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HELPFUL RESOURCES >BLACKBOARD>FAQ>PREVENTING STUDENTS FROM CHEATING

How do I prevent cheating on Blackboard assessments?

There is not one way to completely prevent students from cheating during a Blackboard assessment. However, there are many options instructors can employ to deter students from cheating during a Blackboard assessment.

• Use question pools to give each student a different set of questions on an assessment.
• Randomize questions so each student receives the assessment questions in a different order.
• Give students a time limit so they don't have time to look up all of the answers to the assessment in the textbook or online.
• Test students using open-ended questions that have numerous responses or using higher-level questions requiring complex application.

To setup question pools for a Blackboard assessment:

1. Click Course Tools>Tests, Surveys, and Pools from the Control Panel.
   
   
2. Click Pool Manager.
   
3. To create a new question pool, click Add Pool.
   
4. Give the pool a name, description and instructions then click Submit. This will open the Pool Canvas page (which is similar to the Test Canvas page).
   
5. Use the Create Question menu to add test questions or import questions from an existing test or survey. Click a question type to add the question.
    

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To randomize assessment questions:

1. Once an assessment is added to a content area, you are taken to the Test Options page. (If the assessment was added previously, click Modify the Test options from the dropdown menu.)
   

2. Scroll down to #5 Test Presentation and check the box next to Randomize Questions. Click Submit to apply the change.
   

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To set a time limit:

1. Once an assessment is added to a content area, you are taken to the Test Options page. (If the assessment was added previously, click Modify the Test options from the dropdown menu.)

2. Scroll down to #2 Test Availability and check the box next to Set Timer. Input the time allowed for the assessment using the Hours and Minutes drop-down boxes. Click Submit to add the timer.
   
   Note: The test timer will not "kick students out" of an assessment when they reach the end of the allotted testing period. Instead, Blackboard will allow the students to complete the assessment and will record a "!" instead of a score to alert the instructor to check the test and make any modifications to the score (if necessary).

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Open-ended and Higher-level questions:

An open-ended question is one which has many acceptable answers. Blackboard allows for short-answer and essay question types, and by using these alone, or in conjunction with multiple choice questions, instructors can more readily assess whether the student has mastered the material. By asking these types of questions, it also becomes easier for an instructor to distinguish between original student work and plagiarism.

Higher-level questions require students to think critically and go beyond the recall of facts to the application, analysis, and synthesis of information. Even multiple choice questions can be carefully worded to require a higher level of knowledge to successfully answer, and using these types of questions in conjunction with a time limit can prevent students from being able to look up answers in their text.

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