Configuring Your Browser for Timed Tests

Occasionally, faculty members will create tests or quizzes in Blackboard that are timed. In other words, your instructor has set a time limit for the test, requiring you to submit the test before the time runs out. He or she will usually let you know in advance what the penalty is for not submitting the test on time. Once you begin the test, you'll see in the information at the top of the test that it is a Timed Assessment, along with the time limit for the test. At the bottom-left of your browser window, in the Status Bar of the browser, you should see an indicator of how much time has elapsed since you began the test. These instructions explain how to configure your browser to make sure that the time indicator does indeed appear as you are taking the test. Please choose the section of these instructions based on your preferred browser:

Windows Browsers

Firefox

In Firefox, the timer displays in the Status Bar in the bottom-left corner of the browser window:

Timer in Status Bar

In order to view that timer, you need to allow JavaScript programs to change the text in the Status Bar, and you also need to make sure that the Status Bar is being displayed in the browser:

  1. Within Firefox, click on the Tools menu, and click on Options:

    Change Options

  2. Click on the Content icon, and click on the Advanced... button next to "Enable JavaScript":

    Advanced JavaScript Options

  3. If it's not selected already, click in the check box next to "Change status bar text" to allow scripts to change text in the Status Bar in Firefox, and click on the OK button to record the change:

    Allow Scripts to Change Status Bar Text

  4. Click on the OK button to close out the Options dialog box.

  5. By default, the Status Bar does appear when you launch Firefox. To double-check that you have the Status Bar displayed, click on the View menu, and make sure there is a check mark next to the Status Bar in the menu that drops down:

    Display Status Bar

    If there is no check mark to the left of "Status Bar", click on Status Bar in that View menu to display the Status Bar for your browser.

    You have now configured Firefox so that it works well with timed tests in Blackboard.

Last revised April 5, 2006. Please send questions or comments to itec@bucknell.edu.