Online exams are used daily as they save a lot of time. Monitoring online exams is also important to make sure exams can conducted securely and fairly. It also means there are no breaches of academic integrity. Schools and businesses are adopting online exams with remote learning becoming more prevalent.
But the question remains, how to effectively monitor online exam? Continue reading this blog to understand the methods, tools, and best practices for online examination.
Why is it Important to Monitor Online Exams?
Online examination has its unique challenges. Despite their accessibility and convenience, there are chances of dishonest practices or cheating as there is no physical proctor present. Monitoring online exams reduces the chances of cheating, which uploads academic integrity.
Additionally, instructors, educational institutions, and students gain trust with this effective monitoring. With proper monitoring online exams can be conducted fairly, enabling students to show their knowledge without unfair means.
Three Types of Online Exam Monitoring
There are three most common methods to monitor exams online. They are:
Live Proctoring
Live proctoring uses a webcam, microphone, and computer screen to monitor students. A proctor watches the students during the exam to ensure there is no suspicious behaviour or students don’t cheat. If any unfair activities come to notice, the proctor can intervene.
Automated Proctoring
Automated proctoring uses machine learning and artificial intelligence to monitor online exams. It helps the proctor analyze screen activity, background noise, and eye movement to prevent cheating behaviours. Activities such as opening other browser tabs can be flagged. This type of proctoring is scalable and cost-effective.
Recorded Proctoring
Recorded proctoring is the type where exam sessions are recorded. It includes video, audio, and screen activities. This recording is further reviewed by the proctor post-exam thoroughly. This proctoring method blends human review (live proctoring) with scalability (automated proctoring).
How to Monitor Online Exams Effectively?
The following are the best practices to make sure online exams are held smoothly and fairly:
Clear Communication
Before starting the exam, students must be communicated what to expect from the type of proctoring being used. Make them aware of the methods used, the reasons behind them, and the rules they must follow. Being transparent with the students helps them better prepare and reduce anxiety.
Practice Exams
You can help students familiarize themselves with monitoring tools. It gives them a chance to set up their environment, test their gears, and understand the features of the software. Apart from students, practice exams can also help the technical support team identify and resolve potential problems before an actual exam.
Dedicated Identity Verification
It is important to ensure that the right person is conducting the exam. Proctoring solutions often include identity verification. However, it is essential to have a trustworthy process, such as requiring government-issued ID checks, to prevent impersonation.
Secure Exam Environment
There is no cheating temptation in a secure exam environment. There are a few proctoring software that limit the ability of students to navigate to other websites. Additionally, students should be advised to take exams in quiet, well-lit rooms without unauthorized people or materials around.
Balanced Monitoring Approaches
Use a balanced approach that respects student privacy while ensuring fairness. Avoid overly invasive monitoring methods, and give students clear guidelines about what is expected. This balance can be achieved by using AI for less intrusive monitoring and live proctors only for high-stakes exams.
Feedback and Improvements
Understand the pain points of the students and proctors while monitoring. Collect this feedback to make necessary improvements in the tools and guidelines. Also, make sure to provide support to reduce the stress upon students and proctors. This, in turn, makes monitoring online exams more effective.
Keeping the privacy concerns of students in mind
Monitoring students during online examinations raises issues regarding privacy. This has become a major concern. Therefore, measures that clearly define policies on data collection, their usage, retention, and access, should be put in place in institutions so that during the exams a student is not uneasy.
The Future of Online Exam Monitoring
As new and new technologies come to life, it is believed that the existing methods of monitoring online exams will advance. Advanced AI (artificial intelligence) systems that comprehend different aspects of student behaviour could be on the rise. It helps in making a more fair and precise observation. Also, augmented and virtual reality could soon be deployed to build safe examination spaces. These spaces will allow students to engage completely.
The practice of conducting exams online has come to stay, and so have the tools for monitoring exams online. As long as there are proper methods of monitoring, safeguards on privacy, and openness from students, remote examination proctoring helps ensure that all test takers have an equal and quality experience in taking the tests.
To Sum Up
With the quick progression of digital education, it becomes imperative to monitor online exams. The reason is, it prevents academic dishonesty and malpractices in education. Institutions can apply various proctoring methods, such as live monitoring with or without AI-assisted systems. Additionally, they also offer safe exam delivery, in a way that maintains equity without violating the privacy of students.
With the further evolution of online education, the demand for advanced and complex exam supervision systems will increase. The capabilities of these examinations are to be convenient, safe, and effective for all candidates taking the examination regardless of their geographical location.
