Exam Proctoring

Administering digital exams to a room full of students can be challenging. It requires verifying each student’s identity, giving clear directions, fielding questions without disruption, monitoring students to ensure integrity is upheld, and troubleshooting malfunctioning technology along the way.

Exam proctors, also called exam invigilators or supervisors, help educators address these challenges by taking on the responsibility of administering tests.

With the evolution toward digital exams and online learning, new opportunities and challenges have arisen, creating the need for digital exam proctoring.

What is exam proctoring?

Proctoring is a process in which a neutral party administers an exam on behalf of an educator and monitors students to ensure a smooth and fair experience. Exam proctoring can be used by institutions of higher learning as well as K-12 schools. Educators may leverage proctors for a variety of reasons.

Proctors are trained to spot and remedy unwanted testing behaviors, exhibit proficiency in the technology used to administer exams, and ensure a secure sign-in process even though they may not be experts of any academic subject.

Secondly, educators who use proctoring services can recapture time, which they can put toward grading papers, preparing future lessons, or other administrative tasks.

Historically, proctored exam settings, students were monitored by proctors walking around the classroom, observing students as they worked. This meant there were strict limits on how many students could be served and the number of exams administered.

Today, many exams are administered digitally, leading to opportunities for efficiency and scalability.

What is the importance of exam proctoring?

Exam proctoring is important for enforcing rules, regulations, and security standards set by the institution, department, or testing center. By monitoring students’ screens during computer-based testing, exam proctors can ensure that students are following guidelines and are not engaging in inappropriate behaviors such as cheating. Proctoring also allows for a level of intervention if a student has any technical issues or questions that need to be addressed during the exam process.

How can technology enhance exam proctoring?

Computer-based exam proctoring can provide testing environments with an effective way of monitoring students’ screens and devices during computer-based testing Proctors no longer need to wander around the room to monitor students, they can easily see all screens from their administrative devices. Digital exam proctoring can help not only deter cheating or suspicious activity but it can assist in the management of the devices with features that monitor battery status, remote power, and application updates.

When exam proctoring is enabled, the proctor can view a student’s computer screen in real-time. Additionally, some software solutions provide features that allow the proctor to take screenshots of the student’s screen and flag any suspicious activities that occur during the test. The proctor can also take control of the computer if needed, by locking the screen, disabling access to applications, and even blocking certain websites.

How does digital exam proctoring software work?

Using digital tools for exam proctoring also makes it easy to maintain records of test-taking activities. Proctors can review the screenshots and logs, which provide a comprehensive overview of the student’s activity during the test. This helps ensure that any suspicious behavior is identified and remedied quickly, making exam proctoring more efficient and reliable.

Benefits of proctoring with LanSchool

Software like LanSchool makes it possible for proctors to deliver testing through remote device control and discreet instructions through chat messages, while also monitoring students’ screens for signs of confusion, distraction, or cheating. It enables the proctoring process to be more personal, effective, and scalable at the same time.

More efficient exam monitoring

With LanSchool, proctors can view all students’ screens in thumbnail view and click in to full-screen view on individual screens when needed or when exam fraud is suspected. Students who know they are being monitored in this way are also less likely to attempt cheating in the first place.

Improved user experience

Proctors will no longer have to physically visit each student’s workstation to enter their credentials or monitor their behavior. They can also communicate discreetly and directly using chat, reducing verbal disruption of other test-takers.

Discreet device management

LanSchool makes it easy for proctors to administer multiple exams at once, reduces time spent at the start and completion and allows for discreet interruption if exam fraud is suspected all from the comfort and convenience of their desktop.

Convenient access for all

LanSchool can help schools administer exams on campus using LanSchool Classic. It is easy to install and sign in, making it ideal for computer labs and school owned devices alike.

LanSchool leverages these key features to optimize exam proctoring

Screen monitoring

Supervise students’ screens as they work to spot and redirect unwanted behaviors.

Remote control

Take remote control of a student’s device to sign them in for their exam, then relinquish control of the device to the student.

Chat

Send a discreet chat message instead of verbally instructing or assisting individual students.

Blank screen

Blank a students’ screen to end an exam and address unauthorized behaviors.

Remote power

Turn student devices on or off from the proctor’s dashboard.

University campus implements LanSchool to deter exam fraud and scale up proctoring services

Background

A major western region university testing center needed a technology-driven way for multiple proctors to monitor as many as 110 students during exams. The center operations manager researched several traditional proctoring software solutions but found it difficult to find one that addressed all their needs.

Solution

Research finally led to LanSchool, a software typically used to guide digital learning in a K-12 environment. Implementation of LanSchool Classic and its robust features such as screen monitoring, chat, blank screen, remote power, and control aligned with the requirements of the testing center.

Launch

With the help of the LanSchool customer support team, the university successfully launched LanSchool Classic. Once the university discovered how easy LanSchool was to learn and use, the operations manager began relying on existing proctors to train new proctoring staff, creating further efficiencies.

Results

Once launched on all proctoring center devices including, check-in devices, administrative devices, over 100 exam devices, and check-out devices, the proctoring center has been able to identify or deter exam fraud, accommodate more exams and expand its services to more professors.

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