Building Academic Integrity in Online Courses

The pandemic revealed many benefits of online learning, as well as the appetite for it among students. Drawn by the flexibility and convenience online learning provides, students are driving demand for greater online course offerings. As colleges consider expanding their online programs, how can they ensure academic integrity?

The Chronicle convenes a panel of experts to answer that question in the upcoming virtual forum, “Building Academic Integrity in Online Courses.” Join us as they look back on lessons learned so far and offer projections for online learning’s future.

  • What lessons did institutions learn during the pandemic pivot to virtual learning?
  • What’s the right role for learning technologies like AI proctoring software?
  • How do administrators and faculty members make sure those tools uphold student privacy and equitable education outcomes?

Speakers

Paul Fisher from Seton Hall University

Paul Fisher

Associate CIO & Director TLT Center,
Seton Hall University

Alice has several years of marketing experience within healthcare and most recently in higher education focused on social media growth, tradeshow management, and communication. She is passionate about creatively navigating new challenges and discovering innovative ways to connect with educators.

What the Great Resignation Means for Women Leaders

What the Great Resignation Means for Women Leaders

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

Some call it “The Great Resignation.”

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

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

In this article we’ll detail:

The struggle starts before the “Glass Ceiling”

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

But the struggles start earlier than that.

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

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

Why seven years?

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

What should I leave behind?

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

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

To dig into this more, ask yourself these questions:

 

  • Is the company culture holding me back?
  • Does the workplace promote “time-in-chair” and how does that impact my life?
  • Are there workplace relationships that are draining me?
  • Is this what I want?
What do I want/need to learn next?

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

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

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

What drives me?

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

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

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

Women can be more particular about roles and organizations

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

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


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

Look for employers that:

 

  • Demonstrate executive leadership’s commitment to gender equality
  • Forge a female hiring pipeline from early career to executive level
  • Extend external support for women’s advancement
Focuses on creating a culture of diversity and inclusion

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

  • Provide formal avenues to address any concerns about discrimination
  • Monitor progress and outcomes from equality initiatives and activities
Embraces progressive employer practices

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

 

  • Support flexible work options
  • Ensure marketing and communications are free of bias
  • Value mental health
Addressing the causes of burnout in the workplace

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

 

Watch the Webinar Recording

 

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Allie Luker

Allie is an experienced marketing professional with an extensive focus in higher education technology. She is passionate about creative solutions that drive innovation and positive results for organizations.

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

Writing DEI Statements for Online Courses

Tips for how to write a diversity statement for online courses
Download the DEI eBook: A Different Look at DEI in Higher Education

A well-written diversity statement sets the tone and communicates your firm commitment to creating and improving educational opportunities regardless of race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic background.

But, what goes into a diversity statement? How long should it be? How is a diversity statement different for an online course?

We’ll answer all of your questions and provide you with an DEI statement example to use in your online courses.

What is a diversity statement?

A diversity statement is a document that explains:

  • Your commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)
  • How DEI impacts the students’ learning experience
  • What your learns can expect from you
  • What you expect from your students

A diversity statement is often referred to as a DEI statement or diversity and inclusion statement/policy.

 

How long should a DEI statement be?

Be clear and concise, but don’t worry about counting words.

Whether you write 100 words or 100 pages, your main goal is to clearly explain your DEI mission and purpose.

Is a diversity statement different for an online course?

Most of the information will be similar, but a diversity statement for an online course requires some additional information.

Writing a diversity statement for an in-person class will be similar to the statement you’ll use in an online course. However, for an online course, you’ll need to explain the extra steps you’ll take to overcome the obstacles that a distance learning environment creates, such as web accessibility and how you’ll help drive engagement in a virtual setting.

Is there a diversity statement format you need to follow?

Nope. Write the diversity statement how you want and make it your own.

If you want to use paragraphs, go for it. If you prefer bullet points, use them.

Use any format and content you want to get your point across in a meaningful way.

We’ll provide you with a sample diversity statement template later in this article, but keep this in mind: it’s just an example to give you direction and inspiration. Use it as is or edit it as much as you want.

How to write a diversity statement for an online course

Describe your commitment to DEI and why it’s important to you

Set the stage for the rest of the statement and use this section as your opportunity to provide context and begin building trust.

  • Use a powerful introduction to set the tone and grab their attention
  • Explain what DEI means to you and describe your experience.
  • Regardless of your race, gender, ethnicity, age, or condition, describe your experience and understanding.

 

Explain how DEI impacts the learning experience

The goal of this section is for learners to understand exactly how DEI benefits the learning experience for themselves and others.

  • Describe how DEI creates a well-rounded learning experience that considers different perspectives.
  • Explain how it creates a learning environment that provides everyone with a fair and equitable opportunity to learn.
  • Emphasize that DEI creates an inclusive learning environment that welcomes everyone.

Tell them what to expect from you

Just like learners want to know what’s expected of them, they want to know what to expect from you as an instructor. This is also where you’ll add information about how DEI is especially important in an online course and the steps you’ll take to improve it.

  • Explain that you’ll consider DEI in every aspect of the course, from the course content and exam accommodations to the language you use and discussions you facilitate.
  • Reiterate that you will enforce consequences for poor behavior and ask students to be vocal about holding you accountable and helping to educate others.
  • Acknowledge that a remote learning environment poses challenges, such as effectively communicating and connecting and ensuring web accessibility, but tell them you’ll take extra steps to continually learn and improve to overcome any barriers.

Tell learners what you expect from them

Explain what’s expected of them and how they play a role in creating an inclusive learning environment.

  • Be explicit about what behavior is expected.
  • Explain that derogatory and offensive language won’t be tolerated and the consequences that you will enforce.
  • Speak about the importance of using inclusive language and how it can help create a sense of belonging for other students.
  • Explain how their words and behavior play a role in creating an inclusive learning environment.

Example Diversity and Inclusion Statement

Feel free to copy-and-paste this templated DEI statement example below, but remember that it’s just an example. You can use it how it is or edit it as much as you’d like.

As an educator, using diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is one piece of a larger effort that helps achieve a very important goal: improving the educational experience for each student.

I’m committed to this effort because I know it’s these differences that inspire compassion, encourage creativity, create a community, and support you in your education and life.

The terms are interconnected, but let’s lay out what they mean.

Diversity goes beyond things like age, race, gender, and sexual orientation; it also includes our perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds that make us the unique individuals we are.

Equity doesn’t mean equality. Instead of providing you all with identical resources, you’ll receive the specific resources you need as an individual to learn, access, participate, and succeed in this course.

Inclusion creates a genuine sense of belonging in an environment where everyone is welcomed, valued, respected, and heard.

DEI impacts the educational experience for you and your classmates in many ways. It provides different perspectives, challenges you to think holistically, and creates an invaluable sense of inclusion and belonging.

What to expect from me

You can expect me to use a variety of resources and challenge you to think from a diverse perspective in every area of this course.

Online learning changes. Your needs change. Technologies change. What works today may not work tomorrow. That said, you can expect me to get things wrong. But I promise to continually learn, adapt, and improve to the best of my ability, and I challenge you to do the same.

I take feedback very seriously and use it as a tool to learn and improve. I expect and hope that you’ll give me feedback along the way. This means sharing your concerns as well as what you (and even your peers) enjoyed.

