Facing tumultuous times, universities have adjusted admirably to the unknowns. However, while they are embracing a return to routine, with students and staff predominantly coming back to campus, they continue to face a host of challenges.
Declining enrollment is a top concern
One of their most pressing concerns—declining enrollment—is increasingly addressed by growth in hybrid and distance learning, prized by nontraditional students for its flexibility and by traditional students seeking to blend experiences. One recent study found that 61% of online learners would choose an online program at a different university before enrolling in an on-campus program. Another study found that 73% of college students would like to take some fully online courses in the future.
Higher ed institutions are also focused on providing an experience that promotes equality among their students, notes Jordan Adair, Vice President of Product for Honorlock, a company providing on-demand online exam proctoring services that blend AI software with live proctors for a human touch. “When some learners are in a remote environment, you can’t be sure your students are all on equal footing as easily as when they are all on campus,” said Adair.
Creates an equal playing field
Protecting the integrity and creating a fair testing experience was a top concern for Peter Burrell, assistant professor for business-related graduate and undergraduate courses at the University of Cincinnati. Like many instructors, he found himself leading a class in March 2020 that had started in person but abruptly moved online. That’s when he discovered the importance of an online proctoring platform and began using Honorlock, which was already integrated with his university’s learning management system, Canvas.
Burrell decided to rely on online proctoring after discovering some students intended to circumvent the test by organizing group chats. After one short training program, he deployed Honorlock and defused the situation, turning him into a firm believer in the technology.
Rooting out academic dishonesty has to be the cornerstone of creating the level playing field everyone seeks. Burrell indicates this is especially true for engaged students. “If I had a really hard professor and I was able to succeed on a test, I felt good about myself. I want my students to experience that sense of achievement,” he said, adding that online proctoring supports this goal.
Provides schedule flexibility
Since it’s available 24/7/365, online proctoring also allows students to experience the flexibility of taking a test at a time best for them, often without needing to set an appointment at a testing center.
Additionally, there are associated cost benefits for students, given that remote education typically costs less than in-person learning. Yet, the proliferation of virtual learning can come with a downside if it isn’t valued as highly as in-person learning, and students don’t want the perceived value of their degree to fall if they elect to take a class remotely.
“Prioritizing adequate protections for remote testing through online proctoring confirms that an online degree holds the same weight as one where students took the classes in person,” said Adair.
Helps reduce student test anxiety
Finally, according to its student survey, Honorlock has found that the right online proctoring platform can help ease online text anxiety, which is present in 64% of students. Several safeguards Honorlock offers helped significantly, such as dispelling misconceptions about what could trigger a red flag and the ability to troubleshoot and alleviate technical concerns before starting the test. Honorlock’s full-time live proctors are trained to spot physical movements that might indicate anxiety, such as lip licking or touching the face, and they proactively interact with affected students using a reassuring set of talking points. Fully 100% of students who interacted with a remote proctor said the interaction made them less anxious.
How Online Proctoring Benefits Instructors
Promotes more time teaching, less time testing
Any instructor will lament that there’s never enough time to cover all the material they’d like to present, which is why they value online testing’s ability to preserve educational hours. “If instructors don’t have to deliver a test in class, that leaves time for another lecture or project they can explore together.” Jordan Adair Vice President of Product, Honorlock
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Who Does Online Proctoring Serve?
