Webinar: Overcoming Biases & Building Inclusion

A group of diverse people sitting in chairs in a circle, having conversation.

Whether we realize it or not, biases exist that can lead to unfair assumptions about others that have tangible negative consequences.

Join the webinar to learn how higher ed institutions and organizations can address and overcome implicit bias to develop inclusion.

This webinar will show you how to:

  • Recognize the types of biases that exist
  • Realize the negative impact biases can have on culture, reputation, and members of the institution
  • Acknowledge biases, create awareness, and take steps to address them
  • Understand the true value and importance of inclusion in DEI efforts

Speakers

Bethany Adams from Villanova

Bethany Adams

MA, SHRM-SCP, Villanova University

Bethany Adams has more than 15 years of experience in HR and education. She began her career working in training & development and HR in the restaurant & retail industries. She has experience in both small, privately-owned businesses and large, Fortune 500 organizations. Bethany holds a BA in Psychology, MA in Organizational Management, SHRM-SCP certification, and is a Certified Genos International Emotional Intelligence Practitioner.

Bethany teaches at Villanova University in the Graduate Programs in Human Resource Development. She has spoken at a wide variety of HR & education conferences throughout the country and leads corporate trainings on topics including strategic HR, design thinking, DEI, and emotional intelligence. Bethany also hosts an HR podcast called HR Tea.

Kyle Ali, instructor at Villanova and Google employee

Kyle Ali

Education for Social Impact Senior Program Manager, Google Adjunct Professor, Villanova University

Kyle leads initiatives to build a diverse pipeline of future computer science professionals through unique educational programs at Google. In previous roles at Google, Kyle played a significant role shaping team cultures and strategy and led large scale initiatives, including a global effort to redefine organizational values and other projects focused on identifying and engaging diverse talent.

Kyle is also an Adjunct Professor at Villanova University and currently teaches “Diversity in a Global Economy” to graduate students.

Kyle earned undergraduate degrees in Journalism and Political Science from the University of Missouri, an MBA from Baylor University, and a Professional Certificate in Negotiation from Northwestern University.

2023 Higher Ed Online Learning Trends

Trends to expect in online education in 2023

Get the 2024 ebook: 7 ways AI can change online education

1. Teaching in metaverse classrooms

Expect to see instructors teaching in metaverse classrooms. Education in the metaverse is gaining attention because it creates a realistic classroom experience for instructors and students.

Students and instructors can enter a classroom in the metaverse, sit at a table, and talk to other students and instructors around them.

What does a classroom look like in the metaverse?

Metaverse classrooms can be designed and customized however the instructor wants. The images below give you an idea of what a metaverse classroom can look like from a general standpoint and from the student and instructor perspective.

General example of a group discussion

In this example, a group of students are sitting at a table in a classroom in metaverse and watching other students present through a video conferencing platform. Students are discussing the topic with others around them and interacting like they would in a classroom.

Student perspective

This example is what a metaverse classroom looks like for a student during a lecture. They’re sitting with other students while watching and listening to the instructor.

Instructor perspective

Teaching in the metaverse is very similar to teaching in a physical classroom. You can stand in front of students, discuss topics, and call on students who raise their hands.

2. Online exams will include more hands-on activities

Did you know that about 90% of students and instructors consider learning job competencies as part of educational success?*

That’s why you can expect to see more instructors, whether teaching in-person or online, use hands-on assessments that require students to complete real job tasks. These assessments are also referred to as authentic assessments and competency-based assessments.

Isn’t it more difficult to conduct hands-on assessments in a remote setting? Nope. If you have the right educational technology in place, you can test your online students with just about any activity you would do in the classroom.

Examples of hands-on assessment activities:

  • Handwritten math problems & essays: Biology students use pen and paper to complete calculus math problems and an essay.
  • Software use: Accounting students prepare a balance sheet in Excel and a tax return in QuickBooks.
  • Virtual demonstrations: Nursing students demonstrate how to use it to take blood pressure.
  • Virtual presentation: Business students present on how to use predictive analytics to improve future performance.
  • Open-book: Students use specific textbooks and/or have access to certain websites and online resources.

To effectively offer online authentic assessments, you’ll need to use a combination of LMS settings, online proctoring tools, and student accommodations.

Get a 3-part online authentic assessment eBook that shows you how to create different types of hands-on assessment activities, the educational technology you’ll need to use, and how to streamline grading.

3. Protecting test questions from being leaked on the internet

Many instructors find their test questions leaked on sites like Reddit, Quora, Chegg, and Quizlet. 

But there are ways to protect your test content. 

Some are slow and tedious. Others are quick and effective. 

Which option sounds best?

Option 1: Copying and pasting individual test questions into a search engine, reviewing endless results, and then sending individual takedown requests.

Option 2: Manually selecting each test question the software should search for and then sending individual takedown requests.

Option 3: Using online proctoring software that searches for all of your test questions automatically and allows you to send takedown requests with a single click.

