Trying to prevent cheating in DL. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/06/technology/online-test-takers-feel-anti-cheating-softwares-uneasy-glare.html?ref=education&_r=0
Good article. I've never been forced to use such software but would much rather pay for a local proctor than to deal with it. Distance learning can be stressful enough as is, without running the risk of being flagged a cheater due to bad lighting or having to sneeze. That's the value an in-person proctor can bring to the equation: on-the-spot logical evaluation of circumstances. Having a unified departmental distance testing policy vs. leaving it to the instructor can also improve the learning experience for everyone. Now, if your unified policy is to use such software?
Unless the proctors simply don't care or don't really want to be bothered. I used a librarian as a proctor for my stats class. For each of my exams she would give me the exam, place me in a back room by myself, and would then leave to take care of her normal duties. Not once did she ever check on me. There were no cameras in the room. Nothing. She even left the premises once. She didn't care. I didn't cheat, but I very easily could have if I really wanted to.
