[K12OSN] State Testing

Tue Feb 28 03:08:55 UTC 2006

Paul

That's not exactly true.  I have run into many web aps that will only run with
IE and not with Firefox, etc.  I try to avoid such sites but you can't always do
that.  It is very frustrating at times. 

Quoting Paul VanGundy <vangundypw at sau14.k12.nh.us>:

> Mark,
> 
> Most web-based applications now are browser independent. Again,
> PowerSchool (works in IE, Safari, Opera, Firefox.....).
> 
> -Paul
> 
> On Mon, 2006-02-27 at 10:37 -0500, mark at ehle.homelinux.org wrote:
> > That's fine as long as you get them to make web-based applications that run
> on
> > ALL browsers instead of just IE.
> > 
> > Mark E.
> > 
> > Quoting Paul VanGundy <vangundypw at sau14.k12.nh.us>:
> > 
> > > 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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> > > --
> > > 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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> > >
> > 
> > 
> > 
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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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> K12OSN mailing list
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> 

-----------------------------------------
Jim Hays
Technology Director
Monticello CUSD#25
Monticello, IL  61856
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