Benefits
Online assessments can enable instructors to provide greater accessibility and flexibility for students, eliminating the need to schedule in-person, fixed-time exams, while continuing to enact pedagogical goals. Online testing is one assessment option that instructors may choose depending upon their curricular needs. Some online tests may require online proctoring to meet accreditation requirements or to help enhance the integrity of the assessment process. These tools, however, must be selected and used carefully so as to ensure equity, efficacy, and student privacy.
Background
Following a competitive request for proposals in 2024, the University of Minnesota invested in Honorlock, a remote proctoring solution to enhance academic integrity in online courses and assessments. Honorlock helps instructors focus on student success while ensuring academic integrity, privacy, and data security. Honorlock uses AI to detect visual clues from video input to flag suspicious behaviors and alerts the Live Pop-in™ proctors for immediate intervention during an exam. It is a browser extension that only work on a Chrome browser.
Honorlock was selected based on cost, integration with Canvas, greater usability, faster turn-around of results, and lower intrusiveness compared with live online proctoring options. It is important, however, to be cognizant of the strengths and limitations of Honorlock. To successfully use Honorlock, instructors should take the time to understand the available settings, how to interpret the results (e.g., “false positives”), and be prepared for a small percentage of students who need to consult tech support during an exam. Students who use assistive technology, are studying while living in other countries, or who have poor internet connections may also have difficulty using Honorlock. This guidance is meant to help instructors determine if this tool is appropriate for their situation and, if so, to provide guidance and suggestions for implementation.
Assessment options and proctoring alternatives
The Office of Information Technology and Center for Educational Innovation staff provide assistance to those who are putting together online assessments and may be considering Honorlock or other solutions. Both units encourage instructors to look at multiple assessment options for students that may not require proctoring, and be just as effective. These include open book exams, writing assignments, essay exams, and communicating expectations for academic integrity including integrating an honor code into the class expectations. More suggestions are available from the Create Online Assessments webpage.
Honorlock and e-proctoring best practices
If it is determined that an e-proctoring solution is preferred, we encourage instructors to consider and adopt best practices, including:
- Consider whether Honorlock, Respondus or some other solution, is a better fit for your needs. Meet with an Academic Technology Contact for consultation.
- Review the Honorlock resource:
- Choose your settings thoughtfully. Review the Example Proctor Settings and Test Taker Guidelines that instructors and academic technologists have collaborated on.
- Bear in mind that there is a significant learning curve associated with the use of Honorlock, for both you and your students. If possible, ensure that students take low-stakes practice assessments prior to using Honorlock on a high-stakes exam.
- Inform students when they register (and in the syllabus) that the course will be using e-proctoring.
- Provide students with information about what they will need to effectively use Honorlock (i.e., reliable internet connection, computer with webcam, a quiet, well-lit place to take the exam, Chrome browser, installing the Honorlock Chrome extension, how to reach Honorlock tech support).
- Be conscious of accessibility needs of students: Some students requiring accommodations benefit from the additional scheduling and location flexibility offered by Honorlock while others with specific disabilities have encountered barriers that required work-arounds in conjunction with Disability Resource Center staff. Offer alternative assessments (if possible) for students who would prefer not to use e-proctoring or who do not have access to the technology and space requirements needed for optimal use of Honorlock.
- Develop a troubleshooting or support plan for students should they experience issues with Canvas or Honorlock during the examination period.
Honorlock and e-proctoring privacy
Important information about privacy for those using Honorlock for e-proctoring:
- Honorlock uses AI to detect visual clues from video input to flag suspicious behaviors and alerts the Live Pop-in™ proctors for immediate intervention during an exam.
- Honorlock staff do have the ability to view student sessions while they are active. Once the exam session is closed, only U of M instructors, TAs, and designated IT staff can view exam recordings.
- Honorlock staff do not have access to personally identifiable student data, and they do not sell it.
- Honorlock does not determine whether or not a student committed academic dishonesty. Either AI or a human exam proctor “flags” suspicious incidents that instructors and TAs may later review.
- Honorlock does not continue to run after the exam has ended; instead it has been designed to terminate on a student’s computer after an exam.
- Honorlock is approved for use at the U of M following a review by OIT’s security group before the contract was signed. Honorlock continues to use a third party audit firm to oversee its security practices.
- Honorlock would not be classified as spyware or malware that has been maliciously inserted on a computer to surreptitiously “spy” on students.