Straighterline/proctoru gone to far?

[soliloquy]

I have a dual monitor setup and took an exam last week. The proctor didn't have a problem with it. I believe they are concerned about cloned monitors which would allow someone not sitting in front of the camera to see the questions.

. That's a lot to go through.

[NatashaB]

Your experience isn't standard proctor U practice. I am asked to show my drivers license, then confirm my name and address on the screen. For some reason this never validates successfully, maybe because I'm not a US citizen, so I have to show my passport as a second form of ID. They check my monitor resolution settings to make sure I don't have another screen connected or anything that would enable cheating. They ask me to show them my screen with a mirror and pan the camera round the room, and show any textbooks or scratch paper/notes I have with me. They ask me to close my browser session completely and log into Straighterline again from scratch, and that I have no other windows open. That's it. So unless they've changed their policies (I finished my SL classes and cancelled my subscription last week), then it sounds strange. Did they ask you for a second form of ID after you showed your DL, and you were unable to provide one? maybe that's their alternate way of ID-ing you.

[Getiton1]

Oh my,this face morphing is really creepy!

While I understand the concern about these questions, there is a reason that a video proctoring service as to go beyond simple ID screening. (you have to decide if it's a 'good' reason or not)

First is that with web video proctoring being a relatively new thing a greater level of assurance has to be given to the institutions involved to get buy-in from them. It's not enough to just repeat the in person ID checking by video. Concerns from educators (not well known for readily accepting new approaches or technologies) will trump what we might all seen as reasonable replication of current security protocals. Adding the additional layer of checks enables ProctorU to take the "No really, its secure, we're going above and beyond" stance therefore perhaps getting greater buy-in to what they are offering.

The second issue is one of digital Tom Foolery - As much as online edu... well, anything is a great boon, there are those that always seek to cheat the system and they can do so in ways you just can't do in person. Here is a prime example of the kind of things that are relatively easy to pull of right now...

[video=vimeo;29348533]http://vimeo.com/29348533[/video]

Granted, this particular one is still a bit crude, but this program is available now (I've installed it and played with it some myself) it is one of several and others do a better job and this will only continue to grow in ability. It will be no time before I could easily impersonate anyone on a video and an ID won't help as I could actually use the picture on the ID itself to mask my own identity.

So, agreed you have to confirm more information than you might like, you just have to determine if you are willing to do that or not, if it's worth it for the benefit. For me it is, for others it might not be. Thankfully there are more options just the one to get needed credit. That's just my two cents on the topic.

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Question though... what is the issue with multiple monitors and ProctorU? What if you do have a setup like that (I have 3 monitors... well, 2 and a Wacom Cintiq). How do they deal with this particular issue?

[picard40]

That is very unusual. I have taken 13 courses from Straighterline for my B.A of history for T.E.S.C. 13 test and never once were those kinds of questions ever asked. You are right to be concerned. I am curious to know how they responded. So far i have not had any problems with them or with Proctoru. Hope everything works out.

[gryan665]

thank everyone for your impute. i will attempt to take this test again on thursday. i feel a little more comfortable knowing that this is not normal. just a quick update (still have some conversations going on with the powers that be).

Proctoru said that they believe that he should have had no reason to be in my top sites page, however state that all questions are through axiom, a web site that pulls public information. basically they see no problem with asking me where my friend lives or mother maiden name.

SL says that they are unaware that they ask this type of questions. they believed that they just asked questions like last 4 of phone and past address of me. they going to look into it.

i have no problem with those questions but the ones like maiden name, i know that banking asked this for security purposes. and i can understand banking asking these questions cause they are dealing with my and other money already. but it just a final exam not a loan. i cant take the exam at the library cause of administration locks on the computer. so i am left with my computer. i just feel that this multiple questions stuff is to much for a final exam. i did find out that SL gets to set their security level that they want. so i am going to send my opinion to the president of SL just to bring to there attention. someone on here once said they had his email address if you can pm me or put it out there so that we can let him know our opinion on this that would be good. i know this seems like it might be inundating him with emails but i believe its public knowledge on his web site. haha

p.s. Thatch. you made me laugh. if i was your proctor i would diffidently notice that. haha that was good.

[Mian]

I completely agree with you (OP). ProctorU goes way too far in digging up background information about you. Just because something is public and can be looked up doesn't mean it should be. It's completely inappropriate and unnecessary for taking an exam. So is the ability to access everything on your computer, the agreement you make that they can keep the images of your face and other information and potentially sell it to third parties, and just the utter creepiness of someone watching your eye movements etc while you're taking an exam. And I know when I'm writing essay exams I look up and around all the time. That's how I think about things. I don't sit and stare straight ahead, I look around and ponder what I'm going to write. I do that automatically without even noticing it. Habit. Get accused of cheating for that is b.s. There is no way in the world I would ever do an exam thru ProctorU. Any school forcing it on students will not get my $$$ for classes. People need to complain about this more. There's no reason we as students should have to put up with these violations of our privacy just to take an exam when there are other more reasonable methods.

[ironheadjack]

You don't have to stare straight at the screen while you are testing. They don't watch you every second, after the initial setup process they pause their webcam so you can't see them, and then they check in occasionally. Every time I used the service for SL I would ask the proctor a question and it would take a few minutes to get a response.

[Mian]

This article is where I got the idea that they sit and watch where your eyes are moving Behind the Webcam's Watchful Eye - Technology - The Chronicle of Higher Education

[ironheadjack]

Do you really think they teach these kids(proctors) how to read body language "for signs of impropriety"? It's all for marketing and credibility saying that proctors stare into your eyes for 2 hours makes it sounds really legitimate. "The level of supervision over the Web is much more intense," said William Dorman." It reassures the skeptics of online learning.


I already mentioned waiting minutes for a proctor to respond to simple questions, I used proctorU 8 times for SL and each time I used it I had at least 2-3 different proctors per session. They are proctoring multiple people at the same time and switch back and forth. Another example in the middle of taking a test I walked out and went to the bathroom, no one said anything because no one was watching me.

I didn't read that entire article, way to long, but was it written by someone who actually used the service as a student? The first few paragraphs were all proctors and business owners.

[Mian]

I still wouldn't do an exam with them even if what you say is true. The other invasions of privacy are far more disturbing than whether they watch you the whole time.