Learning and the education sector has seen leaps and bounds in the last 10 or so years- even more so thanks to the rapid progression of technology throwing internet and internet education in to the mix. E-education or electronic education, once known as the future of learning is already here with several aspects of it already set in motion in the right places and manner. We see examples of this almost on a daily and very common basis- online tutoring classes and apps that are made in the same fashion, online tests and interviews, online colleges and schools- all of these are commonplace examples of how the internet and online connectivity has changed the world of education.
This is not true for just those who learn, but it has had an impact on those who teach and administrate it as well. With e-learning, there were and still are many hurdles to overcome and one such problem was with online examinations and tests. Several of the questions stemmed from the fact of whether or not these tests were fool proof and a reliable mode of testing and assessing individuals. How will they be carried out with equal efficiency if not more than the already established offline, in-person method? For any other businesses or institutions, to adopt this method, it is important to have a solid answer to these questions and prove the method’s credibility. The fact that these online tests demand a different method of timing, monitoring and assessment that those taken in an examination hall with pen and paper poses challenges but none too complicated for the world to find an answer to.
Thus, online exam proctoring became an idea that was widely discussed and most of absolutely required when it came to e-education. In fact, there is still so much discussion and demand around the topic that the e-learning market is valued at around more than $100 billion. And if it weren’t for this field, the proctoring space would not be a topic of demand or discussion as much as it is today, and of course, it directly also contributes to the fast-paced growth in this area as well.
Coming to the topic of online proctoring, many individuals may be faced with the question of whether or not take the option of an online proctored test, non-proctored online test or a classroom test. But what are the differences and what kind of impact does each one have on the host and the taker of the exam?
In layman’s terms, a proctored online test is a test where the text is monitored for its authenticity through a proctor who is present for the entire duration of the test. The proctor is present to prevent those who are taking the test from cheating any other malpractices during the examination.
In order to delve deeper in to online proctoring, it is crucial to see the current problems offline proctoring and online tests without proctoring provides. These include but are not limited to:
- Qualifications
It is often a tough challenge to find proctors who are actually qualified to do this job. There are no set requirements or rules to evaluate the quality of efficiency of an offline proctor. Furthermore, there are no available records of their progress or experience with the job thereby, making it that much more difficult to pinpoint someone who will ensure that everything goes well.
- Schedule frenzy
No one can say that there will be sufficient proctors for all tests at all times. This leads to, several times, poor planning and even poorer execution. Proctors are dumped with a hectic schedule; ones that they can often not keep up with or keep track of and sometimes proctors may not even be able to monitor other tests because of the confusion schedule. Even more so is when there is not enough test centers, all of this will lead to extended tests and schedules costing businesses and institutions precious money, resources and time.
- Location
Finding the perfect locations and venues for the tests are frustrating. Everyone thinks the metropolitans and the bubs of the region are an excellent choice. However, not every location is accessible to all proctors or those who are taking the exam. Therefore, the challenge is to conduct the exam in a time and place that is convenient for the candidates and the proctors alike. Several times the examiner institute or business succeed however it does cost them quite a bit.
- Lapses
Although many of the aforementioned problems can easily be overcome by online tests, online test without proctors come with their own set of problems and hurdles to face that putt off several organizations from adopting theme. Some of them include but are not limited to:
Impersonation
Impersonation in online tests happen when the candidate someone else who is preferably more knowledgeable in the subject of the exam to go and take the exam on his or her behalf. Because the online test cannot really recognize face or writing styles, the candidate has cheated his way to pass the test.
Cheating
Cheating in online tests is completely possible. All the candidate may need to do is to refer their book or smartphone using Google to figure out all the answers. The online test can’t figure out whether or not the candidates are using other materials, therefore, it ultimately ruins the purpose of the examination.
Online proctoring can completely and fully remove all these issues by making clever use of technology like live online web-calls, online recordings and so on. With a live web-call, the proctor sees a live feed of the candidate/s taking the exam and can act as a virtual monitor but in the convenience of their own location at their own time. A recorded proctoring is one where the proctor reviews the recording and red flags any suspicious activities and their tests are disqualified and their application as and when the need be.
