Honorlock Awarded Instructure Collective Credential for “Partner in Privacy and Security”

BOCA RATON, Fla. (March 29, 2022) – Honorlock was awarded the credential for “Partner in Privacy and Security” as part of Instructure’s EdTech Collective program

This credential is only awarded to those who “received top-notch privacy and security ratings” for protecting student data after receiving a passing score from OneTrust, a category-defining enterprise platform used to operationalize trust, security, privacy, and data governance.

The program was recently launched as a way to align Canvas Community members and partners together on initiatives that are most important to educators and higher ed leaders today.

Security and data privacy are incredibly important to students, faculty, institutions, and to us at Honorlock. Here’s a quick look at key elements of our commitment to privacy and security.

We take a security-first approach with our process and people

Security is a foundational element of everything we do at Honorlock. We know that it’s much more effective to address security issues in the design phase of any system. We’re constantly working to integrate security earlier into the requirement and design process. We also conduct ongoing, frequent security and privacy training for employees.

We never sell or monetize your data

Honorlock will never sell or monetize your data with third parties. The institution owns the data and retention is governed by the MSA.

We treat your data like we would want our data to be treated

Before onboarding a new vendor or sub-service organization that has access to confidential data, Honorlock performs an extensive vendor assessment to ensure that each vendor passes our security, data, and privacy requirements. 

We prepare for the unexpected

We have Disaster Recovery & Business Continuity plans that we test annually. We also operate our infrastructure in multiple availability zones, which increases our resiliency to downtime.

Your data is encrypted

I have been lucky to grow my design skills! I get to collaborate with my team daily to bring our visual concepts to life.  

What are you most excited about in your future with Honorlock?

Honorlock utilizes Amazon Web Services for our secure hosting needs. Amazon’s data centers are SOC 3 certified and exercise some of the most stringent physical security in the industry. 

Honorlock is a supporting member of Instructure’s EdTech Collective program and will continue to seek out other credentials that show our commitment to privacy, academic integrity, and student success.

Click the button below to learn more about how Honorlock works.

Honorlock Partners with Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education to Provide Online Learning Proctoring Solution

Honorlock Partners with Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education to Provide Online Learning Proctoring Solution

BOCA RATON, Fla. (March 29, 2022)Honorlock is a remote proctoring company that is transforming how education institutions protect the academic integrity of online courses and assessments, today announced a partnership with the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. This partnership provides Oklahoma’s 25 public institutions the ability to partner with Honorlock as their preferred online proctoring solution.

The Honorlock partnership provides a unique, pre-negotiated agreement that will allow Oklahoma public institutions to easily implement remote proctoring for exams in response to the ongoing transition to online learning models. Institutions using remote exam proctoring are better able to focus on the teaching and success of students while maintaining academic integrity, privacy and data security. 

Honorlock is one of the most sophisticated remote proctoring tools available. Its software goes beyond the standard lockdown browser, to focus on the student experience and student success. Honorlock’s Live Pop-in™ technology combines the benefits of artificial intelligence (AI) with live remote proctors to help protect online exams, reduce student test anxiety, and empower students and faculty.

“Honorlock is all about aligning the interests of test-takers, instructors and institutions,” said Michael Hemlepp, CEO of Honorlock. “Partnering with the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education provides easy and immediate access to industry-leading proctoring for all its brands and shows that Oklahoma is committed to creating optimal flexibility and integrity for all students.”

More than 300 institutions already partner with Honorlock for remote proctoring, including Eastern Oklahoma State College, Carl Albert State College, Tulsa Community College, and more.

“As we continue working to strengthen online education, we’re pleased to add the partnership with Honorlock to our portfolio of managed contracts. This agreement offers an excellent solution for online proctoring services to Oklahoma’s higher education institutions,” said Chancellor Allison D. Garrett, chief executive officer for the Oklahoma state system of higher education.

Oklahoma public institutions interested in learning more about the exam proctoring Honorlock partnership can contact OneNet, the State Regents’ digital communications initiative, or schedule a demo with Honorlock.

About Honorlock Remote Proctoring

Honorlock’s remote proctoring is revolutionizing the way academic and enterprise institutions enable equity in online courses and exams. Our purpose is to uphold honesty and integrity. We focus on reaffirming the trust we have in students while assuring integrity for the institution, each instructor’s knowledge and value, and the exams themselves.

About the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education

The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education are the coordinating board of control for the state system of higher education, which is comprised of 25 colleges and universities – including two research universities, 10 regional universities, one public liberal arts university and 12 community colleges – and 11 constituent agencies and one university center. Among other responsibilities, the State Regents prescribe academic standards of higher education; determine functions and courses of study at state colleges and universities; grant degrees; set tuition and fees within the limits established by the Oklahoma Legislature; approve institutional allocations; and manage numerous scholarships and special programs. Visit www.okhighered.org to learn more.


