PROBLEM SCOPE: WHICH EXAMS ARE AFFECTED?
This problem affects Blackboard exams where the students submit their answers by uploading a document (such as a PDF) and the instructor provides feedback by marking up that document and uploading the submission/file to the 'Bb exam feedback section' of the Grade Center.
PROBLEM DESCRIPTION
The Exam Feedback tool's functionality has changed, and students may now see a their exam questions along with your feedback. Please review the changes (below) and adjust the affected settings to avoid exam integrity issues.
Previously:
After collecting and grading exam submissions, instructors could upload a copy of each student's submission with their own mark-up, and make that document available to each student without allowing them to access the original exam questions. All of the test options > exam feedback options could be turned off, so only this document and the overall grade would be available to students after they have turned in their exam.
Currently:
To share the marked-up document with students, instructors must check the box under Test Options > SHOW TEST RESULTS AND FEEDBACK TO STUDENTS > FEEDBACK:
This may present a problem, because checking any of the options here allows students to access the exam questions and blank exam PDF/document along with the feedback document you wanted to share. Here is an example of the feedback (resulting from the above settings), seen from the students' view.
Students may open My Grades and click the assignment name:
Then click the number under Calculated Grade:
This opens the Review Submission page where they can access the feedback document. Because of changes to the Feedback settings, they can now see the original questions (with blank document / printable exam questions, if one was linked there) as well:
PROPOSED SOLUTIONS
To share only the finished document with feedback, not the blank document with exam questions, instructors may use the following work-arounds:
- When creating the exam, separate the it into two parts/items in Blackboard: one item for the questions and exam document download/printing, and a second item with one question, used for document submission/feedback. Instructors can then turn on feedback for the second item only, so students can't access the first section (containing the questions and blank exam). Additionally, the first item's column may be completely hidden in the Grade Center – students can access their grades/feedback under the second item's column.
- Host the printable exam PDF in OneDrive or Dropbox, and use time-restrictions to make the document available only within a certain exam window. After that time has passed, the title of the link will still be visible in Blackboard, but the file itself won't be accessible to students. Post-test, exam feedback may be provided by uploading a reviewed copy of each student's exam to their Feedback section in the Grade Center. This means that students who have submitted their exam won't be able to access the blank exam document again, but they will still be able to see the document you choose to upload in their Exam Feedback. Note: This method is not recommended for asynchronous exams; file settings in OneDrive/Dropbox would need to be updated frequently or for each student.
Example: Add the blank exam document as a PDF link inside of a Blackboard test question, then in OneDrive, adjust the sharing settings of the PDF: Click 'Private' > click the ellipses '...' > set access to 'Can view' to prevent editing, and choose an expiration date (may want to match due date/end of exam availability window).
- Call TTaDA to discuss solutions that will work best in your class, or make an appointment to meet with an Instructional Designer: 701-777-2129.
November 2021 - Blackboard is aware of this change in functionality. A copy of their report can be found in the Attachments section of this Knowledge Base article (in the menu on the right). We will update this article when a solution (or more information) becomes available.
Contact Us
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