How to Do Respondus with the Fall 2019 Video and in This Class
What’s Here to Help You:
An “Advertisement” for Not Assuming What You Did Before Is OK
An “Advertisement” for How the 1-Page Checklist (Below) Can Help You in
3 Ways
Why You Must Deal with Respondus for the
Departmental Final Exam
How
to Avoid Getting an External Webcam and Microphone
Do
You Have to Have an External Webcam and a Microphone to Test at Home? Yes
What’s
Different about Respondus Facial Detection Options Chosen by the Instructor
Introduction to Respondus, the Penalties
List, and the Same List As a Way to Avoid Penalties
How Respondus Works in This Class with the
1st and 2nd Way
Instructions If You Are Going to Do the 1st
Way
Instructions If You Are Going to Do the 2nd
Way – Do It Early for More Points
How to Reach the Required Installation and
Launch Instructions and the Required Video
Last
term, more than 50% of students said they knew
how to do use Respondus correctly but they were amazingly wrong. Most said this is the
way their profs let them use Respondus.
I
certainly cannot deal with your past, but I can explain why I am doing what I
am doing in your present:
·
Given the importance as an accreditation issue for WCJC (and all
colleges) to show due diligence in preventing cheating, in my view WCJC—not me—determines how it wants
to stop cheating. My part of this effort
is to make sure what WCJC wants done to stop cheating, is done. I also want to
help students succeed at that as quickly as they can.
·
Given the above, students’ use of Respondus is wrong if they do not do it in the way
demonstrated in a video prepared by WCJC. It is available on the Blackboard
Login Page, in this folder, and in this link
1.
Some people have a trouble noticing things in videos.
To reduce that problem, the checklist tells you what your instructor noticed. Tip: Print the 1-page checklist below
this link. Check off each thing as
you watch the video.
2. Some people want to know how the instructor grades. To
reduce that problem, the checklist shows you exactly how the instructor grades and what penalties occur if you
do not prepare your environment for a test and do what the STEPS say for you to
do.
3. Many people have trouble
remembering what they figured out before. To
reduce that problem, you may use the checklist during a Respondus test. Just
say something like “using the checklist” and then show both sides of the page to me at
the beginning of the video that you
make when you take an exam monitored by Respondus.
Favor: Because
Respondus changed the order of its screens, WCJC redid its video, and I redid
my checklist. If you see something incorrect
or unclear
in this new checklist or in this How-to link, please
email me in Course Messages. In the Checklist, I placed 3 things in yellow. When you are using Respondus, if you
can answer those questions, please email. I will also be asking to see the
Director of Distance Education, but right now I think it is safe enough to let
you get going until I can get that appointment.
You do not have to set up your own computer for testing if you use
WCJC’s testing
facilities. Link Address: https://softchalkcloud.com/lesson/files/8hkmXWAjVbt9S4/Respondus%20LockDown%20&%20WCJC%20Open%20Computer%20Labs.pdf Tip: Make sure you tell
me in your video that you are in one of these testing facilities so I know how
to interpret the low noises in the background
You will need a computer, an external webcam and microphone, a reliable internet connection, and access to the WCJC Blackboard site. Following the method recommended by the Distance Education Department, this course requires an external (clip-able) webcam. (You may not use the internal webcam within your laptop.)
Tips for buying the external
webcam efficiently and cheaply.
I did check with Distance Education to confirm that it is still true that WCJC
bookstores have cheap but adequate external webcams. I also learned that
“students can also use their financial aid to purchase them if need be.”
Clip-able means that you:
1. Unclip the external webcam from your laptop or from the
monitor on a desktop computer.
2. Point the external webcam at your laptop
or desktop computer showing all of the areas left and right in
the checklist.
3. When you are done, clip the external webcam back on the
laptop or monitor of your desktop computer.
4. Then you look at Respondus Monitor’s screen to be sure the
external webcam is pointing at the “frame” that can contain your face and
shoulders and you stay in that position during the test.
Yes, you can scratch your nose or untwist your neck but stay in the “frame.”
In this course, you
instructor has chosen these settings for Respondus Monitor and facial
recognition:
·
Prevent students from starting the exam if face
cannot be detected during Startup Sequence. Note: you cannot start the exam until you fix this
problem.
·
Notify students during the exam if
face cannot be detected. Note: A “video window
will appear” so you fix this problem so that you
can continue with the test.
This course requires the use of Lockdown Browser for taking online exams. The Lockdown Browser software prevents a user from accessing other applications or going to other websites during an exam. The webcam records you during the exam to ensure you're only using resources that are permitted. Together, these tools make it possible for students to take online exams from any location, and at times that are convenient. It also creates a fair testing environment for everyone in the course. Instructions for downloading the Lockdown Browser software are posted in the course.
In the prior year, instructors were required to add this table to the syllabus. On the left, you see your required actions. On the right, if you do not do these things, you see how many points you will lose on your Final. I put high penalties because an on-campus student has to this and because these things are not “rocket science” but common sense.
|
Exam
Conduct Requirement: |
Consequence
for Violation of Exam Conduct: |
|
Valid photo ID shown |
|
|
Correct placement of webcam |
|
|
Complete environment scan |
|
|
Microphone turned on and recording |
Penalty up to minus 30 percentage
points |
|
Sufficient lighting of the testing environment |
|
|
Student is in seated position with computer on hard
surface (desk, table, TV tray etc.) |
Penalty up to minus 30 percentage
points |
|
Student remains in webcam view during exam |
Penalty up to 0 for the Exam |
|
No unauthorized materials near desk area |
Penalty up to 0 for the Exam |
|
No talking with others during the exam or playing of music
or other audio recordings. |
Penalty up to 0 for the Exam |
When you do something for the 1st time, it can be hard to guess. After watching Distance Education’s videos, attending their training classes, and monitoring students each term since Respondus started, I know tips for the things you need to do. If you have questions, just ask. (That’s part of what the Learning Discussions are for—and you make points.)
