6 MIN READ

Unveiling the Importance of Gaze Detection in Proctoring with Rosalyn

Gaze detection technology uses computer vision and artificial intelligence algorithms to track the movement of a test taker’s eyes. By monitoring a student’s gaze, online proctors can detect instances of collaboration, distraction, or the use of unauthorized materials, and take appropriate actions.

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7 min read

Top 7 Live Online Proctoring Disadvantages—And How You Can Solve Them

<p id="">When testing is done right, it benefits students and educators alike.<br></p><ul id=""><li id="">Students trust that the test results will accurately reflect their knowledge of the subject of the exam.</li><li id="">Educators rely on test results to measure the progress of their students and the effectiveness of their education programs.<br></li></ul><p id="">When exams are administered online, meeting these criteria becomes more challenging.<br></p><p id="">Creating a testing environment that allows students to complete exams safely, securely, and comfortably requires online proctoring that is fair, effective, and nonintrusive. Unfortunately, early attempts at proctoring remote exams have left many students uncomfortable and, in some cases, had a damaging impact on the academic experience. The growing litany of “<a href="https://wng.org/roundups/remote-exam-nightmares-1617220421" target="_blank" id="">online exam nightmares</a>” includes students who received a grade of zero on an exam after reading questions aloud, poor internet connections locking students out of tests, and faulty facial recognition software being unable to recognize people of color.<br></p><p id="">Remote proctoring can be transformative, but only if systems can overcome online proctoring disadvantages. Schools must address these aspects of remote proctoring to ensure that both academic integrity and student dignity are preserved.</p><h2 id="">7 Online Proctoring Disadvantages</h2><p id="">The disadvantages of online proctoring have caused educators and students to reconsider the value of online exams. But with cutting-edge solutions, these challenges can be overcome, allowing schools and test-takers to feel confident in the testing process.</p>

7 Mins

Top 8 Ways Remote Proctoring of Exams Can Benefit Your Students

<p id="">Criticisms of remote proctoring focus on the <a href="https://www.rosalyn.ai/blog/reducing-online-proctoring-discrimination-is-possible-with-ai-ros" target="_blank" id="">problems of equity</a> and privacy and the anxiety that students experience while being monitored by live human proctors or artificial intelligence systems. The concerns of remote proctoring detractors are specific and supported by research into the algorithmic bias and functional shortcomings of some incumbent <a href="https://www.rosalyn.ai/blog/your-online-exam-experience-matters-how-4-students-rate-the-most-popular-platforms-ros" target="_blank" id="">remote proctoring vendors</a>. However, what’s missing from the debate is the inarguable benefits accruing to students themselves from a well-designed remote proctoring program.</p><h2 id="">Benefits to Students</h2><p id="">Many of the benefits of remote proctoring of exams to students are the same for <a href="https://www.rosalyn.ai/blog/top-9-remote-proctoring-benefits-for-universities-and-their-students-ros" target="_blank" id="">instructors and educational institutions</a>. They allow schools to administer assessments to students remotely to prevent students from gaining an unfair advantage on the exams through pre-knowledge of the test content, unauthorized collaboration with other students, or online resources to get prohibited help. The best of these online remote proctoring solutions deliver these benefits in a scalable, cost-effective manner that can accommodate all kinds of learners. <a href="https://www.rosalyn.ai/blog/8-essential-online-exam-security-tips-to-maintain-academic-integrity-ros" target="_blank" id="">Remote proctoring helps maintain academic integrity</a> and raises the value of the educational experience for all stakeholders. But remote proctoring of exams has even more concrete benefits for students. These provide a massive counterweight to some of the more extreme arguments of remote proctoring skeptics.</p>

