Setup & Installation Guide
Nextera®
New York State Grades 3-8 Spring 2017
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Contents
Introduction to the Nextera Assessment System .................................................................................. 3
Overview .................................................................................................................................................. 3
Preparing your Site - General ................................................................................................................... 4
Checklist of Preparation Activities ....................................................................................................... 4
Preparing your Site – Step by Step ......................................................................................................... 4
Perform Site Setup – System Scan ..................................................................................................... 4
Perform Site Setup – Test Readiness ................................................................................................. 6
Network Considerations and Setup ......................................................................................................... 8
Proxy Servers / Firewalls / Web Content Filters ................................................................................ 8
Nextera Test Delivery System Installation .............................................................................................. 9
Windows Installation ............................................................................................................................ 10
Mac OS X Installation .......................................................................................................................... 16
Mac OS Sierra Installation .................................................................................................................. 19
Apple iPad Installation ......................................................................................................................... 20
Chromebooks Installation ................................................................................................................... 24
Accessibility Settings ............................................................................................................................... 28
Text-to-Speech ..................................................................................................................................... 28
Additional Settings ................................................................................................................................... 35
Disable Sticky Keys: Windows ........................................................................................................... 35
Disable Fast User Switching: Windows & Mac ................................................................................ 35
Disable Handoff on Mac Devices ....................................................................................................... 36
Sample Test Login ................................................................................................................................... 37
Appendix A – Student Response Flowcharts ...................................................................................... 38
Student Response Flow ...................................................................................................................... 38
Appendix B – System Requirements .................................................................................................... 41
Appendix C – iPad and Chromebook Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) ..................................... 43
Appendix D – Troubleshooting Tips ...................................................................................................... 44
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Introduction to the Nextera Assessment System
Overview
The Nextera® Assessment System is a suite of software applications used for conducting test
assessments. This Setup and Installation Guide provides the following information regarding the
Nextera Assessment System:
• A high-level overview
• Guidelines for deployment and implementation
• Troubleshooting Tips
This document is designed for technology coordinators and administrators responsible for the
installation, administration, and configuration of the Nextera Assessment System. Successfully
deploying the client software requires a solid understanding of the environment, requirements,
and specific testing needs. Since each device platform has different installation steps, client
deployment methodologies, and system requirements, this guide includes detailed installation
instructions for the commonly used platforms (e.g., Windows).
The Nextera Assessment System is comprised of two primary applications.
• Nextera Admin – a web-based application for loading and managing district, school,
class, teacher and student information. The Help Tab contains links and downloads,
including the Questar Secure Browser.
• Nextera Test Delivery System - a software application for administering student
assessments delivered through the Questar Secure Browser.
The technology coordinator should have received an email with a URL, username,
and password to access the Nextera Admin. If this information has not been
received, or has been misplaced, please contact Customer Support by calling
1-866-997-0695 or emailing ny.3-8.help@questarai.com.
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Preparing your Site - General
Preparedness is the first step toward a successful assessment program. Use the following
checklist as a guideline for your preparation. Following the checklist, see the instructions to
evaluate your site using the Site Setup tools available on the Questar website at
http://www.questarai.com/readiness/
. Using workstations representative of your testing
environment, perform the System Scan and Test Readiness checks to validate that your
devices and network are ready for student testing.
Checklist of Preparation Activities
4 Weeks Prior to Testing
Perform Site Setup – System Scan
o At a minimum each device type being used for testing should be scanned.
Perform Site Setup – Test Readiness
o If using Wireless Networks, ensure ample coverage and capacity to support
testing
Download/deploy Questar Secure Browser to all devices being used for student testing
3 Weeks Prior to Testing
Log in to Sample Test using the Questar Secure Browser
2 Weeks Prior to Testing
Ensure Test Administrators are aware of district policies, expectations and processes for
troubleshooting issues (see Appendix A
)
During Testing
Limit network activity that may impact bandwidth such as streaming music and video
Preparing your Site – Step by Step
Perform Site Setup – System Scan
Please note: The System Scan is designed to validate Desktop Device configurations. See the
system requirements
for additional detail about Tablet devices and Chromebooks.
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1) Open a Web browser and access http://www.questarai.com/readiness/
2) Locate the System Scan message and select Scan Now.
3) Select Scan Now.
4) The scan results display. If a warning message displays, verify the workstation has the
minimum system requirements specified for that type of device. See Appendix B
for
System Requirements.
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Perform Site Setup – Test Readiness
1) Open a Web browser and access http://www.questarai.com/readiness/.
2) Locate the Test Readiness message and select Test Now.
3) Select Begin Test.
4) The test process may take a few minutes to complete. It is recommended that you run
this test at the same time of day you will be testing.
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5) The results display and include latency, jitter and speed test results.
6) To estimate the number of tests that can be administered at the same time, input data in
highlighted fields and select Test Now. Use the download and upload speeds found in
the test results from the previous step.
7) The Test Readiness Check results appear.
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Network Considerations and Setup
Once you have used the Site Setup tools to determine there is adequate available bandwidth,
review this section for general guidelines to set up your other network devices in preparation for
testing. Given the wide variety of devices in the market and their overlapping feature sets, this
guide does not provide specific device level settings for each possible configuration; however,
since most of these devices perform the same basic functions, the following guidelines will help
you configure your network devices for the Nextera Assessment System.
