Proctoring

Reducing Cheating in Online Exams Through the Proctor Test Model

Miss Ai
08 Jun, 2024

Reducing Cheating in Online Exams Through the Proctor Test Model

The Case of Indonesian Learners of Arabic from the Book of Silsilat Al-Lisan

Abstract—

The World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared coronavirus (COVID-19) a pandemic on March 11, 2020. Educational institutions must change most face-to-face learning activities in class to online. This situation forces academic institutions to change the format of assessing student learning outcomes. Online exam surveillance applications utilizing cameras and other blocking browsers (proctors) are becoming popular. However, the appearance of the proctor model supervised exam system also raises controversy. The main discussion regarding this proctor system is the integrity of assessment and the capacity of students to adapt to this new method of supervision. The main question is whether students feel comfortable using the proctor system in exams and whether this system affects students’ scores. To answer this question, we have analyzed the scores obtained from a trial of 152 scores of students learning Arabic at Hasanuddin University Makassar Indonesia.

The experiment involved three exam models: online format from home using the Sikola Learning Management System (Modality 1), online directly using the Proctor System in The Sikola Learning Management System (Modality 2), and a paper exam format in person under the supervision of a lecturer (Modality 3). The results show that students prefer Modality 1(online at home with the Sikola LMS system). There is a statistical difference between the scores obtained by students from the three modalities analyzed. Student scores with modality are higher than the other two modalities. On the other hand, there was no difference in scores between modalities 2 and 3. The online exam system (modality 2) can be applied to online exams in higher education institutions because it can reduce or even keep students from cheating.

Keywords—Reducing cheating; online exam; proctor test

Models; Indonesian learners of Arabic; Silsilat Al-Lisan

INTRODUCTION

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the new coronavirus (COVID-19) a pandemic on March 11, 2020 [1] officially. COVID-19 has spread rapidly due to the high transmission capacity of the virus and the routes of

Transmission (especially via aerosols when coughing and sneezing). In addition, about 30% of patients have various life-threatening symptoms [2]. Higher education institutions must change their learning process activities based on the spread and the symptoms it causes. The face-to-face learning process is suspended.

Universities are trying to adapt to this situation which has become a challenge worldwide. At the study program level, the teaching team must adjust their teaching and assessment systems [3]. On the other hand, lecturers and students have received online learning activities. Well, both in learning activities and in the assessment system. An online assessment or exam system with strict monitoring is starting to be widely used. This proctor system has generated significant controversy, especially in science education [4]–[7].

Among the concerns of educators and students are psychological disturbances, privacy, and various environmental factors [5]. Dragan et al. (2020) concluded that online exams with remote supervision proved to be a timely solution, and also, the emotional needs of students who might feel stressed by these rigorous proctor exams should be considered [8].

Two of the most significant challenges in the online examProctor system are the assessment standards and students’ ability to adapt to this new exam modality. Several studies have been carried out to analyze student dishonesty in the online exam proctor system and various ways to prevent it. A study by Guangul et al. (2020) concluded that combining various assessment methods has helped minimize academic dishonesty [4]. Li (2021) developed an anti-collusion approach based on optimizing remote online testing [9].

Recently, Pettit et al. (2021) have analyzed studies conducted so far that provide recommendations for improving student authentication and preventing fraud [7]. Baso [2022] also wrote an online exam model with a reliable proctor system to reduce academic cheating that might occur [10].

The integrity of the evaluation in online exams can be monitored in various ways, including taking the exam in person or using a real-time supervisor system [5]. One of the real-time online monitoring systems is the website

Uji.sikoola.com which provides real-time online monitoring services using a webcam and a browser lock [11]. Students are connected to the online exam page sikoola.ujian.com which monitors students during the online exam.

Before the exam starts, students must check their internet speed. The Sikoola.ujian.com system will analyze the internet speed used by students in real-time and provide good, moderate, or bad status for student internet speed.