Initial ELPAC: Grades Three Through Twelve

Resources for Remote Testing for Grades Three Through Twelve

The PFAs and DFAs are available to better support consistent remote administration of the Summative ELPAC. Access the appropriate grade-level DFA in TOMS by selecting Summative ELPAC DFA under the [Resources] tab. Additional resources for remote testing, like the Teacher Answer Book and the Student Writing Response Sheets, can be downloaded if needed. Refer to the Access Remote Test Administration Resources section for details.

Students Control the Web-based Student Testing Interface

For remote administration of the Initial ELPAC Listening, Reading, and Writing domains, students in grades three through twelve will log on to the web-based Student Testing Interface for testing. The assessment can be completed in an individual or multiple-student session.

Take the following steps to manage a remote session where one or more students will run the web-based Student Testing Interface on their devices:

Access a copy of the DFA for grades three through twelve in TOMS, which includes additional information for remote administration.
Log on to the Test Administrator Interface.
1. In the Test Administrator Interface, either start a test session by selecting the [Start a Remote Session] button or join a prescheduled test session.
2. Select the Initial ELPAC in the Test Selection screen. Then, select the individual grade-span domain assessment(s) that corresponds to the actual grade level(s) of the student(s) being tested.
3. Select the [Start Operational Sessions] button.
4. A Session Information box will pop up, providing the session ID and session link.
Open a video meeting (Zoom, Teams, Google, etc.) with the student(s).
1. Have all students—no more than four—turn on their web cameras and leave them on for the entire session so that TEs can see each student and the room immediately surrounding each student. Students may not use any of the background features to obscure a view of the room.
Copy the session link URL from the Session Information pop-up box and share it with the student(s) via the chat feature in the videoconferencing platform. Direct the student(s) to select the URL. A new web browser window should open to the web-based Student Testing Interface.
1. Note that the copied link will have the session ID prepopulated. If the students need the session ID, it can be shared verbally or in the chat box of the videoconferencing platform.
Have students log on to the web-based Student Testing Interface using the students’ first names as they appear in TOMS, their SSIDs, and the session ID if the information is not filled in.
Instruct the student(s) to confirm information in the Is this You? screen and select the appropriate domain assessment.
In the Test Administrator Interface, a pop-up box appears that confirms access to the camera and microphone. For the Initial ELPAC only, TEs should skip this check by selecting the [X] in the upper corner. Then, access the student approvals by selecting the [Approvals] button, and confirm the accessibility resources settings for each student. After, proceed with approving students to test.
In the web-based Student Testing Interface, the Audio/Video Checks screen will appear. The student(s) will
1. select the [Skip] button for the Camera Check,
2. select the [Skip] button for the Recording Device Check,
3. complete the Sound and Video Playback Check, and
4. select the [Skip TTS Check] button for the Text-to-Speech Sound Check.
Once the audio and video checks have been completed, the Instructions and Help screen will appear. Select the [Begin Test Now] button.
Monitor the progression of each student through the assessment using the Test Administrator Interface.
Monitor each student by watching the video feed, being alert for others in the room providing answers or an indication that a student might be using a device, such as a cell phone, out of sight of the web camera.
At the end of the test session, confirm that each student has submitted or paused the assessment.
Stop the session in the Test Administrator Interface by selecting the [Stop Session] stop sign icon.
Log off the Test Administrator Interface.
Log on to the THSS to score the Writing responses. (Refer to the Quick Start Instructions to Access the THSS.)

NOTES:

When administering the Listening domain with multiple students in the session, have the students answer one question and stop. If a student has a problem playing the audio, that student should wait for the other students to complete the question before speaking with the TE, to avoid distracting the other students while they are listening to the audio. If the TE can assist the student with getting the audio to play, the student should complete the question, and then all students should move to the next question. If the student cannot get the audio to play, that student should sign out of the assessment and be assessed at a later time.
When multiple students are taking the Listening domain, those who are not using headphones at home will need to mute the microphone on the video meeting during the Listening portion so that each student hears only the domain audio.
Students with the designated support of Pause or Replay Audio—Listening Domain should be tested one-on-one. This will avoid delays for students who play the audio once only.

TE Controls the Web-based Student Testing Interface for the Reading, Listening, and Writing Domains

For grades three through twelve, TEs should control the web-based Student Testing Interface only with a student who has the designated support of DIA assigned. A student is tested one-on-one during this type of session.

Take the following steps to manage a remote session where the web-based Student Testing Interface will be run on the TE’s device:

Access a copy of the appropriate DFA for grades three through twelve in TOMS.
Log on to the Test Administrator Interface.
1. In the Test Administrator Interface, either start a test session by selecting the [Start a Remote Session] button or join a prescheduled test session.
2. Select the Initial ELPAC in the Test Selection screen. Then, select the individual grade-level domain assessment(s) that corresponds to the actual grade level of the student being tested.
3. Select the [Start Operational Sessions] button.
4. A Session Information box will pop up, providing the session ID and session link.
5. Copy the session link and paste the link in a new web browser window to open the web-based Student Testing Interface with the session ID already populated.
  
