Testing Options
There are many ways to complete assessments in your blended or web-enhanced courses. You may put your assessments onto FOL or have students complete them during class time.
Note: an assessment can be a component of a blended hour but should not be exclusively used for evaluations.
Any assessments that require proctoring should be completed during one of the class hours.
How do I know if I’m teaching a Blended or Web-Enhanced course?
You can find your delivery mode through your timetable or your course code.
In-class Tests
If you are completing a multiple choice/true & false test or section of a test, you can choose to use Akindi. Akindi is a program that generates bubble sheets and automatically grades them for you (an updated version of a Scantron test).
You can find a comprehensive instruction sheet for Akindi here: Akindi for Multiple Choice Tests. Ask your colleagues or your EST for more information about how they use Akndi. You can also refer to the FanshaweOnline Help Files on using Akindni.
You can also contact ODL for Professional Development training opportunities for using Akindi.
Students with Accommodations
Students with identified accommodations through Accessibility Services may choose to write their test in the Test Centre. If students decide to write in the Test Centre, they make an appointment through the online booking tool. You will then be sent a link to the scheduling tool (you can also find it on the FOL homepage by going to Resources > Professor Accessibility Services). Click on the course, fill in the form and attach the test.
- Remind your students they must book their tests at least 7 days in advance.
- The day after the test has been completed, you can pick it up from the Test Centre Office in Room F3005, London Campus.
Note: WRIT prompts differ from regular tests, and there is a different procedure for students with accommodations.
The Test Center
The Test Centre at the London Campus provides full assessment services to Fanshawe students studying at any campus. Students can write paper or computer-based assessments by appointment only in their modern facility. The test center provides the following support:
- Students with disabilities: Students registered with Accessibility Services can arrange to have in-person testing where needed for all modes of delivery (in-person, blended and fully online programs).
- Students who miss an in-class assessment. With your professor’s approval and cooperation, you can take your test after the scheduled test date in our facility during hours of operation.
- Students with connectivity issues and other preventions from writing at home: Contact your professor to request the option to write your test on campus.
Missed Tests
If a student misses a test and is eligible to write a makeup test, they can write it in the Test Centre. Arrange the makeup date with the student and complete the Test Centre portal page cover sheet. Drop off the correctly completed cover sheet along with the test, answer sheet/booklet, and any other resources required at the Test Centre in F3005. The test must arrive at least one hour before the test begins.
All testing is appointment-based and should be scheduled at least two (2) business days in advance.
Note: Seating in the Test Centre is on a first-come, first-served basis, and students might not be able to write at the pre-arranged time during busy periods.
You can pick up the test from the Test Centre Office in F3005 the day after it is written.
For current faculty, please visit the Testing Center page in the MyFanshawe Portal for additional information and access to the Testing Cover Sheet. Need help? Email testcentre@fanshawec.ca
Final Exams
The date and time will be scheduled during exam week if your course has a final exam (you can find this in your Course Outline/Plan).
The Academic Planner will email you at the beginning of the term with specific instructions on providing exam information about your course(s). Closer to exam week, the Planner will email instructions for exam week, including the invigilation list. You will need to look up your course if it has a final exam to find out who your invigilator is so that you can give them the materials for the exam.
Testing for Online Courses
There are two types of testing in online courses: Non-proctored tests that students complete on their own through FOL and proctored tests that require supervision. You should make every effort to limit or eliminate the need for proctored assessments.
Using Respndus Monitor with Lockdown Browser
Respondus LockDown Browser (LDB) provides a secure test environment when using FanshaweOnline quizzes and is available for all quizzes. The LockDown Browser will prevent students from exiting the quiz and from accessing the Internet or any computer software while the quiz is in progress. Students taking a quiz that is Respondus LockDown Browser enabled cannot copy, paste, print, or access the Internet or any other applications on their computer system.
Respondus Monitor (+ Webcam) builds on the LockDown Browser technology to deter cheating during non-proctored exams. The automated solution is not live-proctored (no person invigilating) but rather a “record and review” option. The student is recorded while taking a test, and the video is saved to the LockDown Browser dashboard for your review.
For full details on using Respondus in FanshaweOnline for testing, please refer to the FanshaweOnline Help guides located directly within FOL or contact your Educational Support Technologist for additional assistance.
Live Poctering Through Smarter Services
If an online test must be proctored using a “Live” proctor, the college uses SmarterProctoring Services when needed. Faculty can use SmarterProctoring for high-stakes exams where a live Procter is required, but they must first get permission from their Associate Dean in LLs if they decide to use it for their courses.
If you choose the virtual proctoring service option, you must set up the scheduling tool for your course and input the information for the test. It is advised that you use the FOL quiz function for the assessment.
To set up a test using SmarterProcters within FanshaweOnline, please review the Online Proctoring (Hybrid Virtual Proctoring) guide located directly within FOL. If you require assistance, make an appointment with your Educational Support Technologist.
Online Students with Accommodations
The process for Online students with identified accommodations may differ based on the option they choose to use. Students who need to write on campus may choose to write their test in the Test Centre. If students decide to write in the Test Centre, they make an appointment through the online booking tool. You will then be sent a cover sheet to complete. You will need to drop off the correctly completed cover sheet along with the test information and/or answer sheet/booklet and any other resources required at the Test Centre in F3005.
The day after the test has been completed, you can pick it up from the Test Centre Office in F3005.
Ideas from Instructors For Online Testing
- If you’re using Live Proctoring, then poll the students at least a month in advance with options for test dates. This gives you time to book a room, set things up on SmarterProctoring, and also allows students to adjust their schedules if necessary.
- Create different versions of your test right from the beginning so that you do not have to worry (as much) about cheating.
- Post reviews and information about the test. Think about what you would typically tell students in class – how to prepare, the structure of the test, what they are allowed to bring…etc. Your online students want this information, too!
- Unlike in class, students cannot ask questions to clarify, so if there are any mistakes on the test, it will throw them off! Get another teacher in the same discipline to review your test to ensure there are no mistakes and that the questions are interpreted the way you meant them.
- Send out a few reminders about the test – a week before, a couple of days before and the day of the test. It is easy for the students to forget about the test date since it is not part of their usual weekly routine for the course. Make sure to add your testing dates to your course Calendar.
- Try to input your test through the quiz function. This will allow you to set times for the students to view the test; it only allows one attempt and enforces a strict time limit. It also prevents students from downloading a copy of the test that can be distributed to other students.
- Go in and play around with the system before you are required to administer your test. FOL has a robust quizzing tool with many options that require set-up.
- Include as much detail as possible for the proctor. If a student needs to upload a document to FOL, what can they use – their phone or a scanner? What do you want them to do with the hard-copy document afterwards? What do you want them to do with the digital document afterwards?
- Check and double-check that you have set up the test to be available for the student during their scheduled time.
