The Role of Test Proctoring in E-learning

While steady progress has been made in adopting new technologies for use in education and testing, I think that there is still a gap between possibility and reality. A growing selection of courses can be done entirely online, ranging from language and professional certifications to university degrees, but online education still struggles to find its legitimacy compared to the traditional in-house approach. Testing is certainly one of the biggest concerns when it comes to e-learning.

Traditional test proctoring, where students are supervised by staff at a designated test site, still offers a certain degree of legitimacy and security. However, it fails to deliver on what makes e-learning platforms so appealing: customized schedules, savings on travel time and expenses, and increased learning opportunities for students in remote locations. Due to its convenience and affordability, growth in the field of online education is all but assured. This is where the need for effective, secure, and efficient online proctoring services comes in.

Let’s face it, cheating happens. In my five years as an ESL teacher in test-obsessed South Korea I’ve seen it all: from the low-tech (writing answers on impressively small pieces of paper) to the more high-tech use of smart-phones or small earpieces obscured by long hair. Attempts will be made whether there is a physical proctor present or not. The best preventative measures continue to be careful monitoring and the recognition of suspicious behavior. Technology needs to be adapted to this purpose in order to level the playing field. Using technology for test proctoring can range from video surveillance at a test site to full-on remote monitoring directly on the student’s computer. Video monitoring can supplement the presence of physical proctors while software and webcam-based remote monitoring can eliminate the need for a centralized testing site without compromising the legitimacy of the testing process. The use and further development of this sort of remote monitoring is essential for making the case for the legitimacy of the online learning process as a whole while maintaining the benefits of e-learning.

While facial recognition, browser-blocking software, and webcam and audio monitoring show promise, but cannot yet fully replace the human element. Administrators are needed to review the footage, investigate possible infractions, and identify weaknesses in the system. Concerns about privacy and security in an age of surveillance have been making headlines recently as well, so there may be some doubts on that front that have to be addressed. I believe for now, a mix of physical and remote proctoring is the way to go while improvements are made.

I would say the best use for current remote proctoring tools is in lower risk testing scenarios, such as employment tests in certain fields, or low level online university courses. Testing for high-level professions, especially where trust is a hugely important factor (doctors, lawyers, etc.), would likely still benefit most from in-house testing and human proctoring. I do think, however, that this will eventually change as well.

The high demand for online college and university courses and the increasing number of offered programs makes this the essential proving ground for online proctoring and other technological solutions to cheating. Success here would greatly elevate the status of online degrees and open up access to quality education for people who cannot physically attend classes. Busy single parents, soldiers stationed overseas, and people who travel frequently for work or live outside the country of their chosen university are just some of the people who will benefit from improved distance education.

Online learning is clearly not going anywhere. As the industry continues to grow, demand for security and reliability in the testing process will increase. Technology has already been helpful in keeping students honest. When I graduated from university back in 2008, the use of plagiarism detection software was starting to become more common. I plan on going overseas to attend graduate school this year and I look forward to seeing how things have changed. I also look forward to developments in remote proctoring and testing security elevating the status of online degrees so that others might be able to save themselves the trip abroad and learn from home if they want to.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Bart Chlebowski is a professional writer and TEFL teacher currently based in the Fraser Valley, British Columbia. He just came back from spending over 4 years in the South Korean TEFL industry both as a teacher and content creator. He has a degree in English with a minor in political science from the University of British Columbia, and plans to go on to get his MA in Europe later this year. His interests include current events, politics, history, literature, and travel. In his free time, he enjoys hitting the beach, having some drinks with his wife and friends, or taking in a good soccer match.