Creating A Secure Test Environment

As computer-based testing becomes more common and the students participating are increasingly computer-savvy, the security landscape changes. Where teachers used to be solely responsible for security, schools now ensure the integrity of tests with additional input from the district IS/IT department.

A secure testing environment can be created in a number of ways. The principles are similar to those applied to any classroom or lab with student-used computers – situations where access to the district LAN and Internet is limited and/or monitored. Many districts find that the creation of a secure testing environment relies on methods and tools already in place, with little modification.

The principles of creating a secure environment apply equally to an Internet-based or LAN-based testing scenario. If access to non-testing websites, servers, and applications is not restricted during the testing session, the opportunity to inappropriately access and/or share information is still present. A properly secured testing environment will achieve the desired result of ensuring accurate assessment of student knowledge whether the test server is accessed through the Internet or over the district LAN.

To read more about the principles of creating a secure testing environment, please go to http://www.ati-online.com/pdfs/SecureTestEnvironmentGuidelines.pdf.