Your role

Each person in this course plays an equal part in creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment. You can make a positive impact on the educational experience of your peers. I challenge you to learn from them and share your knowledge.

You’ll treat each student with respect and understand that your words and actions influence everyone around you. I will not tolerate any derogatory or offensive words or actions. It’s your duty, just like mine, to stay informed, aware, and proactive.

Remember, you have a voice, and your voice matters. You’re an important part of this course and our ongoing effort to create a better educational experience that truly supports your educational journey and life.

How to establish and use DEI in your online courses

Now that you know how to write a diversity statement, you need to know how to effectively establish and use DEI in your online course.

From the way you communicate with your students to the way you develop course content and test their knowledge, DEI plays a role in every aspect of your online courses.

 

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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.

Protecting Academic Integrity During Covid and Beyond

Remote proctoring during covid

Yet again, universities and colleges are adjusting plans because of COVID. With growing concerns about the Omicron variant, some institutions are delaying the semester start date, others are implementing vaccine mandates, and many are moving to a blended or online learning format.

“It’s a difficult time for colleges and these are difficult decisions… Universities and colleges need to ask, what is going to be our reality moving forward?… We have to accept how are we going to live with this virus in our environment.” – Dr. Robert Quigley, Senior Vice President and Global Medical Director at International SOS, said in an interview with University Business

Students want flexible learning options

While the future is uncertain, one thing is clear: online learning is here to stay.

In fact, a recent survey showed that since the COVID-19 pandemic started, about 73% of students indicated that they would like to take fully online courses or a combination of in-person and online learning.

Protecting academic integrity in online education during COVID and beyond

Online courses are great because they provide convenience for students and still allow high levels of engagement. 

But, many struggle with how to best protect academic integrity in online education and during exams.

Historically, some use browser lockdown software as a tool for preventing academic dishonesty. But it often doesn’t cut it because it’s easy to beat and an academic integrity policy is just a formality for some students. 

So, how can instructors administer online exams with confidence that they’re protected from academic dishonesty? Remote proctoring.

What is remote proctoring?

Remote proctoring, sometimes called online proctoring, uses software and/or services to monitor student behavior during online exams to deter, prevent, and identify cheating and to help students complete their exams.

What are the types of remote proctoring?

There are four primary types of remote proctoring:

  • Browser lockdown software: generic software that can prevent students from accessing other browsers
  • Live proctoring: a live remote proctor watches multiple students at once
  • Automated/AI proctoring: no live remote proctor is present & it only uses AI software to monitor student behavior during the online exam 
  • Blended remote proctoring: AI proctoring software monitors student behavior and alerts a live remote proctor if any issues are detected 

What are common remote proctoring features and how do proctored exams work?

There are common remote proctoring features such as: 

  • Video monitoring 
  • Voice detection
  • Browser lockdown software 
  • ID verification

Depending on the proctoring software’s LMS integration, it’s a pretty similar experience for students and instructors. Instructors create exams in the LMS like they already do and then pick and choose which proctoring features to use depending on their needs. Students simply log into the LMS and then before verify their ID and begin the proctored exam.

Other remote proctoring features needed to protect exams

In addition to the common features listed above, there are additional remote proctoring features that Honorlock provides for instructors to protect academic integrity in online education during their exams.

Detect cell phones and other devices

Most students have cell phones or another device which makes it easy for them to look up your test questions during the proctored exam. 

Some online proctoring services may have “cell phone detection” but that can just mean that a live proctor is watching the student and sees a cell phone in view. 

What if the student used their cell phone out of view? 

Honorlock’s advanced proctoring software can detect when a student attempts to access test bank content using a cell phone, tablet, or laptop during the online proctored assessment

Learn more about how Honorlock can detect cell phone use

A blend of AI software and live remote proctors

Honorlock was the first proctoring service to blend the benefits of AI proctoring with live remote proctors. The AI software monitors the student for potential dishonesty and alerts a remote live proctor to join the student’s exam session in real-time to address any issues.

Smart voice detection

Most proctoring services offer audio recording but Honorlock’s smart voice detection goes above and beyond by listening for specific keywords or phrases, such as “Hey Siri” while still allowing students who like to read out loud the ability to do so without being flagged.

Identify leaked exam questions and take action

Faculty spend a lot of time creating quality exam content, but it’s pretty easy for students to find and share the content on the internet if the right software isn’t in place.

Honorlock’s Search & Destroy™ technology searches the internet to identify exam questions that have been shared online and if leaked exam questions are found, instructors are given simple steps to take control of their exams’ integrity like sending content takedown requests when applicable and updating exam questions.

Implement Honorlock remote proctoring in two days

Just like the many higher education institutions we helped when the COVID-19 pandemic started in 2020, we’re ready to help your institution quickly implement remote proctoring in response to the Omicron variant.

We streamline the implementation process and can get your institution ready to proctor online exams in about two days. And to ensure that your faculty are confident and prepared, we provide support during and after the implementation as well as ongoing training resources.

Hear from two schools we’ve helped since COVID-19 started

University of Florida

Brian Marchman UF

“As challenging as the remote learning situation has been for the university, there have been many silver linings for us. A partnership with Honorlock has been one of them. We had not planned in our budget for any way to pay for this, so we had to find the funds and not put it on the backs of students, and they were able to make it work for us.”  – Brian Marchman, Director of Distance Learning & Continuing Education 

Broward College

“The pandemic has brought many challenges to Broward College. Having to quickly scale our courses to a remote format has not been an easy task… Honorlock has provided excellent support in scaling our needs and meeting our requirements for faculty training. They have been an excellent partner due to their open communication, privacy policies, and the implementation of their state-of-the-art technology. It has been an affordable and reliable solution.” – Nestor Pereira, Dean, Business Affairs

Read Broward College’s customer testimonial

Complete the form below to learn more about Honorlock remote proctoring services and software

Tyler Stike

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

22 Educational Technology & Online Learning Trends for 2022

22 online learning trends and changes to expect in 2022

1. Using Metaverse for a realistic online learning environment

What is Metaverse?

To summarize it, Metaverse provides a realistic virtual “world” that blends things like virtual reality, social media, gaming, collaboration technologies, and even e-commerce. Metaverse creates an immersive experience with lifelike avatars and ultra-realistic virtual environments that you can fully interact with by seeing and meeting people, touching objects around you in real-time, buying and selling products, and more.

Why Metaverse may be used in 2022

  • Makes online classrooms feel extremely real

Instructors can build literal classrooms that students can enter, sit at a desk, raise their hand, and speak to others.

  • Improves communication and engagement
  • Students and faculty can collaborate in many ways in and outside of class
  • Students can create study groups to connect and collaborate
  • Faculty can hold department meetings and office hours

2. Increasing awareness and use of Open Educational Resources (OER)

What is OER?

OER refers to digital teaching and learning materials that are accessible to everyone and almost always free to use. OER materials come in various formats such as digital online textbooks, audio/video, gamification, and more.

Instructors and students can find a variety of materials from sites such as OER Commons, where they can filter based on the resource type, subject, education level, standard, and language.

How does Metaverse work?

  • Makes it easier to customize online course content

Instead of being tied to a single textbook that students have to purchase, instructors can easily find OER resources and then pick and choose different resources to use in their course.

