Exams

Safe Exam Browser (SEB) is a browser similar to Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox that allows you to create a more secure assessment environment by turning your computer into a kind of "interactive kiosk" for answering tests via browser.

The use of this tool requires it to be properly installed on the machines through which students take the test, whether they are personal computers or Faculty computers.

In use in some Organic Units at U.Porto, SEB allows for increased levels of security, but like all tools it is not infallible.

Although it has been used very successfully in the classroom for several years, SEB does not control or monitor the student's physical environment in distance exams. There is no surveillance of the student's behavior. In this way, the use of SEB does not prevent the possibility of inappropriate behavior during assessment tests that take place remotely.

In addition, the need to install extra software on the student's computer can introduce noise into the process and should therefore be considered with caution.

Through specific configurations in the test, Moodle U.Porto interacts with SEB in such a way that the student can only answer the test if they access it through this secure browser.

Students can use Windows or macOS operating systems. It is not possible to use SEB in Linux environments or via virtual machines. Android devices are not supported. iOS devices are supported, but may not be the most suitable for certain exams (for example, those where extra applications are required or which include development questions).

Because several factors need to be weighed up and because they vary depending on the scenario (classroom exam VS distance exam; Faculty computers VS personal computers), if you have never used SEB for tests created in Moodle U.Porto, we recommend that you contact the IE team for more information.

SEB is activated in the test settings in Moodle. In the course Tutorials and FAQs you'll find a tutorial explaining how to activate SEB for your exam.

Windows:

• Download file
• Open the downloaded file and follow the installation instructions

Mac:

• Download file
• Open the downloaded .dmg file and follow the instructions to install it in the applications folder.

In the Tutorials and FAQs course, you'll find a tutorial that explains the steps students need to take to start/answer a test in Moodle with SEB active.