Richard G Baldwin (512) 223-4758, NRG Room 4238, Baldwin@DickBaldwin.com, http://www.austincc.edu/baldwin/

ITSE2317 Java Programming (Intermediate)

This material applies to classroom sections and Distance Learning sections taught by Professor Baldwin.

Instructions for Accessing and Taking Blackboard Tests

Fall 2018

Revised: 07/08/18

The official web page for this course is ITSE2317.htm


An orientation test

See the following documents for a discussion and explanation of a required orientation test named Test00.

Test00 is an open-book, open-computer, online Blackboard test that is based on the material pointed to by the orientation link listed above. You may take the test as many times as you need from any computer that allows you to log into your Blackboard course. (Test00 is not to be taken in an ACC testing center.) 

While the submission deadline for Test00 is the same as the submission deadline for Test03 at the end of the semester, you will need to achieve a score of at least 80 on Test00 as early in the semester as possible to gain access to the assignments.

The following instructions do not apply to Test00. Briefly, Test00 covers the conduct of the course while Test01, Test02, and Test03, (discussed below), cover the content of the course.

Three proctored competency tests

You must complete three proctored competency tests -- one for each of the three competencies -- by selecting Test01, Test02, and Test03 in the left-side menu in Blackboard.

(See detailed instructions below for taking the test in an ACC Testing Center using the Respondus Lockdown Browser.)

Each test will disappear from Blackboard when the scheduled submission deadline expires.

You may take Test01 and Test02 up to two times each before the submission deadline. Your highest score among the two scores for each test will be used to compute your final grade. However, you may take Test03 only once.

Test contents

Test questions are generally of a multiple-choice and True/False variety. They are drawn from various sections of my online EBook titled IITSE2317 - Java Programming (Intermediate) as shown below.

Test01

Test02

Test03

Study for the tests

Some students do well on the tests. Many students do poorly on the tests. Therefore, you are encouraged to carefully study the material in the appropriate section identified above prior to taking each test.

Note that some of the material in the above list contains links to other material at cnx.org or elsewhere on the web. That other material is also included in the recommended study material for the tests.

If you do poorly on Test01 or Test02, you should study some more and take the test again for your second and final attempt.

Pay particular attention to the questions, answers, and explanations scattered throughout the documents in the above list. Many (but not all) of the test questions are taken from the questions in those documents. If you understand the correct answers to those questions and can reflect that knowledge under test conditions, you should do well on the tests. If you don't understand those answers, you will simply be guessing and may do poorly on the tests.

Feedback on the tests

Different students will be taking the tests at different times during the semester and each student is allowed to take Test01 and Test02 up to two times. Therefore, in order to maintain the integrity of the tests, I cannot review your answers with you after you take a test.

However, when you Save and Submit a test, you will be given an opportunity to Click OK to review results. Your view of the results will include each question followed by your Selected Answer. The score for each question will be shown on the right side of the screen. If that score is zero, the answer that you selected was not correct. Therefore, you will be able to see which questions you answered correctly and which questions you answered incorrectly when you review the results.

(You will receive additional feedback when you Save and Submit Test03, which you can take only once.)

If you do poorly on Test01 or Test02, you should go back and review the questions, answers, and explanations scattered throughout the documents in the above list to determine the correct answers to the questions that you answered incorrectly and then take the test again for your second and final attempt.

Taking the proctored tests

Distance learning students

Distance learning students are required to take the tests in an ACC Academic Testing Center (except for remote proctoring as described below). They are not allowed to take their tests in a Computer Studies and Advanced Technology computer lab on the second floor of Building 4000 on the Northridge campus.

If you are required to take your tests in an ACC Academic Testing Center, it is your responsibility to make all necessary arrangements with the testing center to complete the tests, including accessibility, hours of operation, etc. It is also your responsibility to comply with the Testing Center Guidelines. (In the event that you find the above link broken, you can search for and access testing center requirements from the main ACC web site.)

Instructions for accessing/taking a Blackboard test in an ACC Testing Center

Click here to view a set of instructions compiled by Dr. R.L.Martinez, who has been using this mode of testing with his Distance Learning students for several semesters.

Remote proctoring of Blackboard tests

If you are not located in or near Austin, TX, you will need to make arrangements for remote proctoring. See the Distance Testing page at http://dl.austincc.edu/students/DistanceTesting.php  In the event that the link is broken, search the main ACC website for Distance Testing and notify your instructor of the situation.

Prof. Baldwin has no way of knowing where Distance Learning students are actually located. If this requirement applies to you, it is your responsibility to make the necessary arrangements without input or assistance from Prof. Baldwin. However, you will need to notify Prof. Baldwin that you are making such arrangements so that he can provide the necessary passwords to Mr. Peterson.

Other students

Students who are not enrolled in a Distance Learning section of the course simply need to notify Prof. Baldwin of the desire to take Test01 or Test02 during the first ten minutes of any regularly scheduled class or lab period for the course. (Students may also take the test during Prof. Baldwin's office hours.) Prof. Baldwin will supply the password and supervise the taking of the test during those periods.

Those students will need to confer with Dr. Martinez (who assists Prof. Baldwin in this course) to learn the rules regarding the taking of Test03.

-end-

File: ITSE2317TestInstructions.htm

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