NimbleTools Technical Information < School home Project home     nimble home legal

NimbleTools/NimbleSecure Technical Information

NimbleTools Help line: 1-877-636-0371

Data Collection is complete for Spring 2010. Technical information will be posted for Fall 2010 testing beginning September, 2010.

In order to participate, your school must have Internet connected computers that meet the minimum technology requirements listed below:

Practice Tests are available to all teachers, parents, and students from the Project home page, and only require that latest version (v10) of the Flash plug-in be installed.

Preparing for the Operational Test

For the operational test, the NimbleSecure application will need to be installed onto computers designated as testing computers. Please make sure the application is installed at least one day before the computer will be used for the test. The computer MUST have an Internet connection for the test to allow a student to log into and take the test.

It is highly recommended that tests be taken on computers with a physical connection to your network. While it is possible to use a wireless Internet connection, it can often be unreliable, and students using Read Aloud will have noticeable delays. Loss of Internet connection during the test will require that the user be reset. Students can resume testing, with answers saved from the time the connection was lost.

For schools with a larger group of students (6 or more) using NimbleTools, consider ways to minimize your network usage during testing.

Students assigned to Read Aloud will require greater bandwidth than other students. Please only assign the Read Aloud tool if you feel it would benefit each specific student.

NimbleSecure uses https to encrypt the transfer of test content and responses. The school's network must allow users to access Nimble's servers to use the test. Please check your Proxy server or any other software that is used for content filtering on the Internet.
Server: nimbletools.net (TCP/http uses port 80, TCP/https use port 443)

Downloads

For Windows:

Download and install the Windows version of the NimbleSecure application. If you use the installer version, the application will be added to the Programs on your machine. If you wish to add a shortcut to the application, you'll need to do that yourself.

Download the application beginning September 15, 2010.

For Macintosh:

  1. Download and unzip the file. Open the NimbleSecure.dmg file. Drag the NimbleSecure application to whichever folder you prefer. If you wish to create a desktop alias, you'll need to do that yourself. Students will log in to the test from this application.
     
    Download the application beginning September 15, 2010.
     
  2. Be ready to disable the Dashboard before testing. The Dashboard is a possible way for students to escape the test security and use Internet resources to find answers to test questions. While it is unlikely to be used by any students, you'll need to disable the Dashboard BEFORE the student launches NimbleSecure to take a test. Here are three easy ways to disable the Dashboard:
    1. Use DashOnOff (free). This gives you two Automator scripts that turn the Dashboard on and off. It restarts the dock for you as well. You'll see the icon in the Dock, but it won't work.
    2. Use the Terminal commands, which are:

      3. To turn Dashboard off:
      defaults write com.apple.dashboard mcx-disabled -boolean YES

      To turn Dashboard on:
      defaults write com.apple.dashboard mcx-disabled -boolean NO

      You have to restart the Dock after making either change for it to take effect:
      killall Dock
       

    3. Using Open Directory Managed Preferences:
    • Open Workgroup Manager
    • Select the computer group you will be using NimbleSecure on,
      then Click Preferences -> Details
    • Select Dashboard
    • Open the "Always" setting
    • Create a new key, Disable Dashboard = True
       
  3. Before launching the test, make sure no other windows show unwanted information on the screen, and that NimbleSecure is the only application running. Students will log in to the test from this application.