Online test proctoring software is part of a booming market that experts predict will enjoy exponential growth in the coming years. Among the most successful is Examity, which labels itself as the “world's leading solution for learning validation.” As a backup to its claims, the platform raised $90M in funding from the private equity firm Great Hill in April 2020 and now employs over a thousand proctors.
Schools around the nation are using the service to monitor students as they take tests, but not all experiences are positive. If you're facing allegations of online cheating while using Examity, knowing how the platform works helps you understand the flaws in the platform's flagging and notification system.
This knowledge enables you to avoid long-term penalties from your college or university administration.
How Examity Works
Examity is a platform that monitors exam-taking and other online activities via proctors or technology. Founded in 2013 by Michael London, the platform generates roughly $28M a year and boasts over 1,100 employees. London is an Edtech veteran and the founder of similar companies like College Coach and Ed Assist. Examity's main competitors are ProctorU and Kryterion, and over 400 colleges and universities use it in the US.
One of the positive aspects of Examity is that it offers flexibility for both professors and students. Professors can choose what type of monitoring they need, and students can choose when to take their test. Regardless of the location or time, all they need is WiFi, laptops, or a desktop to get started.
Sometimes, proctors ask students to show them their surroundings and desks before starting the test. The proctors can also request remote access to student devices at any time to check for cheating or a hidden browser.
Authentication
Students must create an Examity profile to access the system and their tests. The process involves multiple authentication levels to verify the student's identity. Students must upload a photo of a government-issued ID and log in using biometric data. This authentication process helps reduce fraudulent activity, but logging in is merely scratching the surface when it comes to security measures.
Proctoring Options
Professors choose between Auto Proctoring and Live Proctoring when students take their tests. Live Proctoring involves a college professional that Examity's senior management team handpicks and interviews before hiring. Many of these proctors are overseas. For Auto Proctoring, Examity uses CoreStack Artificial Intelligence and machine learning technology to monitor behavior and activity. As students take the test, it flags activity to administrators.
Flagging System
Flagging is the process of labeling the activity that a student takes throughout their examination session. Each flag has a timestamp and a color to make it easier for a professor to access later. Students do not get a notification when they receive a flag, and they cannot access their flagging history.
- Green Flag: Mean that all is going smoothly. Two green flags indicate that the student isn't committing a violation and that their identification was successful.
- Yellow Flag: Highlights suspicious behavior that indicates a rule violation. However, it is not necessarily an indicator of cheating. A yellow flag pops up if a small child enters the room, the student left their seat to use the restroom, or that their phone rang.
- Red Flag: A warning that cheating behavior or a serious violation is happening. When a red flag pops up, the student's instructor receives a link that takes them to the exam session. For example, suppose a student conducts an internet search or takes screenshots of the test questions. In that case, the platform considers this cheating behavior and flags it.
- Blue Flag: Indicates the presence of a technical issue. Examples include low audio quality, internet issues, or a frozen camera.
Examity claims that the color-coded system helps administrators quickly access significant events during test-taking. Although the program identifies cheating behavior, the final verdict and penalties depend on the professor.
Problems with Examity
For a platform that enjoys a reputation as one of the fastest-growing Edtech companies by Deloitte's Fast 500, Examity has its fair share of issues. Security concerns top the list, with some labeling the biometric requirements as “unjustified, excessive, and harmful.”
In July 2020, OIT Colorado Boulder released a statement near the end of the term informing students that they no longer supported the platform's use. OIT claimed that login issues and a lack of support from Examity contributed to this decision.
Since the platform is sensitive to user activities and relies on proctors that make students feel nervous, much can go wrong. Many students may face issues using Examity, which mistakenly labels their behavior as a cheating violation. If professors don't investigate a flag, students risk failing the exam and having a record that doesn't accurately reflect what happened.
When You Face Cheating Allegations
There is nothing more frustrating than a platform flagging innocent behavior as a cheating attempt. If your professors or administrators don't investigate the allegations proficiently, the repercussions can be more than a failing grade. Examity now has a record against you, and it may influence your professor's opinion of your activities.
Universities and colleges will still take misconduct measures against students who allegedly cheat during an online exam. If you face allegations of cheating, you can take steps to decrease the likelihood of penalization or failing your course.
An attorney-advisor like Joseph D. Lento effectively helps you defend against online cheating allegations by getting to the bottom of the evidence against you. Without the right defense strategy, you are at the mercy of uncaring proctors and imperfect AI technology that hinders your chance of success.
Call the Lento Law Firm
Technology, like people, is not perfect, and mistakes are common. However, these mistakes can prevent you from graduating on time and leave a mark on your permanent record.
When facing online cheating allegations through Examity, you need an attorney-advisor who understands how these platforms work and the many faults and mistakes that happen during their use.
You don't have to fight cheating allegations alone, especially when using an error-prone online proctoring service like Examity. Call advisor Joseph D. Lento today at 888-535-3638 to discuss your options and fight accusations of online cheating using Examity.
