Blocking Student Access to Exams/Assignments

Case Study

Due to a serious academic violation, Lindsey wants to remove one student's ability to take a test or submit an assignment in Blackboard.

Possible methods

• Password. Add a or change a password and distribute to the rest of the class. This option would work for exams, but doesn't affect assignments.
• Groups. The student could also be placed in a group by himself, and the rest of the class grouped together. Only the large group would be given access to the tests and assignment areas. While this will work, it is somewhat cumbersome.
• Adaptive Release. Lindsey could restrict access to the remaining tests and assignments by creating rules that determine the visibility of the content item to users. But Lindsey thinks this option involves more work than she wants to tackle right now.
• Grade Center. If a score of zero is added to the test and assignment columns in the grade center, Blackboard will "know" the activity has already been scored. The student will be unable to enter a test or submit an assignment.

Lindsey decides to add zeros to the grade center, since this method is simple and direct. However, she is aware of three different ways to add a score in the grade center. These are:

1. Entering a score directly in a cell from the main grade center screen
2. Adding a score by using the Override button on the Grade Details screen.
3. Adding a score by using the Modify Attempt button on the Grade Details screen.

Working with the Help Desk, Lindsey finds only the third option will provide the result she wants.

• Go to Grade Center
• Find an assignment or test that needs to be blocked for the student.
• In the cell, click the chevron and select Grade Details
  
  
  
  
• Enter the zero on the Grade Details screen
  
  
  
  
• Click Save.
  
  
  
  
• Return to the Grade Center.

If the student attempts to enter an Exam, the student will see the following error message:

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If the student attempts to view and submit an Assignment, the student will see a Review Submission screen instead of an expected Upload Assignment screen. The score is also displayed, along with instructor comments (if any).

 

Other uses?

Lindsey also found that this technique worked well when the due date has passed for an assignment and she did not want to accept late assignments from students.

Please note: If either of the other two methods (mentioned above) for entering a zero in the Grade Center are employed, the student will see a zero in My Grades, but will be able to take a test or submit an assignment. Again, only the method outlined above will prevent the student from submitting a Blackboard assignment or seeing a test.

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