What is Blended Proctoring?

Article with infographic about how blended proctoring works

Ever heard of blended proctoring? When done the right way, it’s the one of the most effective way to proctor online exams.

But you have some other options to protect your exams (listed below). Most check the box. Some cover the basics. Few do it all.

What is online proctoring - comparing services
Which option sounds like the best way to proctor online exams?

Unless you prefer distractions and spending money on software that doesn’t really do what you need, a blended approach is the best way.

What is blended proctoring?

Blended proctoring is an approach that combines AI with human review to protect academic integrity and prevent cheating, reduce test anxiety, and provide more options to assess knowledge.

How does proctoring work with a blended approach?

AI proctoring software monitors behavior

Various proctoring tools for online exams monitor for potentially dishonest behavior, such as exiting the screen or having unauthorized resources in the room.

The proctor software alerts a human if it detects any issues

Ideally, the software will allow the proctor to review the situation in an analysis window before deciding whether to intervene or not. 

Review the proctored exam results in the LMS

After the proctored testing is completed, instructors should be able to review reports and time-stamped recordings in the LMS.

Common proctoring tools for online exams

Video monitoring: uses the webcam to monitor behavior, verify ID, and check for unauthorized resources.

Sound detection: AI proctoring software detects any sounds. This includes important sounds like voices and unimportant noises, like sneezing or a doorbell ringing.

Browser lockdown: entry-level remote proctoring software that prevents access to other browsers and certain keyboard functions.

Advanced online proctoring services and tools

The online proctoring services and tools below are exclusive to Honorlock, the first company to blend AI with human review.

But what is Honorlock?

Honorlock is an innovative online exam proctoring company for higher education and corporations.

Honorlock provides these online proctoring services and tools at no extra cost:

Test content protection: unlike other similar proctoring tools, Search & Destroy technology scours the Internet automatically to identify leaked test questions, and if it finds any, you can send one-click takedown requests.

24/7/365 proctored exams with live support: scheduling isn’t needed with Honorlock because proctored online exams and live US-based support are available on-demand.

Detects cell phone use:  proctoring software can detect when test-takers try to use cell phones or other devices to access test bank content during exams.

Smart voice detection: This Honorlock feature is different from sound detection because it listens for specific keywords and phrases (like “OK Google” or “Hey Siri”), creates a transcript, and alerts a test proctor.

Who uses blended proctoring?

Blended proctoring is typically used in higher education and professional education.

Proctoring for higher education

Higher education uses online proctoring for things like assessments in online courses or blended courses, authentic assessments, entrance exams, and even high-stakes testing.

Proctoring for professional education

Common proctoring uses in professional education
  • Professional certification testing
  • Corporate training and development
  • Hands-on performance assessments
  • Pre-employment assessments

Invest in proctoring that does it all

Don’t spend time and money on a proctoring platform that doesn’t do what you need. Honorlock helps protect academic integrity while creating a better test experience that offers more ways to assess knowledge and supports successful online teaching and learning.

See how blended proctoring works with Honorlock
Fill out the form below to get in touch

Tyler Stike

Tyler has over a decade of experience in ed tech and higher education. He focuses on creating relevant and useful content for educators, institutions, and technologists.

5 questions to consider if you aren’t proctoring online exams

Top questions to consider if you aren't proctoring online exams

If you aren’t using online proctoring (or just not using the right kind), you may be giving an unfair advantage to some test-takers and missing out on opportunities to test knowledge in nontraditional formats – even in a remote environment.

While most approach their online exams with integrity, some take advantage of unauthorized resources that are available in a remote testing environment, gaining an unfair advantage over others – maybe even unknowingly or innocently. 

These unauthorized resources can include things like: notes and textbooks, or using cell phones and searching the internet during exams, which puts the academic integrity of your online exams at risk.

Consider these questions if you:
  • Do not use any online proctoring services or services
  • Only use browser lockdown software
  • Only use automated proctoring software (no human proctors) or live proctoring services (one proctor watching multiple test-takers at once)

How would you know if a test taker uses a cell phone to look up answers?

Without online proctoring software, test takers can use cell phones and other devices to look up answers during the test.

Browser lockdown software can’t detect cell phones, and some remote proctoring companies rely on live proctors seeing the cell phone to “detect” it. 

Does it really work? Eh, not always. It’s pretty easy for a proctor to miss the cell phone because they may be watching a dozen test takers at once and the phone may be used out of view of the webcam.

So, how can proctored exams detect phones?

Unless you want to rely on a busy proctor seeing a phone, consider using Honorlock’s online proctoring platform to detect cell phone use.

How can Honorlock detect phones?

Honorlock’s online proctoring software can detect when test takers attempt to use cell phones or other devices to access test bank content during the test.

If it detects cell phone use, it alerts a test proctor to enter the test session and address the situation. It also flags the behavior for the instructor to review in a report after the proctored exam.

See how Honorlock can detect cell phones

How would you know the person taking the test is the same person getting credit for the class?

If you can’t verify the test-taker’s identity, you may be giving credit where credit is not due.

Without proctoring tools for online exams, your options are limited.

  • The good news: most online proctor companies offer ways to authenticate ID.
  • The bad news: it can be a complicated, time-consuming process that may put your data at risk.

Be sure that the online proctor companies you evaluate offer a quick, easy, and secure way to authenticate ID.

How does Honorlock’s proctoring platform authenticate ID?

In about a minute, the online proctoring platform captures a picture of the test-taker along with their photo ID to authenticate identity.

That covers the quick and easy parts, but what about security?

From our technology for remote proctoring to ongoing employee training, Honorlock takes a security-first approach in everything we do, including ID authentication.

Our remote proctoring software does not use face recognition or other biometric technologies (e.g., fingerprints or voiceprints) to identify test takers, and it doesn’t identify individual faces, store facial elements, or match faces to a database.

Learn about ID authentication with Honorlock

Are any of your test questions leaked online?

Have you ever found your test questions leaked on the internet? It’s pretty annoying, right?

Online forums (e.g., Reddit & Quora) and homework help sites (e.g., Chegg & Quizlet) have made it all too easy to find and share your test content.

How can you find leaked test content?

You basically have three options to find leaked test content:

  1. Copying and pasting each test question into the search engine, one-by-one, and reviewing tons of results

  2. Using basic proctor software to manually select questions you want it to search for

  3. Searching the internet automatically for all of your leaked test questions in a few minutes with Honorlock’s Search & Destroy technology for remote proctoring

Here’s how Honorlock’s Search & Destroy proctoring technology works

After enabling Honorlock’s online proctor software, Search & Destroy automatically scours the internet for all of your test questions in a few minutes. A simple report shows if leaked content is found and then you can send takedown requests with one click.

See how Search & Destroy works

What if you could remotely proctor hands-on assessments in an online environment?

Whether traditional questions (multiple-choice, etc.) or non-traditional formats (see below), Honorlock helps you customize the proctoring tools and settings needed to protect nearly any assessment activity.

