As the education sector is witnessing a staggering transformation with the advent of various technologies, the educational institutes are now planning to completely digitize the academic activities. With the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, many schools have shut down and universities had to replace offline examination with online examination system, which can be difficult to invigilate as students can easily copy and paste from the internet. Academic institutes require a solution which does not let them compromise with the experience, security, feasibility, and convenience of instructors and students. With several exams being canceled or postponed amid the pandemic to avoid the risk of spread of infection, remote exams were conducted on online exam platforms to ensure safety of the students and teachers.
Top 5 Strategies to Prevent Cheating during the Online Exam Conduction
Artificial intelligence allows machines to adjust to the surrounding environment, learn from experiences, and thereby carry out human-like tasks or activities. With AI, machines can be trained to accomplish definite tasks by processing large amounts of data and recognizing patterns, utilizing neural networks and deep learning algorithms.
What is the role of Artificial Intelligence in Online Examination?
AI-based exams, also referred to as AI-proctored exams, eliminate the need for employing onsite invigilators and offer a cheating-free environment. The AI proctoring tracks and monitors the live feed through the student’s webcam and reports or flags any suspicious activity during the online test. This technology makes it easier to monitor a significantly large number of students at a time. A robust surge in the implementation of AI in online exam systems has resulted in universities to scale up online learning. Center- and location-based tests are tedious for students and take a huge toll on a college’s budget in hiring invigilators, deciding a venue, and arranging other logistical arrangements. Although with AI, colleges and universities are increasingly adopting auto proctored tests and exam automation as they are the most financially viable solution.
Various Types of Online Proctoring?
On the basis of university needs, online proctoring can be classified into three methods:
1 . Recorded Proctoring:
This method is more advantageous as it provides better protection of the invigilation process by recording screen-sharing feeds reviewed by an invigilator after the exam. Also, recorded proctoring further enables flexibility for candidates without the need to coordinate with the invigilator.
2. Live Proctoring:
This method generally involves a proctor who monitors the student via video/audio feeds. An invigilator can intervene in the exam at any time if he/she notices any suspicious activity or red flag which can be indicators of potential cheating.
3. Advanced Proctoring:
This is an automated method which does not require any manual intervention and offers a higher level of integrity in exams. It is powered by AI, and any malpractice is automatically captured so that it enables tracking an unlimited number of candidates. Furthermore, this solution is less time-consuming and cost-effective as human invigilators are not required in the process.
Prominent Features of AI-Proctored Exams:
Auto proctoring offers reliable and cost-effective solutions via AI-based systems. The auto proctor acts like a human invigilator in exams taken by candidates from anywhere.
Following are some of the key factors of AI-based tests:
Voice Recognition:
Voice recognition enables systems to understand human speech. A voice-enabled auto proctor identifies audio for authentication and then matches it to any background noise to eliminate cheating scenarios by offering a graphical representation of the speech patterns. Loud or irregular audio is recorded as potential cheating as candidates are required to take the exam in a quiet room.
Image Recognition:
Advanced facial recognition features are now employed in AI-based exams. Colleges and universities use AI proctoring units which depend on facial recognition to ensure that the students don’t use any unfair practices to get good scores in an exam. Authentication using government authorized photo ID further reduces the probability of impersonation, thereby offering a cheat-free environment.
Eye Movement and Object/Face Detection:
If the student is involved in any cheating practices and is trying to move his/her eyes to other objects apart from the desktop, the system then detects misconduct. Also, machine learning algorithms enable scanning an exam tester’s environment to track and monitor for objects which are not permitted during an exam.
How Can AI Enhance Remote Proctoring Exams?
1. Improved Accuracy and Precision
Artificial intelligence can act like a second pair of eyes for human invigilators as it can help in generating an alert for anything it sees, listens, and captures things which humans may not have time to recognize in real-time.
2. Unparalleled Security
If the software catches a malpractice or unpermitted resource which a human proctor may miss, the remote proctoring system can take quick action against the student. It further offers more confidence in high-stake exams where the remediation or prevention of misconduct is the preferred outcome.
3. High Scalability
Improved efficiency obtained through better accuracy in recognition of an unusual behavior enables remote proctoring systems to invigilate online exams without compromising the additional security capability of human intervention.
4. Mirrors Human Behavior
Artificial intelligence can help in alerting humans to aberrant behaviors. Once the software becomes as accurate as humans, one would not need human invigilators to look after every single candidate.
5. Designing a Smarter AI System
An AI system works perfectly only when it is accurate. It requires a large amount of data to become accurate. Thus, you can avail a smarter AI system the more data you have to work on.
The evolution from the pen-and-paper approach to the online approach and finally to Artificial Intelligence (AI)- based online exam platform has had a major role in revolutionizing online assessments. The adoption of AI in the education industry has transformed higher education and the change has been graciously accepted by universities which leverage AI-based systems to modify their curriculum and provide students the flexibility and convenience to take the exams.
With AI-based proctoring, schools, colleges, and universities need not delay or postpone examinations amid the COVID-19 outbreak.