Study.com is switching to non-proctored and open-book exams

[studyingfortests]

Sophia’s defense against cheating is a joke. Using a program to detect irregularities in typing is a piss poor way to enforce test integrity. 

It’s a hand waive joke attempt. Sophia has 0 test integrity.

I am curious on what you base the above claim.  I'm told by someone internal at Google that they have apparently for years internally used a keystroke irregularity algorithm to ensure who (employees/contractors) are accessing their internal systems (in addition to other login/security procedures.).They have apparently had excellent success using this method, combined with others mentioned (IP, geolocation, etc) to accurately identify users.  Who is to say Sophia has not licensed the same or similar technology?

[wow]

My concern about the biometric typing thing is that it has NEVER worked for me with Sophia. I have motor problems with my hands, which would explain it, but Sophia doesn't allow any way around this except for physically typing multiple times (a total pain in the ass on days I can barely type), getting errors multiple times, and then they will confirm your identity by sending a code to your phone.

Does Study.com have an alternative to the typing? I find it pretty concerning for anyone who has motor disabilities, hand injuries, or is learning how to type (which means their typing pattern will change over time). These biometric tests accommodate only typing, not other forms of text input that are commonly used like dictation or selecting letters from an onscreen keyboard.

[P226mem]

My concern about the biometric typing thing is that it has NEVER worked for me with Sophia. I have motor problems with my hands, which would explain it, but Sophia doesn't allow any way around this except for physically typing multiple times (a total pain in the ass on days I can barely type), getting errors multiple times, and then they will confirm your identity by sending a code to your phone.

Does Study.com have an alternative to the typing? I find it pretty concerning for anyone who has motor disabilities, hand injuries, or is learning how to type (which means their typing pattern will change over time). These biometric tests accommodate only typing, not other forms of text input that are commonly used like dictation or selecting letters from an onscreen keyboard.

according to this FAQ on study.com, Yes, they do.  They use Veriff and here's link to read about that and various reasons and how it is used
https://support.study.com/support/soluti...exams-faqs

[wow]

My concern about the biometric typing thing is that it has NEVER worked for me with Sophia. I have motor problems with my hands, which would explain it, but Sophia doesn't allow any way around this except for physically typing multiple times (a total pain in the ass on days I can barely type), getting errors multiple times, and then they will confirm your identity by sending a code to your phone.

Does Study.com have an alternative to the typing? I find it pretty concerning for anyone who has motor disabilities, hand injuries, or is learning how to type (which means their typing pattern will change over time). These biometric tests accommodate only typing, not other forms of text input that are commonly used like dictation or selecting letters from an onscreen keyboard.

according to this FAQ on study.com, Yes, they do.  They use Veriff and here's link to read about that and various reasons and how it is used
https://support.study.com/support/soluti...exams-faqs

Thanks! It looks like I would still have to type multiple times, but at least there's a backup.

[Duneranger]

Sophia’s defense against cheating is a joke. Using a program to detect irregularities in typing is a piss poor way to enforce test integrity. 

It’s a hand waive joke attempt. Sophia has 0 test integrity.

I am curious on what you base the above claim.  I'm told by someone internal at Google that they have apparently for years internally used a keystroke irregularity algorithm to ensure who (employees/contractors) are accessing their internal systems (in addition to other login/security procedures.).They have apparently had excellent success using this method, combined with others mentioned (IP, geolocation, etc) to accurately identify users.  Who is to say Sophia has not licensed the same or similar technology?

Well for one I had my brother login for me and it worked and two biometric entry into a test doesn’t ensure that you aren’t cheating….you could use other tabs up or other devices. It doesn’t ensure test integrity at all.

I don’t understand why I have to explain this. Missing the forest through the trees….

[louise]

I've taken several exams since the change. I did the typing verification and didn't have to do anything with my ID or take a photo. I was able to keep my typed notes open during the exam and had no issues.

On the cheating discussion: I have a BS and MS from traditional B&M universities. I know people who cheated their entire way through college with in person exams. If someone wants to cheat, they will.

I appreciate this change because I have several health issues and being able to stand up and stretch, move to another location, and use the bathroom during the exam really helps me. Before I felt like I had to rush through because I was in pain and just needed to get the exam over with.

[wow]

I wonder if Study.com will make the exams harder. Sophia exams are "open book" (or "open PDF" at least), but at least for the more advanced classes I've taken, they make sure the course is still challenging either by requiring papers to pass or putting so many questions/complicated enough questions in the exam that open book isn't going to help you pass if you haven't studied the material or already learned it elsewhere (e.g., anatomy, precalculus).

