Pearson Onscreen Platform - Someone help me before I go mad

[tmoon-mint]

Hi all,

 

I have been tasked with getting this software setup on a few devices for exams and I am having difficulty.

 

I have followed this guide: Online POP | Pearson qualifications

 

But I am getting a certificate error when I navigate to https://127.0.0.1:8080

 

Where am I going wrong please? Does anyone have an idiot proof guide for getting this setup in an AD environment (group policy etc).

 

Thanks,

Tom

[free780]

Run

Run now and don’t look back.

 

I haven’t had to deal with Onscreen in over 2 years.

 

It may because the cert isn’t trusted.

Generally certs with IP addresses aren’t used.

[themightymrp]

I think we are using a different version of the POP software in that we have a server installation and then separate installs for an Admin dashboard, an Invigilator dashboard and then Test Players on each client machine. We use it for the BTEC Sports exams and I only updated it yesterday as it happens. Not sure if it will do what you need as an alternative? No web interface that I'm aware of.

 

The server download is here:

 

https://btecng.pearson.com/btecng/setup/Edi.Advance.Tdp.ExamCentreService.Setup.msi

 

It will create a share on the server containing the MSI files for the other 3 components. I think the test player installs one of the Visual C++ runtimes if it isn't already on the machine.

 

If this is the wrong thing, sorry :-/

[noelmm]

We've moved away from Pearson onscreen testing so haven't used it for a while but I remember, much like @themightymrp that we had a single installer which created installers for the admin machine, invigilator and testing machines. I think the installers were created on the local C drive where you run the initial installation file, using any other files for installation failed to work.

[themightymrp]

You can specify where the 'DataStore' folder is located and within this it creates an 'Apps' folder which is then shared and contains your MSI's. So you can put them on a different partition should you wish.

[AM369]

We use the Classroom POP (LAN) version instead that uses the Administrator, Invigilator, and Test Student installs. Have been using it yearly and it is rather simple to install but again we've used it for btec sports for as long as I can remember.

 

The Online version doesn't have a failsafe as it relies purely on internet so if a client loses connection, their test is lost. The LAN version has the failsafe of storing files on the computer that can be sent incase of internet loss hence we go with this version.

[Brax]

Hi all,

Ever since the latest LAN update we've had a few tests now where they randomly get "Loss of Focus - Please Contact Invigilator". Now we've spoken to Pearson on the phone (eventually) a few times after these have happened and today we asked for a concrete solution to help resolve this in future. They suggested we disable our anti-virus. Has anyone else who uses LAN pop with Sophos had to disable it for these exams or is there something else we can do as I don't want to disable it if we can help it.

[ITWil]

We used the standalone LAN version last academic year (please never again) and when testing it I got the "Loss of Focus" message you described and after speaking to Pearson their suggestion was:

 

...it can be triggered by any key combo that would ask the computer to bring another application to the front. It can also be triggered by background tasks like auto updates, screensavers and programs like Microsoft Teams, so please make sure these are all off.

 

In the end I made sure Teams was closed before the exam and I didn't get that message again. We also use Sophos and that was running at the time. But with the update you've mentioned the above suggestion might be redundant now!

[Brax]

We used the standalone LAN version last academic year (please never again) and when testing it I got the "Loss of Focus" message you described and after speaking to Pearson their suggestion was:

 

...it can be triggered by any key combo that would ask the computer to bring another application to the front. It can also be triggered by background tasks like auto updates, screensavers and programs like Microsoft Teams, so please make sure these are all off.

 

In the end I made sure Teams was closed before the exam and I didn't get that message again. We also use Sophos and that was running at the time. But with the update you've mentioned the above suggestion might be redundant now!

We don't run the desktop version of teams on these machines so it must be something else in the background. Super frustrating but that's exam software for you.