Non-traditional activities that can be remotely proctored using Honorlock:

Open-book questions

Test takers have access to specific physical resources (e.g., textbooks) and/or digital resources (e.g., online research journals) during the exam, while all other resources are prohibited.
See how to proctor open-book exams with Honorlock

Handwritten math problems & essays

Test takers complete handwritten math problems and essay responses using pen and paper.
How to proctor handwritten math problems & essays

Using software to complete tasks

Software like Microsoft Excel and Quickbooks can be used to complete real-world tasks during online exams.
Learn how Honorlock remotely proctors software use during an exam

Online presentations & demonstrations

Using the webcam to conduct presentations and demonstrations in a remote environment.
See how to proctor online presentations & demonstrations

What if you could reduce test anxiety with remote proctoring software?

Test anxiety is common, especially in an online environment. A university survey showed that 64% of test takers agreed that “taking an online test makes me nervous.”

But the good news is that the same survey showed that Honorlock’s blended proctoring solution, which combines AI and human review, reduced test anxiety.

Test anxiety survey results summary after taking online proctored exams using Honorlock:

  • 6% decrease in test anxiety between their first & second proctored exams
  • 15% decrease in anxiety associated with the statement, “Thoughts about the proctor interfered with my concentration.”
  • 100% felt less anxious after interacting with an Honorlock proctor

Download the full anxiety survey eBook here

Online proctoring FAQ

What is online proctoring?

Online proctoring means monitoring test taker behavior with software and/or services to create a fair and equitable test environment that protects exam integrity.

Common online proctoring tools include: video monitoring, browser lockdown, audio monitoring, and ID verification. 

Some online proctor companies, like Honorlock, offer advanced tools that:

  • Detect cell phones and voices
  • Find leaked test content automatically
  • Combine software with human review
  • Proctor exams online with live US-based support 24/7/365

Why should you proctor exams online?

Most assume that online exam proctoring is just to catch cheating, but it does much more. 

In addition to preventing cheating, online proctoring is a strategic advantage and fundamental piece of distance learning that helps:

  • Instructors customize exams
  • Support test takers and reduce test anxiety
  • Assess knowledge with different question formats
  • Protect reputation and scale online testing
  • Provide flexibility to take proctored exams 24/7/365

What industries use online exam proctoring?

Online exam proctoring is often used in higher education and by organizations offering professional education programs.

Online proctoring in higher education

Universities and colleges use online proctoring services and software for: 

  • General testing needs for online courses
  • High-stakes exams, like midterms and finals
  • On-campus testing centers
  • Entrance exams

Online proctoring for corporate and professional education

Organizations of all sizes typically use proctored exam platforms and services for: 

How does online proctoring work with Honorlock?

Honorlock’s blended online proctoring solution combines AI software with human review. 

Here’s how it works:

  • Honorlock’s proctoring platform integrates directly with the LMS, which means:
  • Instructors create exams like they already do, then select the remote proctoring tools and settings they want to use.
  • Test takers log into the LMS like they normally do (no extra logins or passwords), verify ID, launch the proctored exam, and get live support 24/7/365.
  • The online proctoring software monitors exams and alerts a proctor if it detects potentially problematic behavior.
  • Once alerted, they can review the situation in an analysis window to determine whether or not to intervene and address the situation.
  • After the proctored exams are completed, instructors can access reports with timestamped recordings within the LMS.

Honorlock provides the best way to proctor exams online for a few reasons:

  • Our remote proctoring platform integrates directly with the LMS, which makes it easy to use because it’s basically the same test environment
  • AI with human review protects academic integrity with a human touch
  • Proctored exams with live support can be taken 24/7/365
  • It reduces test anxiety because there are fewer distractions and test takers aren’t being watched the entire time

Why is Honorlock the best online proctoring software?

According to peer-to-peer review site, G2, Honorlock is the best online proctoring software because it’s easy to use, simple to set up, and live, US-based support is available 24/7/365.

Our online proctoring services and software create a better test environment that brings integrity, humanity, and confidence to online testing without sacrificing security or academic integrity.

Ready to proctor exams online with Honorlock?
Fill out the form to see how Honorlock’s test proctoring software & services work

Tyler Stike

Tyler has over a decade of experience in ed tech and higher education. He focuses on creating relevant and useful content for educators, institutions, and technologists.

13 Features of the Best Online Proctoring Companies

Compare platform software and services of the best online proctoring companies

Researching the best online proctoring services and software?

Finding the best online proctoring company is difficult because each offers different platforms, features, and services. We’re here to help.
Click to jump to that section.

  1. AI + humans = better proctoring
  2. Detects cell phones
  3. Blocks ChatGPT
  4. Flat-rate price protects your bottom line
  5. Easy to use ≠ less functionality
  6. Automatically searches for leaked test questions
  7. 24/7 proctored exams + live support
  8. Customizable proctoring settings + accommodations
  9. Works for traditional and alternative assessments
  10. Integrates directly with the LMS
  11. Uses voice detection, not sound detection
  12. Reports with timestamped recordings are available in the LMS
  13. Technology + company practices = security

Here are the online proctoring platforms and services we’ll refer to:

Browser lockdown: entry-level exam monitoring software prevents use of other browsers and applications.

Live human proctoring: a proctor simultaneously monitors multiple test-takers in real-time.

Automated proctoring (AI proctoring): only uses AI software to monitor behavior.

Automated (AI) + live proctoring: AI software monitors behavior and alerts a human proctor if it detects potential academic dishonesty

13 things to look for in the best online proctoring services and software
1. Combines AI and humans to improve accuracy and the user experience

When you create a document in Microsoft Word, do you accept every grammar suggestion without reviewing it first? Hopefully not.

And after you proofread and make some suggested changes, you may use assistive writing software, like Grammarly, to double-check your work.

Why do we do this?

Because even though AI is powerful, it isn’t perfect, and humans make mistakes. We use AI in many ways but still review it because there are nuances that need human oversight. This everyday example highlights the value of AI and humans working together.

It’s the same situation for online exam proctoring. AI exam monitoring software and human proctors are independently good at certain things, but they’re more effective when combined.

Consider this scenario: You’re a remote proctor responsible for monitoring a dozen test-takers at once. It’d be easy to miss things, right?

But what if the AI monitors test takers’ behavior and alerts a proctor if it detects any problems? And then they can review the situation one-to-one instead of one-to-a dozen before intervening?

The best online proctoring service does that. This approach creates a better testing environment with fewer distractions and improves proctoring accuracy.

2. Detects cell phones and other devices

Most people have cellphones or other devices, which is why you need to find online proctoring that can detect when they’re being used to look up answers.

In addition to detecting cell phones, the online proctoring software should detect device sharing apps like Apple Handoff.

3. Blocks ChatGPT and other AI tools

If you’re looking to stop AI tools like ChatGPT and Transcript browser extension, you’ll need a lot more than browser lockdown software and a plagiarism checker.

A browser lock is a good start, but what if a test taker has a cell phone? And plagiarism checkers are ineffective at detecting AI generated content.

To stop ChatGPT and other AI, you need a comprehensive proctoring solution with a variety of tools such as: cell phone detection, video monitoring, voice detection (not sound detection), and a blend of AI with live proctoring.

4. Flat-rate pricing helps avoid variable costs

Variable costs can add up quickly depending on the proctoring company’s pricing model.

Consider this scenario: You’re using an online proctoring company that charges per hour.

You budgeted for 500 hours of exam proctoring, but the exams take longer than expected, and you’re billed for 650 hours.

How much extra would that cost you? Whether it’s $10 or $10,000, it’s too much.

To help protect your bottom line and estimate testing costs, find an online proctoring company with a flat rate cost per exam or test-taker.