  • OER materials are free or low cost for students

Did you know that a 2021 survey found that 65% of students chose to not purchase a textbook due to the cost? With textbook prices continually increasing, OER materials are a cost savings game-changer for many students.

3. Focusing on improving web accessibility in online courses

About 1 in 5 students have reported a disability. And with the wealth of web accessibility software and tools, assistive devices, and information available there’s no excuse to not create accessible online courses. It’s a foundational piece of improving online learning and creating an inclusive learning environment for every student. 

Why focusing on web accessibility in online courses may increase in 2022

While it varies from state to state and institution type, there are usually web accessibility standards that higher education institutions are required to.

one out of five people have a disability or condition that impacts accessibility

4. Implementing strategies to help reduce student test anxiety

Testing can be inherently stressful for many students – especially in an online learning environment. In a 2020 survey, 64% of students responded that online exams make them nervous. The survey found that technology concerns and not knowing what to expect about certain aspects of the exam were the main causes of test anxiety.

Why strategies to reduce student test anxiety may increase in 2022

  • Simple strategies can make a big difference

Simple strategies such as offering a practice exam and letting students know what to expect can help alleviate test anxiety.

  • Some software can help decrease student test anxiety

The 2020 student survey showed that online proctoring services that blend AI and trained human proctors helped reduce student test anxiety.

In a survey, 64% of students said online tests make them stressed

5. Using online proctoring services

While some expected the use of online proctoring to be a quick-fix band-aid during the rapid shift to online learning due to covid, it’s continuing to be used – even as more institutions are transitioning to in-person classes.

Why institutions using online proctoring will continue in 2022
  • Lets instructors use class time to teach instead of test

If you’re an instructor, think about how much of your class time is spent administering exams. With some online proctoring services, you get that time back because students can take exams outside of class and still get support if they have any issues.

  • Creates a fair testing environment

With features such as detecting cell phones, locking down the browser, and video monitoring, online proctoring creates an equitable testing experience so that no students will have an ​​unfair advantage.

  • It can help reduce student test anxiety

Online proctoring can help reduce student test anxiety because students have the convenience of testing when and where they want which helps alleviate the stress of scheduling exams.

Additionally, online proctoring services that combine AI software with live remote proctors can help reduce student test anxiety. This approach to online proctoring creates a minimally invasive testing experience because students don’t feel like they’re being watched by a live proctor the entire time because the AI monitors the exam and alerts a live proctor to intervene only if potential dishonesty has occurred. 

  • It’s easy to use and quick to implement

LMS integration with online proctoring software should make implementation quick and easy. Meaning, it shouldn’t take weeks to get up and running. 

If the online proctoring software directly integrates with the LMS, it’s easy to use because it’s pretty much the same experience for instructors and students. Faculty will create the exam in the LMS like they already do and students simply log into the LMS and launch the proctored exam as normal and then verify their identity.

6. Incorporating more visual content

Just as many other industries, such as marketing, nonprofits, and healthcare are seeing the benefits of visual content, expect online learning to do the same.  

To be clear, this doesn’t mean that online courses will suddenly become a picture book, but you may see more visuals used in alignment with other course materials to help reinforce learning.

Why incorporating more visual content may increase in 2022
  • Helps improve comprehension and engagement

Educators are always looking to create more engaging course content and visuals are a great way to help break up heavily text-based content and improve comprehension.

7. Adopting user-friendly educational technology

Online learning significantly increased in 2019-2020, largely due to COVID-19. By how much exactly? You may be surprised.

According to recent IPEDS data, almost 52% of students took an online course in 2020 compared to 37% in fall 2019. 

With the sudden shift to online learning and educational software constantly evolving, some students and faculty have struggled to adjust. 

Why educational technology that’s easy to use may increase in 2022
  • Helps improve adoption rates

If educational software is easy to use, faculty may be more likely to use it, which aligns with the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). The TAM model essentially says that the main drivers of technology adoption are perceived usability and ease of use.

  • Usually requires less training, which can save time and associated costs

8. Microlearning to help make online course content more digestible

What is microlearning?

Long story short: microlearning means breaking course content into smaller, more digestible chunks. Instead of providing a 30-minute video lecture with overall notes, microlearning would mean breaking the lecture down into a few short videos and infographics with consolidated notes.

Why microlearning may increase in 2022
  • Repurposing course content into bite-sized learning modules can be simple

Microlearning doesn’t mean that instructors will have to recreate course content. It can be as simple as reworking existing content into smaller chunks that are more specific to a topic.

  • Uses more visuals

Microlearning aligns with #5, where we discussed the increasing use of visual content in online courses. Visual content such as infographics and videos, for example, are easier to digest and help with learner retention.

9. Making learning fun and interactive with gamification

Gamification, sometimes called game-based learning, means applying games or elements of game playing to a nongame environment such as an online course. If used correctly, gamification can seem completely natural – you’ve probably encountered it without even realizing it (e.g., an app on your phone that rewards you for logging in each day or redeeming Starbucks rewards).

Ultimately, gamification is used to encourage students to participate and to engage in any number of activities. 

Why gamification in online courses may increase in 2022
  • Helps make learning fun and interactive
  • Applies to a variety of subjects

Game-based learning isn’t something that’s just for kids or generic subjects. It can apply to complex subjects to help reinforce learning and even make “dull” topics more fun.

  • Supplements microlearning and the use of visuals

Gamification is ideal for microlearning because it can reward learners to achieve small learning objectives and it’s inherently visual.

10. Keeping test questions and answers off the Internet

It’s no secret that students can easily share test questions and answers on homework help sites. We all know it happens but there are ways for instructors to help reduce the problem. 

Institutions can implement software to help reduce the amount of illicit test content available on the Internet. This software searches the internet to identify exam questions that have been shared online and alerts the instructor. 

Why efforts to reduce the number of test questions and answers shared on the internet may increase in 2022
  • Saves instructors time

Instructors won’t have to manually search the Internet for leaked test content and they’ll spend less time recreating test content.

  • Helps create a fair testing environment

The software provides instructors with the tools needed to help create a fair test environment. If instructors can reduce the amount of test content available, students will have a level playing field during the online exam because others won’t be able to get an unfair advantage.

11. Using CBE to help students show what they know and prepare for the real-world

Competency-based education (CBE) is gradually increasing in popularity because it helps increase engagement, ensures mastery, and prepares students for real-world situations.

What is competency-based education?

CBE focuses on students mastering course content and what they can do rather than emphasizing the number of hours spent in class. Students progress only after they have demonstrated applicable knowledge and mastery.

Why the use of CBE in online classes may increase in 2022
  • Helps increase student engagement

CBE can increase student engagement because students can personalize their learning paths and progress at their own pace.

  • Applies to any teaching and learning modality and provides flexibility

Whether it’s a synchronous or asynchronous online course or blended learning, CBE applies to any modality.

Because students progress at their own pace, they have the flexibility of learning on their schedule.

  • Prepares students for real-world situations

CBE requires that students demonstrate mastery of course content, which means that students will need to show that they can apply what they’ve learned to real-world situations.

12. Emphasis on mobile course design

Mobile devices in online learning are here to stay.

A student survey found that:

  • 94% of students want to use cell phones for academic purposes
  • 75% of students feel cell phones help them learn better
Why mobile-friendly course design may increase in 2022
  • Provides learning flexibility

Most people have a cell phone and most students want to learn on their own time. Being able to learn on their cell phone on the go, whether it’s on their lunch break or scrolling before bed, is a huge benefit for students.

