Online proctoring
Online proctoring (also known as ‘online invigilating’) means students are monitored while writing a test or exam online. Online proctoring can be ’live‘ (where students are observed in real time) or recorded (where proctors observe students from a recording). Respondus Monitor is an example of a record-and-review online proctoring tool that detects potentially suspicious student behaviour and produces a report that directs proctors to pertinent portions of the recording to review. Zoom, although not designed for online proctoring, can also be used for this purpose.
Not recommended at McGill
McGill does not recommend online proctored exams for the following reasons:
There is a serious risk of technical failure due to the necessity for extended, sustained internet access. If something goes wrong, there is no backup. If a student’s WiFi drops, their computer crashes, etc., there is no way to do the exam in an alternate way.
Anxiety. Exams are already stressful. Adding observation in their personal workspace could contribute to making students feel overwhelmed with anxiety.
Students may not have access to laptops, and even if they do, they may not have the permissions needed to install the required software.
Students may be in different time zones, thus creating significant obstacles for those who would be writing an exam in the middle of the night.
Read more:
Academic Integrity Faculty Checklist (International Center for Academic Integrity)
Academic Integrity and Online Learning (University of Calgary)
Building Academic Integrity into Your Course (Rochester Institute of Technology)
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