Honorlock Partners with Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education to Provide Online Learning Proctoring Solution

Honorlock Partners with Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education to Provide Online Learning Proctoring Solution

BOCA RATON, Fla. (March 29, 2022)Honorlock is a remote proctoring company that is transforming how education institutions protect the academic integrity of online courses and assessments, today announced a partnership with the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. This partnership provides Oklahoma’s 25 public institutions the ability to partner with Honorlock as their preferred online proctoring solution.

The Honorlock partnership provides a unique, pre-negotiated agreement that will allow Oklahoma public institutions to easily implement remote proctoring for exams in response to the ongoing transition to online learning models. Institutions using remote exam proctoring are better able to focus on the teaching and success of students while maintaining academic integrity, privacy and data security.

Honorlock is one of the most sophisticated remote proctoring tools available. Its software goes beyond the standard lockdown browser, to focus on the student experience and student success. Honorlock’s Live Pop-in™ technology combines the benefits of artificial intelligence (AI) with live remote proctors to help protect online exams, reduce student test anxiety, and empower students and faculty.

“Honorlock is all about aligning the interests of test-takers, instructors and institutions,” said Michael Hemlepp, CEO of Honorlock. “Partnering with the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education provides easy and immediate access to industry-leading proctoring for all its brands and shows that Oklahoma is committed to creating optimal flexibility and integrity for all students.”

More than 300 institutions already partner with Honorlock for remote proctoring, including Eastern Oklahoma State College, Carl Albert State College, Tulsa Community College, and more.

“As we continue working to strengthen online education, we’re pleased to add the partnership with Honorlock to our portfolio of managed contracts. This agreement offers an excellent solution for online proctoring services to Oklahoma’s higher education institutions,” said Chancellor Allison D. Garrett, chief executive officer for the Oklahoma state system of higher education.

Oklahoma public institutions interested in learning more about the exam proctoring Honorlock partnership can contact OneNet, the State Regents’ digital communications initiative, or schedule a demo with Honorlock.

About Honorlock Remote Proctoring

Honorlock’s remote proctoring is revolutionizing the way academic and enterprise institutions enable equity in online courses and exams. Our purpose is to uphold honesty and integrity. We focus on reaffirming the trust we have in students while assuring integrity for the institution, each instructor’s knowledge and value, and the exams themselves.

About the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education

The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education are the coordinating board of control for the state system of higher education, which is comprised of 25 colleges and universities – including two research universities, 10 regional universities, one public liberal arts university and 12 community colleges – and 11 constituent agencies and one university center. Among other responsibilities, the State Regents prescribe academic standards of higher education; determine functions and courses of study at state colleges and universities; grant degrees; set tuition and fees within the limits established by the Oklahoma Legislature; approve institutional allocations; and manage numerous scholarships and special programs. Visit www.okhighered.org to learn more.


About Honorlock Online Proctoring

Honorlock is revolutionizing the way academic and enterprise institutions enable equity in online courses and exams. Our purpose is to uphold honesty and integrity. We focus on reaffirming the trust we have in students while assuring integrity for the institution, each instructor’s knowledge and value, and the exams themselves.

About the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education

The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education are the coordinating board of control for the state system of higher education, which is comprised of 25 colleges and universities – including two research universities, 10 regional universities, one public liberal arts university and 12 community colleges – and 11 constituent agencies and one university center. Among other responsibilities, the State Regents prescribe academic standards of higher education; determine functions and courses of study at state colleges and universities; grant degrees; set tuition and fees within the limits established by the Oklahoma Legislature; approve institutional allocations; and manage numerous scholarships and special programs. Visit www.okhighered.org to learn more.

Media Contact
Amy Fisher
612.805.5707
Amy.Fisher@PadillaCo.com

What the Great Resignation Means for Women Leaders

What the Great Resignation Means for Women Leaders

2021 was a historic year for the job market. According to the US Labor Statistics, of the 69 million people who were separated from their position (quit, laid off, or terminated), 47.4 million voluntarily left.

Some call it “The Great Resignation.”

But no matter what you call it, the power has shifted toward the employee – at least for the near future. But what does the impact of the Great Resignation mean for women in leadership roles?

​​With so many people leaving the workforce and more organizations doing as much as they can to attract talent back to work, we may have reached a tipping point that could mean good things for women leaders.

In this article we’ll detail:

The struggle starts before the “Glass Ceiling”

For years, you’ve probably heard the terms “Glass Ceiling” and “Broken Rung” that women face. Both terms essentially refer to the fact that women face more challenges in advancing to senior leadership roles compared to men.

But the struggles start earlier than that.

“For every 100 men who are promoted to an entry-level manager position, 72 women are promoted. This has a waterfall effect because there aren’t enough women in the leadership pipeline from the very beginning,” said Robin Kistler, current Executive Talent Program Director at Anthem, Inc. and former director of non-degree business programs at the University of Notre Dame.

Three questions women in leadership should ask themselves every seven years
  1. What should I leave behind?
  2. What do I want/need to learn next?
  3. What drives me now?

Why seven years?

“It’s long enough to have transitioned from education to the workplace, to have made a new career move, and to have experienced a life-changing crisis. Yet it’s short enough to feel practical,” Kistler explained.

What should I leave behind?

This is where you determine what you don’t want in your career and life. Remember, knowing what you don’t want is just as important as knowing what you do want.

“We’ll need to get more skilled at letting go of what was — our old identity, relationship, competencies — to embrace what’s next — as yet unknown, undefined, and ambiguous.” – Avivah Wittenberg-Cox, Consultant, Coach, & Author.

To dig into this more, ask yourself these questions:

 

What do I want/need to learn next?

As you’re figuring out what you do and don’t want in your career, decide what you want to learn and what you need to learn.

It’s important to note that this can be both formal and informal learning. Depending on your path, you may need to learn more to help pass an industry certification, or you may want to learn how to improve emotional intelligence.

Regardless of what you need or want to learn, make a list and get started.

What drives me?

Just like our priorities change in life, so do our drivers. Some people are driven by money, while others are driven by schedule flexibility. Regardless of what drives you, make a list of what your drivers are and why they’re important to you.

Type up your answers to these questions and then email them to yourself and print a copy to keep on your desk.

What women should look for when choosing their next role and company

Women can be more particular about roles and organizations

“Women professionals have more choice than ever before, and that means you can be more particular about the roles and organizations you work for. The war for talent has intensified, which means women leaders are on the right side of the equation,” Kistler said.

But what should women in leadership actually look for in a role and company? Kistler used this list to guide her own career search:
 
Committed to empowering women in the workforce


“If an organization has a track record of progressive thinking toward women in the workforce, they will attract, promote, and retain the best female candidates. This includes visible indicators of a female pipeline from early career to executive level,” Kistler said.

Look for employers that:

 

Focuses on creating a culture of diversity and inclusion

Kistler detailed that employers that truly embrace a culture of diversity and inclusion should:

Embraces progressive employer practices

In addition to a company that’s truly committed to creating equal opportunity for women in the workforce and creating a workplace that’s diverse and inclusive, they should also:

 

Addressing the causes of burnout in the workplace

Workplace burnout isn’t a badge of honor. But what causes burnout at work?

 

Watch the Webinar Recording

 

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Webinar: 5 Ways Institutions Can Reduce Student Online Test Anxiety

In the ever-evolving world of online education, students are finding themselves testing under new circumstances that can add to their already existent test anxiety. Honorlock and the University of North Alabama partnered to conduct a detailed study on test anxiety and online proctoring. Learn about test anxiety drivers, how we can mitigate the impact of anxiety during exams, and help promote student success.

This webinar, hosted by EdSurge, will teach you how to:

  1. How the average student experiences test anxiety (even when they feel well prepared) and how to reduce test anxiety
  2. What role online proctoring has on your student’s emotions
  3. The vital role of the proctor and how they engage/interact with students
  4. The basic steps and information you can provide to students to help alleviate their worries.

Speakers

Jordan Adair

VP of Product @Honorlock

Jordan began his career in education as an elementary and middle school teacher. After transitioning into educational technology he became focused on delivering products designed to empower instructors and improve the student experience.

Jill Simpson

Instructional Designer/Technologist,
University of North Alabama

Jill has over 15 years of teaching experience, with 10 years teaching in the online environment. She currently teaches for the College of Business at the University of North Alabama where she also researches available technologies to determine which will meet the needs of the school and its students, then trains faculty on how to use these technologies.

Jan Wilson

Organizational Development and
Learning Consultant

Jan has provided strategic planning, process alignment, change management, curriculum development, and planning, as well as learning solutions to a variety of clients. Jan earned a Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in information technology from Belmont University, as well as a Master of Education in Human Resource Development from Vanderbilt University, where she has served as adjunct faculty at Vanderbilt’s Peabody School

Jose Gonzalez

Sr. Director of Customer Services @Honorlock

Jose is responsible for leading both the Customer Success and Proctoring teams at Honorlock. He has 6+ years of experience in the higher education space and has a passion for supporting educators, as well as being an advocate for customers.

Host: Carl Hooker

Educational Consultant, Speaker,
Workshop Facilitator & Writer

Carl Hooker is an educational consultant and speaker from Austin, TX. He is a former teacher and administrator and has written 6 books on mobile learning as well as being a National Faculty Member for Future Ready Schools. He hosts two podcasts and has launched an online course called The Remote Learning Coach for schools and districts looking for assistance when it comes to remote and hybrid learning.

Webinar: How to Approach Tough Conversations in Higher Education

We dread — and often avoid — the difficult conversations we need to have. In higher education, the institutional and disciplinary culture often supports colleagues challenging the scholarship of others and the behavior of students, but we typically struggle to have the much-needed conversations about the communications and behaviors of colleagues that negatively impact our work, our departments, and our institution. We’ll discuss the key components of approaching difficult conversations in education and discuss how you can work to improve your ability to engage in productive conversations to yield more positive results, despite difficult subject matter.

In this webinar, you’ll learn:

  • Three components of tough conversations
  • Elements that shape our perspective
  • How to prepare for a difficult conversation in education
  • How to Respond vs. React and Listen vs. Hear
  • Understanding and being understood

Speakers

Lynne A. Texter, Ph.D.

Associate Provost and Associate Professor in the Department of Communication at La Salle University in Philadelphia, PA.

An award-winning educator with over 25 years of teaching experience in the U.S., Czech Republic, Switzerland, and Greece, Lynne consults with a variety of organizations and specializes in a variety of areas, including persuasion and influence, workplace communication, and presentation skills. In addition to other administrative roles, Lynne has served as interim Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, Interim Dean of the School of Arts & Sciences, and Special Assistant to the President for Strategic Initiatives. Lynne completed the Management Development Program at Harvard University, received her Ph.D. from the University at Buffalo, and earned her Master’s degree from the Newhouse School at Syracuse University.

Webinar: Reducing Student Test Anxiety During Online Proctored Assessments

In the ever-evolving world of online education, students are finding themselves testing under new circumstances that can add to their already existent test anxiety. Honorlock and the University of North Alabama partnered to conduct a detailed study on test anxiety and online proctoring. Learn about test anxiety drivers, how we can mitigate the impact of anxiety during exams, and help promote student success.

As you walk away from our webinar, you will have a clearer picture of:

  1. How the average student experiences test anxiety (even when they feel well prepared) and how to reduce test anxiety
  2. What role online proctoring has on your student’s emotions
  3. The vital role of the proctor and how they engage/interact with students
  4. The basic steps and information you can provide to students for test anxiety prevention and reduction.

Speakers

Jordan Adair

VP of Product @Honorlock

Jordan began his career in education as an elementary and middle school teacher. After transitioning into educational technology he became focused on delivering products designed to empower instructors and improve the student experience.

Jill Simpson

Instructional Designer/Technologist,
University of North Alabama

Prior to her role as Instructional Designer/Technologist, Dr. Jill Simpson taught computer software courses for 15 years, with 10 of those years spent in the online environment. Now serving as the Instructional Designer/Technologist for the College of Business at the University of North Alabama (UNA), Dr. Simpson continues to teach online computer software classes for the BBA program, as well as an online foundational course for the MBA program. With an entirely online MBA program and many online BBA courses, the College of Business at UNA frequently strategizes how to optimize student learning and student satisfaction while maintaining the academic integrity of our online courses. Dr. Simpson’s role in this strategy is to research available technologies to determine which will meet our needs and then train faculty how to use it.

Jan Wilson

Organizational Development and
Learning Consultant

As an organizational development and learning consultant, Jan has provided strategic planning, process alignment, change management, curriculum development, and planning, as well as learning solutions to a variety of clients in pharma, healthcare, and state governments. Jan earned a Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in information technology from Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, as well as a Master of Education in Human Resource Development from Vanderbilt University, also in Nashville, Tennessee. Additionally, she has served as adjunct faculty at the Peabody School of Vanderbilt University.

What is Honorlock?

Honorlock provides easy to to use, secure online proctoring services to protect your exams and support students. 

We combine AI proctoring software and live test proctors to protect academic integrity with a human touch. 

Our online proctoring software monitors each student’s exam session for potential problems and alerts a live, US-based proctor to join the session in real-time to address possible dishonesty.

In addition to our blend of AI software and live test proctors, our proctoring software directly integrates with your LMS and provides additional features such as detecting cell phone use and voices, video proctoring, browser lockdown, no exam scheduling, ID verification, and 24/7 support.

Preparing for a Proctored Exam & What to Expect

How students can prepare for a proctored exam

What is a proctored exam?

A proctored exam uses AI software and/or live proctors to monitor a student during an online exam to:

  • Prevent cheating and protect academic integrity
  • Support students as needed throughout the exam 
  • Verify student identity
  • Create a fair testing environment for all students

Tips for preparing for an exam monitored by a proctoring platform

  • Make sure your webcam, microphone, and Internet connection meet the system requirements
  • Review the online exam instructions ahead of time
  • Take a practice test if available
  • Set up your test room for success (clear your desk, turn the lights on, remove distractions)
  • Have your ID ready for identity verification
  • Write down important support information such as the phone number, email address, and any links

How do I set up an online proctored exam?

Setting up a proctored exam is pretty simple.

Generally speaking, you’ll need to install the proctoring software, app, or browser extension, scan your room, verify ID, and get started.

Here’s how it works with an Honorlock proctored exam:

  • Install the Chrome browser extension
  • Pre-test checklist: We’ll walk you through a quick 60-second pre-test checklist to make sure you’re ready to go
  • Scan your test room using the webcam: This ensures that no one else is in the room with you and that you’re not using any external resources like a cell phone, textbooks, or notes
  • Verify your identity: Using your webcam, take a picture of both yourself and your photo ID to verify that you are the student enrolled in the online course (this typically takes less than a minute)
  • Begin the exam: show what you know!

How do I prepare my test room?

  • Take your exam in a room that’s comfortable, quiet, and free of distractions
  • The room should be well lit and clear of any clutter around you and on your desk
  • No other people should be in the room with you (but if someone does come in accidentally, don’t worry! Our technology and proctors can help.)

What forms of ID are acceptable for ID verification?

You can typically use any government-issued ID (e.g., driver’s license or passport) or a student ID that has your photo.

How does Honorlock work?

Here’s a quick summary of what you should know:

  • Honorlock combines AI technology with live human proctors
    You aren’t constantly being watched. We use AI test tools to monitor your exam session and if something is wrong, it will trigger one of our live proctor to pop-in. The proctor will assess the situation and help you get back on track via chat as needed.
  • Our test proctors don’t assume that you’re cheating; they’re a resource to help you
    Our full-time test proctors are trained by a nationally certified counselor and educator on how to support students experiencing exam frustration and test anxiety.
  • Support is available 24/7
    Our US-based support team is there to troubleshoot issues with you and help make your testing experience as smooth as possible.
  • We don’t sell your data and we don’t have access to your cell phone or other devices

When can I schedule a proctored exam?

With Honorlock, you don’t have to schedule your exam. Just log into your LMS and take your proctored exam anytime you’re ready, 24/7/365, as long as it’s within the exam time frame set by your instructor. 

What do I need to take a proctored exam using Honorlock?

You need a computer, a functioning webcam and microphone, the software or browser extension, and appropriate Internet speed.

Minimum requirements for an online proctored exam with Honorlock
We provide a simple single-click test to check your system requirements.

  • Operating System: Windows 10, MacOSX 10.13 and higher, ChromeOS
  • Browser: Google Chrome (minimum version 84)
  • Internet Speed: 1.5 Mbps download, 750 Kbps upload

Does Honorlock have access to my cell phone?

No. Honorlock’s proctoring software does not have access to your cell phone or other devices.

Does Honorlock sell my personal data?

Honorlock does not sell your personal data. Ever.

What information does Honorlock collect?

We gather as little as possible about the test taker such as:

  • The IP address through the Chrome extension
  • Name and email address using the school’s LMS
  • A screen recording and a webcam recording
  • A photo of the student and ID to verify identity

How is my personal data protected?

Your privacy is our priority. All data in transit and data at rest is encrypted and stored within Honorlock’s private cloud in an Amazon (AWS) data center. Learn more about our commitment to student privacy and data security here.

The goal of our proctoring service is to make online testing as comfortable as possible for you

Best of luck this semester!

Resource links for students:

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Want to see Honorlock in action? Schedule a demo.

9 Best Ways to Improve Online Course Design

List of nine ways to improve online course design

Let’s face it: online course design is tough. It can be even more of a challenge if you’re accustomed to teaching in a live classroom. Thankfully, technological advances and online test software make it possible to design online courses that keep students engaged and learning just like they would in a traditional course. 

9 ways to improve online course design:

    1. Make it personal
    2. Set clear learning objectives
    3. Control the use of AI tools
    4. Make the course easy to navigate 
    5. Keep accessibility in mind
    6. Engage with communication & encourage active listening
    7. Design engaging questions
    8. Provide effective exams
    9. Deter and prevent cheating

1. Make it personal

Students who may be learning exclusively online will still want to feel a connection to the institution, instructor, and other students. Depending on the course, you may have hundreds of students and several teaching assistants who may be grading their assignments and interacting with students in smaller sections. That doesn’t mean you can neglect an effort to humanize yourself in the eyes of your students. They will want to get to know you at some level. 

Example:

  • A short welcome video could help you introduce yourself and set a tone of positivity and trust with your students 
  • Share a bit of your background, your goals for the course, and your professional passion 
  • Show your students that helping them learn and succeed is a priority for you

2. Set clear learning objectives

Every instructional designer knows how important it is to clearly explain the learning objectives of the course. These objectives need to be more direct than simply a list of titles or assignments on a syllabus. 

What should your students know and be able to do by the end of the course? Maybe it’s simply how to set up and use a spreadsheet, or how to implement Six Sigma and other process improvement methodologies. Foreknowledge of what is expected and how they will benefit will help increase student engagement and motivation.

3. Control the use of AI tools

AI tools are here and they’re going to be a part of our lives and education whether we like it or not. Some want to block AI tools entirely, but some want to use them in certain situations to create engaging course activities like debates and simulations.

Regardless of your stance, you need the ability to control if, when, and how AI tools are used in your online courses. But to do so, you’ll need a lot more than browser lockdown software and AI plagiarism detection tools, which have proven ineffective against AI generated content.

To control AI tools, you’ll need flexible proctoring software that can also detect cell phones and extensions, listen for voices (not just sounds), prevent keyboard shortcuts, check the room for unauthorized resources, and record the test taker’s desktop. See the full article about how to use proctoring software to control AI tools.

4. Make it easy to navigate

One of the best things you can do when designing an online course is to make it easy to navigate and simple to follow. A structured and consistent course layout helps your students navigate and understand course content. Consistency also makes course content predictable, which means that students won’t miss course elements like they might in an unstructured, inconsistent format. 

Regardless of whether it’s a specific assignment, forum discussion, or taking an exam, your students should be able to quickly navigate the course and find what they’re looking for. 

Making clear what goes where and how various components will aid learning. They should not have to wonder, for example, where the Next or Previous buttons, or other universal controls live.

5. Keep accessibility in mind

Some learning management systems are more accessible than others. Ideally, yours will be usable for students who use assistive technology or navigate solely via their keyboard. 

When designing online courses, you should consult with your school’s faculty who specialize in accessibility for advice on creative solutions. The goal is to remove accessibility barriers without compromising the content of your course. The better you can prepare, the more inclusive you will be able to be, and the fewer burdens you will place on disabled students. 

Here’s a quick accessibility checklist to use for online course design:

  1. Use color contrast and accessible fonts
    • Contrast ratios ensure that text color is easily visible against the background color 
    • Sans Serif fonts, such as Arial, are typically easier to read
  1. Provide consistent structure and organization
    • Use headings (not bolded font) and lists (not hyphens)
    • Headings should be in a consistent order
    • As an example, use H1, H2, H3 not H1, H3, H2
    • Use descriptive hyperlink text
    • Link text provides context and purpose of the link 
  1. Using different text colors doesn’t establish a link
    • Do: Article 2 for Assignment 3, Module 7
    • Don’t: Click here
  1. Provide text alternatives for non-text elements
    • Non-text elements such as audio, video, and images should have a text alternative such as captions, transcripts, and descriptions
  1. All multimedia elements should also be fully accessible
    • Students should be able to pause, rewind, and forward the online course video using keyboard controls. 
    • Video should work with any computer, cell phone, and LMS
  1. Provide accommodations
    • Accommodate diverse learning styles and technologies
      • Adjust exam time limits, provide bathroom breaks
      • Students should be able to communicate their responses in different ways
        • For example, if your test requires a spoken portion, the ability to accept sign language or written responses for those who cannot speak

6. Engage students through communication & active listening

Good instructional design can also facilitate positive communications with your students beyond the online classroom. All will benefit from your availability in answering questions, leading or monitoring discussions, and integrating feedback. Find ways to drive consistent engagement such as encouraging forum responses and group discussions. Doing so may help encourage questions that students have or topics they’d like to discuss. And online learning is often self-paced and self-directed, so students need courses that are designed to keep them learning actively, which can improve their focus and increase their motivation.

What is active learning?

Active learning is a method of instruction where students participate and engage in the learning process and materials. Simply put: students are doing things and thinking about what they’re doing and why they’re doing it.

