Avant Assessment

The STAMP test and ClassPak are web-based assessment tools, with a speaking section that requires modest bandwidth for delivery. Meeting the following technical requirements will assure the successful delivery of STAMP and ClassPak assessments.

Connect with our Diagnostic Wizard to check each computer that will be used, for overall system compatibility. 

• All computers must be set to accept cookies and have security software set to allow connection with outside servers.

• District firewalls must be set to allow connection with Avant's Flash com Streaming Server to stream the audio recording.

PORT TEST: If the Port Test reports "Failed ask your district/school's Network Administrator to open Port 1935 for Inbound/Outbound traffic for

rtmp1.onlinells.com (216.193.219.50)
rtmp2.onlinells.com (64.34.180.154)

Once the Firewall has been opened repeat the Port Test then move to the next page.

PROXY SERVER ISSUES:

• Proxy servers confuse our servers into thinking that many students are using the same computer. If the school, district, or any higher level facility that provides Internet to the school is using proxy servers, they will need to set their proxy servers to not "proxy" our IP addresses. In other words, they will need to allow traffic from our servers to bypass their proxy servers so that no filtering, caching, session sharing, or any manipulation of the traffic takes place.

STAMP related IP Address that should be taken into account:

• Webserver: 206.196.16.28, 206.196.16.113,

• Flash Communication Servers: 216.193.219.50, 64.34.180.154

ClassPak related IP Address that should be taken into account:

• 216.128.12.212

• 216.128.13.212

• 206.196.16.28

These addresses are subject to change. Please contact support@avantassessment.com if you need assistance.

Stamp System Requirements:

For Mac:

• Requires Mac OS 9 or Mac OS X

Mac OS X: Browser Requirements:

Safari: version 1.0.3+

Internet Explorer: version 5.2.3+

• To check version, launch application, pull down application menu (top left, next to Apple menu, menu reads “Safari” when in Safari or “Explorer” when in Internet Explorer) and choose “About Safari” or “About Internet Explorer”

• NOTE: Internet Explorer is no longer supported for Mac and cannot support newer Flash versions.

Mac OS 9: Browser Requirements:

Internet Explorer: version 5.1.7

Flash Version:

STAMP requires Flash v. 7.0 or later. Verify that Flash is updated to the latest released version. Go to Macromedia website (http://www.macromedia.com), click on “Downloads,” and download Macromedia Flash Player.

• To check current version, right click on Flash Audio Tool (on Mac w/ single button mouse, ctrl-click). You should see “About Macromedia Flash Player 7...”

• NOTE: In OS 9, if Internet Explorer is not updated to the latest version of IE, the latest version of the Flash Player will not show up on Macromedia’s website. First, upgrade IE, then upgrade Flash Player.

Port 1935 must be open at your firewall to allow a connection to IP 64.27.11.134.

Installing languages on machines:

To install character sets for Chinese and Japanese please go to:
http://www.stamptest.net/stamp0708/guides/CharacterActivation.html and follow the directions specific to your computer and operating system

Problem: Test is slow

• Check to see if technical requirements are fulfilled and if the Diagnostic Wizard has been run. If so, then go to test site and run the test to make sure it is running correctly.

• check bandwidth

Problem: Receiving a ‘Time Out’

• The test will time out after ten minutes of no response. If you are receiving a ‘TimeOut’ sooner than that, then odds are that your connection was too slow at the time you ran the test. Please run the bandwidth test to determine the # of students you can test inside your network, and also to determine the optimal time frame for testing.

Problem: Test Momentary froze

• most likely their Internet connection/ Bandwidth is to low to run multiple tests at one time

Problem: Image did not load

• press the refresh button, if that does not work then close the browser and re-login

Problem: My student cannot get past the survey form. They submit and the system takes them right back to the survey

• The web browser is not retaining session keys/cookies, and is therefore unable to keep the session active. There may be some security settings or software that is preventing the browser from accepting and keeping session cookies.

  • Make sure that web browser is set to accept cookies. This should be found in browser preferences: Refer teacher/proctor to their own network administrator if they are unable to do this on their own.