Survey show that ninety four percent of students want to use cell phones for academic purposes
  • Supports gamification and microlearning

People already play games on their cell phones, which are perfectly poised to allow gamification for course content as well. Likewise, cell phones are a great way to incorporate microlearning for students who may only have a few minutes while they’re at lunch.

  • Enhances communication

Almost every LMS that supports mobile functionality also allows notifications and alerts via student cell phones. If a class gets rescheduled or students need a reminder of a due date, it’s a perfect channel for communication.

13. Protecting student data privacy

Students have concerns with data privacy and they want to know that their information is protected and secure. Even though the majority of students trust their institution, expect more institutions to focus efforts on improving data privacy and providing more transparency about their processes.

Why focusing on protecting data privacy may increase in 2022
  • Higher ed institutions are aware of the importance and consequences

A 2019 study showed that more and more institutions are aware of the importance of data privacy and that privacy weaknesses carry serious consequences. Institutions face potential financial repercussions for data privacy breaches in the form of fines and may also suffer decreased enrollments due to a negative hit on their reputation.

  • Students trust their institution but want to know how data is used

According to a recent student survey, about 70% of students trust that their data is safe with their institution, but about the same percentage believe they have the right to know how it’s being used.

14. Focusing on STEM education

Science, technology, engineering, and math are growing in importance as our jobs and economy evolve. That said, it’s no surprise that more higher education institutions are emphasizing STEM in their curriculum.

Why STEM education may increase in 2022
  • To keep up with the projected STEM-related job growth

According to the S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, STEM-related jobs are projected to grow 8% by 2029. Some fields, including healthcare, computer science, and data science are expected to grow at an even faster rate.

  • STEM courses are well-suited for CBE teaching and learning
US Bureau of Labor projects STEM job to grow 8% by 2029

CBE is ideal for preparing students for real-world situations and that’s ideal for STEM with the projected job growth in the coming years. CBE allows students to master STEM course content and prove that they can apply it to the real world.

  • STEM exams can be remote proctored

Although there are many instances where students will need to use calculators during an exam and provide written responses, effective remote proctoring services can still protect the academic integrity of STEM exams. Accommodations can be provided to allow students to use pen and paper to show their work on a math problem and certain applications on the computer, such as calculators, can be allowed.

15. Online collaboration tools to build a learner community and improve learning

Collaboration tools can come in many forms and they play an important role in connecting with students in the online classroom. Some are inherently offered by the LMS, such as forums, chats, and messages, and others are sometimes supported by an LMS that includes video conferencing tools.

Why online collaboration tools may be used more in 2022
  • Helps build a sense of community

By using online collaboration tools, students can share ideas, arrange study groups, and engage with other students. These tools are particularly important for an online learning environment where collaboration with other students may be lacking.

  • Usually works with cell phones

If the LMS supports mobile devices, the collaboration tools mentioned earlier will generally work seamlessly on a cell phone. Other collaboration platforms outside the LMS, such as Zoom video conferencing or shared Google Docs, can be accessed on a modern cell phone as well.

16. MOOCs

Depending on whom you ask, Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) can be seen as a benefit or impediment for higher education institutions.

What is a MOOC?

A MOOC is an online course that’s open and available to anyone for free. Depending on the topic and where they’re offered, they mostly operate as a normal online course with structured, interactive content and opportunities to collaborate with others.

Pros and cons of MOOCs

Pros and cons of MOOCs
  • MOOCs open educational opportunities up to a larger audience
  • They can be seen as a “foot in the door” for students who may eventually enroll at the institution
The perceived negatives of MOOCs
  • Some believe they can negatively impact revenue and enrollment because they’re free and available to anyone

Regardless of your viewpoint, MOOCs are likely here to stay, and the pandemic further solidified their use. From March 2020 to April 2020 alone, enrollments at Coursera, an online education platform that offers MOOCs, increased 640%.

Why MOOCs may be used more in 2022
  • They’re free and accessible for everyone

Education can be expensive, and MOOCs are a free resource for learners. Along with being free to use, they’re accessible for anyone and there are no admission requirements.

  • MOOCs may lead to actual enrollments

Institutions that embrace MOOCs have learned that they can easily repurpose their standard course content and open educational opportunities up to a larger audience which can be a potential segue to create actual student enrollments.

17. Providing schedule flexibility and self-paced learning with asynchronous online classes

Whether they’re full-time students or adult learners, schedule flexibility and the ability to learn at their own pace is important to those seeking higher education.

Asynchronous vs synchronous classes

  • Asynchronous classes allow students to progress at their own pace by watching recordings and reviewing materials.
  • Synchronous classes typically include set times to attend live lectures and take exams.
Why asynchronous online classes may increase in 2022
  • Learner flexibility

Similar to CBE, asynchronous online courses provide students with the ability to progress through courses at their own pace.

  • Institutional scalability and students can start anytime

Institutions and instructors can provide the learning materials to as many students as they want at any time.

Because asynchronous online courses are already created and ready to go, students can enroll and begin the course at any time without waiting for the next semester to start.

18. Using automation to save time and provide quicker feedback

Instructors want to spend more time teaching and less time dealing with tasks such as proctoring online exams, grading, and searching the Internet to see if their test questions are being shared by students. AI software plays an important role in their success.

Why automation may be used more in 2022
  • Saves instructors time

From grading assignments and administering online proctored exams to reviewing student behavior and providing remedial course materials based on performance, software can be used to automate processes and save instructors valuable time.

  • Provides students with quicker feedback

When an exam is automatically graded, the student essentially receives instant feedback on their performance.

19. Improving integration for ease of use and diverse content

Using integrated online learning technologies is key to providing a better online learning experience and protecting privacy – both keys to advancing and improving online education moving forward.

Why a focus on improving integration may increase in 2022
  • Helps create a better online learning experience

Seamless integration can help faculty and students use different aspects of online courses with less hassle. For example, if the LMS directly integrates with the online proctoring software, it’s virtually the same testing experience for both faculty and students and there are no additional logins or passwords to remember.

  • Better integration can help protect student privacy

Generally speaking, direct integration between online learning software means that data is being securely exchanged and there are fewer instances of students having to enter passwords into other websites and applications.

  • Allows third-party platforms

Although there are endless third-party platforms used in online learning, a few common platforms are used for online testing, such as MyMathLab, ALEKS, Pearson, and McGraw Hill. A strong integration allows these platforms to be used effortlessly and intuitively within the LMS and with online proctoring software. This way, instructors can be sure that any exams offered outside the LMS can be protected.

20. Continuing to develop emotional intelligence

Students face many challenges, and the stress from the pandemic can impact them in different ways. While some believe is something you have or don’t have, emotional intelligence is a skill that can be learned over time and continually developed.

Why faculty may look to further develop and use emotional intelligence in online classes in 2022

Using emotional intelligence can help students reduce anxiety and stress because it can build trust, improve communication, and increase engagement.

21. Less face recognition technology

Face recognition and face detection are increasingly powerful and have a variety of uses. While many use the two terms interchangeably, they’re different.

Face detection detects that a face is present. Face recognition uses biometric technology to recognize that a face is present and then matches it to an owner in a database.

