Online test integrity and student authentication issues can halt the expansion of an institutions’ online program and potentially threaten its accreditation status. Institutions must take proactive measures to ensure the technologies and practices powering their distance learning programs are aligned to HEOA 2008 requirements and those established by the accreditors to assure a level playing field for students and to protect academic integrity. In case study format, this session will focus on how one institution implemented a secure testing environment in its online program and how technology solutions are a key part of its accreditation strategy.

1. Secure Testing. Anytime. Anywhere.
Protect Academic Integrity
in Online Exam Environments without
Sacrificing Student Convenience
18th Annual Sloan Consortium
International Conference on Online Learning
October 11th, 2012
Presented by Software Secure
Mark Musacchio
Business Development Manager
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2. Agenda
Session Background
Introduction to Software Secure
I. The Integrity Challenge for Distance Learning
II. Case Study Examples:
University of West Alabama| University of North Alabama | Ohio University
III. Technology Solutions – How they work
IV. Building a Roadmap – What to do next?
V. Discussion | Q & A
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3. Session Background
Current Situation:
Online test integrity and student authentication
issues can halt the expansion of an institution’s
online program and potentially threaten its
accreditation status.
Let’s look at how several institutions are
leveraging online exam proctoring
technology to provide anytime – anywhere
test-taking convenience while assuring
exam integrity.
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4. About Software Secure
Software Secure
Founded 1999
HQ in Newton, Massachusetts
(www.softwaresecure.com)
Solutions for secure, convenient and scalable exam integrity wherever or
whenever exams are administered - with different robust security models for
variable kinds of computer-based exam.
Solutions for Higher Education & Certification Organizations
- Classroom and Distance Learning Environments
- Assures integrity of test conditions with patented technology
- Authenticates student ID with biometrics and proprietary monitoring system
- End-to-end exam administration services
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5. I. THE INTEGRITY CHALLENGE FOR
DISTANCE LEARNING
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6. Online Challenges
 Authentication - how do you make sure
a student is who they say they are?
 Security - how do you make sure
students are taking exams honestly?
 Convenience - how do you offer
flexible and secure options?
 Cost - how do you make all of the
above fit your institution’s (or the
student’s) bottom line?
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7. If it’s Online, is it Cheating? “A study last year by two
psychology professors
from the University of
Ohio at Zanesville found
that 72 % of students
taking online courses
admitted cheating on
their tests.”
Miami Herald, October 2012
A for (someone else’s) Effort?

8. II. 3 CASE STUDY EXAMPLES:
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9. 1 University of West Alabama
Program Type: Higher Education – Distance Learning Programs
Objective: Protect exam integrity, offer student convenience
Challenge: Difficulty managing the proctoring processes for
online students, evidence of student cheating
Proctoring Before: On-campus testing centers, 3rd party proctors
Solution: Remote Proctor PRO
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10. UWA Leverages Remote Proctor PRO to Offer
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Campus-wide Online Proctoring
Challenge:
UWA implemented Remote Proctor PRO to offer
students a more convenient way to take tests,
assuring a level playing field and protecting the
academic integrity of its online programs. Started
with a small pilot, then rolled out program across
all online programs.
Results:
 Convenience - enable students to pursue secondary education.
 Faculty and students satisfied that cheating isn't occurring
 Positive feedback from faculty, students and IT
 Competitive advantage with new markets opened up to UWA.
 Increased customer/student satisfaction
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11. 2 University of North Alabama
Program Type: Higher Education
Objective: Provide a secure & convenient exam option
Challenge: Authenticating student ID, stopping cheating
Proctoring Before: Testing Centers, Students Select Proctors
Solution: Remote Proctor NOW
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12. UNA Offers Remote Proctor NOW to Students
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for Secure and Flexible Online Proctoring
Challenge:
UNA wanted to offer its faculty and students a more
convenient and secure way to administer and take
online exams with integrity. In the past, online
learners had two options for taking tests – finding
proctors or going to a test centers. These methods
were time-consuming, costly and inconvenient for
students. They also exposed the potential for cheating
as remote proctors could not always be adequately
verified by the school.
Results:
 Caught several incidences of cheating
 Increased student satisfaction – saving them money
 Faculty members confident that assessment instrument is
secure/protected
 UNA is investigating the possibility of using RP NOW campus-wide.
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13. 3 Ohio University
Program Type: Higher Education – Graduate Program
Objective: Offer convenient and secure online testing
Challenge: Protect Exam Integrity, Offer flexible offering
Proctoring Before: Testing Centers, Drive to campus
Solution: Remote Proctor PRO & NOW
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14. OU Deploys Remote Proctor to Provide a
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Level Playing Field & Protect Exam Integrity
Challenge:
A new online program was being launched in the
Engineering Management Department. Department
Director wanted to ensure that integrity practices
were integrated into the program’s rollout from the
beginning. Ohio University had experienced some
challenges in the past with academic dishonesty and
the engineering department wanted to ensure it was
diligent about implementing technology that would
secure online assessments
Results:
After about a year of usage, the technology has been
successful in providing a level playing field in the online
program has been deemed to bring instances of cheating
down to near zero. The Department Director feels the
legitimacy of the credentials earned by students is now
safeguarded. 14

