What is AI-Based Remote Proctoring?
To ensure the integrity of the assessment process, artificial intelligence technologies are used to monitor examinations. This is called AI-based remote proctoring. It can detect any suspicious activity and unauthorized behavior. Test takers can take the exam from anywhere using their computers. AI technology uses computer vision, facial recognition and machine learning algorithms to monitor test takers.
The AI proctor records videos and clicks pictures from the test-taker’s webcam and microphone and analyzes them in real time. It can detect and report unethical activities like unusual eye movement, suspicious noises, attempts to use external devices etc. It can also report behaviors like irregular typing and plagiarism detection of the submitted answers.
The pandemic forced educational institutions to switch to remote learning to securely and safely conduct examinations and there has been no going back ever since. The flexibility and convenience remote proctoring provides are unmatched. Who imagined that taking an exam from the comfort of your home would be possible? Not just convenience, remote proctoring also eliminates the need for physical infrastructure and expenses related to logistics and staffing, making examinations less costly.
Understanding Remote Proctoring
Remote proctoring refers to monitoring online exams to ensure the security and integrity of the assessment procedure. The need for this technology emerged out of the challenges of online exams. It involves the use of specialized software to assess the test takers.
Proctors are capable of invigilating multiple tests at a time from a centralized location. The software has common features like identity verification of the test-taker, real-time supervision during the exam, recording the whole assessment to review it later, and detection of suspicious behavior. All these features help to ensure the test taker’s true abilities are shown through the results.
Traditional in-person proctoring where an invigilator is physically present at the exam center has been prevalent. The proctor keeps a check that no one brings restricted items like electronic devices or books to the exam room. He ensures that rules and regulations are followed throughout the examination. The proctor keeps a check on the test-takers’ movement to detect any suspicious activity like cheating.
The proctor is also responsible for the timely collection of the examination sheets. These traditional proctoring methods focus on keeping the examination process secure and fair by actively monitoring the test takers but have certain limitations in terms of cost, scalability and logistics.
Though in some cases, traditional methods are effective, they still pose a lot of challenges and limitations. The cost and resources involved in traditional proctoring are intensive. It includes costs like hiring, training and compensation for the invigilator.
It is difficult to fix a suitable time which suits both the proctor as well as the test takers. Scheduling can be even more difficult when a large number of students are giving the exam or when the exam centers are not readily available.
The cost further increases due to requirements of equipment like appropriate venues, desks, chairs and examination material. Further, there is also scope for personal bias and human error. Human proctors can fail to detect certain instances of cheating due to their limited attention span.
These limitations have led to the adoption of alternative approaches like remote proctoring which aim to solve the issues faced due to traditional methods while maintaining the integrity of the examination system.
How AI-based Remote Proctoring Works
AI-based Remote Proctoring makes use of artificial intelligence to monitor and supervise online exams remotely. Firstly, the remote proctoring system is set up by the exam administrators. This step involves deciding the exam duration, and permitted equipment and making guidelines and rules.
The next step begins just before the exam. It involves authentication of the identity of the test-takers. This can be done through facial recognition or biometric verification where the software compares the test-taker’s identity with some pre-registered features.
In the third step, the proctoring software restricts access to other applications and websites during the exam. Additionally, the proctor may do an environment check to ensure fairness. After the exam begins the proctor monitors the test-taker’s using various methods.
It monitors the exam in real-time and may even record the session to review it later. The software does audio-video analysis to detect suspicious behavior such as looking away from the screen, unnecessary movement, and unwanted sounds. The AI system also keeps track of the facial expression of the test-taker and can identify signs of stress, anxiety or any other suspicious behavior.
The proctor also makes sure that the test-taker is present throughout the exam. The proctor can also keep a check on the screen activity of the test-taker to see if any unauthorized content is open. When the proctor detects any suspicious activity, it flags it for further review. Then they issue warnings or can even disqualify the exam.
Advantages of AI-based Remote Proctoring
AI-based remote proctoring offers a technologically advanced solution for administering online exams securely. It has the following advantages –
Improved accessibility and convenience for test-takers
AI-based remote proctoring is capable of invigilating a large number of test-takers at a time and the test-takers can take the exam from anywhere at their convenience, without the need to travel to any location.
Enhanced security and integrity of the examination process
Features of the software like facial recognition, behavior analysis and screen monitoring help to detect any suspicious behavior and ensure the security and integrity of the examination process.
Reduction of human error and biases
The software follows rules and guidelines which are predefined so it leads to consistency in the monitoring process. This doesn’t leave room for error or biases that would have arisen due to human intervention.
Cost-effectiveness and scalability
Since exams are conducted online, there is no need for exam centers or any equipment like chairs, desks, and paper. There is also no need to hire and train invigilators, thereby resulting in cost savings for exam administrators.
The AI algorithm is capable of accommodating a large number of test-takers together and can even efficiently supervise multiple exams so it is highly scalable, unlike the traditional methods.
Addressing Concerns and Challenges
Privacy and data protection in remote proctoring
The AI-based proctoring system has to authenticate and monitor test-takers for which it needs facial images or audio recordings. Hence it accesses personal data. This leads to a need for robust data protection measures to prevent data breaches and protect the sensitive information of individuals.
