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

ITSE2321 Object-Oriented Programming

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

Instructions for Accessing and Taking Blackboard Tests

Spring 2017

Revised 10/22/16

The official web page for this course is ITSE2321.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 PracticeTest01, PracticeTest02, PracticeTest03, Test01, Test02, and Test03, (discussed below), cover the content of the course.

Three take-home practice tests

Students in this course are required to take online Blackboard practice tests according to the schedule given in the online syllabus.

You must complete three take-home practice tests -- one for each of the three competencies -- by selecting PracticeTest01, PracticeTest02, and PracticeTest03 in the left-side menu in Blackboard.

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

You may take each test an unlimited number of times before it expires. Your highest score among the scores for each test will be used to compute your final grade.

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 each test up to two times before it expires. Your highest score among the two scores for each test will be used to compute your final grade.

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 ITSE 2321 - Object-Oriented Programming (Java) and my other online EBooks as shown below.

PracticeTest01 and Test01

PracticeTest02 and Test02

PracticeTest03 and 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 list given above prior to taking each test. If you do poorly on a test, you should study some more and take the test again for your second and final attempt. (The practice tests may be taken an unlimited number of times on or before the submission deadline.)

Pay particular attention to the questions, answers, and explanations scattered throughout the documents in the above lists. 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 practice tests

When you Save and Submit a practice test, you will be given an opportunity to Click OK to review results. Your view of the results will consist of each question followed by your Selected Answer and possibly some additional information as well. 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 and it may be time for you do some more studying.

Feedback on the proctored tests

Different students will be taking the proctored tests at different times during the semester and each student is allowed to take each test 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, similar to the practice tests, you will be able to see which questions you answered incorrectly when you review the results.

If you do poorly on a test, you should simply go back and review the questions, answers, and explanations scattered throughout the documents in the above lists to determine which questions you are unable to answer correctly.

Taking the practice tests

The practice tests are open-book, open-computer, online Blackboard tests that can be taken an unlimited number of times on or before the expiration date from any computer that a student can use to log into Blackboard. (The practice tests must not be taken in an ACC Testing Center.)

Taking the proctored tests

Distance Learning students

Distance Learning (DIL) students are required to take their proctored 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 with Mr. Clark Peterson <cpeterso@austincc.edu> for remote proctoring of your tests. This can take some time to arrange. Therefore, you should begin the process as early in the semester as possible.

Prof. Baldwin has no way of knowing where Distance Learning students are physically 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 (DIL) section of the course must take their tests in a Computer Studies and Advanced Technology computer lab on the second floor of Building 4000 on the Northridge campus. They are not allowed to take their tests in an ACC Academic Testing Center.

Those students simply need to notify Prof. Baldwin of the desire to take the test during the first ten minutes of any regularly scheduled class or lab period for the course. Prof. Baldwin will supply the password and supervise the taking of the test during those periods.

-end-

File: ITSE2321TestInstructions.htm

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