[Athen] Accessibility with Blackboard and Secure Exam Browser

[Lester, Patti]

Mike,

FSU uses Faronics Insight at the testing center and we use it at our center as well.  The program provides monitoring of desktops, the ability to take snapshots of the desktop, ability to lock down a system, and allows one to limit the web or block it without any noticeable alterations to the assistive software used -JAWS, Magic or Zoomtext- at least none that we have noted thus far. The only thing that Insight blocks is the task manager-alt + control+ delete- so that students cannot tamper with the Insight program installed. 
You can download a 30 day trial to see if this works for your institution.

http://www.faronics.com/enterprise/insight/


Patti Lester, MLS, AT Lab Coordinator
Student Disability Resource Center
Florida State University
874 Traditions Way
108 Student Services Building
Tallahassee, Florida 32306-4167
(850) 644-5532
 
 
 
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-----Original Message-----
From: athen-list-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu [mailto:athen-list-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu] On Behalf Of Mike Gibson
Sent: Tuesday, March 27, 2012 2:06 PM
To: Access Technology Higher Education Network
Subject: [Athen] Accessibility with Blackboard and Secure Exam Browser

Afternoon all,

The testing center on our campus is finally willing to consider providing accessible testing accomodations to ZoomText and JAWS users, (something I have been pushing to move out of the DRC for quite awhile). They are using Secure Exam Browser for all Blackboard exams. This basically locks down the computer so the only thing that can be done is log into Blackboard and take the exam and nothing else. As a part of the lock down it also locks out most keyboard shortcuts A JAWS user would find essential like insert+F7, alt+F4, just to name a couple. Has anyone successfully implemented JAWS access via this browser? What contortions did you have to go through in order to make it acessible? Are there any acceptable alternatives to Secure Exam Browser?
My first impulse is to tell them to dump the browser when it comes to accessible testing, but I want to at least demonstrate a good faith efert of finding a solution.

Thanks in advance.

Mike


Mike Gibson
Assistive Technology Coordinator
Boise State University
Disability Resource Center
1910 University Dr.
Boise, ID 83725-1375
O: (208) 426-1583
F: (208) 426-3785
Email: mikegibson at boisestate.edu
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