Feature image: Ernest Ojeh/ Unslpash (left), River McCrossen (right)
Dear Professor Patricia M. Davidson,
The recent announcement from the University of Wollongong regarding online exam invigilation using the controversial ‘Proctorio’ is of concern to both the Wollongong Undergraduate Students Association and its students. WUSA has since received consistent feedback from both representatives and students over the many issues associated with Proctorio.
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted students, educators and universities around the world. A part of adapting to the pandemic was shifting to digital education and online examinations. Since these examinations are difficult to monitor, WUSA recognises that the University has legitimate concerns over academic integrity and conduct.
However, WUSA believes that Proctorio represents significant risks to student privacy, mental health and university accessibility.
Heavy emphasis has been placed over concerns of student privacy and despite factual flaws, the major issue put forward in the ‘No use of proctorio (or similar) in UOW invigilation’ petition mainly regards student privacy.
The privacy concerns are mainly linked back to what and how student data is collected, specifically items such as room scans, student camera footage, keyboard strokes and microphone input.
The University has set up many measures to counter these concerns like, ‘no use of room scans’, ‘only the amount of keystrokes being pressed are recorded’, ‘encryption of data’ and ‘no Proctorio staff will access exam data’ to name a few.
However, major and legitimate concerns remain in relation to data breaches. In the last three years, USYD, UNSW, UQLD, ANU and many more universities in Australia have had multiple data breaches with the biggest breach occurring in 2020 because of ProctorU, a similar program.
In the Netherlands, a Proctorio exploit left tens of thousands of students vulnerable to secret recordings through the person’s web camera and access payment accounts. Luckily, it was found by ethical hackers.
Given that Australian universities and proctoring software used by education facilities have both had data breaches, it is the position of WUSA and students that the University can not guarantee the privacy and safety of its students.
In comparison to open book or in-person examinations, these risks associated with proctoring apps do not occur nor does the process of getting ready to enter examination. The time and resources used negating these risks can then be best spent elsewhere.
Another divisive factor is mental health in regards to online invigilation.
Despite the University’s measures to limit what student data is recorded and who this data is revealed to, this will understandably still produce anxiety. Many students go under significant stress during and leading up to examinations. Recording such anxiety can and will produce further anxiety in of itself.
The anxiety of being recorded can force students away from thinking about the exam. Mental pressures not to shift in their seat, not to look away and stare into the distance can all mount up to distracting students, not to mention loud and busy homes.
When students may already have test anxiety, further building onto this with performance anxiety and stress from potential processes afterward can provide an extra difficulty which proves too hard for students.
The accessibility of examinations is also of major concern to students and WUSA.
The requirement by the University for exams with Online invigilation is that;
- Students have a computer with internet access,
- Students have a webcam,
- Students have a microphone,
- Students have a compatible Browser,
- Students present ID and,
- Students have a quiet place to complete their exam.
There are a range of issues with these requirements which can place simply another barrier of entry to sitting an online exam. Students may not have access to stable internet, particularly rural and low-income students may have worse access which may drop out. Students may not have access to a camera as not every laptop has a built in camera and desktop computers never have them included.
Students may not have access to a microphone as typically, laptop microphones are usually more vulnerable and fragile. In addition, the prohibition of headphone or earphone microphones significantly restricts what may be used.
Students must have a compatible browser is particularly concerning as the two required browsers (Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge) and their respective companies have both had significant data breaches and vulnerabilities. Forcing students to use either one of these browsers whilst also trying to protect students data is problematic.
As previously addressed in the letter, students might also not have a quiet place to take the exam either. When students may have to stay home for an examination (COVID-19, caring for family member/s or transport) this requirement of a quiet place to take the exam can provide problems to students.
Even if all requirements are met, these are additional costs and possible barriers of entry which add to the difficulty of attending university.
Finally the fundamental flaws, loopholes and work-arounds void any gain to academic integrity and conduct.
UOW has outlined the following limits on its Proctorio;
- No room scan or showing of room,
- No eye movement tracking,
- Only the amount of keystrokes being pressed are recorded and,
- Only automated video, audio and screen capture tools are used to record session data.
However, this system can easily be cheated. External devices, fake audio and video feed, paper notes and more could be used to cheat an exam and fool the Proctoring program. The use of Proctorio could skew results towards more tech-knowledgeable students who violate academic integrity and conduct.
Finally, WUSA recognises that the University has tried to make the introduction of a proctoring program equitable and fair. However, the flaws and risks of this policy outweigh the benefits.
It is the considered view of WUSA that the introduction of Proctorio will not only hurt students but the University and it’s staff. We hope that the University reconsiders and addresses the issues raised in this letter.
We must and can do better.
Kind Regards,
Ben Hancock
General Representative
Wollongong Undergraduate Student Association
*The views expressed in this piece are that of the author and the WUSA and not necessarily those of The Tertangala.
The Tertangala has edited parts from the original letter to the VC for grammar.