5. The online proctoring software is easy to use and does everything you need

If you invest in online proctoring software, make sure it gets used.

Clunky proctoring software can create a bad user experience that ultimately decreases adoption and requires more time for training.

Ease of use doesn’t mean less functionality. The best test proctoring software makes it easy to use advanced, customizable proctoring features in just a few clicks – even for the least tech-savvy people.

6. Automatically identifies leaked test questions

Unfortunately, it’s common to find leaked test questions on the internet. It’s a frustrating aspect of online learning that puts your tests and reputation at risk.

“If all of our quizzes are out there on the internet where anyone can look up the answers, what kind of quality is that degree?”– Cody Moyer, Director of Learning Technology, Polk State College

But you have a few options to search for your leaked test content:

Option 1: Individually entering your test questions into an internet search tool and reviewing all of the results.

Option 2: Manually selecting each test question to be searched for by the proctoring software and sending individual takedown requests if any are found.

Option 3: Enabling the online proctoring platform to automatically search the internet for all of your test questions and sending takedown requests with a single click.

Which option sounds best? Option 3 because it’s efficient and effective.
That’s the difference between using the best proctoring software to find leaked test content versus software that checks the box.

7. Proctored exams and support are available 24/7/365

People have busy lives and need the flexibility to take exams and get live support 24/7/365.

“Having access to customer support 24/7/365 is huge. Especially when students may be taking exams at any time of day. You want them to have access to someone who can troubleshoot with them.” – Daphnee St. Val, Senior Instructional Designer, Broward College
Read about Daphnee’s experience with proctoring

Support questions to ask online proctoring companies:

  • Is support available in different ways? e.g., chat, email, phone?
  • In what country or countries are the support agents located?
  • Is support an additional cost or included in the flat rate price?
8. Proctoring settings are customizable

With some remote proctoring platforms, you’re stuck with out-of-the-box settings, whether you want to use them or not.

The inability to disable specific features of the proctored exam platform limits customization and can negatively impact the exam experience. The best proctoring platforms allow test admins to pick and choose which features to enable or disable in a few clicks.

“Instructors like how they can set different parameters in the exams. It’s a better experience for the students because instructors can be very specific.” – Paula Rodriguez, Former Director of the University Testing Center, Colorado State University.
Read about Paula’s experience with proctoring

The best proctoring services also allow admins to give instructions that provide accommodations, such as bathroom breaks, extended exam times, alternative assessment activities, and assistive devices.

9. Proctors traditional questions and alternative assessment activities

Most remote proctoring companies offer at least one way to protect traditional test questions, like multiple-choice and true-or-false. But what about proctoring alternative assessment activities, sometimes called authentic assessments, like live virtual presentations or preparing balance sheets in Excel?

Browser lockdown software isn’t nearly enough. AI-only won’t cut it, and live proctoring-only could be a scheduling disaster and lead to variable costs.

The most effective way to protect alternative assessments is to combine customizable remote proctoring software with live human review.

Test admins should be able to choose which proctoring features to use and provide the live proctor with detailed instructions and test rules for further customization that cover the many nuances of alternative assessments.

How to use remote proctoring tools in online alternative assessments:
Example alternative assessment activity: giving virtual presentations

 

  • Video: scans the room for additional people and unauthorized resources, verifies identity, and records the presentation.
  • Voice detection: detects when the person speaks and provides a transcript of what they say.
  • Accommodations: if a person has a speech impairment, for example, proctor instructions can offer alternative ways to complete the presentation, like using text-to-speech assistive technology.

Example alternative assessment activity: completing a balance sheet in Excel

 

  • BrowserGuard: allows the use of Excel but restricts other software, records screens, and prevents keyboard shortcuts.
  • Video: verifies ID and ensures prohibited resources, like notes, aren’t in the test room.
  • Accommodations: if the person has a physical condition that impairs the ability to type or use a mouse, proctor instructions can allow them to use an assistive keyboard and mouse.
10. The proctoring platform directly integrates with your LMS

A proctoring platform that directly integrates with your learning management system can speed up implementation, improve ease of use, secure data, and it usually means that no extra passwords or logins are required.

“You want an integrated system. You don’t want faculty and students to have separate sign-ons. That was important for us.” – Steven Daniello, Director of Assessment Services, Indian River State College
Read about Steven’s experience with proctoring

11. Uses voice detection instead of sound detection

The terms “voice detection” and “sound detection” are interchangeably used, but they’re significantly different.

 

  • Sound detection may flag unimportant noises like coughing or a doorbell ringing.
  • Voice detection listens for particular keywords and phrases, like “Hey Siri” or “OK Google.”

Which do you think is more likely to create a false flag?

While voice detection is a powerful tool, the best remote proctoring service takes it a step further by creating a transcript of what’s said by the test-taker.

12. Reports and recordings give actionable insights and help streamline the review process

The online proctoring solution should provide exam reports with timestamped recordings within the LMS to help speed up review and give admins better test performance insights.

“I felt that I couldn’t trust my test scores… The analytics that come with the flags and real-time recording helped me to understand how students were approaching the course and what strategies they were using to pass the test. Honorlock helped me make sense of what was going on.” – Ryan P. Mears, PhD, Lecturer, University of Florida
Read about Ryan’s experience with proctoring

13. Online proctoring companies should take a security-first approach

From security software and technologies to ongoing training and employee onboarding, thoroughly vet the security practices of online proctoring companies because their security becomes your security.

Ask these questions about security of the online proctoring platform and company:

Security testing and employee training

  • Does the company perform regular security testing of the proctoring platform?
  • Is ongoing employee security training required?
  • If so, how often is it conducted and what does the training entail?
  • Does the proctoring company have an incident response plan?
  • If so, how often do they practice the plan?
  • Do they have a Disaster Recovery Plan and Business Continuity Plan?

Data security and privacy

 

  • What type of data is collected and why is it collected?
  • How is data collected and maintained?
  • Who owns the data?
  • Is data encrypted in transit and at rest?

Tip: Review the proctoring company’s privacy policy, which should be publicly available

 

What’s the best proctoring software and service?

Honorlock-reviews-for-best-online-proctoring-software-and-service-e1660054634632-264x300

Honorlock is the highest-rated online proctoring software on the peer-to-peer review site, G2. Honorlock earned this score thanks to its ease of use, quality of support, and simple setup.

What is Honorlock?

Honorlock is an online proctoring company that combines advanced software and services to protect the integrity of online exams for higher education and professional education.

How does Honorlock work?

Honorlock’s online exam proctoring software monitors behavior and alerts a live human proctor if it detects potential issues.

Once alerted, the proctor can review the situation in an analysis window before deciding whether to intervene or not.

This is the best way to proctor online exams because it protects academic integrity and creates a fair, equitable, and non-invasive test environment. While other online proctoring services just try to catch cheating on exams, Honorlock supports and empowers test-takers and administrators.

 

Direct quotes from Honorlock reviews on G2, a peer-to-peer software evaluation site.

See more verified G2 reviews of Honorlock’s online proctoring software and services

Get in touch with our team to see why Honorlock
is the best online proctoring company

Tyler Stike

Tyler has over a decade of experience in ed tech and higher education. He focuses on creating relevant and useful content for educators, institutions, and technologists.

Is a Browser Lockdown Worth It? Probably Not. But Why?

