Online Testing/Proctored Exams

Examity's end-to-end solution includes authentication, live monitoring, recording, and auditing of test taking. The redesigned platform presents a streamlined user interface for instructors and students. 

IMPORTANT!

Step 1: Use the Examity Setup in Blackboard tutorial to add the Examity tool link to your Blackboard course. 

Step 2. Set up your Exams in Blackboard. For Blackboard exams requiring Examity proctoring to be imported into Examity, the following three conditions must be met in Blackboard:

1. The “Make available to students” must be set to “Yes”
2. The exam title must include the term “Examity” or “examity”
3. The Blackboard course must be available to students for Examity to import the Exams into the dashboard

If all three above conditions are met, Examity will import your exams nightly (11 PM through 3:30 AM Central time). Imported exams will be visible in the Examity dashboard. 

Step 3. Review the imported exams in Examity Dashboard and add any needed accommodations using this Adding Course Level Accommodations in Examity Dashboard guide. 

• Review the Proctoring Guide for Instructors

Use this tutorial for Proctoring for Third-Party Exams proctoring.

• Office hours: 7 AM - 4 PM Central time
• Email: bbell@examity.com, (preferred and may be answered outside of the office hours)
• Phone: 855.392.6489 x 761  
• Account Services team is available 24 hours a day as a backup for instructors if Brian is unavailable accountservice@examity.com. Please, cc-Brian Bell on your emails.

• Watch the Recording of Examity TAMU-CC Training - January 12, 2022
• Training materials are available at Examity, include:
  • Student Quick Start Guide
  • Examity’s ID Requirements Explained
• Building a Successful Testing Experience: 5 Points to Consider

• Cancellations or changes within 24 hours of an examination will result in a $5.00 charge per occurrence. 
• Full payment will be required for any no-shows. 

IMPORTANT UPDATE:

The support for Windows 7 will end on June 28, 2023. 

• If you are using Windows 7, you will need to upgrade to Windows 10/11 or find another supported device. LockDown Browser can be used with Windows 10+, Mac 10.13+, Chromebook, and iPads running iOS 11+ (you must enable the iPad setting for your students - see the enabling iPad edition of Lockdown Browser for more information),

Respondus LockDown Browser is a custom browser that locks down the testing environment within Blackboard.  

• When students use Respondus LockDown Browser, they cannot print, copy, go to another URL, or access other applications.
• When an assessment is started, students are locked into it until they submit it for grading. Available for both Windows and Mac.

The Respondus Lockdown Browser is integrated with Blackboard LMS. As an instructor, you do not need to download it and can simply enable it in the Control Panel -- Course Tools -- Respondus LockDownBrowser. 

• Quick Start Guides Instructor
• How to prepare for an exam [video: 2 minutes]
• Training Video

*If you would like to see how the Respondus Lockdown Browser works in a student-preview mode, you will need to Download Respondus Lockdown Browser. If you do this, use the "Check for Update" feature to check for Check for Update" feature to check for any possible updates.

Important:

1. Do not remove and do not share the password that the Respondus Lockdown Browse generates with students. It is a gatekeeper password that will prevent students from accessing the test on another browser. 
2. If you applied the Respondus Lockdown Browser to the exam and had to change the exam setting, you must go to the Control Panel -- Course Tools -- Respondus LockDownBrowser. You will see an error message. Click the "Fix It" button to fix the error. If this is not done, the students will not be able to start the exam.  

• Assessments are displayed full-screen and cannot be minimized.
• Browser menu and toolbar options are removed, except for Back, Forward, Refresh, and Stop.
• No access to other applications including messaging, screen-sharing, virtual machines, and remote desktops.
• Printing and screen capture functions are disabled.
• Copying and pasting anything to or from an assessment is prevented.
• Right-click menu options, function keys, keyboard shortcuts, and task switching are disabled.
• An assessment cannot be exited until the student submits it for grading.
• Assessments that are set up for use with LockDown Browser cannot be accessed with other browsers.

Technical Support:

• For more information and to submit a ticket, visit the Respondus support page.

OEM Lockdown Browser for tests in a third-party platform (ALEKS, MyLab, etc.)

TAMU-CC uses the TAMU-CC edition of LockDown Browser with Blackboard LMS. The "OEM" edition of the Lockdown browser can be installed on the same device. The two editions will not conflict with one another.

On student personal devices:

• Windows/Mac 

Students should navigate to the test from a standard browser (Chrome, Firefox, etc.) and use the link to install the OEM version of LockDown Browser. Once installed, the browser will automatically launch when students begin a test.

• iPad/Chromebook

Students must verify that the third-party platform supports their devices and contact the instructor to activate this option. 

Technical requirements:

• Supported Operating Systems:
  • Mac: MacOS 10.12 to 12.0+
  • iOS: 11.0+ (iPad only) 
  • Windows 11 & 10 Details
• Memory requirement:
  • Mac: 120 MB permanent space on the hard drive.
  • Windows - 75 MB permanent space on the hard drive.

