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A comprehensive guide on whether Proctorio detects phones in online exams.

Thinking of how to cheat in an exam is a common occurrence in most people, especially those sitting proctored online exams. And without a doubt, you’ve asked yourself if proctorio can detect phones.

Whether this is caused by real curiosity or just an unrealistic thought of how to cheat on a proctored exam, it's a question many students have thought about.

But is it even possible? Does Proctorio have some high-tech, detective phone radar? Get ready, because we're about to dive into an informative, fact-finding journey to answer this burning question.

Want to know more about Proctorio and phone detection? Dive right into this guide to get all the answers you've been looking for.

What is Proctorio? 

Proctorio is a leading remote proctoring solution designed to ensure the integrity and authenticity of online tests.

As we continue seeing the rise of online examinations, learning centers seek reliable methods to ensure exam integrity. Proctorio leads the pack by offering a combination of AI and surveillance mechanisms that is the same as the vigilance of a physical invigilator, but in the educational technology space.

What Does Proctorio Do?

Primarily, Proctorio acts as a digital invigilator. It monitors students during online exams through:

• Screen Recording: Captures and records every activity on the student's screen to ensure they're only accessing permissible resources.
• Webcam and Audio Monitoring: This helps inform the exam managers of the test-takers surrounding and behaviors that might lead to flagging.
• Browser Activity Monitoring: Restricts and tracks browser actions, ensuring no unauthorized tabs or websites can be opened and accessed.

Understanding its functionalities helps in invalidating myths, especially when thinking of how to cheat on a proctored exam.

How Does Proctorio Detect Cheating?

While Proctorio doesn't directly detect phones, it has an array of tools to spot cheating:

• Visual and Audio Alerts: If a student tries to check their phone or plays information aloud, the webcam and microphone can identify these suspicious actions and send visual and audio alert to the exam managers.
• AI Behavior Analysis: This feature follows student activities, flagging off actions like looking away frequently, which could indicate looking at notes or a phone.
• Browser Lockdown: Students thinking on how to cheat on a proctored exam by looking for answers online will find their browser activity limited, as Proctorio is able to limit browser activity during the test.

I recall when my friend, Alex, had the idea of using his phone secretly during an exam. Proctorio flagged his "frequent off-screen glances", leading to an investigation and eventual zero grading on his test.

How Proctorio Works

Proctorio is a remote digital proctoring device that is used in digital learning space to ensure there is no exam cheating in remote exams. It uses a combination of AI, recorders, and real-time surveillance to sense and prevent any form of cheating.

• Screen Recording: Proctorio captures a continuous video of the test-taker's screen.
• Webcam and Audio Monitoring: The tool monitors the test-taker via their webcam and microphone to detect any suspicious activities.
• Browser Activity Monitoring: Proctorio restricts the opening of other tabs and tracks browser history during the exam.

Knowing this, the real question surfaces: if one were thinking how to cheat on a proctored exam using their phone, would Proctorio catch them, and how can you take a proctored exam?

Image alt text: a student looking for how to cheat in online exams.

Author credit: By Štěpán Pech - od autora, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=74868374

Can Proctorio Actually Detect Phones?

Simply put, this tool is not able to detect phone usage in exam. But, it's not as simple as it sounds. The following are the reasons:

• Webcam Monitoring: If a student were to look at their phone, the webcam could capture this suspicious movement. So, while it doesn't "detect" the phone per se, it can record the act of looking or interacting with it during the exams.
• Audio Monitoring: Some people think about how to cheat on a proctored exam by playing pre-recorded information on their phone. But, if played out loud, the software can detect unusual sounds and alert the exam instructor.

Remember my friend Jake? He once tried sneaking a glance at his phone during a Proctorio exam, only to be flagged for "suspicious movement". That incident cost him his grade. Trust me; it's not worth the risk!

Commonly Asked Questions about Proctorio

• Can Proctorio see my screen?

Yes, Proctorio constantly records the activity on your screen during the exam. This ensures that students only view and access exam-related content, protecting the exam's integrity.

• Does Proctorio record audio?

Indeed, Proctorio actively monitors and records unusual sounds. Therefore, if you were considering how to cheat on a proctored exam using voice notes or whispered answers, this tool would likely detect those unusual audio patterns and send alerts to exam managers.

• Can I use my phone as a calculator during a Proctorio exam?

Unless it is allowed by the instructors, it's advisable to away from phones. Proctorio can flag phone usage as suspicious behavior, which might affect your scores negatively.

Conclusion

The digital age, with its technological improvements, brings both opportunities and challenges. As online learning continues to rise, maintaining academic integrity is of essence. Proctorio emerges as a sign of hope for institutions worldwide, providing a combination of surveillance, artificial intelligence, and monitoring solutions to replicate the vigilance of an in-person invigilator in a remote setting.

However, there's more to this than meets the eye. While the tool doesn’t directly scan for phones, it has in-built features that can detect cheating behaviors associated with phone usage. From regular screen recording and webcam monitoring to high-level behavioral analysis using AI, Proctorio is designed to spot irregularities that might arise from someone trying to use their phone suspiciously. It’s not just about the phone; it's about maintaining the integrity of the exam process.

For students, this is a great lesson: genuine effort and authentic learning cannot be replaced. While the urge of figuring out how to cheat on a proctored exam may seem tempting, especially in the face of daunting challenges or unpreparedness, the risks introduced by tools like Proctorio make such endeavors a dangerous gamble.