Why face recognition may be used less in 2022

Face recognition is increasingly powerful, which can raise privacy concerns. For face recognition to work, faces and other unique identifiers are stored in a database. Institutions using facial recognition may need to take a closer look at their security and privacy practices to ensure that the plethora of data is truly secure.

22. Fewer online exams only using browser lockdown software to prevent cheating

While browser lockdown software may have helped prevent cheating years ago, it isn’t enough to truly protect exams today.

What is browser lockdown software?

Browser lockdown software can restrict students from accessing other browsers and using certain keyboard functions.

Why you may see fewer online exams only using browser locks in 2022

Browser lockdown software can protect exams to a certain extent, but they’re easy for students to get around. If an exam only uses a browser lock, students can still use their cell phones or other devices to look up test answers or even have a friend in the room. Instructors need to implement advanced proctoring software and services to protect all aspects of online exams.

We’re looking forward to 2022 and all of the educational technology and online learning innovation that it will bring.

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Submit your email below to download our 5-part DEI eBook

The eBook covers everything you need to know about establishing and using diversity, equity, and inclusion in your online classes.

Part 1: Addressing the need for DEI in online education

Part 2: Strategies to develop diverse, equitable, and inclusive online courses

Part 3: How to create accessible online courses (with real examples)

Part 4: Tips to improve your connection with students in an online learning environment

Part 5: How to use educational technology to create a fair testing environment

Tyler Stike

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

DEI for Online Courses

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are fundamental elements of online courses and education because it impacts every aspect of the learning experience for each student. From the way you communicate with your students to the way you develop course content and test their knowledge, it impacts every piece of the educational experience.

This article will show you how to:

Before we show you how to apply diversity, equity, and inclusion to your online courses, consider these questions:

How are you establishing DEI in your course?

  • Have you created a diversity, equity, and inclusion statement? 
  • Do your students understand how DEI impacts and improves their educational experience?

What’s needed to take your online course?

  • How much does it cost to purchase the required software and hardware? What if students can’t afford it?

Are you using diverse course content?

  • Are you using references from a diverse range of people, groups, and perspectives?
  • Does the course content adapt to all learning styles?

Is the online course accessible?

  • Does your online course content meet web accessibility compliance standards?
  • Is it structured to allow assistive technology to understand the content?

These questions are just the beginning of designing a diverse, equitable, and inclusive online course.

Applying diversity, equity, and inclusion to online courses

Inclusive course design includes many strategies – some simple, some complex – to foster a learning environment that provides each student with a sense of belonging and an equal opportunity to achieve their educational goals.

Plan and create diverse and inclusive course content

Course design that acknowledges diversity and inclusion recognizes that all students learn differently and they need flexible ways to show what they know. It’s a well-thought-out approach to teaching that’s creative, adaptable, and engaging. 

This approach to planning and creating course content acknowledges how students learn but also their capacity to learn, disabilities, conditions, preferences, and available resources.

Consider this scenario:

You’re teaching an online course with 20 students and several have one or more of the following conditions:

  • Blind
  • Colorblind
  • Deaf
  • Unable to use a mouse or type on the keyboard

How can you accommodate these students so that they have a fair and inclusive learning experience?

Allow assistive technologies

Some students in your course may need to use assistive technology to engage and interact with your online class content. The assistive technologies should be compatible with all other technologies used in the online classroom such as the LMS, online proctoring, video conferencing, and any other multimedia.

Examples:

For a student with a visual impairment, a screen reader can be used. A screen reader conveys text and images displayed on the screen into speech or touch (Braille). 

For a student that cannot type or use a mouse, an assistive keyboard and adaptive mouse can be used. These assistive technologies are designed and modified to help students who may have motor function impairments.

Use multimedia to provide alternatives

For students who are deaf, blind, or colorblind, for example, multimedia course content such as audio, video, and images, can help them engage with course content. However, keep accessibility standards in mind. All multimedia used in your online class has to meet web accessibility standards and best practices which cover things like:
  • Captioning, subtitles, and transcriptions
  • Alternative-text and descriptions
  • Appropriate color contrast
  • Font sizes and types
  • Organization and structure

Use emotional intelligence

Emotional intelligence is important for everyone, but particularly for educators and students. 

What is emotional intelligence?

Emotional intelligence means being aware of your emotions and being able to regulate them while handling and building relationships with empathy, self-awareness, and good judgment.

Can emotional intelligence be taught?

Many people believe that emotional intelligence is something that you have or don’t have, but like most skills, it takes practice.

“We often think that emotional intelligence is something you have or you don’t have, but the good news is that isn’t necessarily true. It’s a skill that we can develop.”

– Bethany J. Adams, MA, SHRM-SCP, Villanova University Instructor and Associate Director of the Graduate Programs in Human Resource Development

Provide different ways to participate

Make sure that students have different options to participate and engage with your class content and with other students. Whether it’s technology-related, communication methods, or group work, make sure students understand what options are available.

What if students can’t meet the technology requirements?

While most students have a laptop or computer, some don’t have the resources or the ability to purchase them. 

Consider this scenario: your student has a computer but the webcam is broken and they can’t afford to buy one. How can they engage and interact with your class?

 If their webcam is broken, you need to provide them with other options, such as speaking or using the chat during a live lecture.

“Whether it’s being on camera, speaking, using the chat, or just listening in, you want them to have every opportunity to interact in different ways when they’re ready,”

Patrick DeLapp, VA Special Olympics Board Member and Coach

Allow accommodations

Accommodations are a lifeline for many students whether they need to use assistive devices to read, need more time to complete a proctored exam, or have a condition that requires bathroom breaks every ten minutes.

Consider this example of two students taking an online proctored exam on their laptop:

Student 1: their laptop’s webcam broke and they can’t afford to buy a new one.

Student 2: has a condition that requires bathroom breaks every ten minutes.

How can you provide accommodations for these students?

For student 1, you can give the remote proctor instructions to bypass the student not using a webcam and face detection can be turned off. This way, the student can complete the proctored exam without the webcam but other test monitoring features, such as cell phone detection and voice detection, remain in place to protect the exam. For student 2, you can provide the remote proctor with specific accommodations for the student to allow bathroom breaks every ten minutes or as needed.

Provide practice tests

Practice tests and other low-stakes exams are beneficial for a variety of reasons such as reducing student test anxiety and getting feedback.

A student survey indicated that one of the main causes of test anxiety was concerns about technology working correctly. If you provide regular practice tests, your students can better understand how the online test platform works and they can prepare accordingly.

Low stakes testing also includes non-graded “tests” which ask for feedback in different forms. Whether it’s a poll question about how they prefer to learn or a written response to reflect on a course topic, it’s a great way for instructors to learn about their students.

Use anonymous grading

Use anonymous grading, sometimes referred to as blind grading, to remove any potential grading bias. With anonymous grading, a student submits their assignment with no name or identification number. You can accomplish this using most modern LMSs by turning on anonymous grading at the course level. This feature hides  student names during grading and then distributes their scores back to them automatically. Anonymous grading can help build trust with students because they know that it’s fair and equitable.

Provide students with a list of helpful resources

Gather a list of helpful resources that students can use such as tutoring services, writing centers, online libraries, study groups, technical support, and any accessibility offices and contacts. You can provide helpful guides and FAQs about any technology requirements used in your online courses, such as how to use the LMS, setting up the room before an online proctored exam, and minimum system requirements.

