As universities around the world continue to adopt online learning as a means of ensuring that students can continue their education, the issue of academic integrity and preventing cheating during online exams has become increasingly important.
In response to this challenge, the University of Ghana has adopted Lockdown, a proctor software that is designed to monitor students during online exams, ensuring that they do not cheat or engage in any other form of academic misconduct. This aligns with the university’s vision to adopt technology in its processes as it celebrates its 75th anniversary.
Lockdown is a proctor software that uses a combination of webcam monitoring, browser lockdown, and artificial intelligence to ensure that students are not cheating during online exams. The software can detect when a student is looking away from the screen or when they are using another device to search for answers, and it will flag these behaviours as potential cheating.
As a pilot program, the University of Ghana is currently testing Lockdown to determine its effectiveness in preventing cheating during online exams. While the software has shown promise, it is important to continue to evaluate its performance and make any necessary adjustments to ensure that it is meeting the needs of students and faculty.
Students are required to download the software before taking an exam, and the software runs in the background, monitoring their behaviour and flagging any potential cheating.
While some students may find the use of proctor software invasive, the University of Ghana believes that it is necessary to maintain academic integrity during online exams. The software has been well-received by faculty and has helped to ensure that students are held to the same standards of academic honesty as they would be during an in-person exam.
Features of Lockdown Browser
LockDown Browser is a custom browser that locks down the testing environment within a learning management system.
- Locks down student computers to prevent cheating during exams
- Integrates seamlessly with Learning Management Systems
- Annual licensing allows unlimited use at your institution
How LockDown Browser Works
- Assessments are displayed full-screen and cannot be minimized
- Browser menu and toolbar options are removed, except for Back, Forward, Refresh and Stop
- Prevents access to other applications including messaging, screen-sharing, virtual machines, and remote desktops
- Printing and screen capture functions are disabled
- Copying and pasting anything to or from an assessment is prevented
- Right-click menu options, function keys, keyboard shortcuts and task switching are disabled
- An assessment cannot be exited until the student submits it for grading
- Assessments that are set up for use with LockDown Browser cannot be accessed with other browsers
Lockdown has proven to be a useful tool for universities looking to maintain academic integrity during online exams. While it may not be perfect, it provides a means of ensuring that students are held to the same standards of academic honesty that they would be during an in-person exam, and it helps to protect the value of the degrees that students earn.