Proxy Servers / Firewalls / Web Content Filters
A proxy server typically sits between the students’ workstations and the Internet. Proxy servers
are commonly used for caching, filtering and authentication.
• Caching – accelerates Web page request time by retrieving content saved from a
previous request by the same user or other users.
• Filtering – applies policies to specific networks, protocols and content; blocks undesired
websites and/or content.
• Authentication – controls which users and resources can access the Internet.
Nextera Test Delivery System uses the same protocols to communicate on the Internet as
standard Web browsers, so it is critical that proxy servers be configured to allow all HTTP
traffic between the Questar Assessment System and the Internet on ports 80 and 443.
The following domains should be whitelisted at the firewall, authenticating proxy server or
content filtering server:
*.questarai.com
*.questarai.net
*.mobileapp.questarai.com (for Apple iPad devices)
• Wireless connections can impact testing performance due to access contention,
interference, or design. A wired LAN connection will always outperform a
wireless connection.
• Results from this test vary from site to site and may not accurately reflect the
maximum total bandwidth of your connection.
• If you have concerns regarding your system readiness or want assistance
interpreting the results of the compatibility check or network bandwidth test,
contact Customer Support by calling 1-866-997-0695 or emailing
ny.3-8.hel[email protected].
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When using authenticating proxies, ensure the proxy is configured to allow access without
authentication.
The Questar Assessment System must be able to communicate with the proxy server using the
hostname and port number, which is typically obtained from the system-defined Internet
properties (i.e., browser settings).
To avoid possible domain name server problems, ensure the following URLs will pass through
your proxy server, firewall and Web content filter:
URL: ny.nextera.questarai.com PORT: 443
URL: ny.nextera.questarai.com PORT: 80
If you have difficulty accessing the Questar Assessment System, please contact
our Customer Support team at 1-866-997-0695 or ny.3-[email protected].
Nextera Test Delivery System Installation
The Nextera Test Delivery System is available for many types of devices using a variety of
software formats, such as:
• Questar Secure Browser – for Windows OS and Mac
• Questar Mobile App – for Apple iOS iPad Devices
• Chrome Secure Browser or Chrome App – for Google Chromebooks
The Questar Secure Browser for each platform is available on Nextera Admin and the system
requirements for each operating system are listed in Appendix B
.
• To ensure a stable testing environment with minimal issues, observe these
guidelines during student testing:
o Minimize network traffic load on the network servers and avoid
performing client software updates, patching, and data backups.
o Remove bandwidth throttling on ports 80 and 443.
o Minimize or turn off network bandwidth intensive programs (e.g.,
streaming music and video).
• Certain firewalls may present a false positive warning if they incorrectly
recognize the bit sequence of a particular file as malware or virus.
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Detailed installation instructions at the device level and the managed level for each device are
provided in the following sections:
Windows Installation
Mac OS X Installation
Apple iPad Installation
Chromebook Installation
Windows Installation
Windows provides a number of installation types to support nearly every possible configuration
scenario. These include local workstation installations, server-based installations, and terminal
server installations.
For each Windows installation type, the location of the client cache, which contains the
encrypted student responses, must be managed individually for each student according to the
deployment method used. Each student account must also have sufficient rights to this cache
location, which is used to protect the student’s test responses if network connectivity is lost.
Refer to Cache Location
for instructions on changing the default location of the cache files.
Each Windows installation scenario makes use of the appropriate .msi file from Nextera Admin.
The following sections describe the steps necessary to perform each of the typical Windows
installation scenarios:
Basic Installation –Individual Device
File Server Installation
Push Installation
Uninstall
If a previous version of the Questar Secure Browser is available on the device, uninstall the
previous version before installing the updated version. If you are uncertain whether or not there
is a previous version of the Questar Secure Brower on the device, follow steps 1 through 3
below to verify a previous version exists.
1) From the Start menu, select Control Panel.
2) Select Programs and Features.
3) Locate the previous Questar Secure Browser.
4) Right-click on the Questar Secure Browser icon.
5) In the drop-down menu that appears, select uninstall.
6) A pop-up window asks you to confirm that you wish to uninstall. Select Yes.
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Basic Installation- Individual Device
1) Access Nextera Admin using the URL, User ID and Password provided by your District
Test Coordinator.
2) Under the Help tab, select Downloads, then select the file to download.
3) Select Next to begin the installation wizard.
4) To use the default destination folder, select Next.
To change the default destination folder, select Change.
5) Select Install to start the installation process.
6) Select Finish to complete the installation wizard.
7) Verify the installation is complete by launching the Questar Secure Browser icon from
your Desktop.
8) Follow the Sample Test Login
steps.
File Server Installation
The steps to perform a file server installation are similar to a basic installation with the primary
difference being the location of the files and the method for sharing the shortcut to the Questar
Secure Browser. Since this method depends largely on the local environment and your
preferences, the following steps highlight the key requirements for deploying the application.
1) Access Nextera Admin.
2) Locate and select the appropriate.msi file.
3) Select Next to begin the installation wizard.
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4) Select Change and enter the UNC file path to your file server folder.