Unless you like manual work that takes forever, option 3 is your best bet. 

And with Honorlock’s Search & Destroy technology, you can do just that. 

Here’s how Honorlock’s Search & Destroy works:

1. Searches the internet automatically for all of your test questions

2. Review the results
Reports show you if any questions have been leaked and where.

3. Send takedown requests with one click
If any test questions are leaked, you can send a takedown request with one click.

4. Using blended proctoring instead of single-approach solutions

You’ll likely see more institutions shift away from single-approach proctoring solutions, like browser lockdown software, only using live proctors, or AI by itself.

Here’s how Honorlock’s Search & Destroy works:

Browser lockdown software is cheap, but you get what you pay for because it doesn’t really prevent cheating. Students can simply use cell phones or notes to find answers.

Why waste money on something that doesn’t work? 

Automated (AI) proctoring monitors exams using AI. AI is effective at detecting certain behaviors, but it isn’t perfect; it needs human oversight to navigate complex situations that can occur during online exams.

Live proctoring means that a person is watching many students at once. The human oversight is there, but it’s expensive, distracts students, and causes scheduling nightmares. Additionally, a live proctor may not see students cheating because they’re watching multiple exam sessions.

Blended proctoring combines all of the single-approach solutions into one comprehensive solution. 

While there are a few companies out there that combine AI with human proctors, they’re not the same. Proctoring companies, like Honorlock, take it a step further with advanced AI proctoring software (detects cell phone use, uses smart voice detection, finds leaked test content, etc.) and live proctors that are trained to support students during times of stress and anxiety. 

5. Developing DEI initiatives for online learning

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) means more than adding a statement to your website. It’s a continual journey that takes genuine effort from everyone at every level of the institution. DEI initiatives are a win-win because, aside from improving the entire teaching and learning experience, it can help improve revenue.

2023 DEI initiatives for online learning

  • Incorporating diverse content from a variety of sources that offer different perspectives, insights, and opinions.
  • Following web accessibility standards and best practices so that every student, regardless of disability or condition, can engage, interact, and learn. See number 6 for examples.
  • Using educational technology to provide student accommodations, like extended time limits and dates for exams and assignments, allowing other people and resources in the room during exams, and different ways for students to engage with course content. We elaborate on this in number 6.
  • Connecting with students — not just knowing their names and where they’re from — by understanding their backgrounds, openly communicating, and gathering their feedback.
  • Creating a genuine welcome experience for online students. The student welcome experience (or onboarding) is common for students who are on campus, but it’s almost nonexistent for online students. Read more in number 7.

DEI can increase revenue

DEI initiatives help create a cycle of interconnected improvements that ultimately tie back to financial benefits for colleges and universities.

DEI helps improve reputation. Reputation helps increase recruitment of students and employees. Engagement improves retention. All of those drive toward more revenue. More revenue can help access more resources to further improve institutional efforts.

Instructor perspective

6. Following web accessibility compliance standards and best practices

For some students, seemingly small changes are the difference between being able to interact and engage with course content or being left out. That’s why it’s so important for instructors and e-learning faculty to follow web accessibility compliance standards and apply best practices.

Web accessibility tips to get you started:

Follow POUR principles

POUR principles are essential for creating accessible online content that’s easy to navigate.

Web accessibility best practices and tips
Make the content easy to read
  • Use the right font sizes and types
  • Follow color contrast ratios
  • Use descriptive link text
Create text alternatives for all multimedia

All multimedia (videos, images, and audio) should have text alternatives, such as captions, subtitles, transcripts, and descriptions.

Structure and organize your content
  • Use headings, not bold font
  • Headings should be used in order
  • Use numbered or bulleted lists instead of hyphens
  • Make your course structure easy to navigate by keeping a consistent structure
Provide student accommodations

Students may need specific accommodations, such as: 

  • Extended exam time limits and due dates
  • Bathroom breaks
  • Alternative ways to answer test questions
  • Using assistive technologies, like screen readers and talk-to-text dictation software, during the exam
Understanding & meeting accessibility compliance standards

There are many accessibility compliance standards, but there are the big three to understand.

  • American Disability Act (ADA)
  • Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)
  • Section 508

Need more motivation to meet these compliance standards? It’s a financial risk because noncompliance could lead to lawsuits. Institutions that receive federal financial aid are required by law to meet web accessibility compliance standards or provide reasonable accommodations. 

To learn more, download our 3-Part eBook: Accessibility in Online Learning, which shows you screenshots and real examples of the elements above along with detailed information about compliance standards.

7. Creating a real welcome orientation for online students

According to a survey*, students are 35 times more likely to have a great overall university experience if their onboarding orientation is excellent. Unfortunately, that same survey showed that just a third of students said they had a great welcome experience.