Is the cost of browser lockdown software worth it?

A browser lockdown may check the box for entry-level proctoring needs for some exams. But the problem is that it’s easy to work around because it only protects against one very specific aspect of cheating.

So, is it worth the cost investment? Nope.

If you’re investing in an online proctoring platform, it should be able to detect and prevent all aspects of exam cheating while remaining cost-effective.

Consider this:
If you’re only proctoring online exams with a browser lockdown, test takers are still able to do the following without detection:

  • Use their cell phones to look up answers
  • Snap pictures of test questions to share with others
  • Allow other people to take the tests for them
  • Take tests with other people in the room
  • Use books, notes, and other resources for help

The examples above are just a few of the many reasons that only using browser lockdown software isn’t enough to protect online exams and probably isn’t worth the investment.

Is the browser lock protecting academic integrity and preventing cheating in the examples above? Not really.

If the browser lockdown software isn’t protecting academic integrity, is it worth the investment? Probably not.

Are there other proctoring platforms that can comprehensively deter cheating on exams and still be cost-effective? Yes (and we’ll show you).

This article briefly explains what browser lockdown software is, provides the pros and cons, and shows you alternative options for online proctoring services and platforms.

What is a browser lockdown and how does it work?

Browser lockdown software is an entry-level online proctoring platform that helps prevent cheating by restricting access to other websites and applications and disabling keyboard functionality.

 

What are the pros and cons of browser lockdown software?

As you can see from the comparison chart below, the limitations of browser lockdown software greatly outweigh the benefits it provides.

So, what’s a better online proctoring platform option and why?

To comprehensively prevent cheating, protect academic integrity, and support test takers, you need a blended proctoring platform that combines AI with human review.

How does an online proctoring platform like this work?

The proctoring platform uses AI to monitor each exam session for potential academic dishonesty and alerts a live proctor to join the test takers’ session in real-time if it detects any issues.

What are the features and benefits of a blended proctoring platform?

In addition to a browser lock, when you use a proctoring company like Honorlock, you’ll enjoy these extensive additional features and benefits:

Cost-effectiveness and scalability

Honorlock’s online proctoring services and platform are available at a flat rate cost per exam or per test taker. This cost structure helps you accurately estimate testing costs and prevent variable costs. Our proctoring services also include implementation of the online proctoring platform, training, and 24/7/365 US-based support at no additional cost.

Protects exam questions and content

Honorlock’s Search & Destroy technology searches the internet to identify leaked exam questions. If leaked exam content is found, test administrators are given simple steps to take control of their exams’ integrity by sending content takedown requests in one click and updating exam content.

Monitors test takers’ behavior through the webcam

The webcam is used to monitor behavior throughout the exam and provides test administrators with timestamped recordings and reports afterward. The webcam is also used during the room scan and ID verification process.

Detects voices, not just sounds

Honorlock’s voice detection software won’t create endless flags for test takers coughing or talking to themselves during an exam.

Instead, the software listens for specific keywords or phrases, such as “Hey Siri” or “OK Google,” and alerts a live proctor to intervene if necessary.

Customizes exams in a few clicks

Honorlock provides test administrators with the ability to customize proctored exams in just a few clicks. The test administrator creates the exam in the LMS like they already do and then they’ll click to choose which proctoring features to enable or disable. They can also provide the exam instructions for further customization for each exam and even specific test takers.

Proctors alternative assessments and traditional question formats

The blend of AI and human review along with the ability to provide detailed proctor instructions and test rules means that whether it’s multiple-choice questions, math problems using pen and paper, handwritten essays, or open book formats, all test activities will be protected.

Can detect the use of cell phones

Our online proctoring platform can detect when test takers attempt to use their cell phones to access test bank content during the exam.

Verifies test taker ID in 60 seconds

ID verification is quick and simple with Honorlock. The proctoring software uses the webcam to capture a picture of the test-taker along with their photo ID.

Provides 24/7/365 proctored exams and live support

With Honorlock’s proctoring services and platform, proctored exams can be taken anytime, day or night, and both test takers and test administrators can get on-demand support from live, US-based support agents.

Helps reduce test anxiety

This blended solution uses AI to monitor exams and a live proctor will only intervene if potential issues are detected. This means the live proctor won’t be watching the test-taker the whole time.

Integrates with your LMS

A direct integration between Honorlock’s proctoring software and the LMS is key because it creates a familiar test environment and there are no extra passwords or logins needed.

Proctors exams within third-party platforms

Honorlock’s platform proctors exams on third-party platforms, such as MyMathLab, ALEKS, Pearson, and McGraw Hill.

To preserve academic integrity and create a fair testing environment, use Honorlock’s online proctoring platform and services to protect against all aspects of cheating on exams, not just one.

 

Add your information to see a demo of Honorlock’s online proctoring platform

Tyler Stike

Tyler has over a decade of experience in ed tech and higher education. He focuses on creating relevant and useful content for educators, institutions, and technologists.

Ernst & Young’s $100 Million Fine for Cheating Could’ve Been Avoided

Ernst & Young fined 100 million dollars by the SEC after employees cheated on CPA exams and for misleading an investigation

Ernst & Young fined $100 million by the SEC after discovering the firm knew employees cheated on CPA exam sections and for misleading an investigation.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) released a statement that Ernst & Young will pay a $100 million fine after admitting that it knew of employees cheating on the ethics portion of CPA exams and for misleading an investigation.

This is the largest fine the SEC has imposed on an audit firm.

In addition to the fine, Ernst & Young agreed to undergo extensive measures to address and fix ethical issues raised in this investigation.

The SEC statement detailed that Ernst & Young employees cheated on the CPA exam’s ethics portion and other continuing education courses required for accounting professionals to maintain CPA licenses. An administrative order said that, “Over multiple years, a significant number of EY (Ernst & Young) audit professionals cheated on these exams by using answer keys and sharing them with their colleagues. From 2017 to 2021, 49 EY audit professionals sent and/or received answer keys to CPA ethics exams.“

During the SEC’s investigation, Ernst & Young initially submitted that they didn’t have issues with cheating, even though the firm was informed and aware of potential cheating on a CPA ethics exam. Surprisingly, Ernst & Young didn’t correct their submission after an internal investigation confirmed that cheating occurred on the CPA ethics exams.

While there are questionable ethics in this situation, there are ways for organizations to deter, prevent, and detect cheating on online exams.
Technology to deter, detect, and prevent cheating
With an online proctoring solution, organizations can protect their exams in many situations, such as:

With the right type of online proctoring, such as Honorlock’s platform, organizations can proctor exams that use common question types, such as multiple-choice and true-or-false, but they can also proctor non-traditional tests that may include employees using actual software.

To offer this range of flexibility, the proctoring solution combines AI monitoring software with human review.

Here’s how this type of online proctoring works

The AI monitors each employee’s online exam session and alerts a live, US-based proctor if any indicators of cheating are detected.

The proctor can then use an analysis window to review the situation before entering the exam session in real-time to address it.

What proctoring features can be used for online exams?

Employee ID verification

The proctoring software uses the webcam to capture a photo of the test-taker and their ID. In about 60 seconds, test-takers can begin their proctored online exam.

Test content protection

Honorlock’s online proctoring software searches the internet for leaked exam content (exam questions and answers) and works with instructors to request the removal of the material in a few easy steps.

