[DG: Teaching & Learning] Locking down browser for Tests & Quizzes

[Ken Masters]

Hi All

I don't say I have all the answers on this, but I've
invigilated/proctored probably more than 200 online tests and exams over
a period of some 5 years (mainly in the Health Professions), so here are
some pointers based on that experience.

I think that if you go the technological route, you're going to have
more problems than solutions - and then, just when you think you've got
it, along will come an instructor who will say, for a multitude of good
educational reason, that s/he _wants_ the students to have access to
external resources, and you won't be ready for that.  (I am asuming here
that you are talking about students whom you can physcially see - for
students taking the assessment at a distance, don't even try, unless you
have tons of money.  That student can simply use a second computer to
access the resources.)

So, what to do.  

1. Realise that you are still going to have to invigilate/proctor the
exams - you don't get away from that, and you will probably find that
your university (and, in your case, perhaps even the professional body)
has rules on the minimum number of invigilators per group/class/number
of students. 
2.  One advantage of computer-based testing is that it is _very_ easy to
see what is on a large number of computer screens at a distance at any
one time.  While you can't see the detail, you'll quickly recognise the
difference between the exam screen and any other screen.  By simply
running your eye over the lab, you will spot a strange screen far faster
than you would spot a strange piece of paper.  Two or three inviligators
can easily cover a 100+ computers fairly easily.  (We routinely used 3
or 4 for 200 students at a time).
3.  Thirdly, when invigilators do the rounds, they should look not
merely at what is being displayed on the main window, but also at the
task bar.  Even if the student has mananged to minimize the window,
you'll see it there.  (Right at the beginning of the exam, check every
task bar to make sure that a student hasn't inadvertently left something
running (yes, it can, and does, happen).)
4.  I can assure you that, when invigilating exams, if you're worried
about cheating, then students' accessing other sites is generally the
least of your problems.  You'll rather have to keep an eye on all the
traditional methods (paper up the sleeve, notes on the hand, etc), and
then, sms's with their mobiles.

Hope that helps.

Regards 

Ken

---------------------------
Ken Masters
IT Health Education
http://www.ithealthed.com
____/\/********\/\____

> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject:  [DG: Teaching & Learning] Locking down browser for
> Tests & Quizzes
> From: "Hill,Nancy" <nkhill at mdanderson.org>
> Date: Fri, August 07, 2009 4:02 pm
> To: "'pedagogy at collab.sakaiproject.org'"
> <pedagogy at collab.sakaiproject.org>
> 
> 
> Hi - I'm with M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston and we are implementing Sakai for our academic students and external learners.   The instructors at our School of Health Professions would like to be able to lock down the browser when a student begins an assessment, to prevent them from navigating to other websites or accessing other resources.  I have not had much luck identifying products or options to provide this.
> 
> How are other academic institutions that use Sakai approaching the lockdown issue?
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Nancy Hill
> Sr Educational Specialist
> The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
> 1515 Holcombe
> Houston, TX 77030
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