Introduction to Online Proctoring
Have you ever cheated on an exam or a paper as a college student? If you have, you’re not alone, if that’s any consolation. Between 50% and 70% of college students have admitted to cheating.
Of course, cheating isn’t acceptable because it compromises academic integrity and fairness. Such is the premium placed on academic integrity that cheating is a ground for expulsion.
This is true for online colleges, too, where easy access to generative AI tools makes it easier to cheat. There’s also the fact that professors and proctors cannot keep an eye on the students.
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In comes low-cost online proctoring software, and the problem’s solved. Or, at the very least, cheating isn’t as prevalent. While 70% of students cheat in unproctored exams, only 15% do so in proctored exams.
What’s proctoring in the first place? Proctoring refers to the supervision of candidates during an exam. This ensures that exams are conducted in a fair, transparent, and equal manner. Besides cheating, it also guards against copying questions and impersonating candidates. Professors or proctors are in the same room as the candidates or students.
First introduced in 2008, online proctoring software is common in online colleges. But professors or proctors aren’t in the same room as the students. Instead, digital technologies and tools keep an eye on the students.
Online proctoring has the same goals as in-person proctoring, nonetheless. Academic integrity is still at the heart of this 21st-century technology.
Unlike traditional proctoring, online proctoring is available in three forms.
- Live online proctoring involves the proctor and students being online simultaneously. The proctor observes the students’ screen share feeds and audio video in real time.
- Recorded proctoring doesn’t involve real-time tracking. Instead, the proctor reviews the recorded screen share feeds and audio-video recordings. Notes are made in case of suspicious activities.
- Advanced automated proctoring uses advanced audio and video analytics. These track the feeds and background activity in the student’s computer. The software issues red flags in case of suspicious activity. Face recognition is available for student authentication.
However, online proctoring software and services can be expensive. We cannot overemphasize the importance of choosing affordable online proctoring services.
You’re getting the best of both worlds with low-cost online proctoring services. First, you’re meeting the standards of academic integrity. In other words. you’re less likely to cheat. Better yet, don’t cheat with or without an online proctoring service.
Second, you can take your online exams without putting a hole in your pockets. With many exams to take, choosing the most affordable option makes financial sense.
Keep in mind, too, that online proctoring services have specific processes and requirements. Follow the process from logging in to completing the exam according to the allotted time. Check the technical specifications, too, and use a reliable computer setup. Prepare your exam space, too.
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Why Low-Cost Proctoring Matters for Students
Free online proctoring services are available, such as in public libraries. There are also free trials offered, such as with AutoProctor, with 25 free tests. However online proctoring services in online colleges come with fees shouldered by students. Indeed, online proctoring fees are the foremost hidden fees in online education.
These fees are either part of “tuition and fees” or, more commonly, as an additional fee per exam. If you’re taking several exams throughout the semester, these add up. With exam fees between $10 and $50 per exam, you’re looking at a significant amount.
Financial aid doesn’t cover these fees either. You must pay for them out of your pockets. Being unable to take a final exam due to lack of funds and failing a course is a possibility. This is a heartbreaking reality for many low-income students.
Every online proctoring service has its specific fee structure. Let’s look at three of the most popular services used by online colleges.
- MonitorEdu charges $13 per exam regardless of its duration.
- ProctorU charges on a per hour basis starting at $15 up to 60 minutes. For 61-90 minutes, it’s $19.75, while it’s $25 for 91-120 minutes. The longest exam at 121-180 minutes has a $30 charge.
- Examity has different charges depending on whether it’s live authentication, automated, or live proctoring. Additional charges per hour also apply. Live authentication has a $6 charge for the first hour, with no additional charges for extra hours. The most expensive is the live proctoring premium plan, $15/ hour for the first hour and an additional $7/hour.
From the above examples, we can say that Examity’s $6 live authentication plan is the most affordable. But not every online college offers Examity. You must then look at the available options and choose the low-cost service.
Again, the main benefit of considering low-cost online proctoring services is cost savings. In turn, you will enjoy these benefits associated with more affordable college costs:
- Reduced stress from thinking about another expensive fee that you can’t pay
- Increased focus on your studies, especially when midterms and finals are on the horizon
- Improved academic performance and chances to earn your online degree
On a wider scale, the availability of low-cost online proctoring services increases accessibility. Low-income students benefit the most from it.
Top Online Colleges Offering Low-Cost Proctoring Options
These are the best online colleges with cheap proctoring options. Keep in mind that “cheap” is a relative term, too. You should consider your unique financial situation to determine affordability.
Western Governors University
All midterm and final exams use proctoring services. WGU offers budget-friendly online proctoring for students through ProctorU. The best things about WGU are its competency-based model and flat six-month tuition. Both features make college education more accessible.
