We all know it. The day of the exam has arrived. Due to some rail delays, you arrive at the examination venue just in time. You walk into the main hall and feel the excitement of the others. Not only the unfamiliar surroundings and ambient noises, but also the supervisors watching you make you nervous.... Fortunately, technology now supports other forms of exam administration and supervision, making this a thing of the past (for good). What is online proctoring? Online proctoring makes it possible to take exams anywhere and at any time through remote surveillance. Provided the exam candidate is in a place with internet access. Of course, the exam candidate must always give his or her permission for the collection and storage of data and information first. There are three forms of online proctoring. Which variant and associated options are applied depends on the (social) value of the exam and the needs of the client. Live proctoring Online monitoring of the candidate is done live through audio recording, screen access, a webcam and/or mobile phone. The supervisor (proctor) can correct or intervene directly with the candidate if applicable and desired. Storage & control After the examination has taken place, the proctor can review the complete test moment. Both a recording of the computer screen and the circumstances in which the candidate takes the exam. Think for example of the exam room, the ambient sounds and/or the candidate's behaviour. Automated proctoring Checks are carried out during exam administration by detection software that identifies incidents such as abnormal behaviour or noises from the environment. This allows the supervisor to identify possible fraud afterwards. How is fraud prevented? Fraud prevention plays an important role in examinations in general and thus also in online proctoring. It involves both identity fraud and fraud using devices. In terms of identity fraud, biometric identification (palm, face or voice recognition) and keystrokes are dynamic ways to exam cheating counter. Here, physical characteristics and the way you behave are used for identification. In terms of tools, the examination room is screened through the use of webcam, mobile camera and screen sharing. This is just the tip of the iceberg and technological developments are advancing rapidly. What does the future of examining look like? There are numerous innovations in digital testing. It is not inconceivable that in the (near) future, technological developments such as artificial intelligence and virtual reality will contribute to the various forms and phases of exam logistics (administration, supervision, correction). Think of having open questions corrected automatically or testing your skills in a virtual reality environment. Currently, this is not only expensive, but also still in its technological infancy. Optimum Assessment closely monitors these developments and of course we will keep you informed via our blog and newsletter.