Video monitoring
The test-taker’s webcam is used to monitor behavior during the exam and to scan the room for prohibited resources such as notes and books. The recordings also include timestamps of any potentially problematic behavior to review, such as moving off-screen or another person in the room.

Smart voice detection

Honorlock’s smart voice detection listens for specific keywords or phrases, such as “Hey Siri” or “OK Google,” to identify students who may be attempting to gain an unfair advantage. This smart voice detection is different from sound detection, which can be triggered by basically any sound, such as a dog barking or a cough. The oversensitivity of sound detection can lead to irrelevant flags to review for test administrators.

Browser lockdown

A browser lockdown prevents test-takers from accessing other browsers and applications during the exam and restricts certain keyboard functions, such as copying and pasting.

Detects cell phones

The AI can detect when test-takers attempt to use their cell phones or other devices to access test bank content during the exam.

Proctor instructions for exam customization

Test administrators can provide the proctors with instructions to customize the exams in many ways. For example, instructions can be given to allow test-takers to access Microsoft Excel during an accounting exam. They can also be given to provide accommodations for test-takers that may need to use assistive technology.

Other benefits of online proctoring

Convenience and flexibility for employees and test-takers

Whether it’s at the office or at home on the weekend, Honorlock’s online proctoring services provide employees with the flexibility to take proctored online exams 24/7/365.

24/7/365 support available

Honorlock’s online proctoring services include 24/7/365 US-based support for faculty and students at no additional cost.

No additional logins and passwords are not needed

Honorlock’s proctoring solution directly integrates with your learning platform, which means no extra logins or passwords are required.

Creating a culture of academic integrity

Online proctoring isn’t just a way to deter employees cheating on exams. It’s an integral part of establishing a strong culture of academic integrity at your organization. Our solution and proctors help create a supportive testing environment that levels the playing field and allows test-takers to focus on showing their knowledge.
Reach out to our team of experts to see how Honorlock can benefit your organization

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. (2022, June 28). Ernst & Young to Pay $100 Million Penalty for Employees Cheating on CPA Ethics Exams and Misleading Investigation [Press release]. https://www.sec.gov/news/press-release/2022-114

Tyler Stike

Tyler has over a decade of experience in ed tech and higher education. He focuses on creating relevant and useful content for educators, institutions, and technologists.

How to Proctor Online Performance Assessments

Organizations offer a variety of performance assessments and job skills tests to ensure that their current and future employees are competent and prepared.

But they aren’t just asking test-takers to complete traditional online test questions like multiple-choice or fill-in-the-blank anymore. Test-takers are now completing realistic online performance assessments.

What is a performance assessment?

A performance assessment measures how well a person can apply their knowledge and skills to a real job task. During a performance-based assessment, the person demonstrates their ability to complete various tasks they would encounter in the workplace.

But how can companies prevent cheating during performance assessments in an online environment?

The challenges of online performance assessment for companies
It’s easy for test-takers to use unauthorized resources during the assessment.
  • e.g., searching the internet for answers to test questions, using notes and books, or even having a friend complete it for them.
True performance assessments can be time consuming to review, evaluate, and score.
  • It takes longer to score an employee demonstration compared to automated scoring for traditional test questions, such as multiple-choice or true/false.
Designing rubrics for performance assessments and job skills tests can be tricky.
  • Depending on the desired outcome of the assessment and the activities involved to test competencies and skills, rubrics can be pretty in-depth and require planning.

Consider the performance assessment examples we’ll address in this article:

Example 1: Current employees go through ongoing company compliance training and simulated phishing attacks on a security awareness platform before taking short-answer test questions on your learning platform.
  • The wording of some test questions and mentions of specific technology can give away critical company security information – what if employees are sharing those questions on the internet?
  • How would you know if employees are completing the security tests and simulations as a group instead of individually?
Example 2: A sales rep needs to complete a mock presentation and demonstration of the product as the final step of their company training before meeting with prospects.
  • If you don’t want the sales rep to use other resources, how can you make sure that they don’t have a talk track on their desktop or a cheat sheet taped on the wall behind their computer?
  • What if you want the sales rep to have access to some resources but not others?
  • e.g., allowing access to a specific website and personal notes while prohibiting all other websites and printed resources.
Example 3: As part of a pre-employment test, a potential accounting employee has to prepare a balance sheet in Excel and explain the steps they’re taking to complete the task.
  • What if they copy and paste formulas into the Excel spreadsheet?

How can you protect the integrity of the
performance assessment examples above?

The good news is that you can use online proctoring to cover all of these performance-based assessments, and we’ll show you how in this article.

This article assumes that your organization is using a proctoring solution that combines AI test monitoring software with live human proctors. This type of online proctored testing solution is preferred because of its flexible features and capabilities that cover basically any corporate testing needs and better user experience.

Example 1: Current employees go through ongoing corporate compliance training and simulated phishing attacks on a security awareness platform before taking short-answer test questions on your learning platform.

Imagine that your company’s security training test questions are leaked on the internet.
The wording and information in some questions could give away confidential information, which may get into the wrong hands.

Example question: When should employees use ABC Software to authenticate their credentials to access our cloud-based XYZ data warehouse?

Now, others know the authentication software used and how your data is stored. Not to mention, emails and phone numbers are pretty easy to find on the internet and are often associated with people’s passwords. Potentially disastrous, right?

Then, picture some employees taking the security training assessment as a group. Some of them may miss crucial information about phishing and malware, which could lead to future data breaches.

While company security training and testing usually isn’t the most exciting thing in the world, it’s incredibly important for every company, and you need to make sure your tests and content are protected.

Here’s how online proctoring can help protect your organization’s security training assessments in this situation:

Finding leaked test content on the internet

Use a proctoring service that provides advanced technology that searches the Internet to identify when test questions have been leaked. If it finds any leaked test questions, test administrators are given quick and simple steps to submit DMCA takedown requests in one click and change test questions.

Recording computer screens during the online assessment for review

The test takers’ screens can be recorded throughout the security training assessment and reviewed after. Test settings and proctor instructions can be given to monitor their screen during the training and the actual security test.

Preventing the use of other software and resources

You can prevent the person from accessing other software and browsers on their computer during the security training assessment.

Monitor employee behavior to prevent the use of other resources

Video monitoring allows your organization to review recordings of test-takers that are timestamped with any potentially problematic behaviors. This can include things such as talking on a cell phone or with other people in the room, searching the internet, leaving the webcam, asking Siri or Alexa questions, and more.

Example 2: A sales rep needs to complete a mock demonstration of the product as the final step of their corporate sales training before meeting with prospects.

At most companies, sales reps have to prove that they know the product inside and out before they’re allowed to demo it to potential customers. And if your sales reps are in different territories throughout the country, travel costs for in-person demonstrations can be expensive.

But sales leaders need to know that the reps can complete a demo without looking at their notes or reading from a script. So, how can you be sure that they aren’t doing that in a remote environment?

Here’s how online proctoring can help with this job performance assessment:

Scanning the room for other resources

Before the demonstration for the performance assessment begins, you can require the rep to use their webcam to complete a room scan. The room scan helps make sure that their desk area is clear of any notes and other resources.

Providing a transcript of what the person said during the demonstration

Test administrators and sales leaders can use smart voice detection to provide a full transcript of what the rep said during the demonstration. This is especially useful for lengthy demonstrations because the sales leaders can just scan the transcript for key topics instead of watching the entire demonstration.