5) Select Next.
6) Select Install to start the installation process.
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7) Select Finish to complete the installation wizard.
8) The final step in a file server installation is to create and share a shortcut with each
Windows account. This can be accomplished in many ways by using Windows Group
Policy, login scripts, PowerShell or simple batch files. The critical step here is to ensure
students’ accounts have sufficient rights to launch the application. The following
steps demonstrate how to create and apply security rights to a Windows shortcut.
Creating and Sharing a Shortcut
1) Right-click on the QuestarStudent.exe file created from your File Server installation,
pasting the new shortcut to your file share location.
2) Distribute the shortcut to students’ accounts using your preferred distribution method.
Push Installation
Because of their powerful automation capabilities, software packaging and distribution tools
have become a popular way to manage the delivery of software applications. Many of these
tools leverage the Windows Installer and its related MSI files. The Questar Secure Browser is
provided in this standard format to allow administrators and technology coordinators to
automate the installation process. The following are some examples of how to use the Windows
Installer command line parameters.
• Silent Install - msiexec /i/qn c:\Downloads\QuestarSecureBrowser-NY-x32.msi
• Silent Install to a specified directory – msiexec /i/qn
c:\Downloads\QuestarSecureBrowser-NY-x32.msiINSTALLDIR=”c:\StudentData\Username\”
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Cache Location
When deploying the Questar Secure Browser in your environment, it is crucial to protect the
location of the cached student responses. This file location contains the encrypted
responses for each student. Therefore, it is important to understand where these files are
located for each possible installation scenario and how it can be changed to suit your
environment.
On Windows 7 and later, the cache location is:
%allusersprofile%\QuestarStudent\%username%
(Normally C:\ProgramData\QuestarStudent\%username%)
When the student launches the Questar Secure Browser to begin testing, the folder structure is
created and populated with testing materials. The student’s encrypted responses are also
stored in this location; therefore the student account used for testing must have permissions to
write into this location. For the normal Windows User profile, these rights are granted by default;
however, when using other deployment methods, it is essential to grant the appropriate
rights for the accounts used for testing.
To accommodate the variety of installation and deployment methods, a command line switch
can be used to change the default location of the Secure Browser cache. The following
example shows the format of this switch and how it can be used to change the location of the
cache.
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In this example, the Windows shortcut has been modified by adding the command line switch in
the Target field (QuestarSecureBrowser.exe --user-data-
dir="C:\temp\%COMPUTERNAME%\cachefolder").
Regardless of the deployment method, this command line switch can be used in a variety of
ways, on the condition that the account used for conducting the assessment has sufficient rights
to the location indicated and unique paths are provided for each student.
For example, consider the following scenario where the technology coordinator wants to
perform a network installation with the cache location stored on a network location.
• Installation is performed according to the File Server Installation
instructions provided in
this guide.
• A shortcut is created and distributed to all student workstations using a Windows Group
Policy following the instructions Creating and Sharing a Shortcut
in this guide, with the
additional command line switch added to change the cache location to a network share.
• In this case, the following cache path was used in the Windows shortcut being
distributed: QuestarSecureBrowser.exe --user-data-dir=\\Server\%USERNAME%\cache
.
Here a UNC path is being used to store the cache along with the Windows %USERNAME%
variable to create individual cache directories. Using this command line switch provides
technology coordinators with flexibility when deploying the Secure Browser client.
Workstation Lockout Applications (DeepFreeze™ or CleanSlate™)
If you do not use the default location and you have any scripts or applications, such as
DeepFreeze™ or CleanSlate™ that clear out student profiles, complete one of the following
actions:
• Disable the workstation lockout application, or
• Configure the workstation lockout application to exclude the cache location, or
• Use the command line switch described above to change the location where the
encrypted response files are saved. As long as there is a network connection to this
folder, and the account being used has proper rights, Nextera will use this alternate
location to save the encrypted response file.
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Mac OS X Installation
Note: Mac installations do not require changing student cache settings.
Please see Appendix E
for Mac OS Sierra specific instructions.
The Questar application can be distributed using administrative tools such as the Casper
Suite™ from JAMF Software. The following steps demonstrate how to manually install the Mac
OS client.
1) Access Nextera Admin.
2) Select the appropriate Mac OS Questar Secure Browser and download the .pkg
package.
3) The download starts. The following image appears in the lower left corner of the screen.
4) After the download is complete, click on the arrow to open the file. You will see the
following.
5) Click Continue.
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6) Choose which users should see the secure browser. Once you have made a selection,
the Continue option will be available. Click Continue.
7) Click Install.
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8) The browser will install and display this summary page. Click Close.
9) In your Applications folder you will now see Questar Secure Browser. You can also
search for this application through Spotlight Search.
The installation process is complete.
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Mac OS Sierra Installation
When installing the Questar Secure Browser, please follow these additional installation steps for
the recently released Mac OS Sierra (version 10.12 and later) only. If you install the Questar
Secure Browser prior to updating to Sierra, these steps are not necessary.
1. After the installation package completes, open System Preferences -> Security and
Privacy.
2. Select Privacy on the top and Accessibility on the left.
3. Click the padlock at the lower left of the page to enable changes. Enter administrative
credentials to confirm.