Ensuring fairness and avoiding false positives/negatives
Even the AI algorithm has certain limitations. The algorithm may fail in certain demographics leading to false identification. It is necessary to regularly check the fairness of the algorithm to reduce bias and maintain accuracy.
Mitigating technological issues and infrastructure requirements
AI-based proctoring systems may not completely be susceptible to cheating techniques. Test -takers can anyhow find a way to deceive the proctor, thereby compromising the integrity of the examination process. So it is necessary to continuously update the technology on emerging cheating methods.
Overcoming resistance and concerns from students and educators
Concerns regarding privacy and the accuracy of the system may create doubts in the minds of various stakeholders like students and educators. So to gain their trust and acceptance it is necessary first to address these concerns.
Why Pesofts is Best for AI-Based Remote Proctoring
Pesofts AI-based remote proctor is next-generation proctoring software designed for the academic industry.
Easy Student Authentic and Secure Exam Browser
The proctor has a system through which it verifies the identity of the students before the exam begins. This is done to prevent unfair activities like impersonation. If the student fails to pass this stage, the proctor blocks them from taking the exam.
Restricts Movement of the Screen During the Exam
The software restricts navigation to different web pages which can be accessed by students to cheat. This is done to adhere to the rules set by the exam-conducting institute and to maintain the integrity of the examination process.
Students Cannot Take Screenshot of the Questions
To get help, students often resort to clicking pictures of the questions and sending them to others for help. Pesoft’s software is capable of detecting this action. It immediately sends red signals to the students and on getting a specified number of signals, the exam gets canceled.
Software is Customisable
We at Pesofts understand that everyone has some personal needs which cannot be satisfied by standard proctoring software. So we also customize our software to cater for your personalized needs.
Candidate portal
There is a special portal designed to resolve all the issues faced by the students while taking the exam. Students can tell their issues which will be resolved immediately by our technical team.
Pesoft’s online proctoring software provides a comprehensive online exam solution and helps to digitize the entire assessment process in three phases (before, during, and post).
It ensure a seamless virtual assessment process by providing the following -:
Competent Team and 24 Hour Support: Pesofts has a competent team of specialists that have been hired especially to give you 24 Hour Technical Support to ensure that the examiners or the examinees do not get stuck anywhere. We are always here to assist you. Just give us a call.
All Devices are Compatible: Pesofts online proctoring software enables individuals to take an exam online using whatever device they own. The app functions flawlessly on any devices and on any operating system, including iOS and Android.
Reasonable Prices: We understand the financial restrictions that educational institutions face. Taking this into account, we provide our online proctoring systems at a very reasonable price. Even the fees we charge you for our after-sale services are quite low. We ensure quality without burning a hole in your pocket.
Easy Integrations: Online proctoring test software integrates effortlessly, facilitating the process of evaluating students without requiring any significant changes to your device or the download of extensions and plugins.
Conclusion
AI based remote proctoring is completely revolutionizing the way online exams are conducted. The ease,scalability, accessibility, cost-effectiveness and security it provides to the exam conducting organization is unmatched. Though there are some limitations like technical biases and privacy concerns, the continuous advancement of technology along with balanced human intervention can address these challenges. The future of AI is promising for all the users and ensures a reliable method for conducting exams digitally.
There are various softwares available in the market. You should choose the one that fulfills your needs. Pesofts provides one of the best softwares which can even be customized according to your goals.
Frequently-Asked Questions
Question – What is AI-based remote proctoring?
Answer- To ensure the integrity of the assessment process, artificial intelligence technologies are used to monitor examinations. This is called AI-based remote proctoring. It can detect any suspicious activity and unauthorized behavior.
Question – How does AI-based remote proctoring work?
Answer- AI-based remote proctoring uses artificial intelligence to analyze and monitor test-takers during an online examination. It makes use of audio-visual recognition to authenticate the identity of the test taker and continuously keeps a check on their behavior and screen. The system gives a warning when it detects any suspicious behavior.
Question – Is AI-based remote proctoring reliable?
Answer- AI-based proctoring is capable of efficiently monitoring cheating and misconduct during the exam. However, its reliability and accuracy depend on factors like the robustness of the technological infrastructure, removal of biases and regular improvement of the system.
Question – What are the benefits of AI-based remote proctoring?
Answer- AI-based remote proctoring provides benefits like accessibility, scalability, efficiency and enhanced security. It provides a technologically advanced solution for safe online exams.
Question – How does AI detect cheating during exams?
Answer- AI monitors test-takers behavior like excessive eye movement, head position and screen switching. It can even detect unusual patterns in the answering like rapid answers or long pauses. If the proctors detect any of the above acts, it raises a warning.
Question – What is the future of AI-based remote proctoring?
Answer- AI-based proctoring holds a promising future for everyone. Continuous advancement in the algorithm and data analytics aims to enhance the user experience by reducing false positives. Further, the integration of biometrics and machine learning will make the examination process even more secure.
Manjeet Mehta CEO @Pesofts
Manjeet Mehta is a professional writer and also the CEO @Pesofts. He passed out from IIT Roorkee in 2013 and started their own business, thinking of the growing education sector with the help of technology. You can check out LinkedIn and follow him here LinkedIn