8 min read

The Surveillance State of Education

<p id="">When COVID-19 shut down in-person education a year ago, college and university staff worried that students would cheat on their remote exams. Many required students to download and install proctoring software that “…is effectively indistinguishable from spyware,” as the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) <a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2020/08/proctoring-apps-subject-students-unnecessary-surveillance" id=""><strong id="">warned</strong></a>. These technologies surveil students through their webcams, microphones, keystrokes, browsing history, and log files. The resulting data is fed into an AI, which flags “suspicious” behaviors.</p><p id="">To understand what this is like for students, I spoke to members of a student advisory board (SAB) associated with Rosalyn.ai, a remote proctoring solution (full disclosure: I’m an investor in Rosalyn.ai). This SAB, the first of its kind in the remote proctoring space, offers a student perspective on privacy, inclusion, equity, and other important issues.</p><p id="">We have learned from students that the proctoring AIs frequently mistake their innocent actions for cheating. Even worse, these facial recognition technologies disproportionately flag students of color, students with disabilities, and those who wear religious garb. Moreover, students without access to high-bandwidth internet — often living in under-resourced communities — have found that proctoring solutions crash on them and thereby interfere with their tests or lead to accusations of cheating.</p><p id="">Luz Elena Anaya Chong, an SAB member who studies international business at Texas State University, critiqued the fear-based approach inherent to most remote proctoring solutions. “If you look away, you’ll get flagged. If you do this, you’ll get flagged,” says Elena. She described the experience as “nerve-wracking.”</p><p id="">Imagine taking a two-day, 12-hour bar exam with a remote proctor. You were already nervous, but now your webcam is recording and relaying your every move, noise, and keystroke to an AI that tries to spot cheating. You’re not sure what will trigger it. Looking at the ceiling in deep thought might do it. If you’re diabetic, checking your glucose monitor could raise suspicion. Standing up to use the restroom could raise an alert, which is why some law students have chosen to urinate on themselves during the bar exam rather than risk an accusation.</p><p id="">Students tell me that situations flagged by the AI proctor are often sent to a judicial board, which can take weeks if not months to see the case. The student may be forced to accept a failed grade in the meantime, hurting their efforts to land an internship, fellowship, job, or other opportunity. It is reminiscent of the Red Scare — once the AI proctor makes an accusation, the damage is already done, even if the student is innocent.</p><p id="">In a perfect world, faculty would give proctor-free exams protected by an honor code. In reality, if there’s no proctor — or the system is too lax — the students who don’t cheat fall behind and feel punished for doing the right thing. Jessica Ramses ENG22, a systems engineering student at the University of Pennsylvania, says students want to be in an environment where “they can do their best and not fear that others are getting ahead in unethical ways.”<br></p><blockquote><em id="">“Cheating happens, especially in remote learning, but students shouldn’t spend their exams in fear of triggering an AI proctor that has no conscience and no intrinsic concern for their education.”</em></blockquote><p id="">Instead of listening to students’ concerns, many proctoring platforms have intimidated critics with <a href="https://www.thefire.org/proctoru-threatens-uc-santa-barbara-faculty-over-criticism-during-coronavirus-crisis/" id=""><strong id="">legal threats</strong></a> and <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2020/11/05/proctorio-dmca-copyright-critical-tweets/" id=""><strong id="">copyright takedown notices</strong></a>. No wonder students and faculty across the U.S. have boycotted these proctoring solutions. There seems to be no space for dialogue with the vendors.</p><p id="">Thus, this “Ed Scare” is at an impasse. <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/another-problem-with-shifting-education-online-a-rise-in-cheating/2020/08/07/1284c9f6-d762-11ea-aff6-220dd3a14741_story.html" id=""><strong id="">Cheating happens</strong></a>, especially in remote learning, but students shouldn’t spend their exams in fear of triggering an AI proctor that has no conscience and no intrinsic concern for their education.</p><p>‍</p><p id="">‍</p>

7 Mins

Top 3 Online Test Administration Challenges—and How to Solve Them

<p id="">Online test administration and scoring have the potential to expand educational opportunities and <a href="https://www.rosalyn.ai/blog/how-online-proctoring-of-exams-at-home-benefits-students-ros" target="_blank" id="">give students the convenience of at-home exams</a>. But it does not come without potential challenges. From communication to security to tech requirements, universities and other educational institutions must examine all possible points of weakness that could compromise the validity of test results and act as barriers to student success.</p>

7 minutes

Comparing AI Proctoring Models and Traditional Live Human Proctoring: An In-depth Guide for Educational Leaders

This comprehensive guide explores the evolution of proctoring services, delving into the intricacies and comparisons of different AI proctoring models.

8 MINUTES

5 Educational AI Misconceptions: Unpacking the Truth about AI in Online Proctoring

As artificial intelligence (AI) takes center stage across industries, it brings misconceptions, especially in remote exam proctoring—a field accelerated by COVID-19.

- 8 Minutes

The Cheat Code Epidemic: How AI is Breaking Academic Trust

Welcome to the future of cheating, where AI isn't just an ally but an accomplice. Discover how Rosalyn.ai is combating this threat.

2 minutes

Unveiling Rosalyn.ai's Advanced Proctoring Features: Reinforcing Examination Integrity Through Cutting-Edge AI

Join us as we journey into a new epoch of enhanced proctoring, powered by the latest innovations at Rosalyn.ai.

View Our Latest Product News

7 minutes

Comparing AI Proctoring Models and Traditional Live Human Proctoring: An In-depth Guide for Educational Leaders

This comprehensive guide explores the evolution of proctoring services, delving into the intricacies and comparisons of different AI proctoring models.

8 MINUTES

5 Educational AI Misconceptions: Unpacking the Truth about AI in Online Proctoring

As artificial intelligence (AI) takes center stage across industries, it brings misconceptions, especially in remote exam proctoring—a field accelerated by COVID-19.

- 8 Minutes

The Cheat Code Epidemic: How AI is Breaking Academic Trust

Welcome to the future of cheating, where AI isn't just an ally but an accomplice. Discover how Rosalyn.ai is combating this threat.

2 minutes

Unveiling Rosalyn.ai's Advanced Proctoring Features: Reinforcing Examination Integrity Through Cutting-Edge AI

Join us as we journey into a new epoch of enhanced proctoring, powered by the latest innovations at Rosalyn.ai.

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