Tips to improve the welcome orientation experience for online students:
Plan virtual activities before the semester begins, such as:
  • Using video conferencing platforms for virtual meet-and-greets
  • Group scavenger hunts and virtual escape rooms
  • Games such as trivia and bingo
Create a site page with ALL resources online students need, like:
  • Hardware and software requirements
  • Learning resources (study groups, OER, online libraries, tutoring, etc.)
  • How to get technical support
  • Student privacy and security information
  • Important dates like the start and end of the semester, midterms and finals, holiday breaks, etc.
  • Build an ambassador program for online students
  • Simplify processes to register for courses, get technical support, etc.
  • Use anonymous surveys to gather student feedback about how to improve the welcome experience
See 8 tips for creating online student orientation

8. More online high-stakes testing

Some institutions are reluctant to offer high-stakes tests in an online format, but many are beginning to move in that direction.

Now, MBA programs and even law schools are offering online final exams. And standardized tests, like the GRE and GMAT, are offered in an online format.

Much of this trust for online high-stakes testing comes from the ability to create a secure test environment that prevents cheating regardless of the location.

With blended proctoring, institutions and organizations can be confident that their high-stakes exams are safe and that academic integrity is preserved.

9. Increases in social learning elements

Expect to see more social learning elements in online learning in 2023 because they give students the opportunity to truly connect and collaborate, share ideas and perspectives, and learn from others.

Example of cohesive social learning efforts in an online course:
  • Break students into groups to review specific case studies.
  • Individual group members answer case study questions in a forum.
  • Each group uses a video conferencing platform to discuss answers.
  • After discussing, each group creates a case study summary in a shared Google Doc and three poll questions for the larger class.
  • The group will present the summary to the class and use real-time polls in the conferencing tool to gather opinions from other students.
Common technologies to facilitate social learning:
  • Video conferencing
  • Game-based activities
  • Discussions, chats, and forums
  • Social media-like elements
  • Platforms exclusively for social learning
Sign up to receive more resources improve online teaching and learning

*Instructure. (2022). State of Student Success & Engagement in Higher Education.

*Salesforce. 2022. Connected Student Report (Third Edition)

Tyler Stike

Tyler is Honorlock's Director of Content and a doctoral student at the University of Florida focused on educational technology.

2023 Ed Tech Trends

Trends to expect in online education in 2023

1. Teaching in metaverse classrooms

In this example, a group of students are sitting at a table within a classroom in metaverse while watching other students present on a TV through a video conferencing platform. Students are discussing the topic with others around them and interacting like they would in a classroom.

Students and instructors can enter a classroom in the metaverse, sit at a table, and talk to other students and instructors around them.

What does a classroom look like in the metaverse?

The images below give you an idea of what a metaverse classroom can look like.

Group discussions

The first is a group of students sitting at a table. They’re talking to each other and using body language to communicate.

Student group discussion in metaverse classroom

Student perspective

This example is what a metaverse classroom looks like from a student’s perspective. The student is sitting in a lecture with other students and listening to an instructor.

student view of a lecture in course taken in the metaverse

Instructor perspective

Teaching in the metaverse is very similar to teaching in a classroom. You can stand in front of students, discuss topics, and call on students who raise their hands.

instructor view of metaverse teaching

2. Online exams will include more hands-on activities geared toward career readiness

Did you know that about 90% of students and instructors consider learning job competencies as part of educational success?*

That’s why you can expect to see more instructors, whether teaching in-person or online, use hands-on assessments that require students to complete real job tasks. These assessments are also referred to as authentic assessments and competency-based assessments.

Isn’t it more difficult to use hands-on assessments in a remote setting? Nope. If you have the right educational technology in place, you can test your online students with just about any activity you would do in the classroom.

Examples of hands-on assessment activities:

  • Handwritten math problems & essays: Biology students use pen and paper to complete calculus math problems and an essay.
  • Software use: Accounting students prepare a balance sheet in Excel and a tax return in QuickBooks.
  • Virtual demonstrations: Nursing students demonstrate how to use it to take blood pressure.
  • Virtual presentation: Business students present on how to use predictive analytics to improve future performance. 
  • Open-book: Students use specific textbooks and/or have access to certain websites and online resources.

To effectively offer online authentic assessments, you’ll need to use a combination of LMS settings, online proctoring tools, and student accommodations.

Get a 3-part online authentic assessment eBook that shows you how to create different types of hands-on assessment activities, the educational technology you’ll need to use, and how to streamline grading.

3. Protecting test questions from being leaked on the internet

Many instructors find their test questions leaked on sites like Reddit, Quora, Chegg, and Quizlet. 

But there are ways to protect your test content. 

Some are slow and tedious. Others are quick and effective. 

Which option sounds best?

Option 1: Copying and pasting individual test questions into a search engine, reviewing endless results, and then sending individual takedown requests.

Option 2: Manually selecting each test question the software should search for and then sending individual takedown requests.

Option 3: Using online proctoring software that searches for all of your test questions automatically and allows you to send takedown requests with a single click.

Unless you like manual work that takes forever, option 3 is your best bet. 