[Duneranger]

I've taken several exams since the change. I did the typing verification and didn't have to do anything with my ID or take a photo. I was able to keep my typed notes open during the exam and had no issues.

On the cheating discussion: I have a BS and MS from traditional B&M universities. I know people who cheated their entire way through college with in person exams. If someone wants to cheat, they will.

I appreciate this change because I have several health issues and being able to stand up and stretch, move to another location, and use the bathroom during the exam really helps me. Before I felt like I had to rush through because I was in pain and just needed to get the exam over with.

Oh cmon,  this is a classic strawman take.

Of course, people find ways to cheat at BM schools, but it's WAY harder to cheat in a classroom with a teacher present or during a Zoom/desktop-locked exam. Saying that some cheating happens at BM schools vs Sophia essentially having no safeguards against cheating, is a joke comparison. I call BS on someone cheating their entire way through a BM school, there is no way to do it on every exam unless the prof is comatose.

Your last part is just an excuse. It's the same lame excuse people use when they say they have "test anxiety". Its always going to be SOMETHING.

Sophia green lights cheating. There are ZERO barriers to cheating and you know it.

[louise]

I've taken several exams since the change. I did the typing verification and didn't have to do anything with my ID or take a photo. I was able to keep my typed notes open during the exam and had no issues.

On the cheating discussion: I have a BS and MS from traditional B&M universities. I know people who cheated their entire way through college with in person exams. If someone wants to cheat, they will.

I appreciate this change because I have several health issues and being able to stand up and stretch, move to another location, and use the bathroom during the exam really helps me. Before I felt like I had to rush through because I was in pain and just needed to get the exam over with.

Oh cmon,  this is a classic strawman take.

Of course, people find ways to cheat at BM schools, but it's WAY harder to cheat in a classroom with a teacher present or during a Zoom/desktop-locked exam. Saying that some cheating happens at BM schools vs Sophia essentially having no safeguards against cheating, is a joke comparison. I call BS on someone cheating their entire way through a BM school, there is no way to do it on every exam unless the prof is comatose.

Your last part is just an excuse. It's the same lame excuse people use when they say they have "test anxiety". Its always going to be SOMETHING.

Sophia green lights cheating. There are ZERO barriers to cheating and you know it.

You can feel about it however you want. Believe me or don't about people cheating. I also don't care if you believe me about my chronic illnesses or not. 

This whole forum is dedicated to getting degrees more easily than traditional schools so really if you want to be a stickler perhaps all alternative credit options should go away. None of the classes I've taken at Study or Sophia are even remotely comparable to how rigorous the traditional route is. That doesn't mean people aren't learning from them and they aren't valid, but acting like Study was just so much more difficult than Sophia because of proctored tests is silly. I have two degrees from the traditional route and I don't have anything to prove. I'm happy for the change.

[Duneranger]

I've taken several exams since the change. I did the typing verification and didn't have to do anything with my ID or take a photo. I was able to keep my typed notes open during the exam and had no issues.

On the cheating discussion: I have a BS and MS from traditional B&M universities. I know people who cheated their entire way through college with in person exams. If someone wants to cheat, they will.

I appreciate this change because I have several health issues and being able to stand up and stretch, move to another location, and use the bathroom during the exam really helps me. Before I felt like I had to rush through because I was in pain and just needed to get the exam over with.

Oh cmon,  this is a classic strawman take.

Of course, people find ways to cheat at BM schools, but it's WAY harder to cheat in a classroom with a teacher present or during a Zoom/desktop-locked exam. Saying that some cheating happens at BM schools vs Sophia essentially having no safeguards against cheating, is a joke comparison. I call BS on someone cheating their entire way through a BM school, there is no way to do it on every exam unless the prof is comatose.

Your last part is just an excuse. It's the same lame excuse people use when they say they have "test anxiety". Its always going to be SOMETHING.

Sophia green lights cheating. There are ZERO barriers to cheating and you know it.

You can feel about it however you want. Believe me or don't about people cheating. I also don't care if you believe me about my chronic illnesses or not. 

This whole forum is dedicated to getting degrees more easily than traditional schools so really if you want to be a stickler perhaps all alternative credit options should go away. None of the classes I've taken at Study or Sophia are even remotely comparable to how rigorous the traditional route is. That doesn't mean people aren't learning from them and they aren't valid, but acting like Study was just so much more difficult than Sophia because of proctored tests is silly. I have two degrees from the traditional route and I don't have anything to prove. I'm happy for the change.

And this is the massive primary problem with these alt-credit places . Everyone turns a blind eye to the fact that they are a joke, even with proctoring, and people double down even more when that proctoring is taken away. Why? Because it benefits them.