As an alternative to the traditional educational system, e-learning became the optimum solution for institutes to conduct classes. In stark contrast to before the online learning model has gained prominence; there is a greater opportunity to expand upon the methods of teaching delivery. The learning process benefits immensely as well because students get to use an array of different tools that help to enrich their learning experience.
But when it comes to conducting tests online, that is when educators face the main issue. One of the biggest drawbacks of conducting assessments through an online examination system is that students come up with creative ways to cheat. Although previously there were little to no resources at all to tackle this issue, nowadays there are strategies that help to curb it.
Top 5 Strategies to Prevent Cheating during the Online Exam Conduction
Written below are some of the ways through which the institute can ensure that learners conduct exams in an authentic manner:
1 . Prevent Browsing Activity
Owing to giving exams remotely, the learners have the liberty to take help in case they encounter any difficulty in answering a question. For instance, suppose a student is not familiar with a question that he/she sees with respect to a subject, so they proceed to check the answer in the browser. Now, this not only compromises the integrity of the examination but also gives an undeserved privilege to the student.
When exams are conducted in a traditional manner the learners go to school/college premises or exam centers. Even in that scenario, they use various techniques to pass the tests; be it writing answers on bits of paper or asking the answers from fellow classmates. If they are caught in the act, they are reprimanded; their test paper is subject to deduction of marks.
The same disciplinary action is not possible to execute there and then while the online exam is going on. But there are other ways; If the examinee opens another window other than the one where the exam is taking place, it will send an alert to the examinee. Similarly, advanced features of the software will block additional browser activity.
2. Remote Proctoring
Lack of physical invigilators is one of the main contributing factors that encourage students to opt for malpractices during an online exam. Through remote proctoring, this particular issue can be easily overcome. As per this mechanism, learners taking a test from any location are monitored online. There are different features to this procedure such as:
- Live online proctoring
- Recorded proctoring
- Advanced auto proctoring
In live online proctoring the examiner is able to disable the test if he/she detects any suspicious activity. While in the case of recorded proctoring, the log data of the entire examination duration is recorded for examiners to review later.
3. Candidate Authentication
One of the commonly occurring defaults that educators complained about is that there is o way for them to know is taking the test. The registered student may carry out a proxy test, wherein another person may sit for the exam instead of him/her. An effective verification process is essential. An effective system will include inputting valid login credentials, upon which the candidate will show the identity card.
If the candidate’s details match with the one that is stored in the database then he or she will succeed in the verification process.
4. Data Encryption
Postponement of examination due to leak of question papers online happens quite often. To facilitate proper online exam conduction it is imperative to take several measures. One of which is to safeguard the question banks that are going to be used in the upcoming assessments. To ensure that it is important to integrate data encryption on the question bank to prevent unauthorized access.
The entire communication between the server and the exam taker is also encrypted with the help of a secure mode of communication.
5. Prepare Varied Question Type
A unique way to prevent cheating is to develop questions that require students to think independently and give varied answers. Just because it is an online exam platform,it does not mean the questions need to be one-toned. Teachers can use the opportunity to formulate different types of questions that encourage them to analyze and synthesize.
In Conclusion
Cheating or any other malpractices is common due to the lack of an efficient system that would serve to ensure a proper conduct. An amalgamation of the well-organized plans and proctoring software helps to execute examination with integrity.