Setting up a Synchronous Quiz

Synchronous quizzes are an optional type of quiz where students take their attempts simultaneously. Synchronous quizzes may be convenient for in-class sessions and can provide an online quiz-taking experience that is similar to the traditional on paper test set up.

With a synchronous quiz, the quiz timer starts at the start time, rather than when the student opens the quiz. For example, if an hour long quiz starts at 10:00 a.m. and a student opens the quiz at 10:15 a.m., they will see that they only have 45 minutes left to submit.

Note: Asynchronous quizzes will function as usual: each student can start the quiz at any time within the quiz availability window, and each student’s timer begins when they enter the quiz.

To enable Synchronous Quizzing

  1. When creating or editing a quiz, under Timing & Display, check the box for Set Time Limit and enter your desired time.
Image of Time and Display when Setting up Synchronous Quizzes

2. Click Timer Settings and select Synchronous.

Image of Timer Settings to choose Synchronous Quizzes

3. Click OK to save.

4. If a start timer has not been established, TCU Online will show a red warning in both the Timing window and the Timing & Display tab after you select OK.

Image of no start date set for synchronous quizzes

5. The Start Date and Time can be set under Availability Dates and Conditions.

Image of no start date set in timing and display for synchronous quiz

 

Items of Note

As you begin using synchronous quizzing, keep the following in mind.

  1. When you pick a start date, the default start time will be 12:01 a.m. Remember to change this to the actual time of your quiz. Image of start time default at 12:01 am
  2. Due date and end date do not need to be established. An end time is automatically enforced based on the timer you set. Image of Due Date Not Applicable
  3. By default, one quiz attempts is allowed. If you allow multiple attempts, students who finish their first attempts prior to the end of the time limit will be able to immediately begin a second attempt.
  4. As long as accommodations are set at the course level, they will be honored with synchronous quizzing. If a student with a time accommodation enters a quiz late, they will still get their extended timer, but will forfeit the time that has passed.

What students will see

Students will not notice much when taking a Synchronous Quiz. When they click on the quiz name to start the quiz, the Summary screen with quiz details will appear as usual. At the bottom of the Summary page, under Instructions, students will receive a message letting them know when the timer reaches zero their answers will be automatically saved and submitted.

Prior to the start time of the quiz, the summary page will also include a timer counting down to the start time. Image showing how much time until quiz begins

The Start Quiz button will become active at the established start time. Once students click Start Quiz to begin their attempt, they will notice a timer in the upper right-hand corner of the quiz screen.

If they hover over the timer with their mouse, they will see an option to hide the timer.

Image of students able to hide timer in a synchronous quiz

If, at any time, a student clicks on the X in upper right-hand corner of the quiz screen, they will receive the following message warning them that the quiz timer will not be paused.