As educational institutions shift away from traditional classroom settings towards a more tech-infused approach, with virtual courses and online tests, the vast array of advanced technologies available today has lent a helping hand. One such technology that has emerged as a key player in this regard is online exam proctoring.
In this editorial, we take you through the best practices and strategies for integrating online exam proctoring in educational institutions.
Understand the Technology
Online exam proctoring is essentially a form of technology that has been designed with computing power and artificial intelligence to detect any activities and behaviours by any test-taker during an online examination.
With it, institutions can make sure that the results obtained from the exam accurately reflect the knowledge the students possess.
Once the proctoring software has been set up, it automatically captures the students’ information along with audio-visual recordings during the examination and provides these recordings to the instructors of the courses.
Thus, it provides a great deal of data that can be used to better understand the performance of individual students or of groups.
Provide Guidance
Along with using online exam proctoring software, institutions should also provide guidelines and best practices to the students to help them understand how to use the software and what is expected of them.
It’s essential to communicate to the students why such software is required and how it works.
Instructors must provide clear guidelines on how to use the software, such as not using additional software during the examination; not submitting multiple windows or tabs; and not accessing external websites.
These guidelines will help ease any anxiety and ensure students are well-prepared for the online examination.
Choose the Right Software
Choosing the right product is crucial for institutions utilising online exam proctoring technology. It is important to choose a software that is easy to use and lightweight, web-based, and one that has been designed to be used by the faculty and students.
Some examples of the best online exam proctoring software include ProctorU, Honorlock, and Janison. Institutions can also go for open-source software, depending on their needs.
Mitigate Cheating and Plagiarism
Online exam proctoring can mitigate the risks of cheating and plagiarism in online test-taking.
After all, most online examinations are unsupervised and students can access a lot of information through the Internet.
However, with online exam proctoring, institutions can easily assess the performance of individual students or groups and determine if there is any cheating or plagiarism involved.
Keeping in mind that exam takers can be tempted to cheat, institutions can use it as a tool to educate students on the ethics surrounding online exams.
An approach that revolves around honesty and transparency will do wonders for the success of online examinations.
In Summary
Online exam proctoring is a revolutionary step for educational institutions.
The technology affords educators many opportunities to level the playing field and give their students a more fair chance to succeed.
In addition, the technology improves the overall examination experience for students, since it can be stressful, students can find solace in the fact that they are being monitored throughout the exam.
It is no wonder many academic institutions have adopted this technology with open arms.
Review Online Exam Proctoring: A Guide for Education Institutions.