TAMU-CC computer labs have LockDown Browser installed.

Respondus Monitor® is a free Blackboard integration that provides an automated proctoring solution and cheating deterrent that can be set by instructors to run concurrently in LockDown Browser.

Respondus Monitor auto-launches when students access exams within the Blackboard as they normally would using Respondus Lockdown Browser.

The students are then guided through a pre-exam sequence, including a webcam check. Exams can be taken with Respondus Monitor without advanced scheduling and without additional registration by the student.

Following an exam, Respondus Monitor will generate reports and allow instructors to review the automatic proctoring results for each student. 

• Summer 2023 updates

Tutorials

• Instructor Quick Start Guide
• Preparing an Exam for Use with LockDown Browser & Respondus Monitor [video]
• Register for a free training webinar
  
  

• A broadband internet connection
• Memory requirement:
  • Windows - 75 MB permanent space on the hard drive.
  • Mac: 120 MB permanent space on the hard drive.
• Operating system:
  • Mac: OS X 10.10 or higher
  • iOS: 10.0+ (iPad only).
  • Windows: 10, 8, 7
• Web camera (internal or external) & microphone

ProctorU Proctoring Options:

Live+ is the most secure option for any online exam, but essential for high-stakes programs looking to maintain integrity and credibility and when active intervention to stop suspicious behavior is necessary. Many faculty use Live+ for the highest stakes assessments, such as midterms and finals, to make sure every student has a consistent, secure testing experience with no unfair advantages.

Review+ is great for lower-to mid-stakes assessments combining an automated ID verification and launch process with artificial intelligence behavior monitoring and professional proctor review. Faculty use Review+ on lower to mid-stakes quizzes and exams to make sure every student has a consistent testing experience with no unfair advantages.

Record+ is a fully automated identity verification and session recording solution for low-stakes assessments in which administrators are not concerned with active intervention during a session. Faculty use Record+ for low-stakes assessments such as quizzes, especially for smaller classes where the instructor has the ability to review all sessions. Record+ ensures that students are correctly identified and quickly taken into their test.

All costs for exams are the responsibility of the student:

• Students pay ProctorU directly for the proctoring service.
• Exam-proctoring charges may range from $7.50 to $25 for the 1st hour of exam time when properly scheduled in advance.
  • The cost of taking an exam with ProctorU varies based on the length of the exam, the level of proctoring required by the instructor, and how soon the exam will take place.

Additional fees:

• Optional Premium Scheduling Fees. A test-taker may be charged additional fees for optional premium scheduling services offered solely for the convenience of the test-taker and that are not required for standard test-taking.
  Cancellation. In the event of an exam testing session no-show or a cancellation that occurs within 24 hours of a scheduled start time, ProctorU will be entitled to the entirety of its proctoring fee.

Additional Resources:

• Instructor Onboarding Page
• Instructor Support Page
• Register a ProctorU Account
• Syllabus Language for Live+
• Test Taker Resource Center

ProctorU system requirements:

• A desktop  computer or laptop (tablets, Chromebook, and cell phones do not meet minimum requirements)
  • PC Users
    • Minimum - Windows Vista
    • Recommended - Windows 10 (10 S is not supported)
  • Mac Users
    • Minimum - OS X 10.5 or higher
    • Recommended OS X 10.15.5 Catalina (Additional information about enabling screen sharing for your browser)
• A working built-in or external webcam (minimum 640x480 resolution) and microphone
• Internet speed must be at least .768 Mbps download and .384 Mbps upload.   Hot spots are not recommended.  Test your internet speed.
• Memory
  • Minimum - 1024 MB
  • Recommended 2 GB
• Browser Google Chrome (preferred) or Mozilla Firefox with pop-up blocker disabled

• Google Chromebooks (for Live Proctoring only)
• Linux operating systems
• Smartphones
• Tablets (Nexus, iPad, Tab, Note, etc.)
• Windows 10 in S mode or Surface RT
• No running inside a virtual machine. You will be asked to reconnect using your host operating system to take your exam

1. TAMU-CC Office of Academic Testing
   • capacity is limited, call 361-825-2334 to find out the availability. 
2. Testing centers in Texas - Texas Educator Certification Examination Program
3. Testing centers at universities, colleges, schools -
   • National College Testing Association is dedicated to the promotion of professionalism and quality in the administration of testing services and programs, including issues relating to test administration, test development, test scoring, and assessment. Visit the NCTA Proctoring Network webpage to find a testing center.
   • Kryterion Testing Centers - A global network of High-stakes Online Secured Testing (HOST) locations through strategic partnerships with professional organizations such as colleges and universities, and testing and training companies.
4. Participating libraries, Sylvan Learning Centers, etc.
5. Individual proctors, with instructor's approval - supervisors, directors, military officers, law enforcement officers, judges, deans and department chairs, school administrators, and teachers. Proctors MAY NOT BE relatives, friends, other students, or persons residing at the same address.