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4. Open the Applications folder and locate the Questar Secure Browser application. Drag
the application into list of enabled applications on the right side of the Security and
Privacy preferences page.
Alternatively, you may click the plus sign in Security and Privacy and select the Questar Secure
Browser application to add it to the list.
Click the padlock to prevent future changes.
Apple iPad Installation
Apple iPad devices can be managed using Apple Configurator 2 or a similar Mobile Device
Management (MDM) platform, such as AirWatch, Mobile Iron or others. MDM management
platforms provide administrators with tools for deploying device profiles, device settings and
pushing application packages. Apple Configurator 2 is a free application. Contact other MDM
vendors for cost information.
Enabling Autonomous Single App Mode (ASAM) with MDM is the recommended method for
secure testing in the Questar Assessment for Students app. Single App Mode (SAM) is also
recommended. Guided Access mode with manual configuration may be used on iPads using
iOS 8.
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Please refer to the following table to determine the recommended solution for configuring iPads.
iOS
Using MDM?
Recommended Configuration
9+
Yes
ASAM or SAM
9+
No
Contact Customer Support
8
Yes
ASAM or SAM
8
No
Guided Access with manual configuration
Using Autonomous Single App Mode or Single App Mode with Apple Configurator or other MDM
Questar’s preferred configuration for iPad use is iOS 9+ enabled using ASAM via an MDM
platform. Technology coordinators need to enable ASAM or SAM before the test and disable it
when testing is complete.
Use the following steps as a guide for configuring devices.
1) Download and install the free Questar Assessments for Students app from the iTunes store.
2) Select New York from the “Where do you want to go?” page.
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3) Create an MDM profile and supervisory profile. Refer to your MDM vendor for details.
4) Navigate to Systems manager > MDM > Settings > Restrictions > iOS supervised
restrictions.
5) From the dropdown that appears, select the Questar Assessments for Students app.
6) For iOS 8.1.3 or later, access the custom settings section of MDM and insert the profile key
and value for each of the following features:
Feature
Profile Key
Value
Dictionary Lookup
<key>allowDefinitionLookup</key>
False
Spell Checking
<key>allowSpellCheck</key>
False
Predictive Keyboard
<key>allowPredictiveKeyboard</key>
False
Auto-Correction
<key>allowAutoCorrection</key>
False
Share selected text (iOS 9+)
This feature is disabled when the
Dictionary Lookup feature is disabled.
False
7) Select Save Changes.
Guided Access with Manual Configuration
Guided Access with manual configuration can be used with iPads on iOS 8 when MDM is not
available. Test administrators or staff will need to enable Guided Access before the test and
disable it when testing is complete (see steps 6-8 below).
Use the following steps as a guide for configuring devices.
1) Download and install the free Questar Assessments for Students app from the iTunes
store.
2) Select your state from the Select Group or State dropdown on the landing page, and
select Continue.
3) Navigate to Settings > General > Keyboard.
• Turn off all settings.
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4) Disable Speech to Text (SIRI) by navigating to General > Siri > Off.
5) Navigate to Settings > General > Accessibility > Guided Access and
• Turn on Guided Access.
• Set a passcode for Guided Access.
• Save the passcode in a safe place to use after testing to deactivate Guided
Access. There is no method for retrieving a forgotten passcode.
6) Open the Questar Assessment for Students App. Validate that you have the correct
passcode for Guided Access. Triple-click the Home button to turn on Guided Access.
7) Adjust the settings using the options along the bottom of the screen (see image below).
With the iPad displaying in landscape mode, set the following parameters:
• Hardware Buttons > Always OFF
• Touch > ON
• Motion > OFF (this will lock further operation in landscape mode)
• Tap on Start to enter Guided Access mode
8) When the student completes testing, triple-click the Home button again to enter the
passcode to end the Guided Access session. Navigate to Settings > General >
Accessibility > Guided Access and turn off Guided Access.
Additional Tips regarding Guided Access:
• If a student triple clicks the Home button during testing, the Guided Access window will
appear. Tap or click Resume on the right. Only select End on the left if you intend to end
the Guided Access session.
• At times it takes a few seconds for the iPad to recognize Guided Access is on. Wait
about 10 seconds before attempting to continue the assessment.
Note: Users of iPad 9 or older may not see a version number that matches the version number
found in the Nextera Admin site. It is the correct secure browser, but the version number in
older iPads is not properly recognized.
Additional Resources
For further information about configuration options, contact your MDM vendor or refer to Apple
Support at the following link. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204271
For more information about using iPads for assessments, contact Questar Customer Support or
refer to Apple Support at the following link.
http://images.apple.com/education/docs/Assessment_with_iPad.pdf
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Chromebooks Installation
There are two options available to setup Chromebooks: Questar’s Chrome Kiosk app and
Chrome Enterprise User Accounts.
Questar’s Chrome Kiosk App
Questar’s Chrome app is kiosk-enabled so it can be run in a variety of secure modes for student
assessment and testing. Using the Chrome management console, test administrators can push
the app to Chrome devices in several ways, allowing the app to be run in two primary modes: 1)
as a Single App Kiosk Mode app or 2) as a Single App Kiosk Mode app with Auto-Login to Kiosk
App. Both of these modes allow the student to begin testing while preventing access to other
apps or their account.