15. Student Feedback
Students who demand flexibility are grateful for the
Remote Proctor option . . .
Time Savings: Ease of Use:
“This has saved me an hour’s drive to a testing “The proctor software seems to work well and
center.” is very convenient for taking tests online.”
“This opportunity allowed me to stay home “Can log in to my test in under 5 minutes -
with my sick mother rather than hiring a nurse anyone with basic knowledge of computer
to care for her while I drove to campus to take systems can easily access the program with
the exam.” instructions and practice.”
Privacy: Cost:
“ Remote Proctor is not intrusive” “I’ve saved on babysitting fees and parking by
“Convenience of remote proctoring outweighs being able to take the test from my house.”
my concern about being monitored.” “I have had to pay up to $50 to take tests at a
test center, and leave work early. With this
system, I’ve simplified my test taking, and saved
money.”

16. III. TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS:
HOW THEY WORK
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17. Online Exam Proctoring Solutions
Digital solutions that assure true exam
integrity for all distance learning exams.
Gold-standard proprietary hardware and On-demand solution for distance learning
software solution that delivers total exams - proctored by computer and
security for self-service examinations webcam, authenticating the ID of online
and prevents cheating. students.

18. Remote Proctor PRO – Total Exam Security
Addresses every area of exam security by
authenticating his/her identity and controlling
a student's computer while watching and
listening to the exam environment.
Integrated Hardware & Software Components:
 Remote Proctor Pro : Hardware device that
uses biometrics to authenticate the identity of
the test-taker, records all sound, and videos a
360-degree view of the exam environment.
 Securexam : Patented software which
provides access to computer-based exams
while simultaneously locking down the desktop
by preventing access to all other non-
examination materials or applications
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19. Remote Proctor NOW – Anytime. On-Demand.
 Utilizes existing webcam and microphone
that test-taker already owns- they can be
taking a test in less than three minutes!
 Records webcam view, audio and desktop to
ensure compliant exam conditions
 No need to schedule time or rely on a
proctor’s schedule to take a test
 Cost effective method to provide remote test
proctoring all for about $15 per exam
 Each test is reviewed by multiple certified
review specialists to catalog exam policy
violations
 Can work with any test delivery system
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20. IV. BUILDING THE ROADMAP
WHAT TO DO NEXT
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21. The Pathway to Online Integrity
• Step 1: Explicitly state
expectations
• Step 2: Reinforce ethical climate
with prevention.
• Step 3: Be consistent and follow
through with consequences.
• Step 4: Utilize assessment design.
• Step 5: Create a learning
environment that minimizes
cheating opportunities.
McNabb and Olmstead (2009) Journal of Online Learning and Teaching Vol. 5, No. 2
Hulsart and McCarthy (2011) The Journal of Continuing Higher Education, 59:92–96
.

22. Balancing Priorities
Cost
Low
Remote Proctor
Login/ID,
Remote Proctor PRO
Password,
NOW, Anytime, Anytime,
anytime,
anywhere anywhere
anywhere
Convenience
Login/ID Remote Proctor
Remote Proctor
password, NOW
PRO, scheduled
scheduled Scheduled
location
location location
High
Security

23. Why Software Secure?
 More convenient
 No need for students to schedule a proctor - On
demand testing 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
 More affordable
 On average 40% cheaper than other proctoring
technologies
 More secure
 Exams are reviewed on a 1:1 basis and we have
complete video and audio records of exam
experience

24. Customers using Remote Proctor today
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25. VI. QUESTIONS & DISCUSSION
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26. Secure Testing. Anytime. Anywhere.
For more information, please contact:
Software Secure Sales Inquiries
sales@softwaresecure.com | (617) 340-6381
Follow us: @Software_Secure