Research shows that video-based remote proctoring of online exams decreases attempts at cheating. However, it may also cause increased student anxiety and privacy concerns. This session will focus on the struggles one institution has faced with implementing a remote proctoring solution and the best practices that have been developed to combat these struggles and improve student perceptions of and attitudes toward remote proctoring for online exams.
According to a study conducted by the International Center for Academic Integrity, 17% of graduate students admitted to cheating on tests while 39% of undergraduate students admitted to cheating on tests (ICAI, 2015). One admitted cheater argued that his “university has put so little into the security of the course that it can’t be very serious about whether the online students are learning anything” (Young, 2012).
To combat cheating, the University of North Alabama has implemented remote proctoring solutions for online exams. While pilot-testing a few different vendors, our remote proctoring of online exams has been able to record a student taking the exam, record their screen, detect attempts at searching for answers online, prevent additional applications from opening during an exam, prevent the use of double-monitors, and/or prevent using features such as copy/paste and print. Additionally, verification options are available to capture a student’s ID and current photo, as well as a 360-degree scan of the exam environment. A more advanced option even allows a live proctor to watch a student take a test from start to finish through webcams.
Research shows that remote proctoring of online exams decreases cheating. However, it may also cause increased student anxiety and privacy concerns (Karim, Kaminsky, & Behrend, 2014). True to research, we have had students reach out to us regarding their concerns of online proctoring. These concerns include:
- Technical support for the online proctoring service being used
- Frustration caused by trying to navigate the proctoring software
- Webcam recording their personal (home) environment
- Anxiety caused by having a live proctor watch through the computer monitor
- Allowing a proctor to take control of their computer
This session will focus on the struggles we have faced with implementing a remote proctoring solution and the best practices that have been developed to combat these struggles and improve student perceptions of and attitudes toward remote proctoring for online exams.