Blackboard Test Guidelines

Following the guidelines below will help alleviate the problems that can sometimes occur during Blackboard tests.

1. Understand the various options that may be selected for your online exam. Options include the time for which a test is available, how many times the student may attempt to take the exam, and how questions are displayed. If you have any questions about test options, do not hesitate to contact UMOnline Support Services.
2. Be available so that students may contact you immediately if something should go wrong. Let students know how they may contact you (telephone, email, instant messenger, etc.) and when. If you will be unavailable for extended periods of time, inform students of when you will return messages.
3. Have a backup plan for students who cannot take the test during the scheduled time or who need extended time to take the exam. Contact UMOnline Support Services to discuss strategies for “unusual” testing circumstances.
4. Understand the symbols that will appear in the gradebook during and after the time that a student is taking a test.
   * Note that the lock symbol (In Progress) can also mean that the student has been locked out of the test.
5. Tell students that they must check their grades after submitting a test. When a test has been submitted successfully, a score or an exclamation mark will appear.
6. If the lock symbol appears in the student’s grades, the worst has occurred: the student has been locked out of the test. This can occur under the conditions outlined below.

How a student can be locked out of a test

1. The student leaves the test page while taking the test, i.e. to view course materials or another Web site
2. The student closes the browser window while taking the test
3. The student’s computer becomes disconnected from the Internet while taking the test
4. There is a problem with the campus network or the Blackboard servers

How to avoid the worst

Communicate the information above with your students! Warn them that they cannot leave the test page. Let them know that they need a reliable internet connection that will stay active during the test (there are a number of conditions that can interrupt a dial-up connection, such as call waiting.)

What you can do if the worst occurs

If a student has been locked out of his/her exam, you can reset it by following these steps:

1. In the gradebook, click on the lock symbol that appears for the student’s exam grade
2. Click the View button on the right-hand side of the screen
3. Click the Clear Attempt button in the upper right-hand corner

CAUTION: The lock symbol will be displayed in the instructor gradebook while the student is taking the test. You should not clear the attempt unless the student requests it!

UMOnline Support Services Contacts: