The rapid shift to remote teaching has heightened concerns about academic integrity in a fully online learning environment. In response to many requests from campus units and faculty, UW-IT will provide an online proctoring service, Proctorio, for use during spring and summer quarters.
Anxiety’s impact on learning
Since academic misconduct has roots in anxiety — not only anxiety about grades, but also about new, unfamiliar situations, as well as health, safety, income and food security concerns, which are all factors of our current circumstances — instructors might first consider revising their assessments. The UW Center for Teaching and Learning has provided this helpful discussion of quizzes, exams, and alternatives. Re-evaluating assessments in light of the shift to teaching remotely is important, whether or not instructors choose to use online exam proctoring to address academic integrity.
About Proctorio
For online quizzes administered in Canvas, Proctorio can lock down a student’s computer during the quiz. It can also record the student’s webcam, desktop, or web browsing activity. The data captured by Proctorio during the quiz can be reviewed later by the instructor (and only by the instructor) should there be concerns about academic misconduct. Based on settings chosen by the instructor, Proctorio flags quiz recordings that exhibit suspect behavior, allowing instructors to review and evaluate student behavior during the quiz. Any incidents observed should be pursued by the instructor through regular student conduct processes.
Resources
The resources listed below provide an overview of Proctorio, address privacy considerations and other FAQs, and provide how-to guides for both students and instructors. This information has been developed by UW-IT in collaboration with the Center for Teaching and Learning, the Faculty Council for Teaching and Learning, and the UW Privacy Office.
- Instructors: Online Exam Proctoring with Proctorio
- Instructors: How to Use Proctorio
- Students: About online exam proctoring with Proctorio
- Students: Get Started with Proctorio
- Learning Technologies Workshops and Office Hours
Karin
Karin I. Roberts
Canvas Service Manager
UW-IT, Academic Experience Design & Delivery