NComputing’s Validation of AIR’s Online Test Delivery System Makes Online Testing Easier, Simpler and More Affordable for U.S. Schools

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – January 31, 2013 – NComputing, the leader in accelerating the adoption of desktop virtualization, today announced it has formally validated the American Institutes for Research’s (AIR) online Test Delivery System. AIR’s Test Delivery System has been used successfully since 2010 in NComputing environments, which enable schools to meet online testing requirements more easily and affordably. 

NComputing desktop virtualization solutions provide more computing resources in classrooms, allowing students and teachers more access to the testing platform.  As opposed to weeks and months, classrooms can now complete their assessments within days. This is particularly important as the move to online testing is increasingly being mandated by State governments throughout the U.S.

AIR’s Test Delivery System is used in multiple states, including those that currently deliver statewide online, adaptive assessments. It is compatible with the wide range of technology used in schools – including computers, laptops, and tablets – requiring only a secure Internet browser for administration.  The AIR system has the smallest technology footprint; can work on less expensive, older hardware with the smallest bandwidth, memory, and disk requirements; and is accessible for all students, including those with disabilities.

“AIR is one of the nation’s leading providers of academic assessments and has been delivering accessible, standards-based statewide adaptive testing services since 2007,” said Jon Cohen, Executive Vice President of AIR and Director of the Assessment Program.  “NComputing’s virtual desktop solutions provide a great platform for these assessments. They work nicely and securely with the assessments and really ease the administration and maintenance burden for schools.”

AIR is partnering with the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (Smarter Balanced), a state-led consortium developing next-generation assessments aligned to the Common Core State Standards in English language arts/literacy and mathematics. Smarter Balanced is delivering their 2013 Pilot and 2014 Field Tests using AIR’s Test Delivery System. AIR is developing an open-source testing platform for delivering the Consortium’s online, computer-adaptive summative and interim assessments to students.  The system will be optimized for release in its open source version in fall 2014.

“NComputing’s thin-client virtual desktop solution has enabled us to make technology much more accessible and cost-effective in our classrooms," said Kevin Flies, Information Systems Director at Winona Area Public Schools in Minnesota. "NComputing’s thin-client devices have proven to be reliable as we widely deploy state-wide, online testing. The deployment of AIR’s online testing platform on thin-client solutions from NComputing was simple and seamless.”

“Desktop virtualization has become an essential part of education around the world, and its use extends beyond stretching IT budgets and enabling shared computing,” said Raj Dhingra, CEO at NComputing. “It is used in a variety of ways to deliver high quality computing at every level of education from the students to the administrators and faculty. NComputing’s AIR validation gives educational institutions a cost-effective way to embrace the benefits of virtual desktop and thin clients for online testing.”

NComputing has a long history in serving educational institutions around the globe ranging from individual schools to providing the computing infrastructure for entire school districts, states and countries. In taking advantage of NComputing’s desktop virtualization solutions, schools and districts can provide easy access to shared resources using either high performance thin clients or with existing PCs and other Windows-based devices with the vSpace Client for Windows. With the ability to serve as many as 100 users from a single, central PC, NComputing customers greatly increase computer access for users, while reducing hardware and maintenance costs by 75 percent.

The validation testing was conducted with AIR and NComputing’s vSpace platform for desktop and application virtualization along with the company’s L300, M300 and X350/550 access devices. 

Resources

• NComputing
• NComputing Twitter
• NComputing blog

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About Air

Established in 1946, with headquarters in Washington, D.C., the American Institutes for Research (AIR) is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization that conducts behavioral and social science research and delivers technical assistance both domestically and internationally in the areas of health, education, and workforce productivity. For more information, visit www.air.org.

About NComputing

NComputing, Inc. is the leader in accelerating the adoption of desktop virtualization. Removing the barriers through a unique formula of simplicity, performance and value, NComputing’s integrated solutions serve global enterprise and mid-market companies in key verticals such as education, healthcare and government. With over 20 million daily users in 140 countries, the company is fueling the adoption of desktop virtualization faster than any other in the world. To learn more, visit http://www.ncomputing.com.

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