Policies & Instructions for Using Laptop Computers on Exams

Students who elect to type their exams must use PC laptop computers. Students will be permitted to use their laptop computers [computers] on final exams IF the instructor giving the exam authorizes such use. The College of Law will administer "closed hard drive" exams using the Extegrity Exam 4.0 software. This software operates like a simple word processor but prevents the student from accessing data on his or her computer's hard drive during the exam. Following are policies and procedures that will govern use of computers on exams. Please direct questions to rocketlawcomputing@hotmail.com or Bob Wilson.

1. Computers may be used on exams only with prior authorization from the instructor giving the exam.
   
   
2. Students wishing to use computers under the "closed hard drive" procedures on any exam must indicate their intent to do so by indicating on a list maintained for that purpose by the instructor of each class in which the instructor has given students the option to take exams on a laptop computer. Students must sign the list by the end of classes each semester. Students who sign-up to use a computer on an exam may later withdraw their election and take the exam using pen and paper, provided the student gives appropriate notice to the instructor. Students who do not sign-up, however, will not be permitted to use a laptop computer on their exams.
   
   
3. Students must download the Extegrity Exam 4.0 software onto their hard drives well in advance of their first exams. To do so, students should go to the Extegrity website at www.extegrity.com. Students then should follow the posted instructions to download and install the Extegrity software directly from that site. The University of Toledo School of Law has purchased a site license for the software, so there is no charge to the student. After selecting "Download" you may be prompted to either "open" the file or "save" it to your computer. If so, choose the "save" option and allow the program to save the software to the "Exam40-toledo" default location on your hard drive. When the downloading is complete, double-click on the "Exam40" icon that appears on your desktop to start the program.
   
   
4. Students must test the Extegrity software and become familiar with its operation BEFORE they arrive to take their exams. After installing the software, students should take a practice exam using the software to familiarize themselves with the program's operation. To do so, students should start the Extegrity program and follow the directions to begin a new exam. The program will prompt the student to progress through several screens, entering requested information. At the "Exam ID" prompt, students taking a practice exam may enter anything. At the "Start Code" prompt, students should enter "PRACTICE####" (in all caps – the #’s being the last 4 digits of their social security number). Students taking a practice exam may leave the "Control Code" prompt blank. [Note: On an actual exam, students will receive a specific "Exam ID," "Start Code," and "Control Code" from the instructor or proctor.] After entering and confirming the information, students may click the "Begin Exam" button to begin the practice session. Students may use these procedures to practice as often as they like. If the screen on which students type their answers is too small, the size can be increased by adjusting the screen resolution on the student's individual laptop.
   
   
5. On the day of their exams, students should make sure their computer and software are operating properly. As a precaution, students should make sure their laptop batteries are fully charged. There will be bluebooks provided and students should bring pens/pencils just in case they are needed. Students submitting the exam electronically should also save it on floppy disk/CD/or USB drive to ensure availability if problems occur with electronic submission.
   
   
6. Once in the exam room, students will be given instructions about when to begin the exam using the Extegrity software. Before starting the exam, each student should write on the disk/CD his/her anonymous exam number, the name of the course, and the name of the instructor. After opening the Extegrity software, each student will enter his/her anonymous exam number (twice), the name of the course, and the name of the instructor. Students then will set the duration of the exam and may choose to enable certain "time-remaining alerts." After going through an additional screen that explains the software, students will enter a "Start Code" and a "Control Code" that will be given to them in each exam. After verifying the data entered, students will click "Next" to begin the exam.
   
   
7. Once a student begins an exam, the Extegrity program operates like a simple word processor. It saves the data automatically to the student's hard drive every 10 seconds, but the data is encrypted so that it can be accessed only with special codes and software. The program also records the elapsed time. It will alert the student when time expires. The program will let the student continue typing, but it will also record the time used.
   
   
8. When students finish the exam, the Extegrity program will prompt them to "save" their exam answers to the floppy/CD/or USB drive or the network. When students have finished the exam, they should select the "save to disk" or the “send electronically” (if they have the wireless connection) option. After saving to the floppy/CD/or USB drive or sending electronically, students should select "end exam" and exit the Extegrity program. Once students save the answer and "log out," the program will not permit them to re-enter their answers. Although the answers will remain on the students' hard drives, they cannot be accessed without special codes and software to read the encrypted data. As a precaution, students should keep the answers on their hard drives until final grades are released. The law school can retrieve the answer from a student's hard drive if for some reason the answer cannot be printed from a student's floppy disk/CD/or USB or electronic submission.
   
   
9. If students save their answers on the floppy disk/CD/or USB, they should deliver it to their instructors.
   
   
10. Instructors will place all the disks/CD/USB's from a single exam in a large envelope and label the envelope. The envelope should indicate the name of the instructor, the course, the number of students who used the Extegrity program, and the number of disks/CD/USB's in the envelope.
    
    
11. Instructors will deliver the envelope containing the floppy disks/CD/USB's to the Associate Dean as soon as possible during regular business hours. The Associate Dean will have the exam answers printed and notify the instructor when they are ready to be picked up.
    
    
12. A few PC laptop computers are available on loan from the LaValley Law Library.  Sign up early as the laptops are "first come, first served."
    
    
13. NOTICE: The Law School is NOT responsible for any equipment failure during the exam, will not provide a back-up laptop, and will not allot extra time to enable students to address equipment failure. Students who experience equipment failure must continue the exam by writing in bluebooks in the laptop room. All other exam rules above and in the Code of Student Professional Conduct pertain to laptop users.