How to prepare for e-asTTle
For frequently asked questions about how to prepare for e-asTTle, please click on the links below.
- How can our school access e-asTTle?
- What steps should we take to prepare for e-asTTle?
- What technology do we need to run e-asTTle?
- What other technology is supported
- Will we have to get broadband?
- Why upload bandwidth is important
- Where can we find out about best practice use of the Internet to safeguard the privacy of our students?
How can our school access e-asTTle?
School wishing to access e-asTTle should follow these set up steps. The Education Service Desk will advise details about whether your school can access e-asTTle, and, if so, provide further details such as how to apply for usernames and passwords, access training, etc.
e-asTTle teacher access
Currently the Ministry of Education is working on enhancements to e-asTTle, focused in two areas:
- Technology – Improving the reliability and robustness of the IT infrastructure
- Education – Enhancing the application to provide greater accuracy and feedback
The Ministry of Education is committed to ensuring all schools can access e-asTTle.
If you do not already have access to e-asTTle and want to be set up for teacher-only access please contact the Ministry via the Education Service Desk at: servicedesk@education.govt.nz.
e-asTTle for teachers only
Teachers will be able to create, assign and mark tests and generate reports (excluding adaptive tests). Students will sit the tests using pen and paper, with teachers marking and entering the scores into e-asTTle.
Please use the guidance provided on the Help with e-asTTle pages.
What steps should we take to prepare for e-asTTle?
Familiarise yourself with e-asTTle as much as possible:
What technology do we need to run e-asTTle?
The following are the minimum system requirements for computers using e-asTTle. These are all things that are recommended for school computers and are not exclusive to e-asTTle.
| Operating System |
|
| Internet Browser For e-asTTle, all internet browsers must have JavaScript enabled and Pop-up Blockers disabled |
|
| Third-party Software |
|
| Display Screen |
|
| Internet Connection |
|
What other technology is supported?
The Ministry of Education appreciates that there are always updated Hardware and Software versions and new technologies being released. We endeavour to verify that e-asTTle is functional on these.
To this end, as at December 2014, e-asTTle has been tested on the following:
Operating Systems
- Microsoft Vista
- Microsoft Windows 7.0
- Macintosh OS X 10.7 (Lion)
- Macintosh OS X 10.8 (Mountain Lion)
- Macintosh OS X 10.9 (Mavericks)
Internet Browsers
- Google Chrome 31.0
- Google Chrome 36.0
- Mozilla Firefox 30.0
- Safari 6.2
- Safari 7.0
Internet Explorer is no longer supported.
Third Party Software
- Adobe Acrobat X (10.0)
- Adobe Acrobat XI (11.0)
- Adobe Reader 10.1.13
Will we have to get broadband?
Yes. As all New Zealand schools have the capability to connect to broadband, it is strongly advisable to do so as connecting to broadband ensures your students have access to the growing opportunities that the Internet has to offer.
Why upload bandwidth is important
When using e-asTTle online testing functionality, the Upload bandwidth plays an important part of the process, as this is what transmits the data collected during the test back to the application. Without sufficient upload speed the results data sets e-asTTle sends for each page can be lost in transmission, or the application can time out.
While logging back in can resume the test from the last save point, time is wasted, thus disadvantaging the student.
With sufficient bandwidth e-asTTle can run smoothly and present few errors to the students; with insufficient bandwidth the e-asTTle experience is usually poor.
Therefore for schools that currently have full access (teacher and student access) we recommend the symmetrical (upload and download) bandwidth of 2Mbps+ for a class of 30 students. As the number of students accessing e-asTTle at the same time increases the amount of bandwidth available must also increase.
Where can we find out about best practice use of the Internet to safeguard the privacy of our students?
You can get information about using the Internet safely from NetSafe, a programme offered by New Zealand's Internet Safety Group. This independent non-profit organisation is focused on cyber safety education for all New Zealanders. It includes a section specifically for schools. Find out more at www.netsafe.org.nz or call 0508 NETSAFE (638 723).