Alternative Testing Resource Guide – Spring 2008

Faculty rely on a variety of options to accommodate time and space accommodations in the department. Student and faculty schedules permitting, students who are recommended for extended time only may begin the test early and finish with the class or begin with the class and then continue after to the conclusion of the regular class exam. A departmental office or the classroom assigned to the course if it is vacant before or after the class can serve as the location for the extended time portion of the exam.

When a student has an accommodation recommendation that includes extended time and small group or private testing, or when schedules prevent the above option, an alternative test space needs to be located and additional consideration for proctoring is made. Again, faculty utilize a variety of options that include the following:

• Contacting the department's Timetable representative to secure an additional testing room adjacent to or near the classroom, allowing students to easily reach instructors if questions occur, and instructional staff to monitor test security. Call 262-6345 for the name and number of the department's Timetable representative.
• Permitting students to take the exam in a building library or quiet office space with a clearly communicated expectation that the honor code with regard to test integrity will be maintained.
• Working with existing academic support programs in the building to provide testing space and proctors. Departments that use this model include the Math Department, the Athletic Department and the UW Medical School.

When faculty have secured testing space but lack a proctor to administer the test, the Testing and Evaluation Office has a campus-wide proctor pool available for the Spring 2008 semester to support departmental test proctoring. To request a proctor, please contact Ben Fortney by email at testing.coordinator@exams.wisc.edu with the begin and end times for the accommodated exam, the exam location, the number of proctors needed, and the best time to be reached to discuss obtaining and returning the completed exam.

Enlarged Exam

Exams may be enlarged through several methods:

• Increasing the font to the student's preferred size and printing a copy for the student’s use
• Printing the exam and enlarging it on a copy machine
• Enlarging the exam as a whole by printing the exam on larger paper (helpful when exams contain graphs, charts, diagrams, etc.)
• Allowing use of a student's own portable magnification device
• Allowing use of a student's own computer equipped with screen enlarging software

If these options don't work, faculty and students can work with the Testing and Evaluation Office to arrange for use of video magnifiers (CCTVs) or Zoomtext screen enlarging software.

Audio Exams

Exams may be converted to audio format through several methods:

• Recording the exam to an audio format for use during the exam
• Reading the exam directly to the student
• Allowing use of the student's own computer with voice output software which will read the electronic copy of the exam. Make sure the exam does not contain content that may cause problems with the voice output software (e.g., math, graphics, etc.)

If these options don't work, faculty and students can work with the Testing and Evaluation Office to arrange for use of voice output software (JAWS and Kurzweil 3000).

Options for computer access include the following: (In deciding what option to use, faculty should consider whether access to the internet is a factor.)

• Using a departmental desktop or laptop computer
• Using a computer in one of the campus computer labs or libraries
• Using a McBurney laptop computer (Laptops with Microsoft Word are available on a first-come, first-served basis; advance reservations are recommended.)
• Allowing use of a student's own computer, particularly when students have specialized software or hardware that make the computer accessible for their disability. This may include screen reading or voice recognition software, an adaptive keyboard, or another adaptive device. Faculty should feel comfortable consulting with the McBurney Center regarding this option.

If these options don't work, faculty and students can work with the Testing and Evaluation to arrange for use of computers with common adaptive software and hardware. These computers do not have internet access.

Faculty are reminded that students are held to the same expectations with regard to academic integrity including appropriate use of any accommodations used in the testing process. Concerns about cheating will be handled through the Student Advocacy and Judicial Affairs in the Office of the Dean of Students. The McBurney Center staff is available to consult with faculty throughout the accommodation process.

Each department has an Access and Accommodation Resource Coordinator (AARC). This individual serves as a resource to faculty in the accommodation process and has received training in addressing issues that arise in providing course accommodations. Faculty are encouraged to contact their AARC (see http://www.wisc.edu/adac/facstaff/coord.html), as needed.

The McBurney Disability Resource Center is available to problem solve with individual faculty or departments as needed. Please email McBurney at mcburney@odos.wisc.edu or call 263-2741 for assistance.

The Testing and Evaluation Office serves in a limited capacity to provide nonstandard accommodations to students with disabilities and support faculty who encounter exceptional circumstances in meeting the test accommodation needs of their students. For the Spring 2008 semester, they are also providing a proctor pool faculty may use, if needed. To discuss exceptional circumstances that might require additional assistance, please contact the McBurney Disability Resource Center at 263-2741 or mcburney@odos.wisc.edu.