Assessment FAQ

ACC has developed an online live proctoring platform designed to accommodate Chromebook users, as well as students with Windows or Mac PCs and laptops. DE personnel will monitor the student live through Class for Zoom while the student takes the exam.

For all the details and instructions, please go to Testing Guide.

Please contact:

Zuleyka Izquierdo, Manager
Distance Education Testing
512-223-0461
deproctoring@austincc.edu

For all the details and instructions, please go to Testing Guide.

For all the details and instructions, please go to Testing Guide.

For all the details and instructions, please go to Testing Guide.

Please contact:

Zuleyka Izquierdo, Manager
Distance Education Testing
512-223-0461
deproctoring@austincc.edu

Respondus LockDown Browser is a specialized web browser that secures a student’s computer during an online exam in Blackboard. It prevents students from accessing other browsers/tabs, copying, pasting, taking screen captures, using instant messaging programs, accessing other applications, or accessing other websites (unless configured to allow access to specified external sites).

The Respondus LockDown Browser may be used as a stand-alone testing tool or it may be used with Respondus Monitor to add another level of security to the testing environment. Respondus Monitor records video of the student using their webcam and microphone. It serves as a deterrent to students using secondary computers, phones, calculators, textbooks, or receiving assistance from other students.

Respondus LockDown Browser prevents students from accessing other browsers/tabs, copying, pasting, taking screen captures, using instant messaging programs, accessing other applications, or accessing other websites (unless configured to allow access to specified external sites).

Respondus Monitor adds another layer of security on top of the Respondus LockDown Browser features of recording video of the student using their webcam and microphone. It serves as a deterrent to students using secondary computers, phones, calculators, textbooks, or receiving assistance from other students. Requires students to have a webcam and microphone.

Visit the Respondus tool page to help you get started.

Windows: 10, 8, 7 (note: Windows 10 S version is not compatible)
Mac: OS X 10.10 or higher
iOS: 10.0+ (iPad only)
Web camera (internal or external) & microphone [Respondus Monitor only]
A broadband internet connection

Yes, they are compatible. Visit the Testing Guide.

Additional information is available here: http://support.respondus.com/support/index.php?/default_import/Knowledgebase/Article/View/186/0/can-an-ipad-be-used-with-lockdown-browser

Please email facultysupport@austincc.edu to request assistance for creating and formatting questions in Respondus.

MAC users can access Respondus via the ACC Faculty Virtual Desktop. The Respondus test bank software is now available on the Faculty Virtual Desktop.

If you have not enabled the Faculty Virtual Desktop, you can do so here. Visit the Teaching & Learning Knowledge Base for how to set up Respondus.

Students must download and install the LockDown Browser on their system. iPad users need to download the LockDown Browser app from the Apple App Store. (ACC-issued iPads will have the Respondus LockDown Browser pre-installed.)

Students must use the LockDown Browser to navigate to the course in Blackboard and access the exam. Inform students not to attempt to start the test through another browser (Chrome, Firefox, etc.) as the exam will not launch.

Please direct your students to the following page for the link to download the Respondus Lockdown Browser and read a quick start guide:

Respondus Help Pages

Please visit the following links for comprehensive information regarding Respondus/Respondus LockDown Browser and Respondus Monitor:

• • Testing Guide
  • Teaching & Learning Knowledge Base
  • Respondus Tool page

The Blackboard Ally feature is available in all Blackboard shells to support accessibility of documents online. Ally doesn’t change how anything works in your course, and won’t affect your course files. You’ll notice in your course red, orange, light green, and dark green gauges next to your course files. These are “Ally Indicators” and they let you know the accessibility of the file. The indicators are only visible to instructors in the course. Simply click the indicator to read detailed feedback about what the accessibility issues are with the file, why they matter, and how to fix them.

Ally automatically generates “alternative formats” of your course files, and makes them available to you and your students by clicking the dropdown icon next to the file name. The alternative formats don’t affect your original file and allow students to access an HTML version for their phone, an ePub version for their tablet, an MP3 version for audio, and electronic braille for braille readers.

Blackboard Ally Knowledgebase

Testing with Accommodations

Testing accommodations are administered by each campus academic testing center.

Students with the accommodations listed below are instructed to schedule appointments to test at least five (5) business days in advance. Once the student schedules their testing appointment, SASTest@austincc.edu will contact you to provide you with the location of the exam and gather instructions for test administration.  Please respond in a timely manner to our request.

Instructor receives an email from SASTest@austincc.eduwhen a student makes an appointment with any of the following accommodations:

• Magnifiers (CCTV, JAWS, ZoomText/Fusion, etc.)
• Kurzweil/Text to Speech
• Live reader/scribe needed
• Enlarged font, alternative format for printed exams
• Use of Speech Recognition software
• Reduced distraction testing environment
• Other accommodations that require SAS make the test accessible for the student

Instructor submits test directly to the Testing Center if accommodations include any or all of the following:

• Extended testing time
• Breaks during exams 
• Drinks/snacks
• Sunglasses/Colored Tinted Glasses
• Headphones (not plugged into anything)
• Instructor approved open book/notes/note cards
• Medical devices (oxygen, insulin pump, etc.)
• Computer for essay exams

Please submit the test and the testing center transmittal indicating “SAS Test Only” and list of approved accommodations per the Notice of Approved Accommodations directly to the Testing/Assessment Center.

****The HLC testing center will be undergoing renovation during the fall semester and will not be available.  Testing will have limited space. We may ask that students be allowed to test at another campus, or remotely, to ensure they receive their accommodations.

For additional information, please visit our website: austincc.edu/SAS.

If you have any questions regarding testing, please contact SASTest@austincc.edu.  For questions about accommodations, please contact Dr. Lauren Sebel, Director – Student Accessibility Services at lsebel@austincc.edu.

JAWS/ZoomText/Fusion/NVDA — This software can work with the latest versions of Respondus. If the student is having issues accessing quizzes and exams with their screen reader, please notify sastest@austincc.edu to help make arrangements for your students.

Kurzweil — Latest versions of Respondus are compatible with Kurzweil. Some limitations may require students to set up appointments with SAS Testing for their exams.

Please read the Multiple Attempts section on the Blackboard Help page.

For a test with one attempt, you can allow more attempts for a student who is blind and wants to use screen reader technology for the first time.

If the settings exist for a test or survey, you can create these exceptions:

• Number of attempts
• Timer
• Availability: Date and time the test is available to the student or group
• Force completion
• Restrict location

Please use the guides below to help you make your Word and PPT docs accessible:

• PowerPoint Guide (PDF)
• Word Doc Guide (PDF)

If you have additional questions, please email: AltText@austincc.edu, or

Sean Loraas

sloraas@austincc.edu

Meg Kareithi

megan.kareithi@austincc.edu

If a student in your course uses Kurzweil as an accommodation, please find below some useful information about the screen reader Kurzweil 3000 and its Internet browser extension, Kurzweil Read the Web:

• If testing on Blackboard: students can use Kurzweil via Read the Web extension, no password needed.
• If testing on Blackboard with Respondus LockDown browser:
  Respondus and Kurzweil are newly compatible. Students can use the latest version of Respondus Lockdown Browser with Kurzweil as an extension. (Please note: there are some limitations to this update, and some students may need further assistance from SAS Testing.)
• I’m just providing a pdf document: That works! The student will be able to open the pdf within Kurzweil 3000.

To learn more about this topic, please read the following booklet:

The New Accessibility: Students With Disabilities and Access to Technology