Using Zoom for Pen-and-Paper Exams and Electronic Exams Administered in Blackboard

This section gives some guidance on using Zoom for pen-and-paper exams and electronic exams administered in Blackboard.

Pen-and-Paper Exams

Set up by Students before exam starts.

  • Set up their webcam to:
    • Show a wide-view of their work area.
    • Focus their camera on themselves so that they still see their screen while making it obvious they are not using outside materials or communicating with others.
    • Ensure their individual test response is not readable on the video.

Students complete the exam and close-out when exam ends.

  • Once the students complete the exam, they:
    • Take a picture or scan their completed exam.
    • Email the completed exam to the instructor or add it as an attachment to the Blackboard test or assignment that was set up by the instructor.

For document scanning with a phone, students may use:

Electronic Exams

Setup by Instructor.

  • Upload and format test in Blackboard. Tests that are programmed in Blackboard are only available to the students in that Blackboard section.
  • Schedule the test directly in Blackboard.
  • In Blackboard, set date and time restrictions; provide instructions for using computer audio-only; and set the session to record automatically (note that this must be set up prior to the test).
  • Before the test, email the password out to all students in the class. Note: this setting was originally used for exams in physical spaces such as labs where the password would be given to students (e.g. written on the board or handed out to them); it was used to check that the students were present.
  • Schedule a meeting in Zoom.

Setup by Students.

  • Set up their webcam to:
    • Show a wide-view of their work area.
    • Focus their camera on themselves so that they still see their screen while making it obvious they are not using outside materials or communicating with others.
    • Ensure their individual test response is not readable on the video.
  • Students would be expected to share their screens on demand from the instructor.

Delivering the Electronic Exam Online in Zoom.

  • Instructor and students meet in the Zoom session at the scheduled time.
  • Instructor may ask student(s) to show their Fordham ID.
  • Instructor explains expectations, including time limits.
  • Once the test has begun, the instructor turns their video off and mutes themselves.
  • Any communication between the instructor and the student takes place in the private chat.
  • The instructor may ask the student to share their screen at any time.