Allowing specific resources while preventing others

In some situations, you may want to allow the rep to use their notes. Whether their notes are on the computer screen or printed out, you can pick and choose what’s allowed or not.

For example, you can use browser lockdown software to allow the sales rep to use specific company website URLs but still prevent access to other sites and software. Locking a browser only covers a small portion of assessment integrity, but it can be useful in specific situations such as this.

If you want to allow the rep to use their notes, you can give those instructions to the live test proctor.

Recording the presentation and demonstration

The online proctoring software records the entire product demonstration for the test administrator and sales leader to watch. The recording also includes timestamps of any potentially problematic behavior to review, such as moving off-screen or another person in the room.

Example 3: A potential accounting employee takes a pre-employment test where they’re asked to prepare a balance sheet in Excel and explain the steps they’re taking.

Let’s face it, the hiring process is tough. It’s an investment of time and resources, so you need to know that job applicants can actually do the task before you hire them.

Here’s how to use online proctoring for pre-employment tests:

Screens can be recorded throughout the test activity and reviewed after

This is especially helpful when reviewing a test-taker’s approach to completing the balance sheet. You can watch how they prepare the balance sheet and make sure that they’re doing everything correctly.

In addition to recording screens during the pre-employment assessment, you can also use voice detection to record what the person is saying. This way, you can watch a recording of the person completing the balance sheet while listening to their explanation of what they’re doing and why.

As described in the first example, voice detection also provides a transcript of what the person said during the test.

For this example, potential employees taking the pre-employment assessment can be blocked from accessing software other than Excel. This can also prevent them from copying and pasting formulas into the Excel document.

The webcam is used to verify the applicant’s identity in about a minute. This way, your organization can be certain that the person completing the job skills test is the person you’re potentially hiring.

Online proctoring for businesses

Whether you need to validate the critical competencies of employees or job candidates or protect the integrity of your certification exam, you can trust Honorlock with all your online proctoring needs. Click here to learn more about Honorlock’s corporate proctoring features.

Here’s how Honorlock online proctoring works

Validates company performance assessments

When you’re measuring employee competencies against job requirements, compliance training knowledge, or the skillsets of job applicants, you need to validate corporate assessment results. Honorlock’s online proctoring solution uses advanced features to deter, prevent, and detect cheating, which creates a level playing field.

Provides employees with testing flexibility and convenience

Your employees and potential future employees have busy schedules and they need the ability to take performance assessments and other corporate tests when and where they want. Whether it’s at work on their lunch break or at home on the weekend, Honorlock’s online proctoring solution and user support are available 24/7/365 – no scheduling needed.

Directly integrates with your corporate learning platform

Our proctoring software directly integrates with your corporate learning platform in about an hour. This direct integration also means that the test experience is basically the same. Test administrators will create tests in the learning platform just like they already do and then simply pick which proctoring features to use. And it’s just as easy for the test-taker because they’re taking the proctored exam on the same platform they’re already familiar with and can get support without leaving it.

Protects your company’s test content

Leaked test content can have serious consequences for your company’s reputation and security. But with Honorlock, you won’t have to worry about that. Our online proctoring software identifies leaked test content and gives you the ability to take action by quickly sending takedown requests and changing your questions.
Verifies the test-taker’s ID in about a minute

Honorlock makes ID verification quick and easy by capturing a picture of the test-taker along with their photo ID. In about a minute, test-takers can begin their proctored performance assessment.

Combines AI with human proctors

Honorlock combines the benefits of AI test monitoring with those of live remote proctors. Our AI software monitors each assessment and alerts a live, US-based proctor if any potential issues are detected.

This approach helps reduce test anxiety, provides support, and upholds the integrity of corporate performance tests and skills assessments.

Affordably scales online testing

Expand your corporate training programs and certification programs by reaching online learners across the globe. With Honorlock’s online proctoring platform, you eliminate the need for a testing center, and learners can take your proctored assessment entirely online at their convenience.

Detects voices instead of sounds

Our online proctoring software listens for specific keywords or phrases, such as “Hey Siri” or “OK Google,” to identify test-takers who may be attempting to get answers to test questions. It then alerts a live proctor to review the situation and intervene if needed. Voice detection saves review time because it won’t trigger a false flag for things like a dog barking or a person coughing.

Whether your corporate training involves employee job competency assessments, pre-employment testing, or online certification exams, Honorlock’s online proctoring software and services have got you covered.

Want to see how Honorlock can benefit your organization? Click here to set up a conversation with Honorlock to see how we can help your institution make online proctoring simple, easy, and human.

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Tyler Stike

Tyler has over a decade of experience in ed tech and higher education. He focuses on creating relevant and useful content for educators, institutions, and technologists.

How Can Diversity & Inclusion Improve Business Performance?

How DEI improves business performance for businesses

More companies are investing time and effort into improving diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace because of the impact it has on the employee experience and the tangible performance improvements it creates.

“The business case is glaring. Diverse companies with inclusive cultures outperform more homogenous companies. Revenue, market share, smarter teams, retention – there’s just no lack of evidence.” – Miriam Lewis, Chief Inclusion Officer for Principal.

Click to view each section:

Click here to download the diversity statement template

How diversity and inclusion efforts impact a company’s performance

According to a six-year study completed in 2020 by McKinsey, diverse companies are 36% more profitable than less diverse companies.

Diversity and inclusion (D&I), when done the right way, create a domino effect of improvements for businesses.

D&I is linked with employee engagement, which is a foundational element of productivity and employee retention. Both employee productivity and retention can directly impact financial performance.

To show you what we mean by this web of improvements, the graphic below shows how the benefits of D&I intersect in various areas.

How to improve diversity and inclusion in the workplace

Understand the difference between diversity and inclusion

As organizations begin planning, it’s important to understand the difference between diversity and inclusion, which are sometimes used interchangeably or even as a joint term.

“Diversity is the mix of individuals. Inclusion is how you make that mix work.” – Jameel Rush, PHR, SHRM-CP, Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at The Philadelphia Inquirer, Adjunct professor at Villanova University

 

Focus on first creating inclusion and THEN building diversity in the workplace

Many organizations’ knee-jerk reaction to diversity and inclusion efforts is to hire for diversity.

The problem is that you can hire for diversity, but it can still be a poor experience for the employee if they’re entering a workplace that isn’t inclusive. It isn’t enough to set up occasional employee training and hire a few diverse employees as a way to check the box.

So, before you hire, focus on creating an inclusive culture that’s genuine and ongoing.

“Adding diversity to a team isn’t what drives better outcomes. It’s adding diversity and making sure you can leverage the different points of view and different perspectives to work toward a stronger solution. That’s what adds to the better business results.” – Jameel Rush

 

Be transparent and create awareness

Be transparent about D&I efforts and create awareness about the impact and importance.

Leadership can’t shy away from communicating the organization’s efforts and goals around D&I. They need to be transparent and open about the organization’s short-term and long-term goals and what efforts will be made to get there.

Leaders need to create awareness about how a diverse and inclusive work culture benefits each employee in the organization and everyone around them on a day-to-day basis.

Set expectations about behavior and accountability

Ultimately, every employee at every level needs to know what their role is in creating an inclusive culture. This means that employees need to understand what’s expected of them and what they can expect from organizational leaders and the organization as a whole.

Explain exactly what’s expected from each employee and what behaviors won’t be tolerated. Likewise, they need to know what to expect from leaders and the organization in return. Detail what to expect from measuring and communicating progress, anticipated timelines, and how leadership will be held accountable for progress towards D&I efforts.

 

Educate employees and assess their knowledge

Conduct frequent diversity and inclusion education programs in the workplace and use assessments to track progress and gather feedback. Set specific timelines to conduct employee D&I educational opportunities and stick to the plan. Whether it’s once per quarter or twice a year, make sure that you educate employees and get their feedback.

Once employees have completed the educational requirements, it’s important to test their knowledge. You can use a variety of question types, such as multiple-choice, written responses, and true or false.

As part of the employee education and assessment process, gather feedback within the assessment or offer a separate low-stakes assessment where employees can provide anonymous feedback through polls, written responses, and other surveys.

Create a diversity and inclusion statement for the workplace

Create a diversity and inclusion statement for your team and/or company that describes your commitment to creating an inclusive and diverse workplace and how it impacts everyone in the organization.

Employees need to know that it’s a true effort and that they’re welcome regardless of race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic background.

What is a diversity and inclusion statement?

A diversity and inclusion statement explains:

  • The individual/team/company’s commitment to diversity and inclusion
  • How D&I impacts the workplace
  • What employees can expect from the leader/company
  • What the leader/company expects from employees

How to write a diversity and inclusion statement for the workplace

Describe your commitment to DEI and why it’s important

This is where you set the tone for the rest of the statement, provide context, and begin building trust.

 

Explain how D&I impacts each employee’s experience

The goal is to explain exactly how D&I benefits the workplace experience for each employee and their coworkers. Create an understanding that regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, age, or condition, each employee is welcome and included in the company.

 

Describe what employees can expect from the company and its leaders

At a high level, explain what efforts will be made to create and maintain a diverse and inclusive workplace, what success looks like, and how employees can hold the company and its leaders accountable. Acknowledge challenges and describe what will be done to overcome them.

 

Be clear about what’s expected of each employee

Employees at all levels need to know exactly what is expected of them and how they play a role in creating an inclusive work environment.

Be direct about what behavior is expected
Explain that derogatory and offensive language won’t be tolerated and the consequences that will be enforced.

Explain why their words are significant
Speak about the importance of using inclusive language and how it can help create a sense of belonging for other employees.

Example diversity and inclusion statement for companies to use

[company name] is committed to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace because it’s these differences that drive innovation, encourage creativity, and build a respectful and safe work environment for every employee. Regardless of any differences, whether race, gender, ethnicity, age, or condition, you are an important part of this organization and community.

As [company name] works toward improving DEI, expect us to provide frequent and transparent updates regarding our progress, challenges, and plans moving forward.

Your role in creating a diverse and inclusive work environment is equally important because you can make an impact on others. You’ll treat each employee with respect and understand that your words and actions influence everyone around you. [Company name] will not tolerate any derogatory or offensive words or actions. It’s your duty, just like ours, to stay aware, informed, and proactive.

Remember that we all play an equal part in an ongoing effort to create a diverse, fair, and inclusive workplace that welcomes all employees, encourages open and respectful communication, and supports each of you throughout your career and life.

 

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Tyler Stike

Tyler has over a decade of experience in ed tech and higher education. He focuses on creating relevant and useful content for educators, institutions, and technologists.

How to Find Leaked Test Questions and Take Action

No matter how much time is spent creating test questions, test takers can quickly find and share them online.

To help overcome the issue, some exam administrators completely rewrite their exams and even use different question formats. But what happens if those are leaked too?

If the right technology isn’t in place, you’re just reacting and guessing instead of identifying the issue and taking action.

 

How do test takers find and share your test content?

Home work help sites

Homework help sites like Chegg and Quizlet make it simple to find and share test content.

Most of these sites were originally created to provide learners with access to more educational resources, but they’re easy to exploit for an unfair advantage.

It only takes a few minutes to find answers to test questions

Within minutes, learners can create an account and then find and share test questions and answers.

Even more concerning, exam administrators may even find that their test questions are copied and pasted on these sites in chronological order.

Most homework help sites have SMEs ready and waiting

Homework help sites can have a swarm of subject matter experts (SMEs) that are readily available to help learners get answers to questions, including your test questions.

Even though most of these sites have “integrity policies,” the SMEs are there to help learners, not to enforce academic integrity on the exam admins’s behalf.

How to find leaked test questions on the Internet

To find leaked test questions, exam admins basically have two options:

  1. Manually searching for all of their test questions on the Internet

  2. Automatically searching for all of their leaked test questions with technology

Obviously, manually searching for leaked test questions can be an overwhelming and time-consuming.

But Honorlock’s proctoring platform has technology that can automate this for you. Let’s explore.

What to know about Honorlock’s Search & Destroy™

Honorlock’s Search & Destroy™ technology searches the Internet for all questions used on the exam in a matter of minutes. If it finds leaked exam questions, exam administrators are given simple steps to take control of the situation.


How does Honorlock’s Search & Destroy™ work during proctored online exams?

1. Searches the Internet automatically
Search and Destroy is triggered as soon as Honorlock is enabled for a proctored online exam. In a few minutes, the technology searches the Internet to identify test questions that have been shared online.

2. Admins can review the search results

After the search is complete, admins can review the search results, which show the test questions that are at risk.

3. Take action

With one click, Honorlock’s Search & Destroy provides the ability to send takedown requests (per the Digital Millennium Copyright Act) to the sites displaying their copyrighted test questions. This also gives admins the ability to use these findings to update exam questions as needed.

Other ways to protect your online exams

Honorlock’s Search & Destroy technology is one layer of our advanced online proctoring solution.

Our proctoring software and services combine AI with live proctors to protect online tests while supporting test takers .

Our online proctoring software monitors each test taker for potential academic dishonesty and alerts a live proctor if it detects and potentially dishonest behavior. Then, the proctor can review the situation to determine whether to intervene or not. This approach to online proctoring can provide a less intimidating and non-invasive proctored testing experience for the test taker because they aren’t constantly being watched.

In addition to our blend of AI and live proctors, Honorlock’s online proctoring service and software can:

Our Search & Destroy feature, along with other advanced proctoring features, allows exam admins to take control of online exam integrity and provide test takers with a fair and equitable online test environment.

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Tyler Stike

Tyler has over a decade of experience in ed tech and higher education. He focuses on creating relevant and useful content for educators, institutions, and technologists.

Online Proctoring for Corporate Certifications

woman on laptop completing certification exam

What are corporate certifications?

Corporate certifications are a designation earned by passing a certification test that verifies the person has knowledge, expertise, and training in a specialized topic or industry. 

Corporate certifications are relevant for virtually all industries, companies, and professional associations that offer certificates. Some of the most popular certifications include AWS, PMP, Six Sigma, Google Analytics, and a variety of HR and IT-related programs.

What are the benefits of corporate certifications?

Corporate certifications complement the person’s professional work experience and education and help professionals advance in their careers by distinguishing them from their uncertified coworkers or peers. Certifications also benefit businesses because they ensure that employees are trained.