  • Make sure that any security applications such as Norton or internet filters are either disabled or set to allow access to and accept cookies from www.stamptest.net

Problem: My student is unable to record his/her voice:

• Before taking the test, the teacher, proctor, or network administrator need to make sure all the settings on the computer are set to work with the test. They should then give the test a trial run and make sure it is functioning properly.

• If the test is not functioning properly, either this diagnostic process was never done, in which case it needs to be done; or something has been changed since that time.

• Determine if the teacher/proctor/network administrator test the machine and connections prior to the test? Was the system working at that time?

  • If yes, is there something that happened in the district or system hardware or software weekly or other IT uploads, etc.?

  • If no, did you check the audio setting on the speakers? (Sometimes this gets reset at day’s end.)

Problem: Port 1935 failed on demo test

• Port 1935 must be allowed for both up and down stream connectivity for TCP

• Speak to network administrator and have him/her open the port

Problem: How do I turn off the "allow" settings pop-up on the test?

• use the macromedia tool

• right click on flash item, settings, choose far left tab, allow and remember

Problem: My students cannot hear the audio playback:

• There should be only two possible explanations for this: either the sound on the machine is not functioning (muted, volume down, speakers off, etc.) or the diagnostic to make sure that the machine and network are functioning properly was not performed, or something has changed since it was. (Mac computers default to internal speakers and microphone rather than headset. Check settings if computer has been restarted.)

• Check to see that school is not filtering out mp3s.

• Make sure that the machine’s sound is functioning properly. Check other sound functions on the computer (changing the volume, playing a CD, etc.)

• If diagnostic was not performed, please run through steps and verify settings that need to be enabled in order for test to perform properly. If diagnostic was performed, has anything changed?

Problem: Missing graphics, missing text, repeated questions

• First get very specific information about the specific question, language, student experiencing problem (first and last name) and go to test under the students login and replicate issue and determine how to proceed. If user is correct escalate the issue to the programmers to resolve.

Problem: After I entered my User Name and Password and clicked the login button, nothing happened.

• Your browser software needs to have "Cookies" enabled. If it does not have the cookies enabled feature turned on, the application will not function properly. Check with your building IT director to make sure that the computers in the lab have this feature turned on. Though our system will not place a "cookie" on your computer this setting has been identified as a potential problem element.

Problem: The browser crashed while one of my students was taking the test. Will he need to start from the beginning of the test once he logs back on?

• No, the computer remembers exactly where the students are in the progress of the test. We anticipated this situation and other situations where the test could be interrupted due to power loss or system crashes. Because the test is delivered from our secure servers, there are no files placed on your system at any time. The student can log back in and complete the test from the same or another computer and the test will continue from the point of the crash.

Stamp Teacher Reporting Site Instructions

• Go to: Teacher login

• Use teacher login code which is different than the Student test code

Problem: What are the student ID numbers? (Only necessary for ELPA and ClassPak)

• It is for survey results for certain school districts, and that they can enter in '123' if students do not have ID #s

Problem: Couldn't resume test

Check for spaces between student’s login names. You can login to the teacher report site to check original spelling of student's name.

Problem: Are my logins from last year still valid?

STAMP was updated during the Fall of 2007, so be sure to order new codes. Old report codes can be used, but test takers must obtain new

Problem: How do I set up Japanese or Chinese Characters on my machine?

• We have guides available in the Support and Training section of this Web site.

Problem: How do I view my student report page/results?

• Go to the Teacher Login portion of the www.stamptest.net page.

• Reading scores will calculate immediately, but writing and speaking portions will have to be human graded and can take four days to two weeks to post.

Problem: How do I know if my student passed?

• Avant Assessment does not offer a pass/fail test. Please check with your district supervisor or check state guidelines regarding how the levels the student achieved relate to your specific situation.

Problem: What is the highest score for the STAMP test?

• 5 for reading, 6 for writing and speaking

• These correspond with the ACTFL system of rating proficiency benchmarks from Novice Low to Intermediate High

Problem: I am seeing “TEST IN PROGRESS” on my reports. What does this mean?

