Digital examinations in Moodle

The instruction belongs to the following themes

By selecting a degree programme you are able to see the general content as well as the possible degree programme-specific content. You do not have to select a degree programme to see the Open University's instructions.

Moodle exams are taken under supervision in the exam hall on your own device or as remote exams at a location of your choice. Instructions for both exams below.

A digital on-site examination in Moodle

The a digital examination is taken on your own device (laptop or tablet) in Moodle or another learning environment. The exam can be organized either so that access to other websites or documents stored on the device is not restricted during the exam, or so that during the exam you only have access to the exam in the Moodle area and any websites connected to it (for example, a dictionary). In this case, you must download the Safe Exam Browser (SEB) program on your device before the exam, which you start at the beginning of the exam from the Moodle exam area. These exams are called SEB exams.

The student must have a device with which it is possible to take the exam. It is the student's responsibility to download any software needed to complete the exam well in advance of the exam. The student must also test the operation of the software before the examination begins. The electronic classroom exam uses the wireless Eduroam network.

Eduroam network connection

Digital on-site examinations are organised in the University examination rooms where Eduroam is available. There are also other wireless networks available, but Eduroam is the preferred network for the examination.

For example, if your username is username, you must log in to Eduroam with the username username@helsinki.fi or username@ad.helsinki.fi.

More detailed instructions on wireless networks

Mac users must make sure they have Eduroam installed as a profile file on their device

Logging into the Eduroam network can be tested in university buildings. If logging into the Eduroam network doesn't work right away, you should try it a few times.

If you notice that you cannot log in to Eduroam with your device even though you have previously used Eduroam and enabled your device to automatically log in to Eduroam, the reason may be that you have changed the password associated with your username. If you have changed your password after previously enabling automatic login to Eduroam, you will not be able to log in to Eduroam until you have changed your password in the Eduroam login details or forgotten the Eduroam network on your device. You must remove your old password in the login details or forget the network and log in again with your new password.

Instructions:

PC

  • Open the wireless connections icon from the bar at the bottom of the screen.
  • Select Properties by right clicking on it on Eduroam.
  • Select Forget.
  • Select Eduroam again and login with username@helsinki.fi and your password.

Mac

  • Open Keychain Access.
  • Enter Eduroam in the search field at the top. Open the Eduroam settings by double-clicking on the relevant line.
  • You can find the password at the bottom of the window that appears on the screen. You can edit the password by selecting Show Password.
  • The system will ask for the user’s own password (NB! This is not the password associated with your University username). Enter your password and click on Allow.
  • Next, you will be able to enter your new password (the password associated with your University username) in the field. To conclude, click on Save Changes.

iPad

  • Go to Settings > WI-FI
  • Select Eduroam.
  • Select Forget.
  • Select Eduroam again, and log in again: username@helsinki.fi and password.

 

Downloading Safe Exam Browser (SEB) 

SEB is a web browser that limits your device’s access only to the permitted Moodle examination area for the duration of the examination. The electronic material permitted during the examination can be found in the Moodle area. You can install SEB on Windows and MacOS devices and on iPads. SEB cannot be installed on Android, Chromebook, Linux or iPhone devices. 

The SEB program is started in exams by first logging into Moodle and the exam in question with the browser you normally use (for example Firefox), and then clicking Start safe exam browser.

Download Safe Exam Browser according to your operating system before the exam. Also take care of updating the SEB program.

When using SEB, you must remember your University of Helsinki username and password because the saved password function does not work in SEB. If you have unfinished work on your device, you must save it before you begin to use SEB.

 

Testing Safe Exam Browser (SEB) functionality

After you have downloaded the SEB program to your device, test its functionality with Moodle's test exam.

Go to the Moodle of the University of Helsinki with the browser you usually use (for example Firefox) and register as a student for the test course: Digital on-site examinations - Safe Exam Browser (SEB)

  1. Click open the test exam of your choice, read the instructions and start the SEB program by clicking Start safe exam browser (your device will switch to using the SEB program browser. Allow this if the operating system warns you about it). 
  2. You must log in to Moodle again and after that you can directly take the test exam of your choice (You don`t need a password for the test exam). 
  3. Complete the exam and return your exam. 
  4. Finally, close the SEB program using the Exit safe exam browser button.

Make sure that your device's latest information security and system updates and SEB program updates stay up to date.

In general examinations, there are backup devices if something unexpected happens to your device during the exam and you are unable to continue the exam with it. The backup device is an iPad with a separate keyboard.

If you have problems downloading the SEB program or taking the test exam, contact your campus' exam services.

