1. Test Administrator Interface & Student Interface
Florida Standards Assessments
FSA Regional Trainings
Updated 02/09/15

2. Test Administrator Interface for Computer-Based Testing
This next section covers the Test Administrator Interface (TA Interface) that will be used to administer the Computer-Based Florida Standards Assessments. The Test Administrator Training site, a sister site to the TA Interface, is used to practice administering computer-based tests.

3. Test Administrator Preparation for Computer-Based Testing Overview
To administer either computer-based training tests or computer- based operational tests, you will need to:
Install the secure browser on student workstations or devices.
Ensure that students who will be participating in computer- based testing are enrolled in TIDE. Note: This step is not necessary for computer-based training tests.
Create a Test Session and provide the Session ID to students.
Provide students with a test ticket. When students log in, ensure they enter their username and first name as they appear on the Test Ticket.
Before Test Administrators can administer online assessments, they must ensure that the appropriate technology preparations for computer-based testing have been made.
The secure browser is now available for download  from the FSA portal and instructions are available for both manual and network installation for Macs, Windows, Linux, and mobile devices.
It is recommended that Test Administrators review student enrollment in the TIDE system prior to the testing date.
On the test day, Test Administrators will need to set up a test session and provide students with the Session ID number. Also, each student will need to have a test ticket in order to take a computer-based test. Be sure they enter their username and first name as they appear on the test ticket.

4. Accessing the Test Administrator Interface
The Test Administrator Interface is accessed from the user pages on the FSA Portal.
Access the FSA Portal at
Select the appropriate user card
Click the Test Administration or TA Training Site icon
Sign in using your username ( address) and password
Test Administrators will use their FSA common login to access the Test Administrator Interface (TA Interface) or Training Site.
To access the TA Interface, go to the FSA portal and select the appropriate user card. On that page you will find access to two Test Administrator systems: the TA Training Site and the Operational TA Interface.
The training site offers users the ability to practice administering a test in a non-operational environment. The TA Interface gives you access to live testing.

5. Test Administrator Home Page
This is an example of what the FSA Test Administrator homepage will look like. After users log in, they will be taken here. It is important to remember that the Test Administrator training site is identical in form to the operational site, and is different in function only in that it is used by students taking the training test.
The banner at the top of the page displays the Help, Logout, and Alert buttons. The Help button will open the Test Administrator User Guide and the Alert button (the yellow triangle at the top right) will flash when there is an important message. The message is opened by clicking the triangle.
In the rows below the banner are the Start Session, Student Lookup, and Print buttons. To the right on this row the Session ID (which will be blank initially) and Approvals (0) will also be showing. After a session is created the Refresh Now button will become visible, which overrides the 60-second screen refresh for student approvals and testing progress.
The second section of the page contains instructions and other helpful information.
After approving students, the third section displays the Students in Your Session table and shows students’ testing progress.

6. Starting a Test
You must create a test session before students can log in to test.
Click on the tests you wish to administer
Click Start Session
The Session ID is generated automatically.
Provide the Session ID to students
To start a test session so that students may log in to test:
Select the test you wish to administer by clicking in the box in the upper left corner of the screen.
Click the Start Session button.
The session ID will be generated and appear below Session ID.
Provide the Session ID to students. AIR recommends writing this down clearly on a board or other place where all students can see it. Please note that all training test session ID’s begin with the word TRAIN. This will help you distinguish between the LIVE and TRAINING TA Interface sites.
It is also very important that the TA write down the Session ID for their records. They will need this ID in order to re-enter the test session in the case they inadvertently navigate away or are logged out.
A red Stop Session button will replace the Start Session button after starting a session.

7. About Test Sessions Session IDs:
Generated dynamically on the day of testing
Linked to the Test Administrator
‘Address’ to the test
Students:
Data travels with the student
Can move from one TA to another and start where they left off
Request admission to the session as part of the login process, and do not need to be added to sessions in advance

8. Approving Students Before students log in:
Approvals button is not clickable and says “Approvals (0).”
Preview table says “No students awaiting approval.”
After students log in and request approval:
The Approvals button is clickable and says “Approvals (#).”
Preview table lists each student and his or her selected test.
After the TA has started the test session and given the students the session ID, students will begin the login process. Before students start logging in the Approvals button is not clickable and says “Approvals (0)” and the preview table says “No students awaiting approval.”
After students begin logging in and requesting approval, the Approvals button will become clickable, it will say “Approvals (#)”, and the preview table will list each student and the selected test. This button will continue to refresh as new students await approval to the test session.
Test Administrators must Approve students before they can begin testing. This process includes viewing each student’s test settings and verifying that they are correct. To view students awaiting approval, click the Approvals (#) button to access the Approvals and Student Test Settings screen.

9. Approving Students to Test
After clicking the Approvals button, the approvals and test settings screen appears:
Click See/Edit Details to view student test settings.
Click Approve to allow a student to begin testing.
Click Deny to reject a student request to take a test.
Use the Approve All Students button to approve all students listed.
The Refresh button updates the list of students awaiting approval.
When you click Approvals, the Approvals and Student Test Settings screen opens and displays each student who is awaiting approval for entry into your session. You will see each student’s name, ID number, whether the test settings are standard or custom, and the option to approve or deny each student.
Students with standard test settings are students whose test settings are set to default. Students with custom test settings are those who have at least one test setting that is not the default (e.g., TTS).
Note: This screen does not automatically refresh. Therefore, students logging in to a session after the TA has already opened the Approvals screen will not appear. To update the list of students awaiting approval, click the [Refresh] button in the top row of the Approvals screen.
If a student’s demographic information is incorrect, then that student should not test. Test Administrators should contact your School Assessment Coordinator.

