Online proctoring isn’t just for online courses: benefits of proctoring exams regardless of course modality.

Online proctoring isn’t just for online courses


The benefits of proctoring exams regardless of course modality

Whether classes are on-campus, hybrid, or fully remote, online proctoring is a valuable tool that’s proven to reduce cheating while saving instructors time and offering students more access, flexibility, and convenience. 

Instructors can spend more time teaching in class

Proctoring tests outside of class hours gives instructors more time to teach instead of administering tests.

If you teach a one-hour class on campus three times per week, that’s 45 hours in class during a 15-week semester. Administering five tests that semester reduces teaching time by over 11%.

Students prefer taking exams online

Students prefer online exams because they’re similar to a real-world remote work environment, they trust the results, and they provide flexibility.

78% of students believe online exams are similar to a real workplace 1 and create an authentic experience2.
Whether working remotely or in an office, technology is used to some degree, and students believe online exams (and learning) prepare them for the workplace.

Some tools, like an LMS, are commonly used in online education, while others like, Zoom and Excel, are used by a broader audience. But all of these can be used to assess students in realistic ways without concerns of cheating if proctoring is used, such as completing math problems by hand, using software, and virtual demonstrations.

“The accounting programs use Honorlock to proctor tests where students are using software to fix balance sheets and other similar documents, while other programs use it for short answer and essay questions,” said Paul Fisher, Associate CIO & Director of the Teaching & Learning Technology Center at Seton Hall University.

78% of students trust online exam scoring over hand grading3
Online exams typically use automated grading, which reduces human error and gives students instant feedback.

Online proctoring provides an extra layer of confidence that the assessments and grades are equitable and that academic integrity is protected.

Students care about timing and environment 
Simply being in a different room or sitting in a different seat can negatively impact students’ test performance4.

Testing centers often require scheduling, which can be a stressful hassle if availability is limited. But a blended proctoring solution, like Honorlock, allows students to take proctored tests with live support when and where they’re comfortable.

“Honorlock definitely makes test taking a lot more flexible and convenient. I don’t like having to take a test at a certain time and place when I can take it in the comfort of my own home,” said Madi Kuokos, a University of Florida graduate.

Online proctoring increases access and accessibility

According to the US Department of Education, 1 in 5 college students have a disability, and more than 40% of students paying tuition independently are in or near poverty.

With those stats in mind: 
Does your testing center have the resources and support to meet your students’ needs? Does it meet compliance standards?

What if a student’s work schedule doesn’t align with your testing center’s schedule? What if they can’t afford to travel to campus?

Honorlock increases access and accessibility
Honorlock’s proctoring solution is compliant with web accessibility standards and allows instructors to provide specific accommodations, like using assistive technologies, completing a proctored exam without a webcam, and alternative options to complete assessment activities. Honorlock even has failsafes in place in case a student’s internet speed drops below thresholds for streaming video.

Students can also take proctored exams 24/7/365, which helps students with busy schedules and households.

“Honorlock helps us get to the core of our mission here at Warrington: being able to offer an MBA to just about anybody. Having a proctoring service focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion made choosing Honorlock an easy fit for us,” said Naz Erenguc, Director of Admissions at the University of Florida’s Warrington College of Business.

Online proctoring is proven to deter & prevent cheating

Whether students take exams in class, at a testing center, or at home, precautions should be taken to prevent cheating.

Some believe online exams amplify cheating
In a survey comparing online exams to those taken in person, 3 out of 4 instructors believe more students cheat online, and almost 60% of students said it’s easier to cheat online5. But interestingly enough, that same survey showed that 70% of students said they’re less likely to cheat if proctoring is used.

Proctoring reduces cheating and impacts scores
Three recent studies showed that online proctoring significantly reduces cheating behaviors and impacts exam scores.

The first study showed that 70% of students attempted to cheat during unproctored exams compared to just 15% during proctored exams6.

During the second study, students scored 17 points lower on proctored exams compared to unproctored exams7.

Similarly, the third study found that proctored test scores decreased by 10 to 20 percentage points compared to unproctored tests8.

For the second and third studies, variables that can impact test scores were considered, like test anxiety, question format, age, and GPA. While test anxiety is commonly associated with proctoring, instructors didn’t receive student feedback about increased anxiety from proctoring. In other words, proctoring didn’t create stress that negatively impacted test scores.

Honorlock’s online proctoring solution isn’t just for online courses
Regardless of modality, Honorlock’s blend of AI and human proctors creates a better testing experience for students and instructors. Honorlock creates a non-invasive test environment that gives students the flexibility and convenience they need while instructors gain confidence that academic integrity is protected and have more time to teach instead of test.

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Related:
Creating accessible online exams

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