• Student has not completed the test.

• Solution: Student must log back into the test, typing their name exactly as they originally did to begin the test, and complete the test

Problem: Several students finished the writing section but they were not sure if they had finished the test or not. How do they know when they are done?

• In STAMP test student must hit "Save" or they will lose their writing or speaking samples. "Submit" will move them to the next question.

• The STAMP assessment delivers 3 writings items. The first item is identified as a practice item. This item is not scored. The students do not need to complete this if they feel comfortable with the computer in terms of keyboarding special characters. After completing each of the following three writing prompts, the students will have an opportunity to edit their responses to these items. When they have completed the editing phase they MUST click on the button "finish test." This will log the ending time into the system and generate a "goodbye" screen that communicates to the student that they have indeed completed the assessment. If the student does not remember seeing this screen, they can log back into the system (with their user name and password). The system will then communicate to the student that they have either completed the test and will not be allowed access to the test or ask them if they would like to continue taking the test from the point that they were last working.

Problem: Student's can't login to system:

• verify students correct login information.

• If they log in a second time check original spelling in report side

Problem: The submit button was not submitting at the end of the speaking test.

• Close the browser and log back in to the test.

Problem: Some of my students were given more items than others.

• Because of the Computer Adaptive model used in this assessment. The computer will continue to deliver items to the students until it has verified the reading level of each student. This may be as few as 26 items for some students and as many as 36 items for others

Problem: When the students are taking the test, sometimes after they click on the submit button for an item, the next window is blank or empty.

• Check to make sure that your browser meets the minimum requirements as outlined in this document. Your browser software must meet these requirements and it needs to have "Cookies" enabled. If it does not have the cookies enabled feature turned on, the application will not function properly. Check with your building IT director to make sure this feature is activated. Also, often times this could be a result of network traffic on your local network. Simply click the "refresh" button in the browser menu bar. This will give the computer a chance to collect the data packets that may have been delayed due to network traffic.

Problem: Having problems logging back in to continue the test:

• Student must enter Test Code, Password, and Full Name, on the student login page correctly and exactly as they did the first time they took the test for the test to resume properly.

• If a student does not enter their name exactly as they entered it when they began the test, STAMP will not recognize the student as a continuing user. STAMP will assume that the student is a new user and will start them on a brand new test, rather than bringing up their original test for the student to resume.

Problem: Student cannot log back in to resume test because testing window has closed:

• The testing window is open for 10 school days. If a student does not complete the test before the testing window closes, he/she will not be able to log back in to complete the test.

Problem: A student took part of STAMP yesterday and then logged in today but had to start over.

If the student typed her name incorrectly the second time the system will assume she is a new student and gave her a new test.

Problem: Headsets/ able to hear but cannot record.

• Run Diagnostics Wizards with user (available in the Support & Training section of www.avantassessment.com) check muted boxes

Problem: Recording function is not working properly on my computer

• After recording your response, click on the "play" button to hear what you recorded. If you are unable to hear your response, there may be something wrong with your microphone, speakers or the system. ALWAYS listen to the recording before clicking the submit button. If you are unable to hear any sound, stop the test and check with a lab technician for assistance.

Problem: Trouble with headsets in WIN 98

• check the audio settings and perhaps reinstall the audio drivers from the WIN 98 CD, also try logging out and back in.

Problem: Microphone or speakers appear to be non-functioning on the USB headset purchased from Avant Assessment.

• Check that the wire is plugged in, the volume is up and the mute is off.

• Go to the Control Panel/System Preferences and check to see that computer is recognizing headset and selecting it for both input and output

• Go through diagnostic wizard to make sure that Ports are open, the MP3 and Flash are working and not being filtered.

• Check to see that the bandwidth is appropriate for the number of students testing. Slow connections are the most common cause of irregular recording issues.

• Defective headsets can be replaced free of charge within 30 days of purchase.

Problem: Students can hear sounds in the room from headset

• Change AGC Settings. Go to control panel, sounds and audio devices, audio, Sound recording, volume, advanced, uncheck AGC.