And with Honorlock’s Search & Destroy technology, you can do just that. 

Here’s how Honorlock’s Search & Destroy works:

1. Searches the internet automatically for all of your test questions

2. Review the results
Reports show you if any questions have been leaked and where.

3. Send takedown requests with one click
If any test questions are leaked, you can send a takedown request with one click.

4. Using blended proctoring instead of single-approach solutions

You’ll likely see more institutions shift away from single-approach proctoring solutions, like browser lockdown software, only using live proctors, or AI by itself.

Pros & cons of single-approach proctoring solutions

Browser lockdown software is cheap, but you get what you pay for because it doesn’t really prevent cheating. Students can simply use cell phones or notes to find answers.

Why waste money on something that doesn’t work? 

Automated (AI) proctoring monitors exams using AI. AI is effective at detecting certain behaviors, but it isn’t perfect; it needs human oversight to navigate complex situations that can occur during online exams.

Live proctoring means that a person is watching many students at once. The human oversight is there, but it’s expensive, distracts students, and causes scheduling nightmares. Additionally, a live proctor may not see students cheating because they’re watching multiple exam sessions.

Blended proctoring combines all of the single-approach solutions into one comprehensive solution. 

flow chart of how a blended online proctoring solution works

While there are a few companies out there that combine AI with human proctors, they’re not the same. Proctoring companies, like Honorlock, take it a step further with advanced AI proctoring software (detects cell phone use, uses smart voice detection, finds leaked test content, etc.) and live proctors that are trained to support students during times of stress and anxiety. 

5. Developing DEI initiatives for online learning

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) means more than adding a statement to your website. It’s a continual journey that takes genuine effort from everyone at every level of the institution. DEI initiatives are a win-win because, aside from improving the entire teaching and learning experience, it can help improve revenue.

2023 DEI initiatives for online learning

  • Incorporating diverse content from a variety of sources that offer different perspectives, insights, and opinions.
  • Following web accessibility standards and best practices so that every student, regardless of disability or condition, can engage, interact, and learn. See number 6 for examples.
  • Using educational technology to provide student accommodations, like extended time limits and dates for exams and assignments, allowing other people and resources in the room during exams, and different ways for students to engage with course content. We elaborate on this in number 6.
  • Connecting with students — not just knowing their names and where they’re from — by understanding their backgrounds, openly communicating, and gathering their feedback.
  • Creating a genuine welcome experience for online students. The student welcome experience (or onboarding) is common for students who are on campus, but it’s almost nonexistent for online students. Read more in number 7.

DEI can increase revenue

DEI initiatives help create a cycle of interconnected improvements that ultimately tie back to financial benefits for colleges and universities. 

DEI helps improve reputation. Reputation helps increase recruitment of students and employees. Engagement improves retention. All of those drive toward more revenue. More revenue can help access more resources to further improve institutional efforts.

DEI resources for online courses:

DEI benefits chart

6. Following web accessibility compliance standards and best practices

For some students, seemingly small changes are the difference between being able to interact and engage with course content or being left out. That’s why it’s so important for instructors and e-learning faculty to follow web accessibility compliance standards and apply best practices.

Web accessibility tips to get you started:

Follow POUR principles

POUR principles are essential for creating accessible online content that’s easy to navigate

Perceivable: Presents content in a way that students can perceive it regardless of the senses they are or are not able to use.

Operable: The interface and navigation can be used by anyone.

Understandable: It’s easy to understand the information and how to navigate it regardless of ability.

Chart outlining each of the four POUR principles

Robust: All web content is supported and accessible across a variety of devices.

Web accessibility best practices and tips
Make the content easy to read
  • Use the right font sizes and types
  • Follow color contrast ratios
  • Use descriptive link text
Create text alternatives for all multimedia

All multimedia (videos, images, and audio) should have text alternatives, such as captions, subtitles, transcripts, and descriptions.

Structure and organize your content
  • Use headings, not bold font
  • Headings should be used in order
  • Use numbered or bulleted lists instead of hyphens
  • Make your course structure easy to navigate by keeping a consistent structure

Provide student accommodations

Students may need specific accommodations, such as:
  • Extended exam time limits and due dates
  • Bathroom breaks
  • Alternative ways to answer test questions
  • Using assistive technologies, like screen readers and talk-to-text dictation software, during the exam
Understanding & meeting accessibility compliance standards
There are many accessibility compliance standards, but there are the big three to understand.
  • American Disability Act (ADA)
  • Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)
  • Section 508 

See a list of compliance standards and what they entail.

Need more motivation to meet these compliance standards? It’s a financial risk because noncompliance could lead to lawsuits. Institutions that receive federal financial aid are required by law to meet web accessibility compliance standards or provide reasonable accommodations. 

To learn more, download our 3-Part eBook: Accessibility in Online Learning, which shows you screenshots and real examples of the elements above along with detailed information about compliance standards.

7. Creating a real welcome orientation for online students

According to a survey*, students are 35 times more likely to have a great overall university experience if their onboarding orientation is excellent. Unfortunately, that same survey showed that just a third of students said they had a great welcome experience.

Tips to improve the welcome orientation experience for online students:

  • Plan virtual activities before the semester begins, such as:
  • Using video conferencing platforms for virtual meet-and-greets
  • Group scavenger hunts and virtual escape rooms
  • Games such as trivia and bingo
  • Create a site page with ALL resources online students need

Include any information online students need, like:

  • Hardware and software requirements
  • Learning resources (study groups, OER, online libraries, tutoring, etc.)
  • How to get technical support
  • Student privacy and security information
  • Important dates like the start and end of the semester, midterms and finals, holiday breaks, etc.
  • Build an ambassador program for online students
  • Simplify processes to register for courses, get technical support, etc.
  • Use anonymous surveys to gather student feedback about how to improve the welcome experience

*Salesforce. 2022. Connected Student Report (Third Edition)

See 8 tips for creating online student orientation

8. More online high-stakes testing

Some institutions are reluctant to offer high-stakes tests in an online format, but many are beginning to move in that direction.

Now, MBA programs and even law schools are offering online final exams. And standardized tests, like the GRE and GMAT, are offered in an online format.

Much of this trust for online high-stakes testing comes from the ability to create a secure test environment that prevents cheating regardless of the location.

With blended proctoring, institutions and organizations can be confident that their high-stakes exams are safe and that academic integrity is preserved.

9. Increases in social learning elements

Expect to see more social learning elements in online learning in 2023 because they give students the opportunity to truly connect and collaborate, share ideas and perspectives, and learn from others.

Example of cohesive social learning efforts in an online course:

  • Break students into groups to review specific case studies.
  • Individual group members answer case study questions in a forum.
  • Each group uses a video conferencing platform to discuss answers.
  • After discussing, each group creates a case study summary in a shared Google Doc and three poll questions for the larger class.
  • The group will present the summary to the class and use real-time polls in the conferencing tool to gather opinions from other students.

Common technologies to facilitate social learning:

  • Video conferencing
  • Game-based activities
  • Discussions, chats, and forums
  • Social media-like elements
  • Platforms exclusively for social learning

Sign up to receive more resources improve online teaching and learning

*Instructure. (2022). State of Student Success & Engagement in Higher Education.

*Salesforce. 2022. Connected Student Report (Third Edition)

Tyler Stike

Tyler is Honorlock's Director of Content and a doctoral student at the University of Florida focused on educational technology.

Creating online student orientations in higher ed

Best ways to create a student orientation for online courses.

Student orientations, sometimes called student welcoming or onboarding, significantly impact students’ overall university experience. 

According to a recent survey*, when students have a great welcome experience, they’re 35 times more likely to have a positive overall university experience.

Unfortunately, that same survey showed that only a third of students said they had a great orientation, and online learning can make it even more difficult.

The good news? There are realistic ways — which are mostly quick to implement — to improve online student orientations.

8 tips to create the best online student orientation

1. Plan virtual welcome activities to engage students before the semester

Virtual welcome activities should allow students to connect with each other and instructors – and make it fun!

Virtual welcome activity ideas:
  • Meet-and-greets using video conferencing
  • Group scavenger hunts
  • Games (trivia, virtual escape rooms, bingo, etc.)

2. Simplify processes

Regardless of whether a student has taken online courses or not, make everything simple and easy.

Whether it’s registering for online courses and getting technical support, or even just providing single sign-on, remove any obstacles that may frustrate or deter students.

Keep in mind that the format and design of online courses should also be simplified and easy to navigate. Follow online course design best practices to meet students’ needs.

3. Talk about the importance of DEI

You want students to know why DEI is so important and how it benefits the entire teaching and learning experience. It’s also important to explain what you expect from students and what they can expect from you.

DEI resources
  • 5-part DEI for online learning ebook to help you start and improve your efforts
  • Copy & paste diversity statement template that you can edit or use as is

4. Create a site page with any resources for online students

Online students need one location with all of the information and resources they need, such as:

  • Hardware and software requirements
  • Technical support options and availability
  • Student privacy information
  • Learning resources (online library, OER, tutoring, study groups etc.)
  • Important dates such as midterms and finals, the start and end of the semester, holiday breaks, and so on

5. Build an ambassador program for online students

Find current online students who can connect with future students and share information about their experiences, perspectives, and tips for success in online learning.

6. Gather student feedback

Use anonymous surveys to better understand students’ questions, expectations, needs, and how to improve the welcome experience.

7. Use emotional intelligence

Many people believe that emotional intelligence is something you either have or don’t have. But there are many ways to improve emotional intelligence in online courses.

Emotional intelligence helps build relationships, trust, and communication, which is exactly what you want in online learning. 

8. Tell them about yourself

Telling students about yourself can help establish credibility and build trust – you may find some common interests!

