Cambium System Enhancements
7/18/2024
Single Sign-On System
The single sign-on system that allows users to login to Cambium’s secure testing systems – including Test Information Distribution Engine (TIDE), Test Administrator (TA) Interface, Centralized Reporting System (CRS), and Assessment Authoring – will be updated to have a new, cleaner, and more user-friendly login page. The login page will also feature a support section with answers to commonly asked questions.
TIDE Enhancements
Monitoring Test Progress
The Monitoring Test Progress task that tracks participation throughout a test administration has received a major upgrade this year to improve ease of access. Users will find a more intuitive, unified interface that allows them to find information needed to monitor and manage testing with fewer mouse clicks and decision points along the way. The reports that can be generated remain the same with the same fields.
In addition to the improved user experience for generating reports, new data visualizations will show test progress at-a-glance.
Rosters for Administration Groups
A new, optional roster type – non-reporting – will be available when creating rosters in TIDE. This new type of roster is not associated with a teacher and is not sent to CRS. This roster is intended to allow users to create test administration groups to help organize students on test day, print test tickets, and perform other testing functions. Rosters created for these test administration-related purposes can clutter CRS reports and reduce system responsiveness. Using the new non-reporting rosters will help keep the CRS fast and focused on rosters that are meaningful when analyzing results. Users can use the new non-reporting rosters by selecting No in the new Confer Reporting Access? line in the Roster Details dialogue box. As always, rosters are not required.
Student Searching and Sorting
An updated student search filter allows users to more easily identify students who are not on a roster, making it easier to ensure that all students are included on a roster.
New sorting options will be available when printing test tickets or Pre-ID labels. Users will be able to sort by roster or grade level, then name.
Secure File Center
The Secure File Center will have a new look and feel, with a more modern design consistent with Cambium’s other testing systems. In addition, users will now be able to download multiple files with a single click. All other functionality remains the same.
Email Address Domain Changes
Districts occasionally change the domain name in their email addresses. The domain is the portion of the email address after the ‘@’ symbol (name@domain.com). If a district is making such a change, contact the Ohio Help Desk at 1-877-231-7809 after the change is complete so the agents can migrate all user accounts from the old domain to the new domain. This will save the district from having to delete and re-add users and allows for account continuity, meaning the email address Jennifer.Jones@old-domain.com will retain all associations (school, roster, etc.) when it becomes Jennifer.Jones@new-domain.com.
Test Windows
In the 2023-2024 school year, Cambium introduced the optional test window feature to allow districts to create test windows for the Readiness Assessments (Benchmarks and Checkpoints). Cambium extended this feature to the Ohio’s State Tests (OSTs). This feature allows district test coordinators (DTCs) to set their district’s test window within the state test window. If a district uses this feature, test administrators will not be able to create a test session outside the district’s test window. This can prevent test administrators from unintentionally administering an operational state test outside of the district’s window. After the window is set, the DTC can modify the window if necessary. Whether or not a district opts into this feature, it is the district’s responsibility to ensure OST testing only occurs within the district’s test window.
New Automated Speech-to-Text (STT) Request Form
The embedded speech-to-text accommodation allows qualifying students to have their spoken words transcribed directly into writing response spaces without external software or devices. STT is only available on OST English language arts (ELA) tests, Readiness Assessment (RA) ELA tests, the Ohio English Language Proficiency Assessment (OELPA), the Alternate Ohio English Language Proficiency Assessment (Alt-OELPA), and the Ohio English Language Proficiency Screener (OELPS). Information on this accommodation and how students can qualify for it is located in Ohio’s Accessibility Manual and The Accessibility Manual for OELPS and OELPA.
This accommodation requires approval by the Department of Education and Workforce (Department). Based on district feedback to streamline the request procedure and beginning with the Fall 2024 OST test administration, DTCs should use the request form in TIDE. The request form provides STT directions and submission instructions. The submitted request will then automatically be forwarded to Department staff for review and approval. Upon Department approval, Cambium will enable STT for the student record, and the requester will receive an email confirmation. DTCs must submit requests at least three days (72 hours) in advance of testing.