. You must respond to all the
items on a page before advancing to the next page. Any responses you enter will not be scored
when you complete the test review.
Note: Items that are grouped together may be paginated to appear
individually. Buttons for each item in the group appear in the upperright corner. You can click these buttons to navigate to the next
item in the group.
Figure 10. Item Buttons
Navigating to Items
You can navigate to items page-by-page or jump directly
to an item page.
•
To navigate page by page, click the Back or Next
buttons at the top of the screen.
•
To jump directly to an item page, select the
appropriate item from the Questions drop-down list.
Figure 11. Questions Drop-Down
Note: You can only advance forwards or backwards to items you have already answered.
This mirrors the test experience a student would have. The same item navigation rules that
apply to a student’s online test, also apply in AVA.
Pausing Tests
You may pause the test at any time. However, pausing the test automatically logs you out of
AVA without saving your answers or your place in the test. To view the test again, you must log
back in and select the appropriate test.
Figure 12. Pause Test Message
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Smarter Balanced Online Testing System
General Test Rules and Navigation
To pause the test:
1. Click Pause in the top banner. A pause test message appears.
2. Click Yes to confirm that you want to pause the test.
Test Timeout (Due to Inactivity)
As a security measure, you are automatically logged out after 30 minutes of inactivity. You will
need to log back in to view the test again. Your answers and place in the test will not be saved.
Note: Before AVA logs you out, a warning message appears on the screen. If you do not click
OK within 30 seconds, you are logged out.
Finishing the Test Review
After viewing all the items in a test, the Finished button appears at the top of the page.
Figure 13. Finished Button in Global Toolbar
When you click Finished, an Attention message appears and gives you two options:
•
Yes—Complete the test review.
•
No—Continue reviewing the test.
Figure 14. Attention Message
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Smarter Balanced Online Testing System
General Test Rules and Navigation
Reviewing Items
After confirming in the Attention message, the Want to see an item again? page appears. This
gives you one more opportunity to review items.
Figure 15. Want to see an item again? Page
To review items:
1. Under Questions, click the item number you want to review. AVA displays that item.
•
You can navigate through the test as you did when initially entering the responses. The
Back, Next, Save, Pause, and Finished buttons are all available.
•
Click Finished to return to the Want to see an item again? page.
2. To complete the review, click I’m done here.
Note: If you have marked items for review a
will appear next to the question number,
reminding you to review these items before submitting your test.
Completing the Review and Logging Out
After reviewing the items, AVA displays one last warning message.
Figure 16. Warning Message
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Smarter Balanced Online Testing System
General Test Rules and Navigation
The Warning message gives you two options:
•
No—Return to the Want to see an item again? page.
•
Yes—Complete the test.
The Done Reviewing Assessment page displays a confirmation that the test review is over.
Figure 17. Done Reviewing Assessment Page
•
Click Log Out. You return to AVA login page.
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User Support
If this user guide does not answer your questions, please contact the Connecticut Smarter
Balanced Help Desk.
Connecticut Smarter Balanced Help Desk
Customer Support Phone: 1-844-202-7583
Customer Support Email: cthelpdesk@air.org
To assist you with your issue or question, please provide the Help Desk with detailed
information that may include the following:
•
The district and school name
•
The Test Administrator name and contact information
•
The test name and item number
•
Any error messages and codes that appeared
•
Operating system and browser information
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