Online Proctoring Pedagogy

Proctoring is best reserved for high-stakes assessments where academic integrity is essential to the validity of the results. For low-stakes, frequent or formative assessments, proctoring often introduces more barriers than benefits.

Before using any proctoring method, determine why you are thinking about proctoring. Is it to:

• Catch cheating when it occurs?​
• Deter cheating before it occurs? ​
• Encourage learning? ​
• Reduce your workload? ​

Knowing your goals will help you choose the best approach for you.

Also, consider other options you can implement as an alternative or in addition to proctoring that will discourage academic misconduct. Some strategies include:

• Randomized questions from a question pool
• Time-limited assessments
• Application or scenario-based questions
• Lockdown browser
• An academic integrity acknowledgment at the beginning of the exam — for example, you might want to include a question at the beginning of the exam like:
  • "By clicking 'Yes,' I confirm that I have read and understand the academic integrity policy in the syllabus and agree not to engage in any form of academic misconduct during this exam."
  • "Hold your scratch paper/calculator/notecard up to the camera. This question is worth no points, but if you fail to complete this step, your exam score will be void."

Proctoring platforms, like Honorlock, have a range of different settings, such as permitting background noise, notes and bathroom breaks. Generally, the more allowances you give, the lower the chance of catching academic misconduct. For example, if you permit notes during the exam, Honorlock's AI will no longer flag any behavior that involves looking down.

Whenever possible, instructors should select the least intrusive option that reasonably supports the assessment's purpose while balancing academic integrity needs.

Knowing someone is watching is stressful, even for students who adhere to academic integrity expectations. Proctoring may also introduce challenges such as having access to an appropriate device, an internet connection and a testing environment.

It is helpful to provide:

• Clear communication about expectations before the assessment
  • At the start of the semester, have students complete a "student contract" that clearly explains proctoring expectations. Have students confirm they understand the technology requirements and what is required of them during testing (e.g., room scan, ID scan, etc.).
  • Include a statement about proctoring in your syllabus, such as this example from Honorlock: Sample Syllabus Language
  • Include instructions at the beginning of the exam reminding students about proctoring requirements.
• Opportunities for students to practice using required tools
  • Honorlock Student Tutorial
• Reasonable flexibility when technical issues occur
• Information about campus proctoring stations for students who may not have an Honorlock-compliant device

Proctoring tools like Honorlock often generate reports that indicate whether a student displayed concerning behavior (a flag) or if there was intervention from a proctor. However, technology does not replace professional judgment. Keep in mind:

• Flags do not automatically indicate misconduct. Sometimes false positives can occur and should be ignored.
• Not all misconduct is detected 
  • Consider how to promote student accountability so they don’t feel compelled to cheat in the first place.

Because of these issues, reviewing reports can be time-consuming, so budget your time wisely.