It is fair to say that most students have a love/hate relationship with examinations; one can see their anxiety and palpitations whenever the exams are just a few weeks or a month away. Besides, an exam-centric approach has been the cornerstone of the education system for the longest time. Therefore, teachers evaluated exam answer sheets with care and precision, which took a lot of time and effort.
Imagine having to sit for hours and going through loads of answer sheets while at the same time taking care of other school activities. Fortunately, the resurgence of online learning led to the adoption of online exams, but then the integrity of such tests took precedence. That is when online proctoring software came into the picture and changed the trajectory of digitised tests.
But what is an online proctored exam, and how does it ensure the authenticity of the examination? Let us find out:
Companies and institutes have used online tests for many years; however, it has never been considered on par with conventional examinations. But with the evolution of ed-tech solutions and subsequent integration of online tests, the demand for online proctoring grew. One of the main reasons is the lack of adequate measures to prevent malpractice.
Besides, there was no way of ensuring if the student was copying the answers by looking at different websites or a book. Hence, remote proctoring software is the perfect solution that establishes a sense of authority and encourages students to follow norms. Furthermore, in these kinds of exams, proctors can monitor the tests from a remote location.
In addition, institutes can use different types of remote proctoring mechanisms as per the requirement. For instance, image-based, audio-based and video-based proctoring are the few main techniques. Also, these techniques are especially useful while implementing hybrid classroom sessions.
In hybrid classroom sessions, teachers can facilitate online tests or activities; the proctoring software would allow the teacher to monitor student activity thoroughly.
Different Types of Remote Proctoring
It is fair to say that most students have a love/hate relationship with examinations; one can see their anxiety and palpitations whenever the exams are just a few weeks or a month away. Besides, an exam-centric approach has been the cornerstone of the education system for the longest time. Therefore, teachers evaluated exam answer sheets with care and precision, which took a lot of time and effort.
Image-based Proctoring
Internet bandwidth or internet connection is not always stable, especially for students living in rural areas wherein well-functioning internet connection is rare. Moreover, rural education has been lagging due to inadequate government support and a lack of infrastructure. Such limitations should not prevent students from attaining education.
Hence, NEP 2020 is a revolutionary initiative that ensures equal educational opportunities for students of various socio-economic backgrounds. Furthermore, the policy has provided guidelines for implementing ICT and improving basic facilities for school children.
Therefore, it would contribute immensely to facilitating comprehensive online proctored exams; however, if the connectivity issues still persist, schools can opt for image-based proctoring. Besides, image-based proctoring works efficiently in low internet bandwidth areas, where other proctoring forms may not function well.
Moreover, according to this feature, the tool captures pictures/images of exam-taking candidates at regular intervals. Also, it can work with a limited internet bandwidth of as low as 0.1 MBPS. The examiner or the school/institute admin can configure the settings of the system and capture the candidate’s photo at a specific time, like ten seconds or 30 seconds.
Audio-based Proctoring
Audio-proctoring is the latest innovation in the space of proctoring technology, and it is one of the most effective solutions. Besides, it occurs when the microphone scans the exam takers’ physical environment for additional noises. Therefore, it helps to ensure the difference between the sounds that can be and should not be in the examination environment.
Furthermore, audio proctoring software uses the exam-taking candidate’s microphone to determine details like whispers, mumbling, low sound levels, etc. In fact, it is an excellent feature powered by AI that is capable of separating candidate audio from background noise. So, for instance, it can detect unusual noises or conversations indicative of cheating.
Upon hearing such noises, the tool sends an alert and flashes a message, indicating malpractice. So, after that, the remote invigilator can take action accordingly.
Video-based Proctoring
Video-based proctoring is the most commonly used technique used by schools, colleges and universities. It can be implemented in two ways: live-streamed and recorded exams, both of which deter cheating. In the former, the examiner can monitor student activity in real time and flag any suspicious activity
On the other hand, recorded exams are another example of online proctored exams, wherein the software records the entire examination. Consequently, the examiner or invigilator reviews the stored feed in the cloud and checks for any untoward action. If they find any sign of unethical activity, they flag the student examination and send the report to the authorised stakeholder.
How to Prevent Cheating during the Online Exam Conduction Process?
Candidate Authentication
Students taking advantage of the lack of appropriate measures and using unethical means to pass their tests are quite common. Moreover, institutes used to face a consistent issue in regard to students’ identity. There was no way to determine if the student appearing for the test was actually the person that they were claiming to be.
Plus, there have been instances of proxy attendance; hence, AI( Artificial Intelligence) proved to be a boon for online assessments. Moreover, AI-powered techniques such as facial recognition effectively use AI algorithms to analyse students’ facial features. Furthermore, it matches them with the pre-registered images to authenticate the exam-taker's identity.
It is an excellent technique that prevents impersonation and protects the integrity of the examination. Likewise, object-detection technology, like smartphones, uses the same algorithm to identify and track objects in the student’s environment. Upon detecting such devices, the tool sends a message asking the particular student to remove any unauthorised objects.
Finally, chatbots are integral to remote online proctoring that use AI-powered software programs to initiate conversations. In effect, it provides real-time support and assistance to students during the exam. For instance, students can use the chatbot to ask for the necessary help if they encounter technical glitches or logistical issues.
To Wrap It Up,
The Online Examination System has become a standardised assessment system that helps teachers to evaluate student learning. But conducting them without appropriate technological support is unwise. That is why online proctoring softwareis an essential tool that helps to authenticate the examination process.