10. Approving Students to Test – Session 2/3
In multi-session tests, TAs will need to approve students twice – once to enter the test, and once to enter the session of the test that they are taking. This extra step prevents students from advancing to the session too early.
This slide shows what the approvals screen looks like when students request approval to a later session. If students attempt to enter a session before they should (e.g. if a student attempts to advance to session 2 of a test on day 1), you may deny that student.

11. Student Lookup Feature
Click Student Lookup.
Use the Quick Search or Advanced Search tabs.
The Student Lookup feature can be used to see student demographic information that may be helpful if a student is having difficulty logging in. Students can be looked up by ID number or first or last name. Note that the search results do not contain test enrollment information. That information is contained in TIDE.
For a quick search by ID, click the Student Lookup button in the top row of the Test Administrator Interface. Enter the student’s ID number. Click Submit ID. If the search produces a match, that student’s information will be shown.
For an Advanced Search, click the Student Lookup button and then click the Advanced Search tab. Select a district and school from the drop-down lists. Select a specific grade or “all grades.” Enter a student’s first name and/or last name if you are looking for a particular student. Partial names are allowed (e.g., enter “Fi” into the last name field to search for students whose last name begins with “Fi”). You can also complete the search without entering in a student’s name. Click Search. If the search results in matches, the information will be displayed in the second column. To see more information about a student, click the binoculars icon next to his or her name. A third column showing the student’s information will appear.

12. Student Login
After opening the secure browser, students will use the information from their Test Ticket to log in.
Students will be shown a screen to confirm their demographic information.
Students will be asked to select a test. The first time the student signs in, the green arrow will be solid. When a student is resumed or signs in for Session 2, the green arrow will be segmented.
A test confirmation page will appear, and students will then await approval from the Test Administrator to enter the test.
The secure browser should be opened on each student’s computer or device before testing begins. Students will use the information from their Test Ticket to log in to the test. Students will be asked to confirm demographic information about themselves, and then will select a test. On day one of the assessment, the arrow in front of the test name will be solid. On day two of the assessment, the green arrow will be segmented and Resume will appear before the test name. A test confirmation page will appear, and students will then await approval from the TA to enter the test.

13. Students may only select tests for which they are eligible that are included in the test session they are testing in. 1) Tests for which the student is eligible that are not available in the current session will be grayed out and students will be unable to select them. 2) Tests for which the student is eligible that ARE included in the current session will be green and students will be able to select them.

14. Monitoring Student Progress
After students have logged in and the Test Administrator has approved them to begin testing, the test session table at the bottom of the screen will display each student currently logged in to the session.
After students have logged in and the Test Administrator has approved them to begin testing, the Students in Your Test Session table will display each student currently logged in to the session.
For each student this table will display their name, SID, the name of the test they are taking, and if they have standard or custom test settings. The binoculars icon displayed in this column is clickable. Click the icon for a student to view his or her test settings.
Also included in the table is a column that lists each Students Status in the test session. Statuses can range from Approved to Submitted and are used by the TA to help keep track of student testing. The last column contains the Pause Test button which will stop a student’s test and log him or her out.
Please note that if a student’s row is grayed out, this indicates that the student is not actively testing. This occurs when the student’s test is paused or the student has completed the test.
For more detailed information about the columns in the table or statuses, please see the Test Administrator User Guide.

15. Ending a Test Session Ending Session 1 or 2/Day 1 of Testing:
After students finish testing for the day and have reviewed their answers, students will click PAUSE on the Review screen.
After all students are finished testing or after the test session is ended, Test Administrators will click the Stop Session button in the upper left corner of the screen. An “Important!” box will appear, requesting verification to end the session and log students out.
Ending Session 2 or 3/Day 2 of Testing:
*Note on Session 2/Day 2 Test Administrators will create a new test session, and approve students to test. Students should select to resume the test with the green segmented arrow.
After students finish testing, students will click END TEST. They will review their responses and then click Submit Test.
After all students are finished testing or after the test session is ended, Test Administrators will click the Stop Session button.
Most Florida Standards Assessments are administered in multiple sessions over the course of two days. Students should not be allowed to move to the second prompt on the first day.
After students have finished testing on day 1, they will be given the opportunity to review their responses. When they are finished, they will click PAUSE. After all students are finished testing or the test session has ended, Test Administrators will click the Stop Session button.
Notes: On Session 2/Day 2, Test Administrators will create a new test session and approve students to test. When students have finished testing, students will click End Test. They have an opportunity to review their responses before clicking Submit Test. After all students have finished testing or the test session has ended, Test Administrators will click the Stop Session button.
Detailed steps of ending each session can be found in the Test Administrator User Guide.

16. Timing Out
As a security measure, Test Administrators are automatically logged out after 90 minutes of user and student inactivity in a test session. This will result in closure of the test session. 
Note:
The Test Administrator should set up the session no more than 90 minutes before students begin to test.
Test Administrators will not be logged out as long as students are actively testing.
As a security measure, Test Administrators are automatically logged out after 90 minutes of user inactivity and student inactivity in the session. Therefore Test Administrators should set up the session no more than 90 minutes before students begin to test. Test Administrators will not be logged out as long as students are actively testing; TAs are free to monitor the room without being logged out as long as students are still taking the test.

17. Stand by for Demonstration