The Chrome app can be obtained from Help > Downloads on the Nextera Admin.
Managing Kiosk Applications
Before delivering the app, administrators must configure the app under the Kiosk Apps section
within the Device Management > Chrome > Device Settings menu. Select the Manage Kiosk
Applications option > Chrome Web Store option. Search
“gdehbmmmjkddbonbmknngoigkleicpec”
or use the link below, after which the image below
displays.
Copy and paste the link below.
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/questar-ny/gdehbmmmjkddbonbmknngoigkleicpec
«Chrome_store_link»
Delivery Modes
The following sections briefly describe the two primary delivery methods for Questar’s Chrome
app.
Single App Kiosk Mode
To deliver the app in Single App Kiosk Mode, administrators must first add the app to the Device
Settings profile as shown above for each organizational unit (OU) where they want to deliver the
app. In this example, we show “School Programs” as our organizational unit. Depending on your
OU structure, you may want to move devices between OUs to dynamically deliver the app to
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testing centers or student devices. Also note the “Locally applied” text indicating these device
settings are applied directly to this OU.
If the app is applied at the highest OU, all lower OUs will automatically inherit the app. If you
want to limit the distribution of the app, then you need to apply different settings to distribute the
app only to the desired OUs.
Note: It may take a period of time for the application to appear on the actual Chromebook. It
depends on how often the Chromebooks are set to link back to the organizational entity for
updates.
In this delivery mode, students are able to launch the app from the Apps menu on the system
tray, which is located in the lower left area of the login screen. No additional account login is
required to launch the app. Upon launch, the app appears in kiosk mode (full screen), where the
students are then required to log in to the assessment with the unique usernames and
passwords in order to access the assessment content.
Single App Kiosk Mode – Non-managed Chrome devices
Non-managed Chrome devices, those without the Google Admin or Chrome management
console, may also be configured to run Single App Kiosk Mode once the app has been manually
installed on the device. If you are using a non-managed device, follow the steps below:
1) Open a new tab in Chrome, and enter chrome://extensions in the address bar. Select
Enter.
2) Select the box next to Developer Mode.
3) Select Add kiosk application, and enter the ID of the Kiosk App you'd like to enable.
4) Select Enter.
The installed Kiosk App will now show up in the tray under Apps for a user to open from the
tray.
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Single App Kiosk Mode with Auto-Login
The second delivery method is configured the same as above with the exception being that the
app is selected under Auto-Launch Kiosk App. In this configuration, the device will automatically
launch the app when powered on thus preventing the login screen from appearing. While the
device is booting up, test administrators (and students) may press the keyboard shortcut
Ctrl+Alt+S to escape out of this boot up sequence, returning the device to the login screen.
This deployment method is better suited for testing centers where shared devices are used.
Please note that this deployment method is not supported for unmanaged Chrome devices.
Questar Chrome Enterprise User Account
An alternate method of setting up the Chromebooks is to request an enterprise user account for
each Chromebook to be used for testing. You MUST request the enterprise user accounts five
days ahead of testing and install prior to the student testing start date. Technology coordinators
need to add a unique Chromebook secure account to each Chromebook that will be used for
testing. The account only needs to be requested once per Chromebook and can be used for the
duration of the year. Note: Device accounts must be requested from Questar during
Registration. If additional accounts are needed, please contact Questar’s Customer Support.
Add the enterprise user account provided by Questar, using the steps below:
1) Sign into the school’s administration console used to manage the students’
Chromebooks.
2) Go to Chrome Management > Device Settings and select the organizational unit the
students’ devices are in.
3) Under Sign-in Restriction, enter “*@questarai.net” and “*@questarai.com” to restrict
sign-in to a list of users. This will restrict those who can sign into the device as only
belonging to the assessment domain.
4) Log the Chromebook in to the Google Secure Device account.
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5) Once set up, the Chromebook is unable to navigate to any websites or applications other
than the Nextera Test Delivery System.
a. If you can perform any of these actions, the Chromebook is improperly secured.
6) Enter CTRL+ALT+E to display the enterprise login screen.
7) Setup is complete. The student can now login and take a test.
About Managed Chromebooks
Managed Chromebooks are set up and maintained by the school. If there is a managed icon
in the status area in the lower right side of the screen when signed into the Chromebook, the
device is managed.
Managed Chromebooks will have sign-in restrictions enabled. The administrator settings may
apply to the Chromebook even when signed into a personal Google Account. If students are
using managed Chromebooks, the Chromebook administrator will need to authorize the secure
domain.
1) As the Chromebook administrator, log in to the Chrome OS management console.
2) Select Settings.
3) Select Device Settings and scroll down to the Sign-in Restriction section.
4) In the text box, enter the following text: *@questarai.net, *@questarai.com
5) Select Enter.
Preparing Chromebooks
If you are using the downloaded app, the kiosk app is available as soon as the Chromebook is
turned on. Access the app from the lower left corner of the screen.
If you are using secured accounts, complete the following steps:
1) Clear the Chrome cache before the first administration and between administrations to
avoid issues of students logging in and getting a blank page.
2) Log the Chromebook into the Questar-provided Chromebook secure device account.
