The challenges and solutions of remote proctoring

 T Challenges and solutions of remote proctoring

 

What is Proctoring

Proctoring refers to the act of keeping an eye on the students to ensure that they don’t cheat while taking an online test and is also imperative for maintaining the academic integrity of educational institutions. Proctors ensure that students adhere to the rules and regulations of examination and that the exams are conducted in accordance with standards in different locations.

Proctors have the liberty to access audio, video, and screen of test takers, assess if their students are taking help from any web sources, warn students to not resort to unfair means, and also terminate the exams if required.

 

Proctoring Software 

Proctoring software is a technological invention that acts as an invigilator while students take online exams. It runs on a student’s devices and eliminates the chances of students resorting to unfair means by first verifying the test taker’s identity and also invigilating them throughout the examination process. This type of proctoring is represented by a cloud-based solution that integrates easily into a learning management system or a test platform.

There are various types of proctoring that come with customizable features thus leaving room for educational institutions to choose from.  The type of invigilation which the online proctoring software can undertake depends on the type of proctoring solutions that are available as a choice for educational institutions.

 

Challenges of proctoring software 

• Privacy concerns: Some of the remote proctoring software before permitting students to commence their online exams put forth demands of scanning the room where they are taking exams. This thus raises concerns for students who live with others in the same room as even they would appear in the scan video irrespective of their not consenting to the same. Apart from scanning the room, the software for verification requires students to submit a picture of their government IDs. This information which is held for a particular period exposes them to higher risk in case of the software being hacked by unauthorized hackers.

 

• Technical issues: Remote proctoring software is one of the best man-made technological inventions to maintain the integrity of online exams but all inventions are subject to facing technical glitches. The occurrence of these glitches, while students are in the midst of the exam, can hamper the credibility of the exam and thus devoid educational institutions of the assurance that students are being invigilated.

Key features and functionality of proctoring software

• Exam monitoring: Online remote proctoring software ensures continuous monitoring of student’s activities throughout the exam with its three-step process which consists of verification, real-time monitoring coupled with data storage and review. The proctor before allowing students to take the exam verifies the test taker’s identities and permits them to take the test post that. While the students are taking the exam, the software monitors them in real-time with the liberty of cancelling students’ tests after giving them multiple warnings. The role of the invigilator however depends on the type of proctor opted by the educational institutions. Adding a cherry on top, the software also analyses the results as soon as the students submit their exams. It not only reviews but also stores the audio and video data which can be referred to in case of any controversy.

 

• Facial recognition: To ensure that students do not resort to impersonation, the online remote proctoring software verifies their identities by comparing their images from their webcams with the image provided by the students in their authentication documents. Students can proceed with the process of online examination only after they cross this hurdle.

 

• Suspicious behavior detection:  Students nowadays have the option of taking online exams in the comfort of their homes but they cannot use unfair means to obtain higher marks due to the remote proctoring software that runs continuously while they take exams. The proctoring software accesses the videos and audio of the devices that are used by test takers to take the exam which enables it to detect their suspicious noise and background activities. Even if the test takers are referring to any book/study material from behind the computer’s screen, the proctoring successfully detects their eye movements.

 

• AI-Based algorithms: Online remote proctoring software comes with advanced-based algorithms such as improved face identification techniques coupled with machine learning which aids in confirming the authenticity of online exams. These algorithms reduce prejudice and human error which provides succinct, accurate results and successfully outperforms human proctors.

 

 Exams and schools have an inseparable relationship since both form a part of important components of an educational career of a person. This is because schools aid students in acquiring knowledge while exams help educational institutions to assess the extent to which the students have been able to process the same. Educational institutions used to conduct exams using traditional proctoring methods including pen-paper tests wherein students were required to physically mark their presence at examination centers and invigilators were required to keep an eye on the test takers to maintain academic integrity.

This entire setup was severely affected when CoVID brought everything to a standstill. The emergence of online exam software and remote proctoring software during these unprecedented times played a crucial role in not only ensuring continuity in the process of imparting knowledge but also in maintaining academic integrity. Its feature of authenticating the identities of online students also aided in maintaining the integrity of online courses provided by various platforms.