This table is the top part of
the Checklist. The bottom part is Tips for the 9 STEPS that Respondus has you
do.
|
Consequence for
Violation... |
|
|
Valid photo ID
shown – Tip: For STEP 6, most students use a current Texas Driver’s
License. If not, email a scan of the ID you propose
to your prof. |
|
|
Correct placement
of webcam -- Tip: For STEP 2 and STEP 8, use your required external clip-able webcam carefully
and follow all prompts. |
|
|
Complete
environment scan -- Tip: Do all in STEP 7. |
|
|
Microphone turned
on and recording -- Tip: Test it in STEP 2
and do not turn it
off. Caution: If I stop
hearing you, I will investigate. |
Penalty up to
minus 30 percentage points |
|
Sufficient lighting
of the testing environment—Tip: No sunglasses. No
hat. Your room and face well-lighted. (Favor: please wear clothes!) |
|
|
Student is in
seated position with computer on hard surface (desk, table, TV tray etc.) -- Tips: Notice the
points off if you don’t. Sitting on couches (where students hide answers) is
not worth 30 percentage points off. |
Penalty up to
minus 30 percentage points |
|
Student remains in
webcam view during exam – Tip: Stay in the frame
or Respondus will make you correct that to continue the test. |
Penalty up to 0 for the Exam |
|
No unauthorized
materials near desk area-- Tips: Do all in STEP 7.
Get everything out or the odds are I will notice. |
Penalty up to 0 for the Exam |
|
No talking with
others during the exam or playing of music or other audio recordings. Tips: Turn off
everything before you start. No headphones. No people in the
room. If in your home people just charge in, put up a sign on the door about
the penalty. Or go to a WCJC testing facility. |
Penalty up to 0 for the Exam |
In this course, you only use Respondus with the Final Exam. (Do notice the statement at the end of the syllabus about my reserving the right to change the syllabus.) In this course, you have two things to make this more flexible for you:
1. A 3-week period to meet the requirements, but do notice:
a. There are fewer points possible if you wait until the last opportunity to do the 2nd Way. Do it early so you can get more points!
b. Caution: If you do not act during that 3-week period, you cannot meet the requirements and therefore you cannot take the Final Exam and you cannot pass the course. Get it done early so you do not forget!
2. 2 Ways to meet the requirements
The 2 ways to meet the requirements are meant to help students with different experiences:
· 1st Way – For students who are experienced with using Respondus for taking exams at WCJC.
o You do not have to do the Sample Respondus Exam.
o You do have to follow the instructions in Respondus and 2 Ways to Be Able to Take the Final Exam. It tells you what to do and what to write in an email to your prof. What you sign stresses that this is your responsibility.
· 2nd Way —For students who have never taken a Respondus-monitored test at WCJC or who realize after they watch WCJC’s video that they were not doing it correctly before.
o You do have to do the Sample Respondus Exam.
o You do have to email your prof that you are ready for review. Your prof will review it and reply back with the marked checklist as feedback and—depending on the issues marked—you may have to do it over. Your prof is glad to help you.
1. You do not have to do the Sample Respondus Exam and I do not have to check it. Some of you should consider doing just for yourself:
a. Because it is new and has different screens
b. If you never used an external webcam and microphone
2. You write an email to your prof in Course Messages saying that you:
a. Have previously used Respondus Monitor
b. Have used the checklist as you watched WCJC’s Video since the new video became available in mid-September
c. Have an external clip-able webcam and microphone and will use it correctly
d. Have read the penalties for not meeting the requirements and realize your responsibilities
3. When the Final occurs, you take the Final while following the Respondus rules exactly and your instructor uses the checklist to grade your use of Respondus with the Final.
1. You do have to do the Sample Respondus Exam. Tip: The Sample Respondus Exam is at the bottom of this folder.
2. You do have to email your prof in Course Messages when you are ready for your prof to review it. Tip: Practice as much as you want.
3. Your prof will review it and reply back with the marked checklist as feedback and—depending on the issues marked—you may have to do it over. Your prof is glad to help you so you get this off your list (and mine).
4. When the Final occurs, you take the Final while following the Respondus rules exactly. If you did it correctly, your points for Respondus remain unchanged.
This bottom of this folder provides:
· Distance Education’s link to How to Test with Respondus available on Blackboard’s Login page and here. Link address: https://softchalkcloud.com/lesson/serve/8hkmXWAjVbt9S4/html.
· Distance Education’s Sample Respondus Exam that lets students practice as much as they want and—when they think they know how to do it—get feedback so they know if they are OK or must change how they do this.
When you click on the How to Test Respondus link, you see 3 choices:
|
|
||||
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
With all 3, be sure you look at what is below the video or initial information to check to see if there is information that might help you.
|
1 |
Provides all instructions for
downloading and installing —including for different devices--and a video. |
|
2 |
Provides all instructions for launching
the Test. Tip: Launching the test means you first
come in through the LockDown Browser (not your regular one). Follow the steps
to avoid misery. |
|
3 |
Provides at the beginning of the
video a reminder of how to launch a test. Provides just below
the video some tips to help you. Once the video begins the Startup
Sequence, use the Checklist provided in this folder so that you notice all that is expected
of you.
Check off what you see as you see it so you actually notice. Using the Checklist when you are
taking the Sample Respondus Exam and again when you take the Final Exam can
save you lost points and misery. If you see more that needs to be in
the checklist, please tell me and I’ll change the checklist. |