Recently I was asked to create a Lock Down environment for students writing essays. This is definitely a direct response to ChatGPT and similar tools.

I’ve set up Moodle with Safe Exam Browser. This is well supported by Moodle. However, I had to make sure to add a “Quit Password” to the assignment. It is also easiest to let Moodle take care of the configuration. It is absolutely crucial to set a “Quit Password”.

Next, the teacher wants two things:

  • A Word Count for students
  • Indented paragraphs

The good news is that there is a plugin for the Atto Editor called Word Count. Not surprisingly, that provides a Word Count feature directly within the Atto editor. Once you add that plug-in (AND add “count = count” to the Toolbar config within the Atto Editor settings – this makes the button visible), students have access to see how many words they have written with the click of a button. This is AWESOME!

I’m still trying to solve the indenting a paragraph issue. Since hitting the tab key moves to the next component for websites, that is a no-starter. However, I’m reviewing some plugins that may help. I’ve tried Components for Learning (c4l), but that doesn’t have what I need. It is a great plugin, just doesn’t solve this issue.

Currently, I’m taking a look at the Atto Editor to see if there is anything there that I can do.

*Padlock image by Roy Harryman: www.RoyHarryman.com