The Options Tab
This is where you can start editing how your lesson will behave. The lesson tab is split up into 4 different sections
Before Taking Options
To edit the following BEFORE taking lesson options, change any of the following and press Save Changes, or use your Back button to cancel. This section has options relating the BEFORE this lesson has been taken.
Be sure to use the Save Changes button to save your changes between moving from page to page. If you navigate to another screen prior to pressing the Save Changes button, any changes you may have made will not be saved.
Authentication Page Options
(optional) As a security measure, prior to starting a specific test, exam or program, you can require users to validate against a previously entered value in a custom field. For example, if a custom user field is added to contain users' driver's license numbers before a user is allowed to start a test, they would need to enter in their correct driver's license number.
If there are no custom user fields setup to authenticate against the settings for this feature will be ignored.
Custom user fields are set up by Superusers under the Manage Settings menu.
More than one custom user field can be set up for authentication. When the feature is used for a lesson, then all the custom user fields set up for authentication will be displayed to your test takers. If you are using any of the custom user field features that hide custom user fields from users based on user group membership, then those fields will not be included in any authentication.
Two types of authentication are available. 'Challenge' authentication is used to prevent a user from starting content unless they know the value of the field they are being challenged to provide. 'Verification' authentication is used to capture (and save) the information you are asking a user to provide. From a security perspective, 'Challenge' authentication is stronger because the application is actually comparing what a user has entered against information already entered in the application, while 'Verification' authentication only collects data. For 'Challenge' authentication if no value was previously entered to compare against, then the application will collect (and save) whatever value is entered and then will then let the user proceed with starting their content.
If a user is able to restart/resume any occurrence of a lesson they have already started, then user WILL NOT be required to authenticate again for the lesson. This is a system-wide setting that can be changed by your GAUGE/test.com representative.
If a user is re-taking a lesson, and they previously successfully authenticated, and have not logged out of the application from the last time they authenticated, then on the retake, the user will not have to authenticate again for the lesson.
If the proctor feature is used to prevent a user from taking a lesson until the proctor has entered their credentials, then any authentication will occur after this step. If a proctor is set up to take or print a lesson on behalf of a user, then proctor will not need to also authenticate on behalf of a user.
Use the authenticate checkbox to turn on this feature. If no custom user fields are set up to allow for authentication, then this feature will be ignored. The optional Custom Text box will display whatever it entered there to test takers on the authentication page. Typically text entered in that text box is used to provide additional directions to test takers regarding the required authentication.
Instructions Display Options
The following settings control how instructions are presented to the test taker when this lesson is being taken. These settings are for the entire lesson, not individual lesson pages. Instructions for individual lesson pages are controlled where pages are added and edited.
All except the first setting below requires the entry of Custom Text or HTML in the text box below. If this Custom Text Box is left blank, the settings that require it will be ignored.
Display System Generated Instructions Sub Header on start taking page (recommended)
Display System Generated Instructions Body Text on start taking page (recommended)
Show Custom Text Instructions on Start Taking Page under system generated instructions if being displayed
Show Custom Text Instructions on Special Page Between start taking page and the first page of lesson pages
Show Custom Text Instructions on Top of All Lesson Pages using expand and collapsible panel
Page Display Preferences (Before Taking)
The following settings control page preferences on the While Taking pages.
Use the checkbox to enable an additional top of the page appendix text. Any text in the text field will be displayed at the top of the page during the test.
Email Start Taking Notice Options
Once a lesson is newly selected AND STARTED by a user, the following notice (any text in the text field) will be automatically emailed. If selected and if the notice text is left blank, the application will generate a system generated notice. The notice field supports the entry of HTML.
Email When Purchased Notice Options
Once a lesson is newly purchased by a user, the following notice (any text in the text field) will be automatically emailed. If the following notice text is left blank (and no template has been chosen), the application will generate a system generated notice. The notice field supports the entry of HTML.
While Taking Options
Time Limit and Minimum Time Frame Settings
The following are advanced settings that control the time limit. Time limit is ignored if a zero value is entered. If used, this application will automatically display a timer on the page when this lesson is being taken.
(Optional Setting) When the timer expires automatically complete the lesson (if not checked the lesson will be marked as INCOMPLETE when the timer expires)
(Optional Setting) Use the Time Limit as a Minimum Time Frame. When checked, a user will not be able to finish/complete a lesson until the timer value is GREATER than the Time Limit entered.
Option To Display This Lesson While Being Taken In Secure Window
The following option, if selected, will open a lesson automatically in a secure pop-up window while being taken. In most browsers, the secure this popup window will prevent both the screen capture and printing of the window.
One should note the functionality of this feature is limited. Some browser security settings may not permit this functionally, but will still let the test taker proceed to take the lesson.
When this feature is enabled, the test taker will need to make sure all popup blocker are disabled on their computer and some test takers may have more than one popup blocker that would require being disabled. iPads, iPhones and other smartphones have will require disabling popup blocking under their settings and preferences menus.
There're Better Alternatives to Secure Your Tests/Exams Than Using This Feature with the likelihood most users have smartphones with cameras, there's no technical solution to stop these users from taking pictures of test/exam questions. This is a legacy feature somewhat now outdated.
To mitigate the ability of your users from stealing and cheating use these features instead: Randomize your questions. Randomize your possible answers. Use questions banks that contain more questions than what you're including in the test. Consider, using the features that prevent users from navigating back and forth, and skipping questions. If using the bookmarking features, use the feature that prevents the listing of question text on one page. Be sure to use a timer, and set the timer so the users don't have enough time to answer the questions and then go back and take pictures of your test. At the conclusion of the test, consider hiding your question text and correct answers. For higher stakes testing, use our Proctoring features.
Page Display Preferences (While Taking)
The following settings control page preferences on the While Taking pages.
Use the checkbox to enable an additional top of the page appendix text. Any text in the text field will be displayed at the top of the page during the test.
After Taking Options
Results Header/Footer Text (on the Final Page) Option
(optional) The following text will be presented (any text in the text field) on the last page when the test taker finishes taking this lesson. This page can replace the results page if the No Results Page checkbox is selected below. The text field supports the entry of HTML. If the Show check box is not chosen, any text entered will be ignored.
Page Display Preferences (Finished Taking Page)
The following settings control page preferences on the Final/Finished Taking page.
Many settings listed above also impact the display of the Finished Taking page. Such as, review the following information in these sub headers: Options on How Results are Displayed to Users, Results Header/Footer Text and/or Results Header Pass or Fail Append Text.
For additional system behaviors, navigate as a Superuser to Advanced Account Site Settings under the Manage Settings menu.
For color, font and table look and feel settings, navigate as a Superuser to Look and Feel choice under the Manage Settings menu.
Finished Taking Page Title/Headline enter optional text (leave blank to use the default setting - recommended)
Taking Limits
Restart/Resume Limit Options
The following are the restart/resume limit options for a lesson.
(Optional Setting)Allow a Test Taker to Stop and Restart/Resume taking this lesson (recommended)
(Optional Setting)No Start New if not finished taking (for stop and restart/resume feature)(recommended)
(Optional Setting) Include Stop Taking Button for all content including stop and restart/resume feature(recommended)
Retake Limit Options
The image below shows how the Retake Limit Options are laid out.
