IT provision for exams

[KarlGoddard]

Hi

 

Just looking for ideas on solutions to provide power and data to IT kit in an examination environment.

 

At present we provide laptops for exams to students who may not be able to write - wrist / arm / hand injuries etc - and for those students who need assistive technology.

 

Presently, we only have a small number of students who require this support so we tend to do an ad-hoc set up (mini switch and run power / network under matting to the individual desks).

 

Our projections show a potential increase of students who may need to use IT in an exam over the next 2-3 years, so I've started investigating how to provide power and data to desks in an exam layout - without the need for mini switches, power blocks, cable matting.

 

I was thinking of sinking the power / data conduits into the floor... has anyone got any pointers as to any solutions - products or companies - that they've used to provide something similar to the above?

 

Thanks in advance for any ideas?

[CyberNerd]

laptops with decent batteries work.

[KarlGoddard]

laptops with decent batteries work.

 

not in a room with limited wifi provision! (hence us cabling the laptops!)

[synaesthesia]

Surely with the money you're looking at sinking cabling etc you could *easily* afford to increase wifi coverage? Far more beneficial over the course than just for exams.

[bald_pig]

Improve your wi-fi coverage then?

[Boredguy]

We have a set of very old laptops that just about run Windows 7 slowly (unless we put a SSD in them which we have for 5)

On them we have installed Exam Writepad as created by @ass17 (previously it was Windows XP and Notepad)

 

None of them have functioning Wifi. Students are seated near to a power socket in the exam room, which for our assisted lot is normally a mobile.

[HarryMonkey]

Why do you need network connectivity?

[clockend25]

This year I've got four laptops in use; two newer ones which are used for the speaking tests and media exams, and another couple of older Toshibas running Win 10 for single use by students. They use Wordpad and we take work off for them to sign after the exam. Wifi isn't needed.

[Cache]

Why do you need network connectivity?

 

This.

 

Some people will really cringe at this, however I have several old Windows XP laptops which I have with several old portable printers that I use as they require nothing but a word processor. Work gets saved locally and that has worked fine for us. I have the issue with the increasing number that I can no longer provide enough printers, but I have no shortage of old laptops. Local GPO's lock the laptops down sufficiently as there is no need for anyone to do anything else on them.

Edited May 23, 2016 by Cache

[DalekSec]

We build out laptops in the office on network to pull down the extremely locked down Group Policy. The wireless is disabled in the BIOS and the nearest Access point to where the exams take place are taken out. As they should have NO connection to any kind of network once they start the exam. As for power we just use extension cords

[mrbios]

Why do you need network connectivity?

 

Personally, where i work we require it for the exam laptops. Albeit our reasons why may differ from the OPs.

 

We run notepad++ with the autosave plugin configured, the documents save back to a network share every 1 minute, and each laptop only has access to a folder that correlates to the laptop name. Without this we had too many instances of laptops screwing up/batteries dieing/printing problems where the kid would walk off with the laptop and it would die. Tis the problem with the old piece of junk laptops we use for it really. We also have a wireless printer on the trolley we send out with the laptops, so when the breaks/runs out of toner, we can easily print off the students exam from the office if need be.

 

Works really well However I agree with others saying...improve the wifi!

[DalekSec]

Another reason we take out the Wireless around where exams are taking place is so students can't use their own personal devices on the wireless during exams. I was always of the mind that the Exam Laptops only ever touch the network when they are being built AND NEVER WHEN IN USE! Ours save to a USB and get printed out.

[mrbios]

Another reason we take out the Wireless around where exams are taking place is so students can't use their own personal devices on the wireless during exams. I was always of the mind that the Exam Laptops only ever touch the network when they are being built AND NEVER WHEN IN USE! Ours save to a USB and get printed out.

 

Isn't that the point of invigilators? To stop people cheating?

 

Ours are made to leave their bags at the front of the room, and turn off phones and leave them in their bags

[DalekSec]

Isn't that the point of invigilators? To stop people cheating?

 

Ours are made to leave their bags at the front of the room, and turn off phones and leave them in their bags

 

Yepp, but you can never be too safe! When I was at school taking my exams (about 6 years ago) about 1/3 of my friends managed to sneak a mobile in and cheat! I didn't obviously, mainly due to the fact I didn't own a mobile at the time.....

[ass17]

We had unprecedented numbers this year, we had 8 laptops in the main hall, which are stripped back Windows 7 with practically nothing on and auto login.

