kfupm.edu.sa
Services & Programs

Assessment Tools

Assessment tools can support various phases of the assessment process, including development, administration, and grading. Several tools are available at KFUPM to facilitate these activities, as outlined below.

Respondus

Respondus is a Windows desktop application primarily used to develop tests and surveys for Blackboard, but it can also be used to create assessments for print. Compared to Blackboard’s built-in web interface, Respondus offers a more user-friendly environment for creating assessments. It also allows users to import questions written in Word documents and publish them directly to Blackboard.

KFUPM holds a campus-wide license for Respondus for use with the Blackboard. According to the license terms, only KFUPM faculty members are permitted to use Respondus for developing Blackboard assessments intended for use at KFUPM.

Faculty members can request a license to install Respondus on their personal computers by submitting a request through the IT E-Desk at edesk.kfupm.edu.sa.

Please include the following statement in your request:

"I understand that Respondus is licensed to KFUPM for faculty use only, and I will install and use Respondus solely for developing assessments for the courses I teach at KFUPM."

Also, be sure to include the following information in your request:

  • Name:
  • Department:
  • Email address:

Once your request is approved, you will receive the installation license key along with instructions on how to download and install the Respondus software.

Gradescope

Gradescope is an online grading platform designed to streamline assessment workflows for faculty and improve feedback for students. It supports a wide range of assignment types, including hand-written exams, programming assignments, and bubble sheets, allowing instructors to grade more consistently and efficiently. Gradescope is particularly popular at KFUPM for managing the grading of large-enrollment, multi-section exams conducted on bubble sheets. These exams often have multiple versions, with different versions assigned to students sitting near each other to prevent cheating.

KFUPM has an institutional licenses of Gradescope. Integration with KFUPM Blackboard makes it easy to access Gradescope, sync rosters, distribute assignments, and return grades. By using AI-assisted grouping and rubric-based evaluation, Gradescope helps faculty save time while maintaining fairness and transparency. With its analytics and flexible grading tools, Gradescope empowers instructors to focus more on teaching and less on administrative tasks.

Videos

ExamSoft

For Preparatory-Year English Program Only

ExamSoft is a secure, computer-based testing platform designed to help faculty members create, administer, and grade exams with greater efficiency and academic integrity. It allows exams to be delivered offline on student devices using a locked-down environment that prevents access to the internet, applications, files, or any unauthorized resources during the test. Faculty can easily upload questions, tag them to learning outcomes, and generate detailed performance analytics for individual students or entire cohorts. With ExamSoft, assessments are not only more secure but also more insightful, enabling instructors to identify areas of improvement while ensuring that exam integrity is maintained throughout the testing process.

KFUPM procured a license for ExamSoft at the request of the Preparatory Year English Program, and its current scope is limited to use within that program. However, the license scope can be extended if there is interest from other parts of the university in using ExamSoft.

Lockdown Browser

Respondus LockDown Browser is a specialized web browser designed to help faculty conduct online exams in a secure and controlled environment. When students use LockDown Browser to take an exam, they are unable to access other websites, applications, or files on their computer, copy or print exam content, or take screenshots. This greatly reduces opportunities for academic dishonesty during online assessments.

KFUPM has an institutional license of Respondus LockDown Browser. The browser integrates seamlessly with major learning management systems including Blackboard at KFUPM, allowing faculty to enhancing exam security while using Blackboard. By restricting digital distractions and preventing cheating behaviors, Respondus LockDown Browser helps maintain the integrity of the testing process conducted remotely online or in-class settings.

Darajati Attendance System

KFUPM has developed an in-house web application called Darajati, available at darajati.kfupm.edu.sa (accessible internally on the KFUPM computer network or via the KFUPM VPN when off-campus). The application was originally designed to help departments monitor student grades and attendance in large-enrollment, multi-section coordinated courses. It now also includes a flexible attendance system that any KFUPM instructor can use. Instructors can take attendance by displaying a QR code in class, which students scan using their mobile devices—streamlining and improving the efficiency of the attendance process.