Online Exam Security and Proctoring
The use of technological developments in many areas has become a necessity, and the use in the field of education has also been affected in this regard. Especially distance education technologies have found a place in the education system thanks to the internet network.
Online proctoring also known as remote proctoring, which is an integrated element of distance education, is an application that prevents and deters students from cheating in online exams. The system, which is designed to make the assessment fairly, is based on three different compounds:
- The onboarding ensures that the right person has taken the exam and makes system checks,
- Lock-out measures prevent students from performing certain activities,
- Monitoring activities records the activities during the exam, both computer itself and the exam environment.
Let’s review these measures:
The onboarding is the first step for online secured exams. During onboarding, users establish his/her identity with the software and complete a system check of devices (internet connection, webcam, etc.) to ensure it is compatible with the program. The user cannot start the exam without completing system checks.
When it comes to lockout measures, restrictions such as full-screen lockout and keyboard/ mouse lockout prevention are in effect during the exam.
For monitoring purposes videos, audio and photos are recorded to review activities, identities, or any other suspicious behaviors.
Online exam security systems can serve at different levels and formats depending on the needs and the type of exam.
Recorded Proctoring:
The system monitors and records the activities performed by the user throughout the session. At the end of the exam, the teacher, the administrator, and the reviewer evaluate based on the information displayed on the dashboard. It can usually be considered for exams of medium importance (visa exams for universities, professional orientation exams for companies, etc.).
Auto Proctoring:
Based on the pre-determined criteria, the system monitors students’ performance and behavior while taking exams and look for any signs of cheating or suspicious behavior. It can be used in large-scale exams that are often of low importance and cannot be reviewed by individuals.
Live Proctoring:
This is the most reliable type of proctoring application. In fact,
it is a mixture of recorded and auto-proctoring. The teacher or the person called the proctor monitors the activities of the students with the dashboard and video conference method during the exam, and the violations detected by his ingenuity or with the support of artificial intelligence are evaluated on the spot. Final exams in universities can be used in evaluations for recruitment in companies.
Now, let’s see what factors you need to consider for choosing the best proctoring solution:
The purpose of the system should be explained to the students considering that online proctoring increases the prestige of the institution, hence it is the favor of learners.
Student comfort should always be at the forefront and a priority.
The purpose of the proctoring system is to deter the student from cheating. This goal must be achieved by passive means. Applications that bring additional burdens and distract the users’ focus throughout the session should be avoided.
Not all exams are equally important. Therefore, the degree of exam security may vary depending on the weight of the exam. Proctoring solution should provide flexibility in terms of exam configuration, adjustment of proctoring service, and live monitoring or recording of the exam session.
If you consider using AI for fully automated exam security behavioral trackers should be reviewed with human intervention.
ProctorStone Online exam security, which emerged as a temporary demand during the pandemic, becomes a structural need with the growth of e-learning. All institutions that carry out assessments, should have this ability to keep and enhance their integrity and credibility.