[K12OSN] State Testing

[Timothy Hart]

I was always confused why the State of Maine didn't do that with our tests.
Seems like a no brainer, but so do a lot of other decisions that they make
incorrectly.

On 2/27/06, Paul VanGundy <vangundypw at sau14.k12.nh.us> wrote:
>
> All,
>
> Generally speaking, the only way to ensure that you get platform
> independent programs/applications is to go web-based. I've really
> encouraged our state to start focusing on web-based testing and
> applications because that really is the only way to be platform
> independent. Besides, it's generally less expensive (both labor and
> time) to create a web-based application versus creating a Windows
> executable and the numerous install options Linux offers
> (.deb, .rpm, .bin, .tar.gz, etc...) and the Mac .sit file. About a week
> and a half ago I was on here talking about PowerSchool and how it's
> web-based (as is Centre...I don't want to go there again. :)) and how
> because it is web-based we aren't tied down to one operating system on
> our client side. We can use Macs, Windows, and Linux clients to view our
> student information system database. In my humble opinion, web-based is
> the way to go if your district and state can go that route.
>
> -Paul
>
>
>
> On Mon, 2006-02-27 at 06:46 -0700, Ken Grant wrote:
> > Hi:
> >
> >       Thanks for all your wonderful responses!  It is good to know, in a
> > bizzare sort of way, that other states have tried and failed at
> > implementing testing in this way.
> >
> >       I'm going to talk to anyone I can at Harcourt and the state to
> make
> > sure that all platforms are considered when implementing this type of
> > testing.
> >
> >       Bandwidth issues were mentioned and the public schools in Wyoming
> are
> > having a devil of a time with this issue.  The whole thing has been
> > poorly thought out and implemented.
> >
> > Cheers,
> > Ken
> >
> > On Sun, 26 Feb 2006 11:45:23 -0700
> > Ken Grant <kmgrant at actaccess.net> wrote:
> >
> > > Hello All:
> > >
> > >     This may or may not be the best place to address this issue, but
> > I
> > > figure there are enough tech/educational experts here that someone is
> > > bound to have encountered it.
> > >
> > >     My problem: Our state, Wyoming, is converting all standardized
> > testing
> > > for compliance with the "No Child Left Behind" law to computers.
> > > Starting in about six weeks, children in grades 3-8, and grade 11,
> > will
> > > be taking our state test online.  The test is designed by the state
> > but
> > > admisistered through Harcourt Assessment.  To ensure that students do
> > > not have access to other parts of the computer they are working on,
> > all
> > > testing must be done with a "secure browser." To get the browser to
> > > be secure a program called SiteKiosk is used. And you guessed
> > > it, it only runs on Windows and sometimes Macs.
> > >
> > >     At this point the state is still dealing with many tech issues,
> > > including getting SiteKiosk to run on Macs.  I've been assured by
> > > people at the state level and at Harcourt Assessment that no testing
> > has
> > > been done with Linux.  Since K12LTSP is being used by school districts
> > > across the nation, this seems to me to be a terrible oversight.
> > >
> > >     I realize that the bigger school districts have the funding for
> > Windows
> > > systems; however, we are a small Catholic school with very little
> > > resources to invest in IT.  K12LTSP is the only way we can get
> > computers
> > > in the classroom.
> > >
> > >     All that said, have any of you been faced with a similar issue?
> > If
> > > so, how have you dealt with it?  How many schools with K12LTSP are
> > using
> > > it as their only platform?
> > >
> > >     I plan to make as much noise as possible with both the state and
> > with
> > > Harcourt so that this situation can be corrected, but in the meantime
> > > any ideas on how to get SiteKiosk to run on Linux would be great.
> > Does
> > > anyone know if a Linux-based program exsists to make a  browser
> > secure?
> > >
> > >     Thanks for reading my rant and for K12LTSP...it's an awesome OS!
> > >
> > > Cheers,
> > > Ken
> > >
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> >
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> --
> Paul VanGundy
> Information Technology Director
> Epping High School
> Epping Middle School
> P: 603.679.5452
> F: 603.679.2966
> vangundypw at sau14.k12.nh.us
> Registered Linux User #398783
>
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