Arizona State University Online
ASU Online offers many online exam proctoring options for distance learners. Both free and low-cost options are available, too. Respondus and Honorlock are notable examples. ASU Online also charges affordable tuition and fees. Resident students pay about $8,500 per academic year.
University of the People
Proctored exams at online colleges can be expensive. Not so at UoPeople, a tuition-free online college. There’s a minimal fee for online proctoring via ProctorU. Note, too, that not all your courses require proctored exams. In a bachelor’s degree program, only 11 out of 40 courses require them.
Purdue University Global
Respondus and Examity are the current online college proctoring solutions at Purdue. But changes are on the way including Examity being phased out soon. Purdue Global, nonetheless, is committed to affordable proctoring solutions.
Columbia Southern University
CSU uses Remote Proctor Now for virtual proctoring for online students. There’s a $15 per exam flat fee. This means online students pay it regardless of the exam’s timing and duration.
How to Choose an Online Proctoring Service
Here are the crucial factors that you must consider when choosing from many online proctoring services.
Security and reliability
Your best choice in an online proctoring service is the most reliable and secure one. Start by checking the providers’ official websites. Understand the available features, fee structure, and terms and conditions. Read independent user reviews, too.
Check the security features that maintain academic integrity. Identity verification, AI tracking, and browser lockdowns are common. Ask about the privacy and data protection features, too.
User-friendly features
You want an effective, efficient, and responsive user interface. Complicated setups and instructions are a no-no. Check the support services, too, such as FAQs and technical aid.
Compatibility with devices
Your computer setup must meet the technical specifications. A webcam and microphone are a must in most online proctored exams.
Scheduling flexibility and accessibility
You may or may not have a choice in flexibility. Live proctoring, for example, demands simultaneous log-ins between proctor and students. But if you have a choice, you may want more flexibility in scheduling your exam. Examity, for example, offers both live authentication and automated proctoring.
If you have accessibility issues, check for support, too. Visual or auditory impairments are examples.
LMS integration
Even with third-party providers, a seamless integration between the online proctoring service and the LMS is desirable. You can view your exam performance faster, among other benefits.
If you’re allowed to choose from cost-effective proctoring services for online exams, do so. You can save money by choosing the most affordable service.
But if your online college already has a specific proctoring exam, you usually don’t have a choice. You’re required to use it for your proctored online exams. Aside from contractual obligations, it ensures academic integrity and consistency across all exams.
You may, nonetheless, request for exemptions under extraordinary circumstances. These may include technological limitations and accessibility issues. But be sure to file a request well in advance of the online proctored exams. Your online college usually must approve your request.
Tips for Reducing Online Proctoring Costs
Choosing from among affordable proctored test options for students is the first step. But you can enjoy more savings with these tips, too.
- Use your online college’s proctoring service. In some cases, the proctoring fees are included in your tuition and fees. You don’t have to pay extra fees. If possible, ask if the proctoring fees are covered by financial aid. You may also ask for a discount.
- Look for free proctoring services if your online college allows other providers. Open-source proctoring tools are excellent examples. Consider Proctorio with Open EdX integration, OpenProctor, and Safe Exam Browser. Check if their features are acceptable to your professors and program coordinator.
- Request discounts from the online proctoring service provider. You may also avail of promotions, such as discounted rates for your online program or off-peak periods.
- Grab opportunities for free exam retakes. WGU, for example, allows students two failed assessment attempts. Afterwards, there’s a fee for every retake.
- Take advantage of proctoring alternatives. If your online college allows in-person proctoring, consider it. Community colleges and local proctoring centers may offer lower exam fees. But do a cost-and-benefit analysis first. You may or may not find the alternative is more affordable. Time, travel, and energy in accessing the alternative have their monetary value, too.
The Future of Online Proctoring in Higher Education
Online proctoring in colleges and universities is in constant flux. With technological advancements, changes in the industry are inevitable. Here are a few of the trends that we’re seeing.
Increasing demand for online proctoring services
With more brick-and-mortar colleges offering online programs, it doesn’t come as a surprise. By 2027, the forecasted market size is $5.43 billion for online proctoring services.
AI-powered advancements
Artificial intelligence drives many of the advancements in online proctoring. Biometric authentication methods, such as face recognition and fingerprinting, are more common. Adaptive and behavioral monitoring are also becoming the norm.
Technological advancements are also making online proctoring more affordable. Automation and scalability are part of the reason.
In conclusion, balancing affordability and academic integrity is the soul of affordable online proctoring. You want to earn your online degree because you earned it through hard work. But you want to do so at an affordable cost.