The need to administer credentialing exams remotely during Covid-19 has introduced new challenges and possibilities for credentialing bodies. While educational institutions of all kinds have had to quickly pivot to remote proctoring software to ensure test validity, the unique role of credentialing bodies means a unique responsibility to ensure fairness and accuracy. By choosing the right online certification assessment tools of evaluation, you can not only uphold the integrity of your exams, but improve the certification assessment process.
When assessments are conducted remotely, questions about exam validity often arise. Indeed, misconduct is common in remote testing environments without proctoring. A 2020 study found that test-takers “were more likely to engage in cheating behavior on an unproctored test than when that test is proctored.” Without oversight, it can be tempting to search for answers online or seek help from someone who has already completed the assessment. Without proper identity verification, an examinee can even have someone else take the exam in their place.
With the right online certification assessment tools of evaluation, credentialing bodies can take meaningful steps to discourage misconduct and protect test validity. A robust proctoring solution will deter cheating by verifying test-taker identity, detecting suspicious behaviors, and limiting computer capabilities for the duration of the test. Sometimes, however, test validity is compromised by the proctoring software itself.
In the past year, test-takers have begun speaking out about the discrimination perpetuated by poorly designed tools of evaluation. One of those test-takers is Areeb Khan, who was prevented from logging into a practice New York bar exam because the proctoring software failed to recognize his face. Ostensibly, this failure was “due to poor lighting”. But Khan believes the real issue was the software’s inability to recognize people with dark skin tones.
The @ExamSoft software can’t ‘recognize’ me due to ‘poor lighting’ even though I'm sitting in a well lit room. Starting to think it has nothing to do with lighting, pretty sure we all predicted their facial recognition software wouldn’t work for people of color. There are so many systematic barriers preventing people like me from obtaining these degrees – and this is just another example of that.
Khan isn’t alone. Most AI-based proctoring systems are trained on datasets that are overwhelmingly white, male, and Western, which means their accuracy drops sharply when faced with a student outside of that narrow demographic. Credentialing bodies must hit the ground running with reliable online testing that works for all candidates. That means using an online proctoring system with AI that has been trained on a diverse array of skin tones, ethnicities, genders, and neurotypes to minimize the risk of discrimination and offer a level playing field.
Through the use of sophisticated online certification assessment tools of evaluation, credentialing bodies can offer secure exams and reliable results. It can also make certification assessment more accessible to more students. Test-takers can remain at home and complete assessments from anywhere in the world, removing the barriers that keep many potential candidates from pursuing certification. It makes what was often a time-intensive and expensive process simple, which means parents, low-income candidates, people with disabilities, and others no longer have an extra layer of logistics standing between them and their goals.
At the same time, credentialing bodies don’t have to negotiate the logistical and financial challenges that come with in-person assessment. Rather than securing physical locations and hiring staff to accommodate candidates, an advanced online proctoring system offers a digital solution that can be used virtually anywhere. With fewer practical and geographical limitations, credentialing bodies can expand their reach to attract the best candidates and reduce unnecessary costs.
Rosalyn offers a comfortable, scalable, and cost-effective online proctoring solution. Our unique human-in-the-loop system was designed to meet the needs of test-takers while producing valid test results credentialing bodies can rely on. This includes state-of-the-art AI trained on a proprietary database that includes nearly 250,000 test sessions and represents test-takers from around the world.
As a dynamic system, Rosalyn continuously incorporates new learning to refine its capabilities, minimizing the risk of incorrectly flagging violations and quickly detecting new trends. When a potential violation occurs, a notification is sent to a human proctor, who has the final decision-making authority. This means that candidates—and their futures—are never left at the mercy of technology alone; including human wisdom in online certification assessment tools of evaluation is essential to creating fair and ethical testing experiences. Our system also offers advanced analytics to give you a complete view of your assessment program.
The best assessment tools for online certification will not only help to safeguard exam integrity, but transform your processes and strengthen your candidate pool. Rosalyn can help you provide better, more equitable assessment and support test-takers in their professional pursuits.
Rosalyn.ai
Dublin, OH
