Jump to ContentJump to Navigation/Login
` ` ` ` ` `

[Register]

Occasional ATutor release updates


No Members Logged In

(11 guests in past 15 min.)

Access Understanding Web Accessibility to learn about accessibility, or Register to take the course for FREE.

Support Forums

ATutor Support

Prevent backtracking and forcing completion on tests?


You must be signed-in to post.

AuthorSubject
  Page: 1
debearl
Subject: Prevent backtracking and forcing completion on tests?Quote this post in your reply
IS there a way to prevent backtracking (or navigating) to content pages and forcing completion of tests. I am concerned about students being able to access the material while taking test and cheating.

If you are asking for help, provide lots of detail so problems can be reproduced.

Things to describe:
Operating system ATutor is installed on - Windows NT 5.2
ATutor version - 2.0.2
Patch #s applied -
ATutor theme name -
PHP version - 5.2.5
MySQL version - 5.0.45
Webserver & version -
Copies of error messages -
Changes to default settings -
Web browser being used -
...and anything else relevant -
Posted: 2011-02-22 20:40:56
greg

Avatar for greg
Subject: Re: Prevent backtracking and forcing completion on tests?Quote this post in your reply
See this thread:
atutor.ca/view/2/19592/1.html
Posted: 2011-02-22 20:50:08
debearl
Subject: Re: Prevent backtracking and forcing completion on tests?Quote this post in your reply
Thank you for your quick response. That thread did help.

But in response to: It would not take much to prevent students from viewing content while taking a test, assuming they only have one Web browser. We could prevent more than a single login at a time, so they could not login in another browser, but there are advantages to being able to login in multiple browsers.

I did find that I could access the test, click on the content page, and then click the back button in my browser. I was able to continue taking the test after viewing the content page even though I only have one browser.

Is there anyway to hide the content pages while taking a test?

Thanks again for your help.
Posted: 2011-02-22 21:17:41
greg

Avatar for greg
Subject: Re: Prevent backtracking and forcing completion on tests?Quote this post in your reply
No. Content cannot be hidden while taking a test.

The point I was trying to make, even it were hidden, which is not very difficult to implement, a user could easily open another browser to view the content, or someone could be watching over their should with the answers. Online testing, without invigilation, is not suitable for high stakes assessment.
Posted: 2011-02-22 21:49:12
IndieRect

Avatar for IndieRect
Subject: Re: Prevent backtracking and forcing completion on tests?Quote this post in your reply
Debra,
We've considered implementing such a feature in our university ourselves, but found it pointless.
Students have so many possibilities to cheat with all the easy-to-conceal gadgets available (like smartphones and hands-free devices) that, if they decide to do so, it's nearly impossible to prevent. For example, they could browse the content of the same course from a hand-held in parallel or have someone dictate them answers from afar.

So it seems that there are two options here.
The first one is to have somebody physically oversee the test-taking process. In addition, you could record the session with technical means to tighten things up if you wish, or limit the time for taking a test, but those are complementing features at best (and they aren't part of ATutor).
The second options is to lower the importance of each individual test or of tests in general. That would reduce students' incentives to cheat.
Posted: 2011-02-23 08:30:18
debearl
Subject: Re: Prevent backtracking and forcing completion on tests?Quote this post in your reply
Thanks for the helpful suggestions. I'll work on placing less emphasis on the tests and look into your other ideas. Thanks again!
Posted: 2011-02-23 19:50:55
IndieRect

Avatar for IndieRect
Subject: Re: Prevent backtracking and forcing completion on tests?Quote this post in your reply
You're welcome.
Posted: 2011-02-24 08:07:05
 Page: 1

You must be signed-in to post.