3) Start the Chrome browser. In doing so, the Questar Assessment System login screen
will be automatically displayed.
Note: When the test administration window is closed, under User Data, select Erase all local
user data to erase the student’s data from the device. This is not recommended until after
all testing is complete, as once the student data are deleted any responses that did
not transmit to Questar for any reason cannot be recovered and the student will have
to take the assessment again.
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Accessibility Settings
Text-to-Speech
The Questar Secure Browser and Nextera Test Delivery System support use of the default
voice pack on the student’s device. However, students using Text-to-Speech technology may
have preferred voice selections or voice packs that differ from the default voice. Use the
following steps and resources to change the voice pack on the device.
Windows
To configure Text-to-Speech settings for Windows:
1) From the Start menu, select Control Panel.
2) Select Ease of Access.
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3) Select Speech Recognition.
4) Select Text to Speech.
5) Select a voice from the Voice Selection dropdown menu.
6) Select Preview Voice to hear a brief audio sample of the selected voice.
7) Select OK or Apply to save.
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Questar’s recommended voice packs for Windows:
Windows 7 (pre-installed)
MSAnna
Windows 8.1 & 10 (pre-installed)
MS_EN-US_David
Windows 8.1 & 10 (pre-installed)
MS_EN-US_Zira
Windows 7: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/14199/windows-7-setting-speech-option
Mac
To configure Text-to-Speech settings for Mac OS X:
1) Click on the Apple icon.
2) In the dropdown menu, select System Preferences.
3) Select Speech or Dictation & Speech.
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4) Select Text to Speech: it will highlight in blue when selected.
5) Select the desired voice from the System Voice dropdown menu.
6) Click Play to hear a brief audio sample of the selected voice.
7) Click the red circle at the top left to save and close.
Questar’s recommended voice packs for Mac and iPad:
Female voice
Male voice
1st Choice
Vicki
Alex
1st Choice
Ava
Tom
1st Choice
Allison
1st Choice
Samantha
1st Choice
Susan
2nd Choice
Victoria
Fred
2nd Choice
Bruce
For detailed instructions regarding other operating systems, use the links below.
Mac OS Sierra: https://support.apple.com/kb/PH25378?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US
OS X Yosemite: https://support.apple.com/kb/PH18734?locale=en_US
OS X El Capitan: https://support.apple.com/kb/PH21847?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US
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iPad
To configure Text-to-Speech settings for iPad:
1) Tap Settings.
2) Tap General, then Accessibility.
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3) Tap Speech, then Voices.
4) Tap English, and then select a voice from the listed options.
5) Select the iPad home button to save and close.
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Questar’s recommended voice packs for Mac and iPad:
Female voice
Male voice
1st Choice
Vicki
Alex
1st Choice
Ava
Tom
1st Choice
Allison
1st Choice
Samantha
1st Choice
Susan
2nd Choice
Victoria
Fred
2nd Choice
Bruce
iPad resources: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202362
or https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203077 (Alex)
Chromebook
Chromebook has one default voice, but the rate and pitch can be adjusted. See the link below
for details.
Chromevox: http://www.chromevox.com/16/voice_control.html
Accessibility features:
https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/177893?hl=en&ref_topic=6323347
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Additional Settings
Please follow the steps below to ensure devices have all necessary safeguards in place.
Disable Sticky Keys: Windows
Sticky Keys enables users to enter key combinations in sequence one at a time instead of
simultaneously. This feature is available on Windows machines. Please disable Sticky
Keys using the process below.
1) Control Panel.
2) Open Ease of Access Center.
3) Click Make the keyboard easier to use.
4) Uncheck the Turn on Sticky Keys check box.
5) Click OK.
Disable Fast User Switching: Windows & Mac
Fast User Switching allows multiple users to be logged in to one device and switch between
the user profiles quickly. This feature is available on Windows and Mac machines. Please
disable Fast User Switching using one of the processes below.
Windows, Process 1
1) Control Panel.
2) Open User Accounts.
3) Click Change the way users log on or off.
4) Uncheck the Use Fast User Switching check box.
5) Click Apply Options.
Windows, Process 2
1) From Start, type gpedit.msc.
2) Select Apps from the sidebar on the right.
3) Click gpedit.msc in the main window.
4) In the Local Group Policy Editor window, locate and select Logon in the left panel.
5) On the right, double-click Hide entry points for Fast User Switching.
6) In the Hide entry points for Fast User Switching dialogue box, select Enabled and click
OK.
7) Close the Local Group Policy Editor and open the Run dialog box (Windows + R). Enter
gpupdate/force and click OK.
Mac
1) From the Apple menu, choose System Preferences.
2) From the View menu, choose Accounts.
3) Click the Login Options button.
4) Deselect the "Enable fast user switching" option.
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Disable Handoff on Mac Devices
When your Mac OS X computers and iOS devices are within Bluetooth range of each other,
they can automatically “hand off” what you’re doing from one device to another. On newer
versions of Mac OS X and iOS, this feature includes something called the Universal Clipboard
that allows one Apple device to copy and paste to a different Apple device using Handoff.
This feature will need to be disabled through your MDM platform or individually on Mac OS X
and iOS devices prior to testing through MDM profiles.