  NOTE: If the TE has previously logged on to the DEI to enter student responses or scores, the TE may need to clear the web browser cache to successfully access the web-based Student Testing Interface.
In the Test Administrator Interface, a pop-up box appears that confirms access to the camera and microphone. For the Initial ELPAC only, TEs should skip this check by selecting the [X] in the upper corner.
Open a video meeting (Zoom, Teams, Google, etc.) with the student.
1. Have the student turn on their web camera and leave it on for the entire session for test monitoring.
Sign in to the web-based Student Testing Interface using the student’s first name as it appears in TOMS, the student’s SSID, and the session ID if the information is not filled in.
1. Confirm the student information that appears on the screen is correct by selecting the [Yes] button.
2. Select the domain assessment to be administered.
In the Test Administrator Interface, access the student approvals by selecting the [Approvals] button, and confirm the accessibility resources settings for the student.

NOTE: TEs should confirm or add the designated support of DIA for the student.
Share the web-based Student Testing Interface with the student. Be sure to select the option to share sound or audio or include sound within the videoconferencing platform.
In the web-based Student Testing Interface, the Audio/Video Checks screen will appear.
1. For the Camera Check, select the [Skip] button. Then, scroll down to the next check.
2. For the Recording Device Check, select the [Skip] button. Then, scroll down to the next check.
3. Play the sound and video on the Sound and Video Playback Check and confirm whether the sound and video were able to be played by choosing the [I could play the sound and video] button.
4. For the Text-to-Speech Sound Check, select the [Skip TTS Check] button.
5. Once the audio and video checks have been complete, the Instructions and Help screen will appear. Then, select [Begin Test Now].
Select the answer that matches the student’s response for the question in the Listening and Reading domains or type the student’s response for the Writing domain prompts. Repeat until the assessment is completed or up to the stopping marker noted in the DFA if the student has not provided any response or any correct response.
Log off the web-based Student Testing Interface after completion of a domain. The TE will need to sign in the student information for every domain being administered. Repeat steps 5 through 10 if administering the other domain assessments within the same test session.
If testing is completed, stop the session in the Test Administrator Interface by selecting the [Stop Session] stop sign icon.
Log off the Test Administrator Interface.
TEs should log on to the THSS to score the Writing responses immediately after testing. (Refer to the Quick Start Instructions to Access the THSS.)

TE Controls the Web-based Student Testing Interface for the Speaking Domain

The Speaking domain should be administered one-on-one. Multiple students cannot be tested during this type of session.

Take the following steps to manage a remote session where the web-based Student Testing Interface will be run on the TE’s device:

Access a copy of the appropriate DFA for grades three through twelve in TOMS, which includes additional information for remote administration.
Log on to the Test Administrator Interface. The TE may also have the DEI open when administering the Speaking domain.
1. In the Test Administrator Interface, either start a test session by selecting the [Start a Remote Session] button or join a prescheduled test session.
2. Select the Initial ELPAC in the Test Selection screen. Then, select the individual grade-level domain assessment(s) that corresponds to the actual grade level of the student being tested.
3. Select the [Start Operational Sessions] button.
4. A Session Information box will pop up, providing the session ID and session link.
5. Copy the session link and paste the link in a new web browser window to open the web-based Student Testing Interface with the session ID already populated.
  
  NOTE: If the TE has previously logged on to the DEI to enter student responses or scores, the TE may need to clear the web browser cache to successfully access the web-based Student Testing Interface.
In the Test Administrator Interface, a pop-up box appears that confirms access to the camera and microphone. For the Initial ELPAC only, the TE should skip this check by selecting the [X] in the upper corner.
Open a video meeting (Zoom, Teams, Google, etc.) with the student.
1. Have the student turn on their web camera and leave it on for the entire session so that the student and the room immediately surrounding the student can be seen.
Sign in to the web-based Student Testing Interface using the student’s first name as it appears in TOMS, the student’s SSID, and the session ID if the information is not filled in.
1. Confirm the student information that appears on the screen is correct by selecting the [Yes] button.
2. Select the domain assessment to be administered.
In the Test Administrator Interface, access the student approvals by selecting the [Approvals] button, and confirm the accessibility resources settings for the student.
Share the web-based Student Testing Interface with the student. Be sure to select the option to share sound or audio or include sound within the videoconferencing platform.
In the web-based Student Testing Interface, the Audio/Video Checks screen (figure 1) will appear.

Figure 1. Audio/Video Checks screen in the web-based Student Testing Interface
1. For the Camera Check, select the [Skip] button. Then, scroll down to the next check.
2. When administering the Speaking domain, follow the instructions on the screen for the Recording Device Check and have the student respond to the question using the microphone on the student’s device. Select [I heard my recording] if the recording was audible.
  
  NOTE: For the TE’s microphone to pick up the voice of the student, the TE’s device must have the sound coming through the speakers. If the TE wears headphones, the TE’s microphone will not be able to pick up the voice of the student.
3. Play the sound and video on the Sound and Video Playback Check and confirm whether the sound and video were able to be played by choosing the [I could play the sound and video] button.
4. Once the audio and video checks have been completed, the Instructions and Help screen will appear. Then, select [Begin Test Now].
Administer the Speaking questions according to the scripts in the in-person DFAs. Record the student's scores on the Student Score Sheet at the end of the DFA or directly in the DEI.
At the end of the test session, select the [End Test] button to submit the assessment.
Log off the web-based Student Testing Interface.
Stop the session in the Test Administrator Interface by selecting the [Stop Session] stop sign icon.
Log off the Test Administrator Interface.
Log on to the DEI and enter the scores for the Speaking domain immediately after testing if the scores were noted on the score sheet during the live assessment.