Active learning strategies include:

  • Incorporating interactive drag-and-drop activities, simulations, or exercises
  • Connecting lessons to real-world scenarios to make the material immediately relevant
  • Facilitating collaboration with discussion prompts for forums or message boards

8. Design engaging questions

Designing the right questions will also further active learning in an online course. The technology can only go so far, it’s your content that drives the online course experience. What questions do you want to raise? 

What flame do you want to spark in your students? You already know that telling students the answers is never as effective as leading them to the solutions. It’s well-designed questions that make those accomplishments possible. 

Ways to create better test questions:

  • Open-ended questions (often starting with “how” or “why”) require more than one-word answers and reveal how students think
  • Challenging viewpoints helps lead students to address the pros and cons of arguments or solutions
  • Encourage problem-solving with case studies or “what would you do?” scenarios

9. Provide effective online exams

The best-designed exams allow students to demonstrate both the breadth and depth of the learning that they have been doing in the period leading up to the assessment. 

Consider the following ways to set up your students to shine:

  • Ask questions requiring students to demonstrate higher-order thinking
  • Use different types of questions: mix short answers in with multiple choice
  • Create multiple versions of each test, or change the sequence of the questions
  • Show only one question at a time
  • Remind students of the importance of academic integrity

Use exam reporting to improve future exams

  • What questions are students struggling with? 
    • Is the question difficult to understand?
    • Can a different response type help students articulate their answers? 
  • What questions are students breezing by? 
    • Are they too easy? 
    • Is the answer too obvious?

In-depth exam reports will provide this insight and allow you to continually improve student engagement and your exams.

10. Deter and prevent cheating

The tip immediately above is effective at reducing cheating on exams . . . to a point. But it takes more than simply reminding students that honesty protects the integrity of your courses and degree programs. Institutions with all or most of their programs online have been using remote proctoring software for years, and traditional brick-and-mortar universities have accelerated their online exam proctoring options during the pandemic. All are finding that a hybrid model, combining the best of AI and dedicated human proctors works most effectively for faculty and students alike. 

Honorlock’s online proctoring services allow faculty to:

  • Detect cell phones and other devices
  • Combine artificial intelligence and live human proctors
  • Allow students to schedule and take exams 24/7/365
  • Detect voices in a meaningful way
  • Verify student ID in less than a minute
  • Proctor third-party exams
  • Reduce exam content on homework help sites
  • Access exam reporting and recordings for review

Use these best practices as a guide to creating a well-designed online course that engages your students, improves learning, and protects academic integrity.

Honorlock’s online proctoring services allow you to offer convenience and flexibility to your students without sacrificing security or academic rigor. Schedule a demo and we’ll show you how it works.

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How to Combine AI and Live Human Proctoring

Let’s face it: online course design is tough. It can be even more of a challenge if you’re accustomed to teaching in a live classroom. Thankfully, technological advances and online test software make it possible to design online courses that keep students engaged and learning just like they would in a traditional course. 

What are the different types of online exam proctoring?

Most of the remote proctoring software on the market today follow one of two models: 

  1. AI proctoring 
  2. Live human proctoring

Each of these models has its pros and cons, but when combining the right components of both AI and live human proctoring, you can create a better test taking experience for both students and faculty.  

What is AI proctoring?

With AI proctoring, or automated proctoring, students are monitored throughout their exam by artificial intelligence, which detects potential violations of academic dishonesty. AI features for online exams might include browser lockdown software, voice and sound detection, mobile device detection, and more. If these tools detect cheating behavior, the student will be flagged and the incident will be reported to their instructor. 

Pros of AI proctoring software

  • Reduces human oversight as compared to Live Proctoring: Oftentimes, live human proctors are monitoring more than one student at a time which can increase the chances of them missing potentially suspicious behavior.
  • Ease of Scheduling: Most AI proctoring systems utilize on-demand scheduling, so students can take online exams from anywhere at any time.
  • Easy Reviewing: The AI proctoring format makes it easy for instructors to review any incidents. Exam reports typically provide flags and allow the instructor to review the video if it was recorded to determine if the student broke any rules.
  • Scalability: AI proctoring can help you scale online programs while still protecting various elements of academic dishonesty. 

