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Why online proctoring is the future of assessment .
By Jotsana Roopram and Greg Whateley
Higher education providers around the globe are re-examining the way they conduct student assessments . Smart universities are looking to online proctoring as part of their efforts to futureproof their programs .
Both the impact of COVID-19 on higher education institutions and the speed at which most institutions were required to react was significant , particularly with the abrupt move to online classes and associated online assessment strategies .
In early 2020 , most institutions chose the most cost-effective and user-friendly ‘ quick fix ’ strategies for assessment .
A smaller number explored online proctoring – a service that allows students to take their exams in the convenience of their own homes , under the supervision of either a human invigilator online or artificial intelligence software ( or a combination of both ) via a webcam and screen-sharing capability .
Higher education regulator TEQSA and professional accreditation bodies in Australia ( such as CPA and CA ANZ ) did not impose mandatory requirements on assessments at the start of the pandemic .
They were supportive of , and flexible around , assessment strategies employed by various institutions . The only caveat was that academic integrity and a positive student academic experience drive the decision-making processes , and that chosen strategies would only be employed temporarily until more suitable options could be explored .
Facing the future
SHIFT TO PROCTORING TOOLS In 2020 , a number of Australian universities – such as the Australian National University and the University of Queensland – announced their plans to use online proctoring software such as ProctorU and Proctorio . Their aim was to retain the integrity of face-to-face supervised exams .
This was met with apprehension and criticism from many students , academic staff and privacy experts alike . Concerns were raised about online proctoring being invasive and accusatory , inequitable , unlawful , and over-reliant on technology .
The legitimacy of these concerns must be considered along with the question : Is being seated in a physical exam venue under constant surveillance less invasive than the use of proctoring software during an online exam ?
At UBSS , the most recent student survey conducted in February 2021 indicated that 88 per cent of undergraduate and postgraduate students preferred to continue their studies online .
Such a result upholds the belief that students ( at UBSS at least ) have embraced technology and are comfortable with the use of technology in their studies and exams , thus making proctoring software an attractive option for upcoming exams .
ADVANTAGES OF PROCTORING TOOLS
Proctoring software provides considerable flexibility in the types of products that can be used based on the assessment type , requirements , or individual needs of the institution . Artificial intelligence , human invigilated online proctoring , or a combination of both can be implemented effectively .
Advantages associated with proctoring tools include :
• Academic staff have the freedom to develop a wider range of assessment questions than what they were restricted to under traditional pen and paper exams .
• Reduced carbon footprint for environmentally conscious institutions .
• With the level of technology that most students are accustomed to using and familiar with , typing is preferable to handwriting .
• Students can save time in not having to travel to exam venues and avoid the logistics required before being seated for face-to-face exams . Further advantages , according to Dawson
( 2021 ), include :
• Authentication : student identity is verified before the commencement of the exam .
• Lockdown : access to documents and notes , websites , other software may be blocked in closed book exams .
• Monitoring : exam conditions are maintained through the use of a microphone and webcam .
HEIGHTENED USE OF TECHNOLOGY
The increased use of technology has its advantages for a higher education student . The world was already heavily dependent on technology pre-COVID ; those who do not embrace it or are uncomfortable with it will inevitably be disadvantaged .
However , the post-COVID world will demand an even greater familiarity with technology in almost every job market of the future . As such , the ‘ university of the future ’ will need to be a smart university , according to Martin ( 2021 ).
Part of this has been a revival of a common and sometimes controversial question in higher education : Are faceto-face exams an outdated approach to summative assessment ?
While no assessment proctoring approach ( face-to-face or online ) can ultimately eradicate cheating and other forms of academic misconduct completely , the use of online proctoring will dissuade students from doing so and augments the integrity of the assessment process in general . That alone makes consideration of proctoring a worthwhile endeavour . ■
Assistant Professor Jotsana Roopram is the deputy dean ( student experience ) at Universal Business School Sydney . Emeritus Professor Greg Whateley is the deputy vice chancellor at Group Colleges Australia .
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