Securing Online Tests with Remote Proctoring - One Step Closer to Changing Online Degrees CareerMetis.com

Securing Online Tests with Remote Proctoring - One Step Closer to Changing Online Degrees A little history of online schoolsevalOnline tests have been around since 1995 Then there were open badges. Badges indicated specific skills or expertise, was linked to electronic evidence of how and why, exactly, the badge was earned by an individual.Badges are provided by many institutions including but not limited to IBM, Mozilla, Acclaim, Illinois Online Network, Michigan State University, and Microsoft Educator Network.Where we stand todayA lot of discussion goes on among students, professionals, and employers about the credibility of degrees earned through online education.There are still so many employers who find a degree received by an online course a little unsettling.We were discussing online proctoring services with one of our clients, and they said, “This is great! Because we often wonder the authenticity of the test. What if they cheated?”That said, we think it is necessary online tests are proctored. There are so many ways test-takers can cheat using a different de vice or a friend prompting answers!What is Online Exam Proctoring?In Online Exam Proctoring or Online Video Test Proctoring, a candidate is monitored online during the test duration typically with the help of a webcam, mic, and access to the screen of the candidate.evalTo take an online proctored test from a remote location candidates need:Asuitable device Disadvantages are that it still requires the exams to be scheduled and since there is equal human involvement as offline proctoring, it is not very scalable and is most expensive of all the types.The test taker and proctor can be even thousands of miles apart. ProctorU is a leading provider in this model.2. Recorded ProctoringevalIn this method, no proctor is monitoring the feed in real time. Instead, the audio-video and screen share feeds of the test candidates are recorded during the test.A representative plays back these recordings in a fast-forwarded way Advantages are that it eliminates both schedule and location constraints. It also doesn’t require humans to do the review, and hence it is scalable and is more cost effective.Talview Advanced Automated Online Remote Proctoring is one of the leading providers. Talview also provides the other two options as add-ons for additional security.Additional checks are available to make online proctored exams secure:Limit candidate logins to specific IP addresses.Blocking of copy-paste optionsFreezing the screen of device blocking candidate from accessing other applications or switching windowsCan candidates cheat during a test which is proctored online?There are blogs online which gives candidates tips to trick many proctoring systems. But as these blogs convey candidates will have to resort to extreme measures and need elaborate preparation to trick the video proctoring system since the complete audio-visual recordings are available for cross verification at any point in time.The majority of candidates will rather fall in line than try to do all this. Proctors involved are well trained and experienced to detect any hints of malpractice like candidate eye movement and body language.evalThe process followed during online proctoring includes asking the candidate to record a video of the surroundings and test machine setup. The systems are becoming more and more intelligent making it extremely difficult to cheat.Reena Ghosh has done a detailed review of cheating and countermeasures in this article. Arkansas Tech University has done a paper on candidate behavior during online proctored exams.What do candidates think of Proctored Exams?Candidates love convenience. Hence it is natural to think why should they take a day’s leave and travel all the way to a test center when they can do it at the convenience of their homes at a suitable time.There aren’t many studies available at present which have analyzed candidate feedback from proctored assessments.Remote Proctored Exams on MobileCan Proctored Tests happen on Mobile Devices?Talview is the o nly player who currently supports video proctoring in its candidate mobile app. Nature of mobile devices with the front camera makes it as foolproof as web-based tests with minimal checks and processes in place.What is the Future of Online Proctoring?Remote proctoring tools is going to become the mainstay for online courses. It might soon impact other types of assessments too. The current trends include:Enhancing the test taker’s authentication by the use of biometric inputs from devices like smartwatches and fitness monitors.Smartwatches and fitness monitors may also be employed to detect changes in pulse and temperature and send such data to proctoring software to serve as malpractice cues.Facial recognition is already used by Talview to avoid impersonation. Keyboard behavior analysis is also in use. In future, sound recognition and touchscreen behavior analysis might be utilized as additional checks.Head movement and position and illumination analysis are already in use by Talv iew for cheating. The tone of voice, facial expressions, etc. can be used in future.How Will it Change the Attitude about e-LearningWith the online proctoring in place, open badges, certificates or diplomas need not be under any scrutiny. The certification is as good as any certificate received as a result of an on-premise test.This will help a lot of professionals add certifications to their portfolio while they are working and also helps companies identify performers with a badge that can be authenticated without using too many resources. It’s a win-win.*Part of this article appeared on Talview Blog.