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Authoring: �How to Generate, Start, and Monitor a Teacher-Authored Test Session in the Test Delivery System (TDS)�

Effective as of September 2024

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Objectives

Topics	Slides
1. How to Access the TA Interface of TDS	3–5
2. How to Create & Start a Teacher-Authored Test Session using the Test Administration (TA) Interface	6–13
3. How to Monitor Student Test Progress	14–15
4. How to Pause and Stop a Test Session	16–17
5. How to Log Out of the TA Interface	18–19
6. More Information/More Modules	20–21

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How to Access the TA Interface of TDS

Section 1

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Log in to the TA Interface of TDS

Texasassessment.gov

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Log in to the TA Interface of TDS, continued

The system has an authentication process that triggers when you log in from a different device or browser, or after clearing your browser’s cache.
If you see this screen, an email containing the code will be in your inbox.
Enter the code and click Submit.
If you need the code re-sent, click Resend Code.

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How to Create and Start a Test Session Using the TA Interface

Section 2

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Create a Test Session—Dashboard

7

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Create a Test Session: Test Categories

Teacher-authored tests created and published in the Authoring system are administered through the Test Delivery System (TDS). The steps to create a test session for a teacher-authored test are the same steps you would use to create a test session for a formative or summative assessment. This includes the administration of Alternate Assessments, as well.

The first step in administering a teacher-authored test is to create a test session. After logging in to the TA Interface, you will see a list of test categories. Tests created in Authoring that have been published to the Test Administration System will appear in a separate category or categories. On this screen, the published tests created in Authoring can be found under the My Tests category and/or the Tests Shared with Me category.

Click the arrow next to the My Tests category or the Tests Shared with Me category to see all available teacher-authored tests. Mark the checkbox next to the test(s) you want to add to the test session. The tests you select will appear in the Tests Selected column. To unselect a test, uncheck the box next to the test name you want to remove.

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Filters and Search

You can filter a list of tests by grade and subject, in order to focus on specific types of assessments. Published tests created in Authoring can also be filtered by custom label, standards, and by favorite items. The filter function is especially useful when many tests exist.

To filter a list of tests, first click on the Add Filter button and the filters panel will appear. If needed, expand the filter categories by selecting the + sign. Then, mark the checkbox next to the filters you want to apply. Your selected filters will appear at the top of the window. To remove a filter, select the “x” button next to the filter you want to remove. Once you are finished selecting filters, click Apply Filter(s).

To filter tests by items favorited in Authoring, check the box next to Favorites.

You can also search for specific tests to add by using the global search feature. To search for tests, select the magnifying glass in the upper right corner of the window. Enter the key search term(s) you want to search for and click Go. Tests matching your search criteria will appear.

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Create a Test Session: Start Session

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Session ID

DM – 1234 -5

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Screensaver

DM-1234-5

DM – 1234 -5

Since the student test progress tables in the TA Interface often contain sensitive student information, such as student IDs, the TA Interface contains a screensaver function to hide the data from view. The screensaver will automatically show if you are not active in the TA Interface for 5 minutes.

To access the screensaver at any time, select the Menu dropdown in the top right corner of the window, and then click Toggle Screensaver. The screensaver displays the Session ID and the timer, if applicable. It also displays notifications if students are awaiting approval, if there are pending print requests, or if students require other interventions.

The screensaver will automatically turn off if any mouse or keyboard activity is detected. It will also turn off automatically if the test session times out due to TA or student inactivity.

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Approving Student Entry

DM – 1234-5

Once you start the test session and students log in, you must approve their test settings before they can access their tests. It is important that you pay close attention to the test name prior to approval to be sure that students have selected the appropriate test. To approve students for testing, click the Approvals tab. A list of students will display, organized by test name. You should review the list to make sure that all students chose the correct content area and test. To ensure that a student’s test settings are correct, select the icon in the See Details column.

To approve a single student, click the checkmark button in the Action column. To deny a student entry to the test session, click the X button. Denying the student entry into the test session will not prevent other approved students from beginning their tests.

If no changes are needed, select Approve All Students to admit all students to the session.

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How to Monitor Student Test Progress

Section 3

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Test with Potential Issues Table

ABC – 1234-5

Once students log in and are approved for testing, you can monitor their status from the table(s) displayed on the TA Interface that consist of the following columns - Student Information, Test Name, Opportunity Number, Progress, Status, Test Settings, and Actions.

The Progress column displays the student’s progress through the items in the test. It may display a progress bar to indicate the student’s progress through the test or display the total number of items completed thus far and the total number of items in the test.

The Test Settings column displays either Standard or Custom. This column displays Custom when a student’s test settings are different from the default settings for that test. Click the Eye button to view a student’s test settings

The Actions column includes a Pause button that allows you to pause a student’s test. If a student requests a printout, a printer icon will appear in this column.

If the TDS detects that a student may be having technical issues or requires assistance, a “Tests with potential issues” table will appear. A “more info” icon will appear in the Test Status column. Hovering over this icon will display more information about the issue.

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How to Pause and Stop a Test Session

Section 4

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Pausing and Stopping Sessions

DM – 1234-5

You have two options within the TA Interface to pause or stop testing once it has begun. You can pause an individual student’s test or stop the entire session. To pause an individual student’s test, click the Pause button in the Actions column for that student. When prompted, click OK to confirm that you want to pause the test.

If you stop the session, all in-progress tests will be paused. If a session stops, it cannot be resumed. You will have to create a new test session and give the new session ID to students so that they can resume testing. To stop the entire test session for all students, do the following:

• Click the Stop sign button. A pop-up message will appear requesting verification to end the session and log students out.

• When prompted, click OK to continue.

If you forget to log out before leaving the testing area, the session will close automatically after 20 minutes of inactivity on both the TA and student computers. You would then need to create a new session and provide the new session ID to students in order to resume testing.

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How to Log Out of the TA Interface

Section 5

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Log Out of the TA Interface

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Training Modules in the Series

Title	Contents
AUTHORING : THE BASICS	Log in and use the dashboard quick links & content tabs
AUTHORING: EVERYTHING ABOUT ITEMS	Create, change, manage, and share items
AUTHORING: HOW TO ADD IMAGES TO ITEMS	File size & pixel dimensions, image upload process, text editor toolbar
AUTHORING: EVERYTHING ABOUT TESTS	Find and work with existing tests; create, publish, and administer tests
AUTHORING: SHARE TESTS & ITEMS WITH OTHER EDUCATORS	Create workgroups for sharing tests & items, how to share your tests & items
AUTHORING: HOW TO GENERATE, START & MONITOR A TEACHER-AUTHORED TEST SESSION IN THE TDS	Login to TDS, create & start a test session, monitor the students’ progress, pause, stop, and log out of the system
AUTHORING: HOW EDUCATOR-AUTHORED TESTS ARE REPORTED IN CRS	Login to CRS, drill down into reports from the dashboard, view items and rubric & resources, view the Student Portfolio report, and print ISRs

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Help Desk Contact Information

Educators and technology staff �are supported by Texas Testing Support.
Multitiered Help Desk support for the Texas Assessment Program is available Monday–Friday, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (CT).
Chat with Texas Testing Support from the Texas Assessment Program website.

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Thank you!