Python - set up for controlled assessment

[speckytecky]

My ICT Teacher asks that some client PC's (Windows 7) be set up with python 3.4. That's done.

 

 

She tells me she can run the IDLE (python 3.4 GUI - 32 bit) from my desktop at school when logged in as me, when the boys use their login they get a filtering error.

 

 

Additionally she asks that the client computers have the internet blocked during a controlled assessment.

 

How are others schools working around this one please?

[DavetheITguy]

I use forefront TMG or the staff member uses their Abtutor to disable the internet, for python to work for users with non admin privileges you need to install it to the C:\ drive and make sure the relevant people have permission to run it.

That's how I have got it setup at my Academy.

[speckytecky]

Thanks Dave. Yes, it's installed on the C: drive. Which particular folder in Python needs the permissions altered please. We have Impero so I guess I can lock the Internet down with that.

 

I use forefront TMG or the staff member uses their Abtutor to disable the internet, for python to work for users with non admin privileges you need to install it to the C:\ drive and make sure the relevant people have permission to run it.

That's how I have got it setup at my Academy.

[DavetheITguy]

just give the python parent folder full access permissions to everyone, students etc. Also, check to make sure you are not blocking any files for students e.g. exe, cmd etc. as Python requires specific extentions unblocking.

[speckytecky]

Thanks Dave, Any suggestions on which - I'm guessing it will be CMD and as our little dears have been abusing that in the past we block it with Sophos and Impero. Guess, I'm going to have to set up some flipping laptops specifically for this one.

 

just give the python parent folder full access permissions to everyone, students etc. Also, check to make sure you are not blocking any files for students e.g. exe, cmd etc. as Python requires specific extentions unblocking.

[CyberDrac]

In case you hadn't spotted the requirement, I believe Python apparently only works properly with paths that have no spaces, for example "c:\python34" for my Python 3.4 install, this of course may be a fallacy, but mine works.

 

If you need an alternative IDE, NetBeans 8.0.2 has an optional plugin named "Python4NetBeans" which works well enough and also means our student can use the same environment to write Java. Caveats include, one of the parts of the plugin throws an error on install but can be ignored (i.e. not installed), there is no way I have found of doing this remotely, and you must change a setting to install plugins into a shared location for all users to have access. So, it sounds like a bit of a hassle and it is, but it is working.

[mavhc]

I've had no problems with a default python 3.4 msi install, do everything via IDLE, no cmd window, no permissions altered.