Academic Integrity

MyLab Tests to Add Capacity for Automated Proctoring

• By Dian Schaffhauser
• 08/14/18

Education technology company ProctorU announced that it has integrated automated online proctoring into Pearson's MyLab product set. ProctorU Auto, announced about a year ago, is the technology at the heart of the integration. Using machine learning, the software can flag "suspect behavior."

The "Auto" offering is available in various flavors. At the most basic level, the software enforces identity authentication using ID and photo capture, facial recognition and keystroke analysis. The school will also receive a screen and video recording of the session with potential violations marked for follow-up. A "professional review" tier includes those features as well as review by a professional proctor within a day of exam completion. A "live launch" version (ProctorU Live+) adds on top of those features the use of a real-time proctor for launching the exam and walking the test-taker through authentication.

The integration with Pearson's personalized learning products will allow schools to make sure the student taking assessments is the person who signed up for the course. To add proctoring in MyLab's quizzes and tests will require the instructor to "flip a button." Both programs work within learning management systems from Canvas, Blackboard and Moodle.

This isn't the first integration with digital learning content. A few weeks ago, ProctorU made a similar announcement for Shmoop, which produces test preparation and certified online courses. Shmoop will use ProctorU Live+ in the final exams for its 57 college courses.