Once security is enabled, you can customize settings and configure additional options through the Schoolyear 'Settings widget'. This interface allows you to adjust various settings for the specific exam.
Accessing the Settings Widget
To access the Settings widget, you can do so through the Schoolyear dashboard or directly from the test application interface:
Option 1: Through the Schoolyear Dashboard
- Open the Schoolyear dashboard.
- Click on the title of your exam to access the exam-specific dashboard.
- In the top right corner of the screen, select 'Edit Exam'.
Option 2: Directly from the Test Application
Many test applications and LMS systems that are integrated with Schoolyear provide a direct button, labeled "Configure or Settings widget" to access the Schoolyear Settings widget. Contact your test application or LMS provider to locate this button within the application's interface.
What settings can I customise?
The following settings can be adjusted. Click the item for extra information.
Adding Additional URLs to the Allowlist
The allowlist, also known as the "whitelist," is a list of URLs that are permitted during an exam. This list includes the URLs of the test application where the student is taking the exam, as well as any additional websites that may serve as a resource during the exam. URLs that are not on the allowlist will be automatically blocked for the student.
To add extra URLs to the Allowlist, follow these steps:
- Enter the desired URL in the designated field.
- Click "Add."
- The URL will then be displayed on the list below.
Factors to Consider When Adding URLs to the Allowlist:
When adding URLs to the Allowlist, it is important to keep the following in mind:
Start page: The start page is the initial page that is displayed to the student when Schoolyear is launched. This is often the login page or the start page of the exam. Only one start page can be designated per exam. The start page can be changed by clicking on the blue flag icon of the specific URL. Note: If the exam was created through the test application (via the integration), the start page cannot be altered.
Allow All Pages on This URL: When adding an additional URL, you have the option to allow the entire website (e.g. all videos on www.youtube.com) or just one page (e.g. one video from youtube.com). By default, the option to allow all pages on the website is turned on. To limit access to a specific URL during the exam, move the slider to the left.
Hidden Redirect URLs: Some websites use multiple URLs when loading a page. This means that students may be briefly directed to another URL without realizing it. These URLs are referred to as hidden "Redirect" URLs and must be added to the Allowlist separately. It is recommended to thoroughly check URLs before adding them to the Allowlist for an actual exam. If an exam was created through the test application via the integration, the Redirect URLs have already been added to the Allowlist.
Enable Secure Apps
For each exam, you can determine whether the student is allowed to access only websites and PDFs or if they can also use a specific desktop application. When planning an exam or opening the settings widget, you will be asked whether you want to enable Secure Apps or not. If you enable Secure Apps, follow the steps below.
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Plan
At this step, you can indicate the number of students who will participate in the exam. You can also adjust the exam duration if needed.
Note: If you schedule an exam via an integration, the information will be automatically filled in. You can manually override this information in the settings widget by clicking on the connection icon.
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Select an App
At this step, you can select which application you want to allow during the exam.
Note: Some applications have a reservation time. This means that you need to plan ahead for certain applications and cannot create an exam on the spot. If the reservation time for an application has expired, you will be notified. You cannot select an application that has exceeded its reservation time.
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App options
For some applications, it is possible to manage additional settings. In the case of MS Office, you can turn the spell-check in Word on or off within this step. You can also determine in which language the MS Office environment should be available.
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Upload files
Enable the option here to let students submit their work in the Schoolyear dashboard. Note: if you don't enable this, don't forget to allow another website where students can submit the exam.
In this screen, you can also select the files from your local computer that students may use during an exam.
Advanced Settings
To access advanced settings, click on the "Advanced Settings" title. The following options will become visible:
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Laptop check
By default, Schoolyear treats every session as a real exam. With this option, you can turn a Schoolyear session into a laptop check. A laptop check works the same as a Device check. Just like with a device check, there are only a limited number of checks available per seven days.
If you enable this setting, a student will have to log in with Single Sign-On when starting the session. Once successful, the student can launch the Schoolyear environment. The fraud detection mechanisms are not active for this session. This setting is useful if you would like students to experience the full exam flow of Schoolyear in combination with an integrated testing application without surveillance being present.
Note: Use should never use this setting for a real exam.
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Enabling the Spell Checker
By default, Schoolyear blocks the spell checker that is normally available in a browser.
However, if you want to allow students to use the built-in spell checker on their computer during a test, you can lift the blockage. The spell checker depends on the user's operating system and is not dependent on the language of the website or the language that is currently selected in Schoolyear. On Windows, the spell checker is available for the language currently active in Windows. On MacOS, the spell check will try to detect the language and adjust accordingly.
If you want more control over the spell checker during, for example, writing tests, you can use Secure Apps in combination with Microsoft Word.
Note: Schoolyear blocks the spell check that is built into the browser. A test application may also have its own spell check feature that Schoolyear does not block.