Introduction
As more and more exams are being taken online, it’s harder to ensure that your students aren’t cheating. In a classroom, you can pace around, making it clear that no suspicious behavior will be tolerated. But in a remote setting, how can you be sure that your students aren’t simply feeding exam questions into a chatbot?
For many teachers (and administrators), modern EdTech platforms have the answer. They offer digital proctoring capabilities to help you keep data secure and ensure academic honesty without eating up too much time. This article explores the different options for proctored exams in online learning, how these tools work, and the benefits for educators and administrators.
Key Takeaways
- Proctored exams have become a critical tool for maintaining academic integrity in online learning, where the risk of cheating is heightened.
- There are three main online proctoring strategies: live proctoring, recorded proctoring, and AI proctoring.
- Typically, video recordings, audio, and screen activity are collected to monitor exam conditions and detect suspicious behavior.
- The best strategy depends on the institution’s needs. Live proctoring offers immediate oversight, while recorded and AI proctoring provide flexibility and scalability.
What Is an Online Proctored Exam?
Proctored online exams are assessments monitored by a proctor, either in real time or through automated technology, to ensure students adhere to academic integrity guidelines. The testing platform can use various methods, such as live video monitoring, screen recording, or AI tools, to detect suspicious behaviors linked to cheating.
By supervising the exam process, proctored online exams aim to create a controlled environment similar to the invigilation of traditional pen-and-paper exams, whether it’s a single student taking the exam remotely or a large group in an institutional setting.
Live online proctoring
Live proctoring for online exams involves real-time supervision by a human proctor who monitors students through video, audio, and screen-sharing tools to ensure compliance with exam rules. One of the key benefits is that it closely mimics the oversight of traditional in-person exams, allowing the proctor to intervene immediately if they observe any suspicious behavior, such as looking at notes or speaking to off-screen individuals.
Live proctors can also answer questions or clarify instructions, providing a more interactive and secure testing environment. This method enhances the credibility of the exam process, as students are aware that a real person is observing them, which may deter potential cheating.
However, live proctoring has drawbacks, especially in terms of cost and scalability. Hiring and training proctors for large-scale exams can be expensive, and coordinating live supervision across different time zones is often logistically challenging. Additionally, technical issues, such as poor internet connections or camera malfunctions, can disrupt the exam experience for both students and proctors.
You also should keep in mind that some students may feel uncomfortable being watched continuously, and it may contribute to test anxiety in some cases. It may be a good idea to proctor a few low-stakes formative assessments so your class can become accustomed to proctoring before they take an important exam.
Despite its disadvantages, however, live proctoring remains a popular choice for high-stakes exams where integrity is critical.
Recorded online proctoring
Recorded proctoring for online exams involves capturing video, audio, and screen activity during the exam, which is later reviewed by either human proctors or AI systems to detect any signs of cheating. One of the main benefits of this approach is its flexibility; students can take the exam at their convenience, while proctors can review the footage asynchronously.
This method also reduces the need for real-time supervision, making it more scalable and cost-effective for institutions administering large volumes of exams. Additionally, recorded proctoring allows for detailed post-exam reviews, providing a thorough examination of student behavior over time.
However, recorded proctoring has limitations, particularly in terms of delayed responses to cheating. Since proctors review the footage after the exam is completed, any academic dishonesty that occurs cannot be addressed in real time. If you grade on a curve, the cheating will affect outcomes for all students, and you will need to re-score everyone’s exams when the cheating is caught later.
Moreover, reviewing large amounts of recorded material can be time-consuming, and relying on AI alone may result in false positives or missed violations.
Privacy concerns also arise for recorded proctoring. When students are taking exams remotely, they may be uncomfortable with being recorded in their personal environments for extended periods. But despite these challenges, recorded proctoring remains a practical option for institutions seeking a more flexible yet secure exam monitoring solution.
AI proctoring
AI proctoring for online exams leverages artificial intelligence to monitor and analyze students’ behavior during assessments, detecting potential cheating without the need for live human oversight. One of the key benefits is scalability: AI can easily oversee hundreds or thousands of exams simultaneously, making it an efficient solution for large institutions.
AI systems are capable of identifying suspicious patterns, such as unusual eye movements, background noise, or changes in screen activity, and flagging these behaviors for later review. This reduces the cost of hiring proctors and offers more flexibility, as exams can be taken anytime—ideal for global student populations.
However, AI proctoring also has significant drawbacks relating to accuracy and fairness. For example, it may fail to differentiate between innocent actions and dishonest ones, leading to false positives. For example, a student looking away to think or simply adjusting their seating position might be flagged as cheating. Cultural and environmental differences, such as lighting or shared living spaces, could also complicate accurate monitoring.
Additionally, as with recorded online proctoring, some students may be worried about their privacy if videos of their homes are recorded and analyzed by AI. Despite this, AI proctoring is increasingly used for its cost-effectiveness and ability to scale.
Keeping Online Exam Proctoring Secure and Private
No matter what online exam proctoring strategy you choose, ensuring privacy and the security of your students’ personal information is essential.
Modern EdTech platforms such as TAO implement stringent encryption protocols to safeguard sensitive data during transmission and while in storage. As well as exam recordings, this includes ID and biometric information collected to deter impersonation.
To calm potential student concerns about data privacy, you should demonstrate transparency by informing users about what data is collected, its purpose, and how long it will be retained. TAO even enables educational institutions to customize data retention policies in accordance with legal requirements, ensuring it’s deleted after the necessary period.
It can also be a good idea to let students know about the benefits of online proctoring, emphasizing that it makes exams fair and accessible for every student.
Reducing the Administrative Burden of Online Exams
Reducing the administrative burden of online exams is crucial for educators and institutions seeking efficient assessment processes.
TAO offers a robust solution by seamlessly integrating with learning management systems (LMSs) and other educational tools. This means educators can easily add proctoring options into existing assessments without overhauling their current systems, saving valuable time and resources.
In fact, with TAO’s user-friendly interface, instructors can set up exams with just a few clicks. This eliminates the need for extensive training or technical expertise, reducing the workload on faculty and administrative staff. Additionally, TAO automates many processes associated with online assessments, such as scheduling and notifications, further streamlining the workflow.
Moreover, by providing detailed analytics and reporting features, TAO enables educators to track exam performance and integrity without manually sifting through data. This not only enhances the efficiency of exam administration but also helps ensure that every digital classroom is following proper procedures.
Conclusion
In conclusion, proctoring solutions play a crucial role in ensuring the integrity of online exams, but they must be implemented with careful attention to privacy, security, and compliance with data protection laws. Whether using live, recorded, or AI-based proctoring, institutions need to balance the need for academic honesty with student privacy concerns.
Platforms like TAO exemplify how proctoring can be secure and transparent, offering robust measures to protect sensitive data. As online learning continues to expand, developing effective, compliant proctoring strategies will be key to maintaining trust in the assessment process.
To learn more about online proctoring, take a look at these helpful resources on the TAO blog:
- Tips for Managing Online Exams in the Blended Classroom
- Addressing Privacy Concerns in Remote Proctoring
- 3 Features of a Modern Remote Online Proctoring Platform
FAQs:
- How does online proctoring prevent cheating?
It monitors students via video, audio, and AI to detect cheating by spotting unauthorized materials or unusual activity.
- Are online proctored exams secure?
Yes, if platforms use encryption and access controls. They should also follow the relevant data protection laws, such as the GDPR.
- What are the privacy concerns with online proctoring?
Concerns include continuous monitoring and data storage, but these can be addressed through compliance with the relevant privacy laws.