Category Archives: Uncategorized

All Those Test Options in Blackboard & How to Give a Synchronous Test*

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This blog entry is going to focus on the options in Blackboard that have to do with the timing of an test.

When you are first creating the Test.. these options are found under the Test Information area and span a few sections.  If you have already made the test you can find these options by clicking the chevron next to the test name and clicking “Edit the Test Options”.

Force Completion


When you set this option, if the student looses the connection or accidentally closes the browser, they will be unable to go back and finish the test. (Without you having to intervene anyway.)  We don’t recommend enabling this setting.

Set Timer

This option gives the student a visible countdown timer during the test. It begins after the test description and instructions have been displayed. If Auto-Submit  is selected, at the end of the count down, it ends the test, no matter where they were.  If Auto-Submit is not checked, you will see an exclamation point in the grade center and have the option to adjust the grade, if they went long.

If the Force Completion is not set, and a student looses their connection or accidentally closes the browser, they will be able to continue taking the test, and the timer will continue from when it initially started. (eg., If they loose the connection for 10 minutes, they loose that 10 minutes.)

Display After and Until

A better way of handling whether students can see the test, rather than the “Make the Link Available” option.  Also consider, they can’t start what they cannot see.  *So if you want everyone to be done by 1pm and you have a 30 minute timer with auto-submit enabled, consider Display Until to end around 12:30. 

Due Date

Due dates (and times) do not affect the test availability (unless you choose the Do not allow students to start the Test if the due date has passed option), but rather provide a flag on the test if it was started or ended after the due date/time.

Test Availability Exceptions

This section allows you to make test rule exceptions for people that need accommodations, or have other needs depending on language or technology situations.

If these 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

 

Have any interesting testing stories to tell?  What other testing options do you have questions about?  Please comment below!

New Live Streaming Attendance Feature

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This new feature is available for those instructors who have live streaming turned on inside of Echo360.  It will show, as seen below, who is logged into the live stream, as well as log this information (and the total connection time) for your use in calculating attendance.

If this feature makes a difference in your decision on whether you want to turn on live streaming, please contact us at tlt_its@stonybrook.edu to make any changes to your capture schedule.

Do you use clickers in your class? Please make sure you let the new bookstore know

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Follett Discover
Early today, the following email was sent from our Bookstore Liason to all instructors.   If you use clickers, please make sure  you indicate that you do when you submit your request trough Follett.
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Dear Faculty & Department Administrators,

We have begun to transition to our new official bookstore provider, Follett, and we invite you to select the course materials you need through Follett Discover Adopt, the online course material requisition tool.

Remember, there will not be a brick-and-mortar bookstore on campus. All of your “required and recommended” course materials will be available for students to purchase in time for the Summer I, II and Fall 2018 semesters on the stonybrookshop.com website with available shipping to their home, campus store or campus address.

Our goal is to have all of your course materials up on SOLAR by the time class registration begins. Providing your requisition on time ensures that the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance is met and that students can shop early to obtain their course materials at the best prices. By letting Follett know if you will be using the same course materials in upcoming semesters, they can offer our students more money for their course materials at buyback.

The due date for submitting course materials requests for Summer and Fall 2018 is Monday, April 2nd. If you do not require any course materials for your class, please indicate “No Text Required” in the online portal. Additional information and reminders about placing your course material requisitions will be sent to you via subsequent emails.

Open House

Follett will be hosting an Open House event on Wednesday, March 7th from 12:00pm – 2:30pm at Charles B. Wang Center, room 301. We invite you to attend so that Follett can introduce you to the new course material requisition tool and how to log into the portal.

 
Please click the invite below to RSVP:

https://form.jotform.com/80514357000141

Book Buyback

Please remind your students that Follett will be hosting book buyback events at the end of the spring semester at Shop Red West and Shop Red East. When they sell back their textbooks to Follett, it helps other students get the best prices for used books next semester. Textbook rental returns through Amazon@StonyBrook can be dropped off at the campus pickup point location in the Melville library.

Desk Copies

If you would like a complimentary desk copy for the course you are teaching, you can request a digital copy of the book through the Follett Discover Adopt online portal.

The Bookstore Liaison’s Office is here to support you and will answer any questions or concerns you may have. Please reach us at Bookstore_Liaison@stonybrook.edu or call 631.632.9828.

Sincerely,

The Bookstore Liaison Team

Office of the Bookstore’s Liaison
We are located at the following address:

Office of the Bookstore Liaison — Faculty Student Association
East Side Dining
157 Circle Drive
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, NY 11794-4180
C2E: Committed to Excellence!