Tips for Using Online Proctoring Solutions

Due to the increasing health issue, everyone has been compelled to relocate their academics, talent tests, and certificates online.

Because we don’t know how long our online studies, training, and examinations will continue, corporate organizations, schools, colleges, and universities are using online proctoring software to make online assessments more manageable. But how do we police this new online environment? That’s where proctor management comes in.

What Is a Proctor?

A ‘proctor’ is a person who supervises an exam, and ‘proctoring’ is the act of supervising an exam or test of students, applicants, employees, or others.

Proctoring is a fancy term for an invigilator who keeps a watch on students taking a test, which could be physical or online. However, the methods of invigilation, also known as proctoring, varied.
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The Need for Online Proctoring

In the recent decade, the use of online exams and remote proctoring has increased at an unprecedented rate. Since the COVID-19 outbreak, remote proctoring has been the norm as a realistic and practical alternative to in-person proctoring.

With most educational institutions closed and exams looming, most institutions realized the value and potential of online exam proctoring.

It is in this situation that we turn to online proctoring. You can keep an eye on test-takers via their webcam, computer microphone, and desktop through this technology.

Whether timed or untimed, remote proctoring allows schools and educational institutions of all kinds to identify the test-takers, the absentees and keep track of any malpractices.

This makes it a viable alternative for in-person testing while making things easier for remote candidates.
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Do’s and Don’ts of Online Proctoring

With all that said, the advantages of using online proctoring software should be obvious. Physically, in schools, you have a whole host of staff and invigilators to help you deal with the whole examination.

This is not so when you have to conduct tests online. You have to do everything, from verifying identities to keeping students in check, which can get very tedious quickly.

Once you have the software that works for you, you need to adhere to some rules and ethics. In this section, we will go through some of the best practices and do’s and don’ts of using online proctoring services that you should impress upon your students before they sit for an exam in this manner.

So, without further ado, here we go:

• A webcam and microphone is required when a candidate takes a test online.
• Pupils must be situated against a plain background. Ensure the presence of adequate lighting in the room. If you are unsatisfied, make them relocate to a different room.
• The room must be kept as silent as possible at all times. Any noise at all must incur a penalty.
• Ensure that the candidate is the only one in the room during the examination.
• Before the examination begins, all candidates should have a sufficient number of sheets available. Nobody is allowed to get up to get more in the middle of an exam.

So much for do.

Now let’s look at things your candidates need to avoid like the plague:
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• Students should refrain from attempting navigation away from the exam window, as their examination screen will be proctored for the duration of the examination. If any suspicious activity is noticed during the exam, the exam will be deemed invalid and the results will be withheld. There can be no budging on this point.
• Make sure that your candidates understand that they are not permitted to speak with anybody else throughout your exam.
• Your candidates cannot use any digital devices, such as mobile phones or Bluetooth speakers, throughout the exam. These will be regarded as malpractice if observed in the test.
• Instruct your students to refrain from using several devices at the same time because the system may terminate the exam for that candidate if it detects this behavior.
• Before the exam begins, a practice screen is displayed. It is critical that the candidates do not navigate away from the test screen.

Of course, a lot more goes into these tests, and these rules are more like guidelines. Every exam, subject, and teacher combination will necessitate a new set of rules. However, these can be used as a basis upon which to build them.
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Don’t Forget to Help the Student

Despite the necessity of online proctoring, please don’t forget that this is all uncharted waters for students.

They are not used to giving exams in a room, cut away from friends and family, with a stranger watching their every move.

The anxiety of performing under monitoring is huge, so help them get used to this. Reward them, be friendly enough, and treat them all fairly. Don’t forget that these are children trying to make the ost of a bad situation and cut them some slack.
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Conclusion

You can automate the process of conducting assessments with the correct proctoring software, starting with curating the exam, arranging test dates, evaluating the submitted papers, and finally revealing the final findings via the internet.

Because online exams are less expensive, faster, and more transparent, it’s a good idea to invest in AI-driven proctoring software to ensure that tests run smoothly and efficiently.