Examination services of the University of Helsinki:

 

How to take the electronic on-site exam:

  • Arrive well in time for the examination so that any technical problems can be resolved before the exam begins.
  • Make sure you remember your University of Helsinki username and password, because automatic browser saving does not work when using the SEB program. If necessary, you can write your password on paper.
  • Remember to save your work in progress.
  • Make sure your device logs into the Eduroam network.
  • If you can't log in the first time, try again a few times.
  • Remember the form of the username and the deletion of a possibly expired password.
  • Ask the invigilators for help if you cannot log in. The Eduroam network is the primary network in electronic classroom exams. The invigilator will guide you to use other wireless networks if logging into the Eduroam network is not successful despite help.
  • Log in to Moodle at the University of Helsinki with the browser you usually use (for example Firefox) and search for your exam area and your exam from there.
  • The exam starts when the invigilators give permission for it by telling the exam password or giving permission to open the exam envelope containing the password.
  • If it is an SEB exam, start the SEB program as instructed. If you start the SEB program and your device freezes (red box) and an exit password is required. The exit password is not told to the students, so the invigilator takes your device and writes the exit password on it.
  • When the SEB program has started, log in to Moodle again (the usual form of the username - simple username, e.g. rkekiva).
  • In the Moodle exam area, click "Take exam now" and select "Start exam". Enter the password and take the exam. The exam is scheduled in Moodle, so the exam time is monitored from the device's clock.
  • Ask the invigilators for help immediately if you cannot start the exam.
  • When you have finished the exam, click "End exam". After that, click "Reset all and finish". This is done twice. Your device will now display a return page, which must be shown to the exam proctor so that your exam performance can be accepted.
  • Take your device and go to the invigilators. Show the exam return page, leave any draft papers you may have used and prove your identity to the exam invigilator (if it has not already been checked at the beginning of the exam). Confirm your participation. If it is an SEB exam, click on the "EXIT SAFE EXAM BROWSER" button only after this. Do this in front of the invigilator.
  • If you cannot exit Safe Exam Browser, an exit password is required. The exit password is not told to the students, so the proctor takes your device and writes the exit password on it.
  • Finally, you return to the Moodle area. Navigate away from the exam page, because initially you will still see the events from the period before the exam.
  • If you take two exams in the same session, you must first take the first exam and return it, and only then can you start the second exam. After returning the first exam, you will receive the password for the second exam from the invigilators.

Checklist for digital examinations in specific venues

  1. Remember to check that you have download  the latest version of Safe Exam Browser (update if it is necessary)
  2. Check that you have installed the latest data protection and system updates on your device before the examination. (See the Student’s Digital Skills learning material for instructions for Windows 10.) 
  3. Fully charge the battery on your device and take a charger with you. 
  4. If you wish to use a mouse at the examination, you should bring one. 
  5. Make sure that you remember your University username and password because automatic saving does not work in the Safe Exam Browser. If necessary, restore your password by authenticating yourself or visit one of the University’s ID Points. 
  6. Make sure that Eduroam is working on your device

Remote examination in Moodle

The way remote exams are performed varies. More detailed instructions can be found in the course information or from the examiner. 

The remote exam is taken on your own device (computer or tablet) in the Moodle learning environment at a specific time or within a specific time window at a place of your choice where you have a network connection.

The student must have a device with which it is possible to perform the exam. It is the student's responsibility to download any software needed to complete the exam well in advance of the exam. The student must also test the operation of the software before the examination begins.

Students registered for the examination can find the Moodle link for the examination, e.g. from your own courses in Moodle and/or course-page. The Moodle area is opened before the start of the examination. When the remote exam starts, the exam answer mode opens and you can see the questions. Use the refresh key (F5) if you don't see questions when the exam starts.

University of Helsinki students can e.g. download the Office package free of charge (more information on the IT-Helpdesk website).

Any kind of cheating and plagiarism is prohibited. Take a look in advance at the University of Helsinki's instruction page What is cheating and plagiarism? The University of Helsinki uses the plagiarism detection system Ouriginal. 

Tips for technical problems

  1. Make sure your device's operating system is updated to the latest version
  2. When you log in to the Eduroam network, remember that your username is of the form rkeskiva@ad.helsinki.fi (so not just a username).
  3. Remember that SEB is started in Moodle, not through the program.
  4. If SEB does not start, make sure you have downloaded or updated the program.
  5. If SEB freezes (red screen appears) or you can't get SEB to close, ask the invigilator to restart SEB. Only invigilators know the password that can be used to close SEB.
  6. Your answers are saved every couple of minutes in Moodle. If there is an error situation in the exam, once it is resolved, you can continue the exam from almost the same point where you left off.
  7. If you get an error message about a broken network connection, wait a while for the connection to be re-established. You can disconnect the Eduroam network and restart it from the network menu of your device.
  8. If the connection is not restored after a few minutes and the error message disappears, ask the exam invigilator for additional help. You may need to switch to another wireless network. Note! iPads do not display the network connections menu.
  9. Your answers are saved every couple of minutes in Moodle. If there is an error situation in the exam, once it is resolved, you can continue the exam from almost the same point where you left off.

 

Individual arrangements for digital examinations in specific venues and remote exams

Digital examinations in specific venues: if you need additional time, a quiet space or other individual arrangements for an examination, contact specialneeds@helsinki.fi well in advance, and no later than 10 days before the examination. Requests made later than this cannot necessarily be accommodated. Exam Services take care of individual arrangements in digital examinations in specific venues in general examinations.

Remote examinations: agree with the course teacher or a party indicated in the course description on any individual arrangements associated with online examinations held in conjunction with teaching. The teacher and degree programme are responsible for extending the duration of online examinations.

Further information on special examination arrangements