Instruction and assessment tools

At IU, faculty can assess learning through traditional exams by using the online proctoring tools Respondus Monitor and Examity. These are currently available to all IU courses without additional fees for the 2020-2021 academic year. To make use of these tools, instructors first need to submit an Online Proctoring Acknowledgement form.

Considerations before using any online proctoring service

Before using either of these services, faculty should consider alternate options for assessing student learning. These alternate options can reduce the potential for academic dishonesty, while also removing barriers for students with limited access to internet or other technologies.

Alternatives to online proctoring:

Assessments that draw on students’ creativity, such as developing a product proposal or writing a story, can serve as a rich and viable alternative. Shorter and more frequent quizzes can reduce student stress – and motivation to cheat – while measuring learning outcomes throughout a course. Learn more about how to assess student learning.

Providing practice tests

The single most important thing you can do to help your students be successful in taking their test with either Respondus Monitor or Examity is to give them a practice test several days before their first real test. A practice test requires students to download the necessary software and test their computer hardware and internet connection in a low-stakes environment. If they encounter problems, they can work with the campus Support Center to clear up any issues before they take a real test.

Tools for online proctored exams

If, after exploring all other options, you have found that online proctoring is necessary, you can choose between Respondus Monitor and Examity. Regardless of which you choose, you will first need to complete the Online Proctoring Acknowledgement.