Mac OS X
1) From the Apple menu, choose System Preferences.
2) Ensure the box “Allow Handoff between this Mac and your iCloud devices” is unchecked.
Mac iOS
1. Navigate to Settings.
2. Choose General.
3. Choose Handoff & Suggested Apps.
4. Ensure Handoff is turned off.
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Sample Test Login
Once the secure browser is available on the student devices, log in to the Sample Test to
ensure the download was successful and the test is available and functioning on the device.
1) Launch Questar Secure Browser from desktop of student device(s).
2) Enter User ID: practice
Password: practice
3) Navigate through the sample test to ensure:
* Test loads at an acceptable speed (see Perform Site Setup – Test Readiness
for
details).
* Items render correctly and can be answered (items/answers don’t bleed off the screen,
etc.).
* Available tools work appropriately.
* The test can be submitted upon completion via the Review screen.
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Appendix A – Student Response Flowcharts
Student Response Flow
After a student logs in and selects a test, the complete test package is downloaded to an
encrypted file on the student’s device. The student’s responses are saved to an encrypted local
cache on the device.
Continuous Internet Connection
Optimally, the student’s device will have continuous Internet connection during testing. The
student’s responses are sent to the Questar Server in the background. This is referred to as a
“heartbeat.” This heartbeat is a configurable time interval. When the student completes testing,
the final responses are uploaded to the Questar Server. The Questar Server confirms response
receipt and the test will exit on the student’s device.
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Internet Connection Lost and Restored During Testing
If Internet connection is lost, the student continues responding to test questions without
interruption. The student should not move to another device as their responses are stored
on their local device until connectivity is re-established. The testing system continuously
attempts to re-establish connection with the Questar Server. When the Internet connection is
restored, the responses are automatically sent to the Questar Server. When the student
completes testing, the final responses are uploaded to the Questar Server. The Questar Server
confirms response receipt and the test will exit on the student’s device.
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Internet Connection Lost
If Internet connection is lost, the student continues responding to test questions without
interruption. The student should not move to another device as their responses are stored
on their local device until connectivity is re-established. If the student completes testing and the
Internet connection has not been restored, the following process occurs:
• The system will present an error message directing the student to alert the test
administrator.
• The student’s responses remain on the device. The following steps are completed by the
technology coordinator or test administrator:
a. Restore Internet connection to the device.
b. If the student has logged out, direct them to log in again.
c. Submit the test.
• The Questar Server confirms response receipt and the test will exit on the student’s device.
• Another student can now use the device.
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Appendix B – System Requirements
Operating
System
OS Version
Processor
System Memory/
Hard Disk Space
Screen Size
Resolution
LAN Network
Internet Speed
Windows
Vista/
7/8/10
2003/ 2008/
2012
(latest
service pack)
Intel Pentium 4
1.0 GHz
equivalent or
higher CPU
Recommended
Intel Core 2 Duo
1.6 Ghz
equivalent or
higher
performing CPU
Minimum 512MB
Free Ram
Recommended
1GB Free RAM
Minimum 1GB
Free Storage
Space
Minimum 9.7"
screen size
Minimum 1024
X 768 screen
resolution
Recommended
11.6" or larger
screen size
Minimum 100 Mbps LAN/802.11g
Wireless 54Mbps or greater
Minimum available LAN bandwidth
at each workstation: 1Mbps
Recommended 1 Gbps
LAN/802.11n Wireless 150 Mbps or
higher
Recommended available LAN
bandwidth at each workstation 2
Mbps
Minimum per
device:
150Kbps
Recommended:
300Kbps
Mac
Mac OS X
10.6+
Intel Core 2 Duo
1.6 GHz
equivalent or
higher
performing CPU
Minimum 512MB
Free Ram
Recommended
1GB Free RAM
Minimum 1GB
Free Storage
Space
Minimum 9.7"
screen size
Minimum 1024
X 768 screen
resolution
Recommended
11.6" or larger
screen size
Minimum 100 Mbps LAN/802.11g
Wireless 54Mbps or greater
Minimum available LAN bandwidth
at each workstation: 1Mbps
Recommended 1 Gbps
LAN/802.11n Wireless 150 Mbps or
higher
Recommended available LAN
bandwidth at each workstation 2
Mbps
Minimum per
device:
150Kbps
Recommended:
300Kbps
iOS
8, 9, 10
1.0 Ghz dual
core equivalent
or higher
Minimum 512MB
Free Ram
Recommended
1GB Free RAM
Minimum 1GB
Free Storage
Space
Minimum 9.7"
screen size
Minimum 1024
X 768 screen
resolution
Minimum Wireless 54Mbps or
greater
Minimum available LAN bandwidth
at each workstation: 1Mbps
Recommended 802.11n Wireless
150 Mbps or higher
Recommended available LAN
bandwidth at each workstation 2
Mbps
Minimum per
device:
150Kbps
Recommended:
300Kbps
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Operating
System
OS Version
Processor
System Memory/
Hard Disk Space
Screen Size
Resolution
LAN Network
Internet Speed
Chrome OS
Version 29+
1.6 Ghz
equivalent or
higher
Minimum 512MB
Free Ram
Recommended
1GB Free RAM
Minimum 1GB
Free Storage
Space
Minimum 9.7"
screen size
Minimum 1024
X 768 screen
resolution
Minimum Wireless 54Mbps or
greater
Minimum available LAN bandwidth
at each workstation: 1Mbps
Recommended 802.11n Wireless
150 Mbps or higher
Recommended available LAN
bandwidth at each workstation 2
Mbps
Minimum per
device:
150Kbps
Recommended:
300Kbps
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Appendix C – iPad and Chromebook Frequently Asked Questions
(FAQ)
Q1. How do I obtain secure device user accounts for Chromebooks?