Benefits of corporate certifications for employees:

  • Complements work experience, education, and training
  • Helps professionals advance in their career by distinguishing them from their uncertified coworkers or peers
  • Improves a resume and can help increase earnings
  • Can help meet requirements for continuing education and certification renewal 

Benefits of corporate certifications for businesses:

  • Ensures that employees are up-to-date on current industry standards, best practices, and training
  • Employees that are highly trained in specialized areas can boost productivity and efficiency
  • Businesses that ensure their employees are continuing their education and earning professional certifications can potentially help earn new business because it demonstrates dedication to having highly training employees that are experts
  • Organizations that help cover the cost of earning a certification can help with employee recruitment because it’s a benefit that can differentiate the company and positively influence those seeking a job opportunity

What is online proctoring?

Online proctoring uses a variety of software and services to monitor test-takers during an online test to:

  • Protect academic integrity and certification reputation
  • Deter and prevent test-takers from cheating 
  • Help and support test-takers complete their online certification test

5 online proctoring features that are commonly used:

  • Authentication to ensure the person taking the certification test is the same as the person awarded your certification
  • Video and audio monitoring that secures the exam room by making sure that no other people are in the room and other materials such as notes, apps, and books
  • Browser lockdown software to prevent test-takers from accessing other browsers, tabs, and software on the device
  • Cell phone detection to identify test-takers that attempted to use a cell phone or other secondary device to look up test information
  • Advanced reporting from the certification test session is provided to instructors

Why use online proctoring for corporate certification testing?

The rapid shift to remote work from home has been challenging for many companies that offer certification exams and other continuing education opportunities for customers and employees. As more people take certification testing online, the need for proctored testing has significantly increased – and for good reason. 

Proctoring certification exams helps to protect reputation and credibility

Reputation is everything when it comes to corporate certification exams. If test-takers can cheat, the certification can lose its credibility and become insignificant among professionals and businesses. Online proctoring services play a critical role in protecting the integrity and reputation of corporate certification exams as well as ensuring a fair testing environment for all test takers.

Online proctoring is a resource for test-takers, not just a way to catch cheating

Online proctoring isn’t simply to catch cheaters. Aside from creating a fair testing environment and preserving the reputation of the certification exams, proctored testing is also a beneficial resource for test-takers. Online proctoring helps support test-takers and can assist with completing proctored exams. With access to 24/7/365 support, test-takers know they can get help anytime they need it.

“Having access to customer support 24/7/365 is huge. Especially during times like this when test-takers may be taking exams at any time of day. You want them to have access to someone who can troubleshoot with them.” 

– Daphnee St. Val, Senior Instructional Designer, Broward College

Spend more time teaching and less time proctoring

The features and benefits of blended online proctoring services, such as Honorlock, are designed to save time, protect exams, and support test-takers. This means that your company can spend more time teaching and less time proctoring certification exams. You set the guidelines for the certification test and we handle the proctoring.

Online proctoring provides convenience without sacrificing academic integrity

Honorlock’s online proctoring services can help your company grow its online certification testing by offering it to a larger base of potential online users because they can schedule to take their certification test anytime, anywhere – not just at a designated testing center or within a proctor’s schedule.

How to use Honorlock proctoring for online certification testing

Online proctoring services, like Honorlock, make it quick and easy to protect certification exams.

Step 1: Create the certification test

  • Create the test in the Learning Management System as you normally would
  • Choose which online proctoring features to use 
  • Provide accommodations and customizations for test-takers, such as allowing bathroom breaks, additional time, and specific assistive technology

Step 2: Test-takers verify ID and begin the proctored certification exam

  • ID verification takes about 60-seconds
  • 24/7/265 support for test-takers and instructors
  • The proctored certification test is monitored AI and live human proctors

Step 3: Review certification exam results

  • Our remote proctors review the exam sessions and send in-depth reports to the instructor

Online proctoring is a strategic advantage for organizations that offer online certification

Online proctoring is a game-changer for organizations and test-takers. You need an online proctoring service you can rely on to protect the integrity of certification tests without scheduling headaches, you need technology you can depend on, and you need a way to support test-takers while ensuring that they aren’t gaming the system. 

If your organization hasn’t previously used online proctoring for certification exams or if you’re evaluating new online proctoring services, now is the perfect time to discover why so many others chose Honorlock to grow their online certification programs.

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Tyler Stike

Tyler has over a decade of experience in ed tech and higher education. He focuses on creating relevant and useful content for educators, institutions, and technologists.

5 Ways Proctoring Improves Certification Testing

Online proctoring benefits

As more people seeking out certifications, the need to proctor those exams is growing–and for good reason: remotely proctoring certification and licensing exams isn’t just a way to catch cheaters; it can help deliver secure assessments and a better testing experience overall.

Here are 5 ways that remote proctoring improves certification testing

1. Protects program credibility and reputation

When it comes to professional certifications and licensing exams, reputation and credibility are everything. The exams need to be objective, measurable, and fair for all participants, and remote proctoring offers a number of ways to do so.

A simple browser lock won’t cut it anymore because test-takers can simply use their cell phone to look up answers or ask a friend. But some virtual proctoring software can detect cell phones, verify test-taker ID, and block AI tools to protect your reputation.

It also combines the benefits of automated proctoring with live remote proctors. This means that the exams are recorded and monitored by AI and then reviewed by live remote proctors to make sure that all guidelines set by the company and association are followed. This hybrid proctoring approach keeps the human touch—because all AI  needs human oversight—and it’s far less distracting than live proctoring alone. AI monitors the test-taker for potential problems, and, if it detects any, a live virtual proctor is alerted to review the situation in an analysis window and they’ll only join in real-time.

2. Offers flexibility and convenience to test-takers

Life’s hectic and the work environment has drastically changed. Using remote proctoring and other assessment tools shouldn’t be a pain for your test-takers. They deserve the flexibility and convenience of taking their certification and licensure exams at a time that works for them and without going through scheduling hassles.

In addition, organizations using remote proctoring save test-takers valuable time and gas money by eliminating the need for them to travel to physical testing centers. All of these can help remove obstacles and grow your professional certification programs.

3. Meets accessibility compliance standards

Just like buildings have ramps for wheelchairs, braille signs, and elevators, think of your professional education exams the same way: all participants should be able to access and take online exams. There are many web accessibility compliance standards to consider with your online proctoring software such as ADA, WCAG, and Section 508.

4. Protects data security and privacy

Many test-takers and companies offering certificate and certification testing services are attentive and conscientious about data security and privacy. Online proctoring should protect data security and privacy in a number of ways such as following compliance standards, software, standard business practices, and storage.

5. Provides valuable insights on test-taker behavior

Remote proctoring platforms that provide reporting can help understand how test-takers are approaching and engaging with your online exams. 

Honorlock’s proctoring services offer 24/7/365 live chat support, providing participants with the convenience of technical help without the need to leave the test session if they run into a problem.

Honorlock remote proctoring for certification and licensure exams

If your organization is offering licensing exams and professional certifications  you need a convenient way to validate the online learning experience while ensuring the integrity of your programs. With Honorlock’s remote proctoring services, organization can confidently grow their programs to a larger base of potential online participants that can take their exams anywhere, not just a designated testing center.

See how Honorlock can secure your licensing and certification exams?

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Tyler Stike

Tyler has over a decade of experience in ed tech and higher education. He focuses on creating relevant and useful content for educators, institutions, and technologists.