Make a connection with your students

Get to know your students and make a connection with them. In doing so, you can help build trust and improve communication.

How do you build this connection? Be human and don’t overthink it.

Tell them about yourself, your hobbies and interests, or just a funny story from your past that makes you who you are.

Be authentic, relatable, and most of all – human.

Creating a diversity, equity, and inclusion statement for online courses

Create a statement that describes your commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion for your online courses and in life.

What is a diversity, equity, and inclusion statement?

It’s a concise statement that clearly tells your story and explains your commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion along with the impact it makes in your online classes. 

How to create a diversity, equity, and inclusion statement

Be clear and concise

Don’t worry about word count – the most important thing is to tell a meaningful story about your mission and purpose.

Describe the impact and importance of DEI

Students have to understand the importance of DEI and the impact it makes on their education. Explain how it creates a fair learning environment and provides different perspectives and opportunities to expand their knowledge.

Discuss your experience and commitment

Speak to your experience with diversity, equity, and inclusion. Regardless of your race, ethnicity, gender, age, or condition, describe your understanding and ongoing commitment to creating an inclusive and diverse educational experience for all students.

Set clear expectations for student behavior

Students need to know what behavior is expected of them and how they play a role in maintaining an inclusive learning environment.

Academic diversity, equity, and inclusion and statement sample

​​I am committed to creating a classroom community that values and respects diversity, equity, and inclusion. I am committed to this effort because these differences inspire compassion, encourage creativity, support students, and create a community of academic rigor that drives success. 

We will all respect each other regardless of any differences such as race, color, age, socioeconomic status, condition, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, and any other way a person identifies. 

We are all part of this ongoing effort to create a diverse, fair, and inclusive learning environment that welcomes all individuals, encourages open, tolerant, and respectful communication, and supports students throughout their educational journey. 

Establishing diversity and inclusion from the beginning

Start from scratch

Forget your assumptions, acknowledge biases (whether intended or not), and realize that you probably have a lot to learn. 

This self-awareness helps create an inclusive and diverse educational experience for all of your students because it considers all variables – from background and experiences to creating a learning environment that’s inclusive and fair for all students in your online course. 

Embrace mistakes

You’ll make mistakes but try to look at them as an opportunity to learn and adapt.  

Stay up-to-date

Every course will have different variables that will frequently change. What you created last semester may need to be tweaked and it could even be out of compliance based on previous standards. Stay up-to-date and ahead of changes.

Understand different learning styles

Understanding different learning styles doesn’t mean just acknowledging that some students prefer listening to audio while others prefer reading studies on their laptops. It’s an approach to teaching and learning that considers all variables such as web accessibility, available technology and resources, and different types of content.

When you understand and acknowledge different learning styles, you can plan how to create diverse content and that provides students with different ways to demonstrate their knowledge.

Use diverse sources for course content

When you’re developing your online course, include information from different sources to give students different perspectives, backgrounds, and values. 

Use at least two sources from different backgrounds. This can be selecting sources that are from different genders, races, ethnicities, religions, and even countries. 

Diverse sources also include information from different publications, which helps give different perspectives and contexts. Look for case studies, magazines, books, research studies, news, and interviews to help provide a diverse look at the information.

Use inclusive language

Inclusive language helps create belonging in your online course. Be aware of the language and terms you use and be sensitive to different beliefs, backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences of your students.

Inclusive language is always changing, so make sure you stay up to date with the appropriate terms to use.

Educators can make a difference

Creating online courses that are truly diverse, equitable, and inclusive is an ongoing and complex effort, but the actionable steps outlined in this blog ensure that you’re on the right track. Educators play an invaluable role in creating a learning environment that welcomes all students, levels the playing field, drives communication and connection, and creates a better educational experience.

Submit your email below to download our 5-part DEI eBook

 The eBook covers everything you need to know about establishing and using diversity, equity, and inclusion in your online classes.

Part 1: Addressing the need for DEI in online education

Part 2: Strategies to develop diverse, equitable, and inclusive online courses

Part 3: How to create accessible online courses (with real examples)

Part 4: Tips to improve your connection with students in an online learning environment

Part 5: How to use educational technology to create a fair testing environment

Tyler Stike

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

10 Ways to Improve Emotional Intelligence in Online Classes

Becoming emotionally intelligent is essential for everyone, but particularly for educators and students. But how can you apply emotional intelligence in your online courses and what is its role in higher education?

What is emotional intelligence?

Emotional intelligence, sometimes referred to at EI, is the capability to be aware of and regulate emotions while handling and building interpersonal relationships with self-awareness, good judgment, and empathy.

Can emotional intelligence be learned?

Contrary to what many believe, emotional intelligence can be learned and continually developed over time.

“We often think that emotional intelligence is something you have or you don’t have, but the good news is that isn’t necessarily true. It’s a skill that we can develop.“

– Bethany J. Adams, MA, SHRM-SCP, Villanova University Instructor and Associate Director of the Graduate Programs in Human Resource Development

10 strategies to improve emotional intelligence in online classes

1. Create psychological safety for your student

“One of the most crucial, fundamental things we can do to help our teams work better together is creating psychological safety,” said Adams. 

What does psychological safety mean for students in an online class?

It means that your students are confident that they can make mistakes, ask questions, or say the wrong thing without being punished or ridiculed. 

Why is psychological safety important for students and online learning?

Google’s Project Aristotle found that psychological safety is the most important factor in an effective team. Whether it’s a discussion with the entire class, group work, or just a one-on-one conversation, your students need to know that they’re able to take risks.

Students that feel psychologically safe often share ideas and information, collaborate and help others, and express trust and interest. 

How to create psychological safety in your online course

Make it clear that your online course is a safe space for risk-taking, asking questions, and collaborating with others.

  • Answer students with thoughtfulness and respect 
  • Ask students for their input and opinions
  • Encourage others to share information
  • Understand that your communications matter regardless of the context – whether it’s providing feedback to an essay, replying to an email, or talking through a webcam – every  response matters and helps create psychological safety

2. Be aware of your emotions and understand how you’re feeling

Before you can improve your emotional intelligence and help others, you need to be aware of your emotions and understand how they may be influencing your thoughts and behavior.

3. Communicate to connect

Connect with your students by using clear communication and having a true dialogue with your students.

4. Develop a better emotional vocabulary

The ability to identify your emotions and accurately speak about them gives better information to yourself and others.

Be specific about what you’re feeling

  • Don’t say, “I’m happy with this group project.”
  • Be specific and say, “I’m excited and comfortable with this group project.”

5. Embrace healthy conflict

Simply put: healthy conflict is a good thing that challenges teams and brings better results.

“We may think, ‘I don’t want conflict on my team or my organization’ but actually, we do. We just want healthy conflict,” said Adams explained.

This doesn’t mean that no conflict is a bad thing. However, a group or organization with no conflict can mean operating in a comfort zone that doesn’t encourage thinking outside the box or challenging ideas in order to improve.

Healthy conflict focuses on the task, not the person. This focus on task conflict challenges students to focus on the idea, share what they don’t like about it, and discuss what can change and be done differently.

“It makes us better together because we can talk about it,” Adams concluded.

6. Actively listen to your students’ words and behavior

This communication also means actively listening and paying attention to their body language.

