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  4. Online Proctoring & Alternatives

Online Proctoring & Alternatives

Online exam proctoring allows for students in different geographical locations to be monitored while taking exams using webcams and screen monitoring technologies. 

Students can also request proctoring services through the Counseling and Testing Center on the University’s campus, although capacity is very limited. 

Faculty also have the option of allowing students to be proctored in-person at a remote location, in which case the faculty member would need to provide the student with the Proctor Approval Application (Archived) and have the student complete and obtain all approvals.

Online Proctoring Services

UL Lafayette faculty have access to online exam proctoring services through ProctorU and MyCourseID. 

ProctorU provides live and AI-enhanced proctoring while MyCourseID exclusively provides automated, AI-based proctoring. In addition to the different types of proctoring, these platforms offer different costs and scheduling structures, so it's important for instructors to thoroughly review each service to determine which is the right fit for their course. 

Additional information and resources on these and other University-supported technology is available on our EduTool page.

ProctorU 

Through ProctorU, students can schedule exam appointments 24 hours a day, 7 days a week within the window established by the instructor. Students are responsible for the proctoring fees. Faculty should notify students of any additional costs at the beginning of the semester.

ProctorU features:

  • Identity Authentication
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI) enhanced Live Proctoring
  • Faculty review of recorded test session
  • Convenient 24/7 scheduling for students
  • Reports of any testing irregularities
  • Email notification of testing incidents
  • Faculty "Live Look-in" during live testing sessions in progress

MyCourseID 

MyCourseID uses automated proctoring, so students do not have to schedule appointments to take exams. They can take their exams 24 hours a day, 7 days a week within the window established by the instructor. Students are responsible for all proctoring fees. Faculty should notify students of any additional costs at the beginning of the semester.

MyCourseID features:

  • ID verification, face detection, and full webcam/screen recording to ensure every test taker is who they say they are.
  • Secure browser controls to lock-down browser components while still allowing tools like Excel, Word, CAD, and other software that may be used during exams.
  • AI detection to track external platform use (Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, etc.) and send alerts when any unapproved outside device, earbuds, notes, etc. are in use.
  • Movement tracking to identify additional monitors, software usage, intentional disconnects, or attempts to disable verification tools.
  • Complete environment monitoring, including camera view, impersonation, devices, headphones, room behavior tracked throughout every exam session.
  • Testing controls to block copy/paste, tabs, printing, and restrict browsing behavior to maintain exam integrity.
  • Detailed reporting with immediate access to all exam sessions with time-stamped video and detailed notes on all flags.
  • Customization settings and presents to match the specific needs of each assessment.

Additional Strategies for Securing Your Online Exam 

Online exam proctoring is just one way that you can make your exams more secure. Below are several strategies that can make your exams more secure, whether or not you use online proctoring.

  1. Create large question pools - You can create a large group of questions on the same subject and then instruct the Moodle Quiz to randomly assign a small number of them for an exam. This ensures each student will see different questions on each exam.
  2. Shuffle choices within questions - This will ensure that Choice A for one student will be different from Choice A for another student.
  3. Use a time limit - Choose a time limit that is appropriate to the amount of work that the student must do on the exam but avoid adding extra time if it is not needed.
  4. Use a small testing window - Use your traditional classroom meeting time as a starting point to calculate an effective start and stop time for your exam. Leaving the exam available for students to access for an extended time is not recommended unless a proctor is also used.
  5. Ask open-ended questions - Consider using the Essay question type to ask students questions wherein the answer may vary from student to student.
  6. Assign open-book questions - If you cannot prevent students from using the textbook, consider writing questions that are intended to be open book. 
  7. Use other tools in Moodle - Outside of Moodle quizzes, you could add written assignments, discussion forums, and even multimedia projects (e.g., slideshow presentations, videos, podcasts, infographics, etc.) that students submit.  
  8. Use Zoom - Although Zoom should not be used in place of an online proctoring service, there are tools within Zoom for assessment. Within a Zoom web meeting you can use polling as a quiz to check for understanding. You can choose to display the results to students as part of a discussion, or keep it hidden. Also, the individual student polling results can be saved and viewed by you after the meeting as a record for grading. Learn more about polling in Zoom.  

Resource Links 

The following resources provide a variety of tips and suggestions for how to replace online proctored exams with other types of assessments. In some cases, the alternatives may be more authentic than traditional multiple-choice exams and better aligned with the learning objectives being assessed.