Testing securely on Chromebooks requires a secure user account be added to each
Chromebook prior to testing. Districts enter counts during the iPad and Chromebook
Registration process. If additional accounts are needed, call or email Questar Customer Support
with the number of devices being used at least five days in advance of your school’s testing
window. Login credentials for these secure user accounts will be issued to the district and the
technology coordinator will need to add a user account to each Chromebook. Logging a
Chromebook into this user account provides secure access to any current and future Questar
Assessment System assessment.
Q2. Can a student restart a paused or terminated test session on the same platform but another
device?
All efforts should be made to have the student resume a test on the same device he or she
began testing with. Only if the device is permanently incapacitated or the student cannot be held
any longer, should another device be used. In this case, the student should be made aware that
unsaved or partially saved responses may have to be re-entered before submitting the test.
Q3. Can a student needing accommodations use the native accessibility features of an iPad or
Chromebook?
No. iPad and Chromebook devices must be locked down to only access the Questar
Assessment System Student Client during testing.
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Appendix D – Troubleshooting Tips
Issues Loading Test
If you experience latency while the test is loading, review the following list of possible solutions
presented in order of most likely to resolve the issue:
• Confirm the network bandwidth is flowing without impediment.
o Try opening a website on another device on your network. If you experience
latency accessing the Internet on another device, you may be experiencing a
broader network issue.
• Confirm the Questar domain name (*.questarai.com) is whitelisted in your firewall. If your
firewall or Web content filter supports SSL inspection, ensure that function is turned off
in the firewall and/or content filter.
• If the error occurs intermittently, it may be that the firewall or Web content filter is
prioritizing traffic and causing some requests to fail. If the firewall or Web content filter
allows it, add a rule to allow traffic to the Questar domain *.questarai.com to be top
priority in the firewall or content filter.
• Add *.questarai.com to the ignore list/blanket bypass, if one is in use.
• Right-click, select quit secure browser, and log in again – issue may be a result of
firewall or content filter inspecting the connection; this resolution may create a new
connection that is unlocked.
• If using an iPad, close out of the secure browser, then turn on and off Airplane mode,
under Settings. This will reset all radios, allowing the device to create a clean network
connection.
Response Recovery When Internet Disconnected Prior to Test Session Submission
If Internet connectivity is lost for any reason prior to the submission of a test session, the device
cache stores the responses locally until connectivity is restored. The following indicators are
visible when Internet connectivity is lost:
• The connection indicator in the upper left corner of the Nextera Test Delivery System
displays a green checkmark if you are currently online.
• If connectivity is lost for 45 seconds or more, this indicator will display a red “x”.
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• If the network connection is restored, the responses will automatically submit and the
display will return to the Questar Assessment System Student Client login screen. It is
strongly recommended the device be left in this state until the network connection is
restored.
Once connectivity is restored, the stored responses need to be submitted to the Questar
server. From the device that lost connectivity, follow the steps below to upload the stored
responses:
• Refer to the State Department of Education for the state policy regarding teachers or test
administrators logging in with student credentials to submit a student test. If permitted,
complete the following steps.
• Log in to the Nextera Test Delivery System with the user’s login username and
password, select the session that lost connectivity, and enter the session access code.
• After the “Preparing Your Test” message disappears, select “Begin.” The stored
responses are now synced between the device and the Questar server, and the
responses are viewed within the Test Delivery System. The user may resume
completing and/or submitting the test.
-118 Error Code/Unable to access https://nextera.questarai.com
The workstation is unable to access the site.
• If the error occurs routinely, the site is being blocked by a firewall or content filter.
Ensure *.questarai.com is whitelisted in the firewall. If the firewall and/or content filter
brand supports SSL inspection, ensure that function is turned off in the firewall and/or
content filter.
• If the error occurs intermittently, the firewall or content filter is prioritizing traffic and
causing some requests to fail. If possible, add a rule to allow *.questarai.com to be top
priority in the firewall or content filter.
Missing Begin Button
After logging into the test, the Begin button is missing. Launching multiple instances of the
secure browser may cause the Begin button to disappear. Log out of the test, and close all
instances of the secure browser. Relaunch a single instance of the secure browser and login.
Guided Access Mode - iPad
Some iPad versions, especially iPad2, experience problems and/or display error messages with
the guided access mode. This is an iPad issue that is unrelated to the Questar application. To
resolve this issue, reset all settings on the device. This is done under Settings > General >
Reset > Reset All Settings.
Issues Editing Constructed Responses
Press the Insert key to ensure the keyboard is in insert mode rather than overtype mode. When
a keyboard is in overwrite mode, existing text is deleted as new text is written. Pressing the
Insert key again changes back to insert mode.