Cons of AI proctoring software

  • Lack of human intervention: There is no live remote proctor present to intervene in real-time if academic dishonesty is detected, and some instances of academic dishonesty may be missed.
  • Cheating is often only addressed after the exam takes place: There’s nothing that can be done until the instructor receives the report and makes a call about the incident.
  • False reports of cheating: Sometimes a student may get flagged for reading the question out loud or looking away from the screen to think about the answer. With no live remote proctor present to verify if cheating is happening, this student may be flagged for academic dishonesty by the AI software.
  • Lengthy review process: The proctored online exam has to be reviewed after completion so that a report can be prepared for the instructor, and this can sometimes be a lengthy process—creating frustration for faculty and students by delaying the grading process. 

What is live human proctoring?

For this type of remote proctoring, a live online exam proctor watches students taking exams in real-time. They’re often able to intervene in real-time when an issue arises, and they also prepare a report for the instructor after the exam. Additionally, the online exam session is recorded for later review.

Pros of live human proctoring

  • It’s live: Human proctoring provides the same benefits as proctoring an in-person exam.
  • Students can get help: It’s important to remember that remote proctors aren’t just there to catch cheating, they’re also a resource for students.
  • Live proctors can intervene in real-time: If an incident of potential cheating does arise, the proctor can address the suspicious activity immediately.
  • Instructors are more confident with exam integrity: Since a human being handles all the test monitoring, that can help instructors feel more comfortable that the integrity of their test will be protected.
  • Exam sessions are recorded: This makes it easy for instructors to take another look at the exam session and decide if disciplinary action may be warranted for suspicious behavior. 

Cons of live human proctoring

  • Live proctors may watch up to ten students at a time: Because the proctor’s attention is divided, there’s always a chance that they’ll miss an incident with one student while keeping an eye on another.
  • Scheduling can be difficult: When only using live remote proctors, students have to schedule their proctored exam ahead of time and at a time that aligns with the proctor’s schedule. Students may also need to pay a fee if they need to reschedule.
  • Increased student anxiety: Live proctoring may also increase test anxiety for students—even when they aren’t doing anything wrong, they may feel like they’re being watched, which could distract them from the exam content.

Is there another remote proctoring solution available?

If you’re looking for online proctoring that pairs the best of both worlds—something that lets your students do their thing without distractions but still deters and prevents cheating to protect academic integrity, the answer is yes. To effectively monitor online exams, you need online proctoring software that blends the benefits of AI proctoring and live test proctors.

How does a combination of AI proctoring and live remote proctoring work?

A hybrid remote proctoring solution harnesses advanced proctoring features to monitor students and flag potential incidents of dishonesty and alerts live proctors to intervene if needed. This method of proctored testing may provide a less intimidating and non-invasive exam experience for students because they aren’t being constantly watched by a live proctor and flagged for irrelevant issues. Scheduling is also easy because students can take their proctored online exam on-demand at any time, 24/7/365.

AI that’s human reviewed

Honorlock reinvented online proctoring and was the first to combine the benefits of AI with those of a live online exam proctor.

How does Honorlock work?

Honorlock’s AI-driven technology monitors the student for potential problems, and, if it detects any suspicious behavior, a live online exam proctor is prompted to join a student’s session in real-time to address possible dishonesty as it happens. 

Honorlock’s blend of AI and human proctoring keeps the human touch while delivering a much less intimidating and non-invasive testing experience for the student. Faculty save time when reviewing the assessment report because they don’t have to review false flags.

Top benefits of online proctoring that blends AI and human proctors

  1. Provides exam integrity
    With a blended proctoring solution, AI doesn’t actually make decisions about student behavior but rather flags a potential incident so a live proctor can pop in to assess the situation.
  2. Provides a 1:1 setting
    When an online exam proctor is alerted by the AI, they’re attentive and focused on one student.
  3. No scheduling issues
    Students can schedule and complete their online exams at any time, 24/7/365.
  4. Cost-effectiveness
    Hybrid online proctoring software is a more cost-effective solution than live proctoring because watching every single online exam from start to finish is time-consuming and expensive.
  5. Review options
    With Honorlock, the online exam proctor has an analysis window to review the potential academic dishonesty situation before they pop in via chat.
  6. Supports students
    Blending a live human proctor with AI means students have someone to support them during their exam should they experience difficulties with technology or an interruption from their parents or roommates. The proctor is there to support the best possible exam experience.

Honorlock’s 3-step process

Honorlock takes the headache out of remote proctoring. In just three easy steps, you can protect the integrity of your exams with confidence.

  1. Create Your Exam
    Build your test in the LMS like you normally would.
  2. Enable Honorlock
    Use our custom integration to turn on proctoring and choose which features to use.
  3. Review Results
    Our proctoring staff will review the test sessions, and you’ll be notified of any guideline violations with our proctoring reports.

Schedule a demo to see the benefits of combining AI and live remote proctors for your institution, schedule a call with Honorlock today.

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