Online Assessment Platforms

Assessment Transition

There are a lot of factors to consider when thinking about transitioning your quizzes and exams to an online format. One such factor is deciding on which platform might be best for you to use. While the benefits of using less paper, faster grading and feedback, easier data analysis of student performance, those can all be undone if the right platform for your needs is not chosen. While no platform is foolproof, below are some of the options available to instructors at Penn State Altoona.

Platform Options

Canvas

Canvas is the easiest way to transition your assessments to an online format. These can be built within your Canvas course shell and will report automatically to the gradebook. 

To help support test security, you can also add in parameters such as time limits, availability windows, restricted views of questions (one at a time, no going back, etc.), randomized question and option orders, and question banks.

Additional methods of maximizing test security in Canvas natively and found through the Canvas Community Forum and Penn State’s Canvas Learning Center.

Respondus Lockdown Browser

Respondus Lockdown Browser is now available in all classroom lab spaces (STEC classrooms). This program works in conjunction with prebuilt Canvas Quizzes.

Using this browser prohibits students from navigating away from the testing environment. It also disables the ability to copy content, take screenshots, and use browser extensions. Respondus keeps students solely in Canvas.

The Penn State Knowledge Base article on Respondus Lockdown Browser provides step-by-step instructions for instructor setup of the Canvas LTI and student use.

Top Hat Test

Top Hat Test provides another route for helping to ensure academic integrity in testing for lower stakes assessments. It is recommended that students are familiar with Top Hat generally before use.

While the University does not recommend Top Hat for high stakes exams, Top Hat can restrict students from navigating away from the test environment and taking screenshots. A Proctor Report also allows you to monitor the class during testing.

More information about setup, use, and development of these assessments can be found on the Top Hat Test webpage. You may also consider using Top Hat’s Concierge Service to build your tests.

Additional Third Party Options

Some units or departments may also have access to other third party platforms for online test security. Such platforms include, but are not limited to, Honorlock, Examity, Gradescope, and ExamSoft. Some of these programs may require additional licensing and payment for instructor and student use, which should be considered prior to using those platforms. Make sure all software being used in your courses has been reviewed by Courseware at Penn State. Please reach out to an instructional designer if you would like assistance in choosing the right platform for your needs or have further questions about any of those listed above.

Assessment Features and Platform Options