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Proctoring Tools in Canvas
This page details some of the technical information about the quiz proctoring software utilized by UW-Parkside.
Honorlock
Honorlock Resources & Guides – Link
Supported Devices – Windows, Mac, and Chromebook
Exclusive Features
•Has 24/7 live chat support for students and instructors
•Available option to have an Honorlock proctor manually check student footage after the quizzes are submitted
•Can allow students to bypass the proctoring requirement via a password from the instructor if necessary
•Allows instructors to create settings presets and apply them to other quizzes
•Can automatically generate & publish a short practice quiz so students can test Honorlock on their device
•Supports File Upload question types
•Supports third-party assignments to a limited extent
Honorlock runs as a browser extension within the Google Chrome web browser, so students will need to use Chrome to take their quiz. Adding the Honorlock extension to Chrome only takes a couple of clicks and will be ready to go almost instantaneously. Students can freely delete or deactivate the extension after they finish their quizzes with no negative effects. Canvas will ask the student for a password if they try to begin an Honorlock-enabled quiz without having Honorlock active. You can choose to give a student this password in emergency situations where proctoring isn't an available option on their end. Otherwise, they will need to download and enable Honorlock before they can access the quiz.
Being a Chrome add-on, Honorlock cannot fully lock down a student's device. However, any attempts to leave the quiz screen will be detected and flagged, whether it was to another browser tab or another program. The quiz will lock itself down if they deactivate any necessary proctoring services mid-quiz. Additionally, Honorlock has methods to detect if students search for quiz answers while they take their quiz. Please visit the following Knowledgebase page if you have any concerns about proctoring tool privacy or how it can detect students using other devices during their quiz: Proctoring Privacy F.A.Q.s
The UW-System licensed an alternative proctoring service called Respondus LockDown Browser in 2020, but the contract expired in Summer 2021. Honorlock will be the university's primary proctoring service in Canvas going forward.
How Online Proctoring Works
Honorlock uses an automated proctoring service. If there is suspected academic misconduct during a student's quiz attempt, Honorlock will flag those timestamps in the student's attempt for the instructor to review. It will be up to the instructor to determine what, if any, action is taken for flagged footage. Footage being flagged does not automatically indicate that academic misconduct has occurred.
The Honorlock Google Chrome extension is free to everyone. Enabling it on a quiz will automatically add its download link to the quiz description. The extension can also be found through an internet search or on the Google Chrome extension storefront.
Here are some of the features that are commonly provided by online proctoring tools, most of which are optional:
- Device/browser lockdown
- Prevents students from accessing other programs or websites during their quiz unless otherwise specified in the proctoring settings. Proctoring tools will require students to close other browser tabs and/or programs if the settings require it.
- Webcam audio & video proctoring
- Honorlock uses automated scans to detect suspicious activity such as talking to someone or leaving the room during the quiz. An instructor may also enable a setting in Honorlock that makes an Honorlock proctor manually skim through the footage to double-check for anything that the A.I. may have missed. The footage is deleted after a set period of time and is not viewable by any third parties besides the instructor and the optional proctor from Honorlock. The webcam requirement is optional and is only required on a quiz if the instructor so chooses.
- Screen-captures the student's desktop while taking their quiz
- Honorlock will still log if and when a student leaves the quiz page even if screen capture isn't enabled.
- Pre-quiz room scan
- Student photo
- There is an additional option that is turned on by default that asks students to show an ID before taking their quiz. Keep in mind that not every student may know where their university ID is or even have one if they are fully remote.
- Disabling copying, pasting, or printing
- Honorlock will inform you if a student tried to copy, paste, or screenshot their quiz.
- On-screen calculator
The Proctoring Process
1) Students take the quiz – When a student goes to take a proctored quiz, it will prevent them from starting until they have the required tool running. This means that the student won't be able to open their quiz without enabling the Honorlock extension in Google Chrome. Once Honorlock is active, the student will proceed to open their quiz where it will finish any remaining setup such as asking the student to close their other browser tabs or turn on their webcam. After this setup is complete, they will take their quiz like normal. Honorlock will return to standby after the quiz is submitted, at which point the student is free to disable or delete the Honorlock extension from their browser. They can also leave the extension untouched since Honorlock doesn't run whatsoever unless they're actively taking a proctored quiz.
2) Checking the footage – After a quiz is submitted, the proctoring tool uses a fully automated system to scan through any recorded footage. This process will flag any timestamps where it believes something suspicious may have occurred, as well as giving the quiz attempt an overall suspicion probability rating (a low-medium-high scale). The overall rating does not guarantee whether or not cheating actually occurred, nor do the individual flagged timestamps. This process is only meant to point out times where cheating may have occurred by watching for things such as the student leaving the room mid-quiz or looking up answers in another browser window.
Honorlock also has an available option to have one of their live proctors check in on students during their proctored quiz/exam. If the automated system notices suspicious activity and an Honorlock proctor is available, the proctor can bring up a live chat window with the student to determine what is happening and how to address the situation. The proctor can then clear the flag or make note of the infraction in the Honorlock results screen.
3) Instructor checks & verifies the results – Finally, the instructor opens the list of results and determines whose quiz attempt, if any, received high enough of a rating that they need to check for potential violations. If an instructor checks these flags and verifies that cheating did occur, any changes to grades or further disciplinary actions will be up to their discretion. Regardless of what they found in their analysis, the proctoring tools will not affect any grades or take any actions of their own.
Viewing Proctoring Results
You can see more a more detailed results guide with visuals on Honorlock's website.