Keep it simple and don’t overthink it. Talk about your background, hobbies, education, and even a funny story that makes you who you are.

Sign up to receive the latest resources, research, and best practices to improve online teaching and learning

*Salesforce. 2022. Connected Student Report (Third Edition)

Tyler Stike

Tyler is Honorlock's Director of Content and a doctoral student at the University of Florida focused on educational technology.

The causes of test anxiety may surprise you

Understanding the causes of student test anxiety and how online proctoring can help reduce it

As online learning continues to grow, so has testing anxiety. Learners have concerns about the technology, the process and the presence of live proctors.

But online proctoring doesn’t need to add to the stress of test-taking. When institutions create the proper environment and prepare test takers for online assessments, they report that having a live proctor can actually reduce anxiety. Further, effective proctor training can build confidence.

To learn more about test anxiety during a proctored online exam, Honorlock conducted a survey. Jordan Adair, VP of Product at Honorlock, recently sat down with Tests and the Rest podcast to share the survey results and discuss how remote proctors can help reduce test anxiety.

What is test anxiety?

Test anxiety is any physical and emotional reaction that negatively impacts a test takers ability to perform well on a test. 

5 key learnings from the test anxiety survey:

1. How do test takers react to proctored online exams?

Regardless of how well-prepared the test taker is, many still feel a sense of anxiety.

In the online proctoring space, this is often increased, as test takers may be unfamiliar with the online proctoring system or the method of proctoring that will be used on a particular exam. The findings indicated that even well-prepared test takers are likely to feel anxious heading into a proctored assessment, with 64% agreeing or strongly agreeing with the statement “taking an online test makes me nervous.”

2. Does the environment affect test anxiety?

Test takers experience testing anxiety both in-person and online, so it isn’t just the environment. The increase in online assessments has heightened anxiety due to concerns about the technology, the testing process, and the presence of live test proctors.

3. What causes test anxiety?

It mostly stems from not understanding how online proctoring works and not knowing what to expect.

3 main causes of test anxiety

Technology concerns and how to use the proctoring software

Test takers often worry about their device work with the online proctoring software and other issues, such as internet connection.

Unaware of what behaviors may be flagged

They may not understand what behaviors are acceptable and what may be flagged by the proctoring solution or live proctor.

Unfamiliar with how interactions with a proctor will go

Potentially interacting with a proctor can be nerve-racking, especially if the test taker hasn’t never experienced it before.

4. What can help reduce test anxiety?

When you create a proper test environment and prepare learners beforehand, they report that a live proctor can actually reduce anxiety.

Describe how online proctoring works

A basic understanding of how online proctoring works goes a long way. Give learners a high-level overview of how the online proctoring software works and what they can expect before, during, and after the exam.

Explain what behaviors may trigger flags from the proctoring platform

Test takers need to know what behaviors are appropriate compared to those that can trigger a flag. 

For example, here are the things test takers think might get flagged (none of these actually cause flags in Honorlock):

  • A barking dog
  • Reading a question out loud
  • Looking up to think about a question
  • Tapping on the desk

Offer practice exams

After they understand the basics of how online proctoring works and what behavior is acceptable, let them use it.

Practice exams provide learners with the opportunity to get comfortable with using the online proctoring platform, making sure their technology works, and interacting with a live proctor.

Show them where to find support

Make sure test takers know where to find support if they need it. Ideally, live support will be available 24/7 without having to leave the exam window. 

5. How does remote proctor training help with test anxiety?

How proctors are trained is crucial for helping reduce test anxiety. They need the ability to identify symptoms of test anxiety and stress and how to positively interact with test takers during the proctored tests.

Identifying symptoms of test anxiety and signs of stress

Proctors should be trained to spot physical behaviors and signs of stress. Test anxiety symptoms can include things such as lip licking, excessive throat clearing, propping the head up, and touching or rubbing the face. 

Positive interactions

Once physical signs of stress and anxiety are identified, proctors need to understand how to best interact with a test taker. This includes approaching a them in a helpful manner and then having the correct training and tools to help alleviate any stressful situation while decreasing the risk of confrontation. 

Honorlock’s remote proctoring team received training from a nationally certified counselor to learn how to de-escalate test takers who are stressed or anxious and reduce anxiety so that they can continue taking the exam.

Positive interactions with a proctor can have a lasting impact on reducing test anxiety. In fact, a test anxiety survey found that 100% of test takers who interacted with an Honorlock proctor responded “Yes” to the interview question, “Did the proctor make you less anxious?”

Applying these key learnings can help build confidence and prepare learners to perform their best on exams.

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Tyler Stike

Tyler is Honorlock's Director of Content and a doctoral student at the University of Florida focused on educational technology.