7. Take a step back before responding

Before you respond, pause for a moment to collect your thoughts to help you better communicate your message to others instead of reacting to difficult conversations and conflict.

8. Practice makes perfect

Learn and practice techniques to manage your emotions. There’s no perfect path to managing your emotions because everyone’s different, but a few methods include listening to your body and physical symptoms, positive self-talk, exercise, and finding ways to relax (deep breathing, reading, etc.)

9. Put yourself in their shoes

Empathize with your students and understand how they’re feeling, their perspectives, and be able to relate. 

10. Accept that you’ll make mistakes

Applying emotional intelligence also means adapting to a variety of situations and people. So be patient with yourself and learn how you react in certain situations. Understand how you might have spoken or acted differently to achieve a more favorable result—not just for you, but for everyone involved, online and in person.

How to use emotional intelligence in online classes

Schools and faculty who offer online classes have a distinct challenge to apply emotional intelligence in an online learning environment to serve the needs of their students:

  • Are the online courses designed to engage students and inspire learning? 
  • Are instructors effectively communicating and connecting with students?
  • Can instructors genuinely understand how students are feeling and read body language through a webcam?
  • What communications work best? Video chat? Email? Chat?
  • Are instructors building trust and rapport with students?
  • How is academic integrity protected in an online learning environment? Is an honor policy encouraged? Are you using online exam proctoring?

The benefits of emotional intelligence in higher education

The benefits of teaching emotional intelligence to students

Emotional intelligence benefits virtually any subject – from business, management, and nursing to humanities subjects and social sciences such as psychology, law, and social work.

Teachers can promote emotional intelligence in their students by serving as role models and by framing their coursework in such a way that students have opportunities to develop EI skills and patterns of thought.

The importance of emotional intelligence for teachers

Teachers with high EI know that students want to be challenged so that they can learn and grow.

Teaching emotional intelligence can help instructors connect with students in ways that last a lifetime. They create a safe environment in which students feel free to openly communicate, collaborate, and build relationships.

EI can help improve student success

Developing emotional intelligence is crucial for success in school and better relationships in life. Self-regulating is key to keeping emotions from holding us back. Students higher in EI tend to be more engaged in school and more resilient during exam periods and other stressful moments.

Emotional intelligence can help reduce stress, anxiety, and depression

Depression, anxiety, and stress are increasingly prevalent among students. A 2019 survey of undergraduate students by the American College of Health Association showed: 

  • Over 1 in 4 students reported depression that negatively impacted their academic performance 
  • 43% of students reported feeling overwhelmed by anxiety

However, studies show that emotional intelligence can play a key role in helping students manage anxiety and stress. Whether it’s juggling education and a career, preparing for exams, or adjusting to uncertain times, studies show that EI and its adaptive strategies can help students cope in various stressful situations. 

Student test anxiety survey

Along with applying emotional intelligence, educators and institutions can help support students in other ways, such as reducing test anxiety. A 2020 student survey reported that over 60% of students expressed that tests make them nervous. 

While testing can be inherently stressful, there are ways to help support students and reduce their test anxiety such as: 

  • Providing practice exams 
  • Explaining what to expect
  • Using online proctoring 

A common assumption is that online proctoring is only used to catch students cheating on exams, but the same 2020 study showed that online proctoring can help reduce student test anxiety. 

If done correctly, online proctoring is a resource for students – not just a way to catch them cheating.

Once students understood what to expect from a proctored exam and interacted with a live proctor, test anxiety decreased.

“The proctor popping in was different than I expected – in a positive way. I imagined them being more strict. I felt that the proctor was helpful and a lot less intimidating than I thought.” – Student quote in a post-exam interview

Training was key

A key factor in this survey was the remote proctor training. The full-time online proctoring staff was trained by a nationally certified counselor and educator to support students who are experiencing test anxiety.

The training taught the online proctors to:

  • Recognize symptoms and signs of test anxiety and stress
  • Encourage appropriate behavior and deescalate problematic behavior 
  • Increase positive interactions with students and help them learn to self-regulate behavior

Emotional intelligence myths and truths

Adams provided these myths and truths of emotional intelligence to clear up common misconceptions:

Myths

  • Emotional Intelligence is something you have or you don’t have.
  • Emotional Intelligence means suppressing or hiding your emotions.
  • Emotional Intelligence is a touchy-feely thing focused only on feelings.

Truths

  • Emotional intelligence is a set of skills that can be learned and improved over time. 
  • Emotional Intelligence is learning to perceive & manage one’s emotions, not suppress them. 
  • Emotional Intelligence is more about action than feelings.

5 Components of Emotional Intelligence

According to Daniel Goleman’s work, the five key components of emotional intelligence are:

1. Self-awareness

  • The benefits of emotional intelligence include the ability to look internally and evaluate your strengths and weaknesses. 
    • People with high EI notice when their emotions are influencing their thinking, communication, and decision-making and have the ability to take the necessary steps to adjust.
  • By isolating and understanding where negative feelings come from, individuals with well-developed EI also make more rational and impartial decisions. 
  • People with EI are more aware of how they communicate nonverbally and the impact it has—the signals of body language and facial expressions. 

2. Self-regulation

  • Highly emotionally intelligent individuals can adapt to changing circumstances and are also able to contain their reactions and avoid impulsivity. 
    • This ability to adapt could be especially helpful in uncertain situations such as rapidly moving to an online learning environment due to COVID-19
  • They keep calm, think logically, and handle challenges with poise.
  • Being able to self-regulate helps students cope better in an academic environment. 
    • The success that it brings them can instill confidence to continue to achieve greater successes in and out of school.

3. Motivation

  • Those with higher EI take initiative, know that their actions speak louder than words, and are capable of making better-informed decisions.
  • High-EI individuals understand sharply that their emotions can influence their behaviors and those of others.
  • Optimism and perseverance are qualities of those with high EI. 
    • Seeing the way forward in even trying situations gives insight into what’s necessary to achieve greater aspirations and to understand the self-motivation required to attain them.

4. Empathy

  • Empathy means understanding the feelings, needs, and concerns of others.
    • Empathetic people notice and interpret even subtle emotional cues (verbal and non-verbal) that indicate how others are feeling.
  • Empathy and EI require people to step out of their own mindset, set aside extraneous thoughts, and be present in the moment. 
    • Empathy can be trained by listening to others and noting how you react in real-time.

5. Social skills

  • Individuals with high EI can better anticipate and respond to others’ feelings.
  • They express themselves clearly, feel comfortable in social situations, and understand the power dynamics in groups and organizations they encounter.
  • EI helps to gauge the motives of others.
    • People with EI are sensitive to others’ feelings, even during uncomfortable conversations.
    • Those with adept social skills are curious about others and tend to foster more meaningful relationships.

Submit your email below to download our 5-part DEI eBook

 The eBook covers everything you need to know about establishing and using diversity, equity, and inclusion in your online classes.

Part 1: Addressing the need for DEI in online education

Part 2: Strategies to develop diverse, equitable, and inclusive online courses

Part 3: How to create accessible online courses (with real examples)

Part 4: Tips to improve your connection with students in an online learning environment

Part 5: How to use educational technology to create a fair testing environment

Tyler Stike

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

Comparing Face Detection to Face Recognition

As face detection and facial recognition software become increasingly dynamic, people are understandably concerned about their privacy, and those taking online proctored exams have reported various negative experiences.

