ProctorU (http://www.proctoru.com) provides students with the opportunity to take proctored exams online from anywhere they have access to a webcam and a high-speed Internet connection. The authentication practices ensure institutions of the integrity of online exam-taking.
ProctorU works with over 700 universities and colleges worldwide, with Canadians clients such as the University of Toronto, as well as private companies and K-12 systems, to monitor exams anywhere and at any time. They provide authentication and monitoring services for 85,000 exam takers each month.
Authentication: Students sign in to ProctorU to take their exams at the designated time. Identity verification is based on the institution’s student identity card, with the live proctor matching the person with the photo on the card, and taking an additional photo of the exam-taker which is kept on file. The student must also answer identity-establishing questions.
Key Stroke Analysis: Prior to the exam, the student inputs a typing sample which is subjected to keystroke analysis. The technology then monitors the keystroke pattern of the exam-taker to ensure it is the same person. Research has shown that fewer than 2 people in 10,000 have similar input patterns.
Monitoring: Live proctors in centres in the United States monitor the students throughout the exam. One proctor can monitor four people at one time, ensuring constant attention. The proctors also help the students in case of any technical difficulties.
Proctors in the Hoover, Alabama proctoring center in September of 2015. Photo from TheNativeSociety.
Scheduling: An institution can schedule an exam for one particular time or allow students a limited time period (e.g. 3 days) to complete and submit the test. In this case, the student schedules his/her own time, which ProctorU facilitates by offering a 24-hour service.
Technology: The student must have a webcam and microphone to connect with ProctorU. The service does not require high bandwidth so it can be used anywhere there is an Internet connection.
Responsiveness: ProctorU has phone numbers for students and for professors to resolve issues quickly. For example, if a student has injured his hand between the keystroke input and the test, the professor is contacted to verify the student’s identity.
Service Assessment: Each exam session finishes with two questions concerning the ProctorU experience. With a 70% response rate, ProctorU has a 4.6 out of 5 rating on features, such as ease of use and accessibility.
Don Kassner, CEO and President
Refining the Model: Don Kassner, the CEO and President of ProctorU, was president of an online university facing the challenge of online students needing a way of taking their final exams. As he outlined to Inside Higher Education, working with colleagues, he developed a way of using webcams so the students could take the exams at home – and this idea grew into ProctorU.
Started in 2009, ProctorU had, by the end of 2015, authenticated the students for, and monitored, over two million examinations. The use of keystroke analysis as the biometric for verifying the correct student is taking the exam offers an approach that is not problematic in terms of privacy and an identity that cannot be stolen, as well as offering very high levels of accuracy and reliability.
The remote proctoring, to some extent, replicates a classroom exam as the online monitor is watching the students, as well as being hooked into their computer to ensure they do not access any off-limit resources. A technological monitor tracks direction and frequency of movement of student gaze during exams, as well as audio and visual interruptions. The live monitors are able to use their judgment and interrupt the exams to resolve any concerns.
At the moment, it is essential that a student use a keyboard for an exam through ProctorU. Once facial recognition technology cost levels are reduced, it will be possible to for ProctorU to verify students and monitor exams on mobile devices. Don predicts this will happen within the next two years.
For more information
Andrew Caldwell
Vice President, Business Development
ProctorU
[email protected]