Biden Student Loan Relief Recap

Biden student loan forgiveness plan information

Quick recap of the Biden student loan forgiveness plan that will:

  • Forgive $10,000 of student loan debt for borrowers making less than $125,000 per year
  • Extend the student loan payment freeze until the end of 2022
  • Cancel up to $20,000 in debt for Pell Grant recipients

Biden student loan forgiveness plan takes the next steps toward relief

President Joe Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan will forgive $10,000 for borrowers making less than $125,000 per year and extend the student loan payment freeze until the end of the year. Student loan payments will resume in January 2023.

Biden’s plan will also cancel up to $20,000 in debt for Pell Grant recipients that have loans with the Department of Education (DOE)

When and how can borrowers claim this student loan relief?

There’s no set date yet, but in the next few weeks, the DOE will announce more details about how borrowers can claim this relief. Borrowers’ income data will automatically qualify them for the debt relief. 

 

Who will loan debt relief impact the most?

According to the DOE, about 87% of the debt cancellation will go to borrowers who earn less than $75,000 per year. The remaining 13% will go to those earning between $75,000 and $125,000 per year.

 

How much student debt could be canceled in the future?

For now, $10,000 ($20,000 for certain individuals) but some politicians have asked for up to $50,000 per borrower.

However, in April 2022, Biden stated that if there is additional student loan forgiveness, it will be less than $50,000.

How much student loan debt is there?

The total student loan debt is around $1.75 trillion owed by 45 million people in America. The total includes federal and private loans.

  • That’s an average of nearly $38,900 owed by each borrower.

Federal loans total around $1.62 trillion in debt owed by 43 million borrowers.

  • That’s an average of about $37,675 owed by each federal loan borrower.

Historical student loan debt in the U.S.

Will this loan forgiveness program impact future student enrollment?

For some borrowers, forgiving $10K is a drop in the bucket. For others, it could mean having the ability to complete their education.

A recent study found that 42% of students stopped pursuing their education because of financial constraints. So, this loan relief may be just what some people need to re-enroll and complete their educational journey.

This impact on enrollment remains to be seen but higher education institutions should still plan for a potential boost in enrollments. From reducing costs on campus and streamlining processes to implementing new technologies to improve online learning, preparing ahead of time will be worth it.

Want more resources to improve higher education?

Tyler Stike

Tyler is Honorlock's Director of Content and a doctoral student at the University of Florida focused on educational technology.

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 is Honorlock's Director of Content and a doctoral student at the University of Florida focused on educational technology.

FBI Cybersecurity Recommendations for Higher Education Institutions

FBI cybersecurity recommendations to protect higher education institutions

The FBI Cyber Division released a notification in May 2022 that they discovered stolen login credentials from higher education institutions readily available on public forums and for sale on the dark web.

The notification also warned that the exposure of the stolen login credentials could put universities and colleges at risk of more cyber attacks in the future.

What is the dark web?

The dark web consists of hidden sites that use specialized browsers to keep internet activity anonymous, making illegal activities hard to track.

Here are some notable higher education cyber attacks in recent years, according to the FBI’s notification document:

  • 2020: Roughly 2,000 .edu usernames and passwords were listed for sale on the dark web.
  • 2021: Over 36,000 .edu email and password combinations were available on a publicly available messaging platform. The group that listed the credentials appears to have ties to credential trafficking in the past.
  • 2022: In January, US-based higher education institutions’ network credentials and VPN access information were listed for sale on Russian cyber criminal forums. The fact that VPN credentials were stolen makes the vulnerability to cyber attacks even higher.
How do cybercriminals get access to these credentials?

Cybercriminals primarily get initial access to utilizing social engineering (most commonly phishing).

What is phishing?

Phishing refers to fraudulent communications that pretend to be sent from a trusted source. The goal of phishing is to trick the receiver into revealing personal information in order to gain access to information such as credit card numbers and login credentials.

Consider this phishing situation and the impact it could have on the students, faculty, and institution

Initially a cybercriminal gets access to a student’s email login credentials. They can now begin reconnaissance and build their attack.

Now that they have access to previous email conversations, they could use those topics in the phishing email they’ll send to the professor and other students. In the email, they can mention the relevant topics and include a malicious hyperlink.

In this situation, the receiver may be more likely to click the malicious link because it’s from a familiar person and their guard is down.

FBI cybersecurity recommendations for higher education institutions
The notification document provided an extensive list of cybersecurity recommendations universities and colleges that we’ve consolidated and summarized:
  • Ensure that all operating systems and software are updated with security patches and automated scanning
  • Segment networks to help prevent the spread of malware and unauthorized access
  • Use multi-factor authentication as often as possible, this way if credentials are compromised attackers would still need another factor to authenticate.
  • Employ network monitoring tools to detect abnormal network activity
  • Prepare and educate students and faculty to recognize phishing attacks with training programs and real-world testing
  • Require strong password policies and lockout rules
  • Establish role-based accounts that exercise the principle of least privilege
Assessing the security of your technology partners
In addition to the FBI recommendations to protect against cyber threats, colleges and universities should also assess the security of their technology partners. This includes all online learning technologies and all additional course software, such as:

Remember, vendor security is your security.

