How is privacy protected during online proctoring?
Enabling automated proctoring can help achieve the privacy and security that your students need and want. All data that is transmitted from a student’s device through SmarterProctoring is fully encrypted and secure. As soon as data arrives in our network, it remains encrypted as it is stored on the file system. Only authorized users at your institution can access your data.
To fully ensure the students’ privacy, SmarterProctoring never:
- Monitors anything outside of an active exam session.
- Monitors network traffic or devices other than where the exam session is being taken
- Shares any student information outside of SmarterProctoring and the Learning Management System (LMS)
- Shares the recorded exam session to any entity other than the student’s institution.
- Sells or shares the student’s information, including exam session recordings with any other entity.
- Review browsing history or currently installed programs on personal devices.
How are students’ identities verified during an online proctored exam?
Students’ identities can be verified through SmarterProctoring. Verification method would be by webcam and a government-issued ID.
If the online SmarterProctoring exam is set up to verify students’ identities, the students will be prompted through a series of steps on how to complete the verification.
For typing biometrics verification:
With verification via typing biometrics, no webcam is necessary to authenticate a user. Everyone types differently. By using typing biometrics, students will be identified by their unique typing patterns.
Not only does this keep the students’ surroundings confidential, but it also provides students with another option to authenticate themselves. This plays an important part in online learning accessibility due to the potential lack of access to a webcam, are unavailable to access a webcam due to a disability, or if the students experience performance anxiety while appearing on a webcam.
To learn more about this method of verification, check out our blog.
For webcam and government-issued ID verification:
With verification via webcam and government-issued ID, students will be required to have a working webcam to verify their identity. First, they would be prompted to take a picture of themselves via their webcam. Next, they would be prompted to hold up their government-issued ID in order for the software to confirm the person on the webcam is the same as the person in the ID.
All students’ data is kept confidential and is never sold or shared with outside third-party vendors. Typically, videos, IDs, and other personal information are stored within the SmarterProctoring System for 6 months. However, it is up to the individual school to decide and configure their historical records.
What personal data is stored in SmarterProctoring?
- First and last name
- The email address provided on account setup
- The ID verification images provided during exams
- The selfie photo taken during exams
- Video/audio of the student’s screen and webcam during exams (if enabled by the instructor)
How long does SmarterProctoring store personal data for?
On average, information is retained for 6 months. However, it is up to individual schools to decide and configure their historical records.
Does SmarterProctoring monitor browser or screen activity?
This will depend on the settings used when the exam was created. If the instructor has turned off the disable new tabs or force full-screen settings under the lockdown options, then students can open new tabs in their browsers or applications on their machines. If not, the students will not be able to access any webpages or applications outside of their exam.
The instructor has the option to use both the record screen setting and only one monitor setting when creating the exam. When used together, it will allow for SmarterProctoring to monitor the students’ screens, be it in a new tab or a new application. The system will then report this back to the instructor after the session is completed.
Once the session is completed, SmarterProctoring no longer records and monitors the students’ screens.
How do I know when the exam session is being recorded?
The following icons are present within the Google Chrome extension ensure the user when their remote proctoring session is being recorded:
Extension is installed, not engaged in an exam session.
Extension is actively in an exam session, nothing is being recorded.
Extension is actively in an exam session and recording is enabled.
Can students view their own recorded exam videos?
Currently, there is no functionality for students to view a copy of their own virtually proctored exam recording.
Who should I contact if I have a SmarterProctoring privacy concern?
Please email privacy@smarterproctoring.com and we will be happy to assist you with any of your privacy concerns.
