Frequently Asked Questions
Item Creation
| Q: | What steps does an assessment item pass through in order to become part of the ClassScape Assessment System? |
| A: | In order to create high quality items, every potential ClassScape item must pass through many levels of development and review. This flowchart illustrates the process in detail. |
| Q: | How does a reading passage become part of the ClassScape Assessment System? |
| A: | Reading passages and other stimulus materials have their own development process, including obtaining copyright privileges. This flowchart illustrates the details of this process. |
| Q: | How many items are currently available? |
| A: | ClassScape currently has 40,294 items in the item creation and review process. More items are being added to ClassScape every day. |
Technology
| Q: | What are the client side technical requirements? |
| A: | We have designed the system to perform with both Internet Explorer and Mozilla FireFox Web browsers. Because the system uses graphics, an ISDN or greater Internet connection is preferred. A monitor resolution of 800 * 600 will allow the user to see the full item with some scrolling. Finally, javascript, cookies, and pop-ups (for classscape.org) must be enabled in your web browser. For information on Firefox's technical requirements, click here. |
| Q: | How do I setup a Windows-based computer for student logins to ClassScape? |
| A: | Save this ClassScape icon to the computer to be used for student assessments. While on the ClassScape main page, click on the icon to the left of "http://www.classscape.org/" in the address bar, then drag it to your desktop and release. This will create a shortcut on your desktop named "ClassScape". Right click this new icon on your desktop, then select properties. This will open a "ClassScape Properties" window with the "Web Document" tab selected. In the URL text field, replace the existing text with "http://www.classscape.org/student". Next, click the "Change Icon" button and select the icon previously saved to your computer. Finally, click the "General" tab and in the first text field (should have "ClassScape" in it), replace the text with "ClassScape Student Login". Finally, click the OK button in the ClassScape Properties window. When a student double clicks this new icon, the student interface will load in the computer's default web browser. |
| Q: | How do I enable pop-ups in Firefox for ClassScape? |
| A: | In order for the ClassScape Assesment System to work properly, pop-ups must be enabled and javascript must be allowed to run. This can be set using the Tools->Options->Web features. |
| Q: | How do I enable pop-ups in Internet Explorer for ClassScape? |
| A: | In order for the ClassScape Assesment System to work properly, pop-ups must be enabled. To enable pop-ups for ClassScape in Internet Explorer, click Tools -> Pop-up Blocker -> Pop-up Blocker Settings. Next, enter classscape.org in the field for Address of Web site to allow. Click the 'Add' button, then click the 'Close' button. |
| Q: | I'm using Internet Explorer and I am getting a popup window that says "A Runtime Error has occured. Would you like to debug?". Is there a way I can prevent this window from appearing. |
| A: | In Internet Explorer, click Tools in the menu tab, then select Internet Options. In the window that appears, click the Advanced tab. The second section header is labelled browsing. Uncheck the checkbox with the option for "Disable Script Debugging (Internet Explorer)". Click the apply button, then the ok button. You may also need to close your Internet Explorer brower(s), then re-open them. |
| Q: | Our school computers are behind a proxy server. How do we configure the proxy server for ClassScape use? |
| A: | Proxy servers must not cache content from classscape.org . Proxy servers ( and firewalls or other internet filtering / security technologies ) should also be configured to pass traffic on remote TCP ports 80 and 443 for classscape.org . |
| Q: | What are the technical requirements for read-alouds? |
| A: | Computers to be used for read-aloud assessments must have a sound card installed with a pair of headphones connected. Browsers, network applicances, and content filters must not block MP3 files from classscape.org . Web browsers must also have the Adobe® Flash® Player installed. |
Student Assessments
| Q: | What is the average time a student takes to complete the various pre-made assessments? |
| A: | On average, it takes students fifteen (15) minutes to complete a pre-made Objective Quiz, thirty (30) minutes to complete a pre-made Goal Scan quiz, and forty-five (45) minutes to complete a pre-made Goal Summary Quiz. |
| Q: | Can I print ClassScape items, passages, or assessments? |
| A: | ClassScape items are copyrighted. NC State University and the Department of Public Instruction have sole ownership and control over all ClassScape test items and reading passages. If copyright permissions were necessary in order to use certain reading passages, the ClassScape Assessment System has paid a fee for its use and has agreed to specific conditions of use. Any person who prints ClassScape items is subject to scrutiny under copyright law. |
Data Upload
| Q: | Why won't my class roster file load? |
| A: | Most file upload issues can be corrected by ensuring that file contents conform to all of the following rules:
- Student ids must be unique within a district; use the NCWISE number, if possible.
- Student ids must contain more than 4 digits.
- Student logins must be unique within a school.
- Student passwords must be between 2 and 15 characters in length.
- Remove any header rows from the file.
- Remove spaces and double quotes from the data.
- Remove empty category columns from the file.
- Remove commas from the data (e.g. Smith, Jr.)
- Student logins must contain a maximum of 25 characters.
- First name must be at least 2 characters in length.
- Remove the school code column from files for a single school.
- Student login and password must be specified for each student.
- Data columns must be in the following order (Category is optional):
DLA MULTIPLE SCHOOL UPLOAD:
School Code, Last Name, First Name, Student ID, Date of Birth, Gender, Grade, Ethnicity, Login, Password, Category
SINGLE SCHOOL UPLOAD:
Last Name, First Name, Student ID, Date of Birth, Gender, Grade, Ethnicity, Login, Password, Category
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