Focus Mode and Exam Lobby - for a Built-in, Distraction Free Testing Environment

Learn how to enable Focus Mode, best practices, and how it works for students

Focus Mode and Exam Lobby are built-in Derivita features that minimizes distractions during in-class assessments. There are no third-party extensions or downloads required. Focus Mode forces the student’s device to enter full-screen, prevents students from navigating away, even to other Derivita assignments, while being compatible with IT infrastructure, content filtering, and classroom management software like Blocksi and LANSchool. Focus Mode is designed to create a distraction-free environment, NOT to provide a secure lockdown like Proctorio. 

When Focus Mode is enabled, Exam Lobby will automatically become available on the Derivita assessment and passwords will no longer be needed. Exam Lobby open a live list of students who are are ready to begin the quiz/exam. Teachers are able to manually admit individual students into the assessment or they can select "Admit All". 

How to Enable Focus Mode and Exam Lobby:

1. Click the pencil icon on a Derivita assignment and select “Assignment Settings.”
2. Scroll down to Focus Controls and toggle on Focus Mode.

  3.  Select a calculator (optional). Teachers can select between: TI-108, TI-30XS, TI-34, TI-84,              and TI-84PCE. 

  4.  Click "Save". 

You will now see "Exam Lobby" in the upper right corner of your assessment. Click on "Exam Lobby" when you are ready to start letting your students into the exam/quiz. 

How to Use Focus Mode and Best Practices:

1. Enable Focus Mode in Assignment Settings.
2. Click on "Exam Lobby" from the Educator Dashboard of the Derivita assessment. 
3. Students enter Focus Mode when they open the assessment.
4. Once students have entered Focus Mode, they will show up in the Exam Lobby for the teacher to admit. The teacher can admit individual students into the assessment or admit all the students at once. 
5. Verify all students are in Focus Mode (an orange bar appears around their screen).
6. If a student exits full screen or navigates away, they will be locked out.
7. If a student needs to re-enter the exam for any reason, the teacher can re-admit them in Exam Lobby. 

  Focus Mode for Students:

  1. Students will navigate to their Derivita assessment

  2. They will then see a prompt to enter Focus Mode.

  3. The orange bar will appear on the screen and the student will then enter the password. When         the student is ready to start, click "Start Exam". 

4. The orange bar will remain on the student's screen when they are in Focus Mode. 

5.   If you selected a calculator option, the students will see "Calculator" in the top right corner of their screen. Once selected, they will have the option to use the calculator embedded into their assessment screen. 

6. If they try to navigate away or leave Focus Mode, the student will be prompted to reload their        assessment and will then have to re-enter Focus Mode. The teacher can then re-admit them            using Exam Lobby. 

7. Once the student is done, they will click "Submit" and they will leave Focus Mode. 

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IMPORTANT REMINDER

Focus Mode is intended for in-class assessments where the teacher can supervise students.  Focus Mode is like closing the classroom door to minimize distractions and does not replace educator supervision. For more advanced proctoring needs, Proctorio remains an option

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