Examining Online Proctoring: Assumptions, Ethics, and Alternatives

What is a proctored exam? What does it mean to give an assisted online proctored exam vs. a monitored exam? What is the evidence surrounding the efficacy and equitability of these various testing modalities and what are faculty and administrators' attitudes toward them? The answers are more complicated than you might think! In this episode, Peg Checchi, CTEI Instructional Designer, and esteemed guests, Judy Frei, Michele Gribbins, and Jarret Dyer examine several common assumptions around proctored exams, including their necessity at the college level and the ability of online and assisted online proctoring and monitoring software to effectively and equitably imitate the in-person experience and assess student knowledge. In light of recent lawsuits and concerns about student privacy, the ethics and legality of online proctoring and monitoring are discussed and debated, as are alternatives to proctored exams. Dr. Judith (Judy) Frei is an Assistant Professor of Adult Health and Gerontological Nursing in the College of Nursing at Rush University. Michele Gribbins is the Director of the Center for Online Learning, Research & Service at the University of Illinois Springfield (UIS). Jarret Dyer is a former President of the National College Testing Association (NCTA), Chair of the Academic Integrity & Testing Committee at NCTA, and a Test Center Administrator at the College of DuPage. We thank our guests for their wonderful and enlightening contributions to this discussion! Mentions: National College Testing Association (NCTA) - Proctoring & Monitoring Definitions Academic Dishonesty and Testing: How Student Beliefs and Test Settings Impact Decisions to Cheat