Alaska Computerized Formative Assessments

CAL System Requirements:

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Hardware:
Memory:
  • 64MB of RAM. 128MB recommended.
  • Running the CAL test delivery engine software requires an average of 32 MB of memory. Under normal conditions, a system with 64 MB of RAM should suffice to run the application; however, if your computer is simultaneously running several applications, the CAL test delivery engine's performance could be affected.
Display :
  • Monitors should have a resolution of at least 800X600 pixels. Video adapters should have at least 8 MB of memory.
  • For MAC systems we strongly recommend setting the Dock system to the "Right" position and "Automatically Hide" mode; otherwise the Dock system could interfere with the testing environment.
CPU Processor :
  • 200 MHz or higher.
Additional requirements to use the Text To Speech Feature of CAL :

Windows
  • Your system must have a sound card with necessary drivers installed and at least 128MB of RAM.
  • Windows users must also have Microsoft SAPI 5.1 or SAPI 4.1 SDK installed in their system.
  • Windows XP and 2000 by default have SAPI components installed with a single voice option: Microsoft Sam.
  • Windows 98 does not have these components by default. The SAPI components can be downloaded and installed from the Microsoft website or from the link shown below.
  • This SAPI will add two more voices: Microsoft Mary and Microsoft Mike. These two voices have a better quality than "Sam" and are recommended.
  • Windows 2000 and XP users are advised to also install this SAPI to add the extra two voices.
  • By default the voice selection in your system would be "Sam". To change it open "Speech" in the Control Panel, select the "Text To Speech" tab and make your choice in the "Voice selection".
  • Download Microsoft SAPI 5.1 Redistributable
Mac
  • Macs usually have the necessary hardware and software to support Text to Speech, no additional installation is necessary.
  • You can change the default voice in your system from the "Speech" settings in the System Preferences.
  • The 'Vicki' or 'Victoria' voices are recommended.

Operating System: back to top

  • Windows 98, NT, ME, 2000, XP, 2003 Mac OS X

Internet Connectivity and Security: back to top

  • Allow connections to the Internet using HTTP and HTTPS protocols on port 80 and 443.
  • Allow communication to the following servers:
    • http://alaska.caltesting.org
    • https://alaska.caltesting.org
    • http://alaska3.caltesting.org
    • https://alaska3.caltesting.org
    • http://updates.altec.org

Bandwidth: back to top

  • The bandwidth demands directly depend on the sizes and nature of the items in the test to be taken by your students (number of items, how graphically intensive the items are, etc). As an illustration and for planning purposes let's determine the testing capacity of a school with a T1 connection and assuming an average test size of 60KB:
     
  • Bandwidth available: T1 - 1.54 Mbps or 1540 Kbps
  • Assuming a practical 30-second timeframe for all students to login concurrently we have:
    • 1540Kbps * 30sec = 46200 Kbits capacity
    • Test size: 60KB or 480 Kbits
    • Testing capacity: 46200Kbits / 480Kbits ~ 96 users
       
  • A T1 connection can support at least 96 users. However, assuming a longer than 30-second concurrent login time for your students, you could increase your network testing capacity. Several schools have reported successful testing of up to 150 students simultaneously with a T1 connection.
     
  • To increase your testing capacity even more, we have developed a Local Caching Server (LCS) technology. A LCS caches the test data in a school or district level server and significantly reduces the bandwidth requirements.
    Refer to LCS for more information on the LCS.

Additional Software: back to top

  • The student tutorials require Flash version 7r63 or higher.
  • We recommend the most current version of Flash for best performance. If you need to update your version of Flash, visit the Flash Player Download Center.