 

We also use ExamWritePad which has auto save, auto backup, double line spacing, custom header for name, candidate number, centre number, exam paper. Just to name a few of the fabulous features....

 

We also use extension reels with anti trip mats so they can stay on mains. Then there are two small USB printers to share between the 8 laptops.

 

Oh and no wifi or Ethernet, totally cut off from the world.

Edited May 23, 2016 by ass17

[ass17]

We have a set of very old laptops that just about run Windows 7 slowly (unless we put a SSD in them which we have for 5)

On them we have installed Exam Writepad as created by @ass17 (previously it was Windows XP and Notepad)

 

None of them have functioning Wifi. Students are seated near to a power socket in the exam room, which for our assisted lot is normally a mobile.

 

Thanks for the mention! :-)

[Wubbalubbadub]

We use the SEN laptops, the exam user is just heavily locked down. Has redirected desktop, which has notepad on it.

That's it. Nothing else available. Stays on wifi, impero is disabled for the group during exams. Exams office printer is added automatically.

[HarryMonkey]

Another reason we take out the Wireless around where exams are taking place is so students can't use their own personal devices on the wireless during exams. I was always of the mind that the Exam Laptops only ever touch the network when they are being built AND NEVER WHEN IN USE! Ours save to a USB and get printed out.

 

This, although we have a D drive partitioned onto the laptop where work is saved to rather than a USB drive.

[ataylor]

We just have a heavily locked down user account, we also let them use Microsoft Word as that is the software they are accustom to writing in. (Of course this is heavily locked down, disabled spell check ect)

 

At the moment our laptops can easily last through an entire exam without charge, but I am still planning on getting a bunch of spare chargers for exams.

[KarlGoddard]

Why do you need network connectivity?

 

we use restricted network accounts for the exam accounts (currently around the 20 mark) - with the numbers we deal with / potentially dealing with its infinitely more efficient than using local accounts. In rare cases we have students who have back to back exams so we can remove completed work from their user areas without having to enter the exam room and manually remove work etc

 

We tried local accounts last year and it was doable, but from a man power point of view not really feasible.

[p3t3r]

We create a restricted network account for each student and every exam. There are about 700 in total. Exams accounts are used only once and are automatically locked after the exam has finished.

[Ketlane]

Check the regulations on networking very carefully. They are on the JCQ website, ICE (Instructions for the Conduct of Examinations). I've pasted an extract here - see the 8th bullet:

 

A word processor:

• must be used as a type-writer, not as a database, although standard formatting software is acceptable;

• must have been cleared of any previously stored data, as must any portable storage medium used. An unauthorised memory stick must not be used by a candidate. Where required, the centre must provide a memory stick to the candidate, which is cleared of any previously stored data;

• must be in good working order at the time of the examination;

• must be accommodated in such a way that other candidates are not disturbed and cannot read the screen. Where a candidate using a word processor is accommodated in another room, a separate invigilator will be required;

• must either be connected to a printer so that a script can be printed off, or have the facility to print from a portable storage medium. This must be done after the examination is over. The candidate must be present to verify that the work printed is his or her own. Word processed scripts must be attached to any answer booklet which contains some of the answers;

• must be used to produce scripts under secure conditions, otherwise they may be refused;

• must not be used to perform skills which are being assessed;

• must not be connected to an intranet or any other means of communication;

• must not give the candidate access to other applications such as a calculator (where prohibited in the examination), spreadsheets etc;

• must not include graphic packages or computer aided design software unless permission has been given to use these;

• must not have any predictive text software or an automatic spelling and grammar check enabled unless the candidate has been permitted a scribe or is using speech recognition technology (the script must have a scribe cover sheet attached), or the awarding body’s specification permits the use of automatic spell checking;

• must not include speech recognition technology unless the candidate has permission to use a scribe or relevant software;

• must not be used on the candidate’s behalf by a third party unless the candidate has permission to use a scribe.

[enjay]

Check the regulations on networking very carefully. They are on the JCQ website, ICE (Instructions for the Conduct of Examinations). I've pasted an extract here - see the 8th bullet:

.

 

Can you cite that, save me hunting it out myself?

[Linfit]

'ICE' - Instructions for conducting examinations - JCQ Joint Council for Qualifications

 

Its Section 8, Other Arrangements, Subsection 8.8 Word Processors

[mavhc]

Ours are on wifi, to print and save work in case of hardware failure. Also they know everything is logged with Impero.

 

Intranet implies information sharing, ie a website. If they meant network, say network.