Academic Integrity in Online Assessments

Now that we have gotten further into the semester, many of you may have considered  utilizing some of the online functionality of Blackboard to give quizzes or tests in Blackboard. This thought for some is not without  concern about the academic integrity of the online environment. While this is a valid concer, the medium (online) should not be the reason for the concern since many of the same expressed concers with cheating in online courses or assessments also exist in a face-to-face course. The major issue addressed in this post is to provide faculty with an online strategies to address the concern.

One of the solutions the University of the District of Columbia has secured is the use of Respondus LockDown Browser. Respondus LockDown Browser™ is a custom browser that locks down the testing environment within Blackboard or any other learning management system. When students use Respondus LockDown Browser they are unable to print, copy, go to another URL, or access other applications. When an assessment is started, students are locked into it until they submit it for grading.

There are two upcoming webinars on Respondus LockDown Browser.

Each session provides a 30-minute overview of the product features, followed by a question-answer period. These sessions are great opportunities for anyone who might be new to LockDown Browser to learn more.

Here are the dates and times:

Respondus LockDown Browser: Reduce Cheating During Online Tests (45 minutes)
Wednesday, September 26th at 4 pm ET — Register
Thursday, September 27th at 2 pm ET— Register