Online exams
Concordia is introducing a new online exam platform - Concordia Online Exams (COLE). The COLE exam site has a user-friendly design that includes simple, intuitive navigation and enhanced features like split screen mode, a streamlined summary page and more.
Online exams on COLE will not be invigilated (proctored) unless stated in the course syllabus.
If your exam is on COLE, log in with your Moodle login credentials to access the exam. If your professor is running their exam on Moodle, it will be in your Moodle course. Your professor will provide further information. Exams administered on COLE will be timed online exams.
COLE (Concordia OnLine Exams) is a Moodle quiz tool. You use your Moodle login credentials to access COLE. This software includes features designed for student success, including autosave every 15 seconds, the ability to mark questions for review before submitting, and much more.
Yes. The COLE Exam site has undergone extensive security testing. Any issues that were identified during the testing phase have been resolved. We are ensuring the software stays up to date in order to maintain ongoing security.
A “timed online exam” refers to an exam taking place during the exam period that must be written in one sitting over no more than a three-hour time period. Other final assignments including take-home exams – even if these have a specific time duration – projects or quizzes, do not fall under these guidelines and are subject to the normal deferral and incomplete options available to students.
No. COLE itself does not use Zoom.
However, in live online proctoring situations, a combination of COLE and Zoom will be employed.
Visit the Learn, Teach and Work from Home site to request the equipment. The university may be able to supply an internet stick and a computer so that you can take your exam. All courses and exams are administered online and students must have the required equipment and a reliable internet connection to complete the term. If you have concerns about completing your program, speak to an academic advisor.
You may use your Concordia credentials to log into the COLE exam site where you will find practice exams and can become familiar with your online exam environment.
Yes, if your exam is not proctored. However, you will be losing time to complete your exam.
For any technical problems during an exam, you can call 1-888-202-8615.
The support team will record your issue and either assist you immediately or send your issue to the appropriate unit or person. The COLE team can address issues with your exam. IITS may be able to assist if you are having computer issues.
Your professor will also be on stand-by in case you have questions.
Students who experience disruptions during any timed online examination should be in touch immediately with their professor to discuss options.
Please consult your course syllabi for grading options.
If you are registered with the Access Centre for Students with Disabilities, your exam will be configured to address your accommodation needs.
If you also happen to be a faculty member, you will receive separate communications.
Got a question not answered by the FAQs? Contact cole@concordia.ca.
There are two methods for uploading your exam into the system. Learn more about the options available to you on Cspace.
COLE (Concordia OnLine Exams) is a Moodle quiz tool. Students will use their Moodle login credentials to access COLE. This software includes features designed for student success, including autosave every 15 seconds, the ability to mark questions for review before submitting, and much more. Exams administered on COLE will be timed online exams.
Yes. COLE has undergone extensive security testing. Any issues that were identified during the testing phase have been resolved. We are ensuring the software stays up to date in order to maintain ongoing security.
No. COLE is a Moodle quiz tool developed by Catalyst, Concordia’s Moodle provider. Open book online exams do not require the use of a student's computer webcam or microphone. COLE is accessed by typing cole.concordia.ca into the Chrome web browser and logging in with your Moodle credentials.
A “timed online exam” refers to an exam taking place during the exam period that must be written in one sitting over no more than a three-hour time period. Other final assignments including take-home exams – even if these have a specific time duration – projects or quizzes, do not fall under these guidelines and are subject to the normal deferral and incomplete options available to students.
Tell your students to use their Concordia credentials to log into the COLE exam site where they will find practice exams and can become familiar with the online exam environment.
Graduate course exams may not be deferred. Other options are available. Please see the School of Graduate Studies FAQs for details.
Consider alternative assessment options for your students. Please visit the Learn, Teach and Work from Home website to fill out a request for equipment online.
Online exam conditions are not like regular in-person exams. As such, the nature of the exams should be adjusted to reflect this reality. In some cases, faculty should reduce the number of questions they would ask by 25%. This will allow students additional time to write their exams in a relatively new environment.
- COLE can support academic integrity without proctoring by randomization from a bank of questions
- Use problem-solving questions that test higher-order understanding of concepts rather than rote memory
- Rather than giving longer exams, consider frequent, short testing where students will need to focus closely for a short duration. Shorter tests are easier for students to complete in circumstances where they may not have a lot of privacy or have dependents that must also care for. Please note: depending on the question type, COLE also provides auto-grading, much like Scantron.
- Students should be permitted to take a bathroom break for any exam longer than 2 hours, whether proctored or not.
Faculty are encouraged to add the following text to their syllabus as a reminder to students:
Content belonging to instructors shared in online courses, including, but not limited to, online lectures, course notes, and video recordings of classes remain the intellectual property of the faculty member. It may not be distributed, published or broadcast, in whole or in part, without the express permission of the faculty member. Students are also forbidden to use their own means of recording any elements of an online class or lecture without express permission of the instructor. Any unauthorized sharing of course content may constitute a breach of the Academic Code of Conduct and/or the Code of Rights and Responsibilities.
You should direct students to be in touch with you at the start of the semester if they anticipate any problems. As the entire semester is being conducted online, it is reasonable to expect students to have the needed equipment to participate in the course.
COLE has built-in phone support during the exam. Make sure to instruct your students to keep the phone number nearby in case they experience technical difficulties.
If a student experiences technical difficulties, they must inform you as soon as possible after the exam and describe the nature of the problem. If they contacted technical support, details about the technical issue can be provided.
If you are a faculty member with questions not answered in the FAQs, please send an email to VPITL@concordia.ca.