There are key differences between face detection and face recognition, and it’s important to be able to distinguish between the two, as both are used to varying degrees by online proctoring service providers.

For example, some online proctoring services use face detection while others use “continuous facial recognition” throughout the entire exam, which may be invasive and pose privacy and data issues.”

Comparing face detection and face recognition

Face recognition vs face detection comparison chart of differences

What is face detection?

Face detection uses AI technology that can determine when human faces appear in images. It uses algorithms to analyze and to separate faces from all the other features that may be present in an image—the baseline goal is to distinguish your face from a stop sign, for example, or from the adorable mug with your dog’s face on it.

Broader than face recognition

Face detection as a concept includes face recognition in some instances. If a system can isolate a face from the rest of an image, then it qualifies as “face detection.” But facial recognition is more specific and is just one of a range of capabilities under the rubric of face detection. Facial recognition uses biometric technology not just to recognize when a human face is present, but also to determine the identity of the person.

How face detection works

Our eyes, standing out as they do, are the first objects that face detection algorithms usually search for. The algorithm will then seek other features of our faces, and when it finds them it compares what it thinks is a face to large databases that definitely contain faces—as well as non-face images to make sure the algorithm is working properly.

The AI is essentially “trained” to identify whether images and videos contain faces or not. This training uses a seemingly endless number of images and video – some containing faces while others don’t – to help ensure ongoing improvements and overall accuracy.

What is face recognition?

Face recognition is one of the most significant applications of face detection. It’s able to capture someone’s image and know exactly who that person is. The technology isn’t 100% perfected yet, but if your image is already in a database, there’s a good chance that the owner of the database will be able to identify you.

What are the differences between how they work?

The steps below highlight the differences between how face detection and face recognition work. You’ll notice that face recognition goes beyond simply identifying that a face is present.

Face detection

Steps of how face detection works

How is face detection used in online proctoring?

If you are concerned about the implications of facial recognition technology when it comes to proctoring online exams, we at Honorlock understand. 

Honorlock does not use face recognition

We use face detection, which only detects that there is a clear human face in the webcam.

We do NOT identify any individual face, store facial elements, or match the face to a database. If no face is detected, however, or if multiple faces are detected, AI will flag the incident and a human proctor may intervene.

Safe for everyone involved

We take data privacy seriously. All data is secured. Data in transit and data at rest is encrypted and stored on the cloud in an Amazon (AWS) data center.  Amazon’s data centers are SOC 3 certified, U.S. Privacy Shield, and General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) compliant.

Facial detection is just one of the many online proctoring features that Honorlock uses to make sure test takers have a positive and secure remote testing experience. When you compare online proctoring services, be sure to check whether face detection is being used, rather than the more problematic face recognition. 

Speak with our online proctoring experts to see how Honorlock works. 

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 The eBook covers everything you need to know about establishing and using diversity, equity, and inclusion in your online classes.

Tyler Stike

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

What is Academic Integrity?

Students hear a lot about academic integrity from their colleges and universities, especially at the beginning of each term and during the lead-up to final examinations. Fall orientations include information about honor codes and syllabi that refer students to handbooks for guidelines to avoid academic dishonesty. Academic integrity is a serious topic and worthy of periodic examination. 

What does academic integrity mean?

Academic integrity is a code of ethics for students to follow in their courses, exams, and overall behavior. Each student’s work should be their own. Students complete their own assignments, take their own exams, and earn their own grades.

Why academic integrity is Important

In our competitive world, academic integrity is important to ensure that students have a fair and equitable learning experience. Cheating not only hurts the student because it’s an unearned, hollow achievement, but it also robs honest students of the standing that they truly deserve and puts an institution’s reputation at risk.

Academic integrity protects the institution’s reputation

Institutions have a responsibility to safeguard the value of the degrees that they award. Reputation is everything, and no credible educational organization wants to be known as a diploma mill. Universities and colleges want to know that their students honorably earned their grades and possess the knowledge and skills required for their field.

When academic integrity is protected and the educational experience is fair and equitable, everyone wins.

How to create an honor code to deter academic dishonesty

One effective way that colleges and universities can deter academic dishonesty and create an environment of academic integrity is to institute an honor code, sometimes known as an “integrity policy” or “honor policy.” 

Honor codes have been shown for decades to reduce cheating by creating a community in which every student knows the standards and feels like a part of an institution that cares about them and their peers. 

Honor codes are built on a baseline of trust and students who learn in schools with them are known to encourage each other to be honest in their work. This way, potential academic dishonesty is deterred by their peers, which can help strengthen the bonds of community for students and faculty alike. 

Once an institution knows what its values are, it can write them down and make the honor code known to the entire community.

How to protect academic integrity

As online learning becomes more common, another way to protect academic integrity and prevent cheating is online exam proctoring.

Most students seem to understand that there has to be some way for schools to keep their online exams fair when the internet has made it easy for students to look up test answers. It’s important that students understand the type of online proctoring their school uses because it greatly impacts their online testing experience.

The advantages of online proctoring with Honorlock

Honorlock’s online proctoring software and services help create a fair and equitable testing environment that protects online exams and supports students throughout. 

Our approach to online proctoring blends the benefits of AI test monitoring software with live human proctors to create a less intrusive test environment that protects online exams and supports students.

We foster trust in students while protecting the academic integrity of degrees and programs. Our online proctoring software directly integrates with your existing LMS and allows instructors to customize college exams online, monitor performance, and generate robust analytics.

Students benefit from 24/7/365 scheduling of online proctored exams whenever and wherever they choose. 

How do Honorlock’s proctoring services work?

Honorlock upholds academic integrity with online proctoring that’s monitored by AI and reviewed by humans. Our software and live test proctors make the technical online exam proctoring experience simple, easy, and human.

Honorlock online proctoring provides:

A familiar testing environment
Honorlock’s direct LMS integration means that instructors will create exams just like they already do and students will take the exam in the environment they’re already comfortable with.

AI + live test proctors
If our AI test monitoring software notices possible academic dishonesty, it notifies our live test proctors who can intervene via chat to assess the situation and help the student get back on track. This approach to proctoring online exams can also help reduce student test anxiety. 

Detection of cell phone use
Our remote proctoring software can detect when a student attempts to access test bank content during the exam using their cell phone, tablet, and laptop. 

Video proctoring and voice detection
Our AI includes video proctoring using the webcam to monitor behavior coupled with our voice detection software which detects sound and listens for specific keywords or phrases, such as “Hey Siri” or “OK Google.”

24/7 proctored exams and support for students and faculty
Honorlock is on-demand, so students can take their proctored online exam when they’re ready and get support – any time, day or night.

60-second ID verification
Honorlock makes ID verification quick and simple by capturing a picture of the test-taker along with their photo ID and then they can begin their online proctored exam.

Test questions and content
Our remote proctoring software searches for leaked test questions and content and works with instructors to request the removal of the material. 

Access to reports and recordings
After the exam, we send a comprehensive report of potential incidents and a time-stamped recording to save time.

 We know that your reputation and academic integrity mean everything when it comes to attracting students and our online proctoring services play a critical role in your success. That’s why we’ve dedicated ourselves to continually innovating to bring integrity, humanity, confidence, and positive outcomes to the proctored testing experience.

Speak with one of our experts to see how Honorlock works. 

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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.