Administering Exams Online

Owned by Stephanie Hossbach (Unlicensed)
Last updated: Jan 06, 2021 by Maria Puzziferro
6 min read

Determining a plan for written exams is critical during this period. The following options are available to faculty for the administration of exams in Blackboard.

Unproctored Exams

If you have any exams that can be redesigned as a “take-home” or synchronous oral exam, please consider these options especially for exams scheduled during the next two weeks. You can also design mixed-question exams in Blackboard using questions that challenge students to uniquely apply and synthesize concepts, rather than rote multiple choice. The Padagogy Wheel may be a useful resource for you as you think about how to assess at different levels of learning, and types of approaches for formative and summative evaluation. We realize certainly that some assessments are driven by specific accreditor guidelines and examination formats, but please consider some of these strategies if you are designing formative or lower stakes summative assessments. 

Since some accrediting bodies have certain proctored exam guidelines to consider, please consult with your Course Coordinator or Program Director for guidance and approval before “unproctoring” your upcoming exam.

Please see the Blackboard Instructor Help for Tests, Pools, and Surveys to learn more about settings that can increase exam security and integrity, such as question types, test and question timing, question pools, randomization, and more.

Automated Live Proctoring with Respondus

The University has implemented Respondus, which is now installed and fully functional within Blackboard. We are offering the “LockDown Browser” and the “Respondus Monitor” features. LockDown Browser is a browser feature used for exam sessions that “locks down” the student computer during the session to prevent access to other applications, copying and pasting, task switching, and more. Respondus Monitor is a fully automated proctoring system that uses a student’s webcam to record and analyze exam sessions. Video analytics, such as facial detection, motion, and lighting, as well as other patterns that could indicate cheating, are analyzed with artificial intelligence and if an incident is detected, the recording can be reviewed further by you. Students do not have to register with Respondus, nor schedule their exam session in advance. There are no wait times for using Respondus Monitor’s automated proctor system.

The service is unlimited, so there is no concern about licenses or seats. We believe that this is a very secure option and is user-friendly for both faculty and students.

If, after reviewing this option, you have an exam scheduled with ProctorU and would like to switch to the new, automated proctoring option, please be sure to cancel the ProctorU exam and communicate promptly to students.

Respondus: Resources for Faculty

Once your exam is set up in Blackboard, you will access Respondus Lockdown Browser from the Course Tools menu to review settings and deploy the exam. The following video, created by Dr. Kayla Collins (kcollins@usa.edu) shows the process of deploying an exam using the Respondus Lockdown Browser, step-by-step:

Please Note: We highly recommend setting up a Practice Test with Respondus first. This will help you to become familiar with the set up, and also help your students ensure they have the required technology to complete tests using the lockdown browser. You can download this sample Practice Test Package and follow the instructions to import the test to your course Blackboard course. If you have students who will need an alternate proctoring solution, there are additional staff who can assist with live proctoring through a virtual meeting. Please reach out to Kayla Collins (kcollins@usa.edu) to request live proctoring assistance at least three days prior to the exam.

If students do not have the required technology for Respondus or have raised concerns to you, review our page for guidance.

Respondus: Resources for Students

Once you set up your exam(s), you can use the USAHS Respondus Instructions for Students document to prepare your students to take their exam. Included below is the .pdf and .doc versions, in case you want to edit the document with instructions specific to your course:

In addition, below is a Word document that you can use to communicate with your students about online exam readiness, courtesy of the Austin Resident DPT program. Feel free to download the .doc and edit/adapt it for your courses.

Human Live Proctoring with ProctorU

Please note that the University will be moving exclusively to Respondus, effective Summer 2021 term. If you require support with the transition, please email onlinedsupport@usa.edu.

Visit ilife.usa.edu for more details, support, and resources.

 

Live proctoring by a human proctor is also an option. The University already uses ProctorU for our Flex programs, and this service can be extended to residential and other programs, where a proctored exam is required. Consider this only if you have a campus proctored exam that you typically administer physically, and you believe that it is absolutely necessary to have a live, human proctor. You will need to enroll yourself with ProctorU, and also instruct your students to do so.

Please be aware that there could be extended wait times for students while waiting for a proctor to login to their scheduled session. We strongly recommend that you reach out to a Flex faculty colleague for advice and tips for administering exams through ProctorU, and the expectations and availability requirements for faculty during the proctored examination time period.

Whether you are using ProctorU or Respondus, if you need assistance transitioning your exam into Blackboard, please reach out to onlineedsupport@usa.edu or facultydevelopment@usa.edu. Please give us as much advance notice as possible, no fewer than 3 days if at all possible, to assist you with the process of setting up your exam in Blackboard.

ProctorU has created a resources page: https://www.proctoru.com/coronavirus-support/additional-tools to assist faculty in considering this option.

 ProctorU: Resources for Faculty

A presentation created by Lesley Khan-Farooqi (lkhan-farooqi@usa.edu), the Technology Innovation Peer Support (TIPS) Coordinator provides information about ProctorU and how to get started. 

Also, see the ProctorU document “How it Works” for instructions.

ProctorU: Resources for Students

In addition, below is a Word document that you can use to communicate with your students about online exam readiness, courtesy of the Austin Resident DPT program. Feel free to download the .doc and edit/adapt it for your courses.

Keep Teaching Resources

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