Here’s a high-level list of what to look for and questions to ask when vetting technology partners:

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.

Data security

  • What data is collected and why?
  • How is data collected and maintained?
  • Who owns the data?
  • Is the data encrypted in transit and at rest?
  • Where is the data stored?
  • What is the data classification policy and how are employees trained to handle different classifications?

Proactive defense

  • How often are vulnerability scans and penetration tests performed?
  • How is security integrated into the vendor’s Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)?

Incident response plan

  • What is the incident response plan?
  • How often does the company run through the plan in practice and simulation?

Company practices and employee security training

  • How are employees trained on security best practices?
  • How often are employees trained and what does their training include?
  • How are employees trained to report a security incident?
  • Is the organization FERPA compliant?
  • Has the organization had a security breach in the last five years?
  • Will contractors have access to the data?
  • If so, what controls are in place to ensure security?
  • Can you provide a public-facing privacy policy?
Vendor Security Cheat Sheet

For a comprehensive look at vendor security, download our Vendor Security Cheat Sheet. It provides a detailed look at questions to ask technology vendors, software and technologies needed, and important definitions to know.

Tyler Stike

Tyler is Honorlock's Director of Content and a doctoral student at the University of Florida focused on educational technology.

How to Create a Culture of Academic Integrity

Punishing students for cheating vs encouraging academic integrity

How do cybercriminals get access to these credentials?

But academic dishonesty isn’t always black and white.

There are complexities and nuances that require a shift in the way we think about academic dishonesty.

With this shift, incidents of alleged cheating can be a learning opportunity, and you may even see a decrease in the amount of dishonesty in your courses.

This article will:

  • Highlight the language we use when discussing academic dishonesty
  • Discuss the reasons why students cheat
  • Show you practical alternatives to punishment that can help improve academic integrity

What is academic dishonesty?

Academic dishonesty means actions and behaviors, whether intended or not, that provide unfair advantages in an educational environment. It applies to everyone involved in teaching and learning, not just students. While academic dishonesty is a broad term, it can include things like:
  • Cheating on an exam
  • Plagiarizing an essay
  • Lying and fabricating information
  • Helping others cheat

In contrast, academic integrity is a code of ethics for students and others involved in the teaching and learning process to follow in their courses, exams, and overall behavior. Students should complete their own assignments, take their own exams, and earn their own grades.

Why do students cheat?

Students may cheat for any number of reasons, such as pressure from rising expectations, competitiveness, or even just opportunity.

But one thing that has significantly influenced students cheating is technology.

Technology provides quick and easy access to resources that help them gain an unfair advantage and curtail the learning process. Whether it’s finding leaked test content on the internet, asking Siri or Alexa for help during a test, and even having AI write essays for them, technology creates more opportunities to cheat.

Punishing students for cheating vs encouraging integrity

A common response to academic dishonesty is punishment.

But punishment is reactive, not proactive.

Students are only punished after cheating occurs. While it’s true that punishment can be seen as a deterrent, instructors should focus on improving academic integrity instead of punishing bad behavior.

Have groups of students work through scenario-based case studies

Create case studies with realistic academic dishonesty scenarios and have students work through them in groups.

By participating in these case studies as a group, students can have honest conversations about decision making and what they would do in very real situations with varying stressors and conditions. Practicing applied decision-making helps set the framework for upholding academic integrity in and out of the classroom.

By opening the door to dialogue about academic dishonesty and what constitutes cheating, you can create an environment where students are clear about course standards and what is and isn’t acceptable.

Communicate and develop a genuine connection with your students

The ability to communicate effectively and connect with your students can have a significant impact on your classroom.

But connecting with students takes more than learning their first names. You should make a real effort to learn about your students. Ask about their interests, goals, and hobbies – you may even have some things in common.

And tell them about yourself, apply emotional intelligence, be inclusive, encourage open communication, and be consistent.

In other words: make yourself human.

Rather than simply telling students, “Don’t cheat – or else,” have an open dialogue with them and infuse the importance of academic integrity in your communication efforts. This authentic effort to connect can go a long way to help support your efforts to improve academic integrity.

What’s all this have to do with Honorlock?

Honorlock takes a human-centered approach in everything we do.

Our approach to online proctoring is different because we strive to encourage positive decision making in a supportive environment rather than catching students cheating.

Honorlock test proctors are trained by a certified counselor and undergo rigorous training and shadowing – all to ensure they’re able to observe, intervene, and redirect student behavior in the testing environment. We even conducted a student survey with a university customer that showed our approach to online proctoring reduced student test anxiety.

Our proctors assume that students want to demonstrate knowledge, not cheat. Honorlock aligns with the goals of higher education to create a fair test environment and culture based on integrity.

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Tyler Stike

Tyler is Honorlock's Director of Content and a doctoral student at the University of Florida focused on educational technology.