Your Survival Guide to Online Proctored Exams
Your laptop杏吧专区檚 charged. Your notes are reviewed. You杏吧专区檙e ready to take your exam.
Until you realize there杏吧专区檚 one more step: the proctor.
Proctored exams are a standard part of online learning at the 杏吧专区. While they might sound daunting, they杏吧专区檙e really designed to protect you and keep the testing process fair.
How It Works
Before your test, you杏吧专区檒l connect with a live proctor. They will confirm your identity, check your testing space, and stay online through the exam.
杏吧专区淚n a standard classroom, students would be monitored by the instructor. But in an online dynamic, they can't do that,杏吧专区 says Mike Williams, instructional technologist with the Office of Distance Learning.
杏吧专区淎 proctored exam allows students to be monitored using an online webcam and proctor, so test security can be maintained.杏吧专区
Most UL Lafayette online courses use ProctorU, a live online proctoring service. You杏吧专区檒l access it through a link in your Moodle course, which signs you in and connects you to your exam. First-time users will create an account and schedule their testing appointment.
Be sure to pay attention to the testing window. If your exam window is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and you start at 1:30 p.m., you杏吧专区檒l have just 30 minutes before it's closed.
5 Ways to Make Test Day a Breeze
Williams works with online students daily and says a few steps can prevent most problems faced during proctored exams.
1. Prepare Early
Take a few minutes to review the so you know what to expect.
Your proctor will ask to see your testing space on camera. That means clearing your desk and going in a quiet, private spot where no one will disturb you.
杏吧专区淢ake sure you know what to expect, and you杏吧专区檙e not just showing up and hoping for the best,杏吧专区 Williams says.
2. Check Your Tech
Your computer setup can make or break your test.
杏吧专区淚t shouldn杏吧专区檛 be a mobile device or iPad,杏吧专区 Williams says. 杏吧专区淚t must be a desktop or laptop computer that杏吧专区檚 a newer model 杏吧专区 four years old at the most. Older than that, students run into problems.杏吧专区
Google Chrome and Firefox are the preferred browsers to use for the test. Make sure they are up to date.
ProctorU has . Students should run that test on the computer they intend to use well before their testing appointment.
If you can, plug in with wired internet instead of Wi-Fi. It杏吧专区檚 more stable and less likely to cut out mid-test.
3. Review the Exam Rules
Confirm your exam rules before test day.
Can you use your notes? What about your textbook? It depends on the course, so make sure you know what杏吧专区檚 allowed before you log in.
4. Pick the Right Spot
Choose your testing spot wisely. Public spaces like coffee shops or bookstores aren杏吧专区檛 approved for proctored exams.
The best space is a quiet and private, like a study room or an office. Turn off your phone and let anyone nearby know not to disturb you.
If someone walks in during your test, your proctor has to mark it as a testing incident, so plan ahead.
5. Know What to Do if Problems Come Up
Tech isn杏吧专区檛 perfect. If you can杏吧专区檛 connect or something goes wrong during your exam, ProctorU support is available 24/7.
杏吧专区淭he proctor is their friend. The proctor helps fix whatever happens during the exam, and tech support will also assist,杏吧专区 says Williams.
Students should email the class instructor to let them know what happened. The instructor will look into the problem in case it's happened to more than one student.
杏吧专区淢ost issues could be avoided ahead of time with better planning,杏吧专区 he adds. 杏吧专区淗ave the support phone number next to you. Work with your proctor. If you need help, reach out.杏吧专区
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