Monitoring a computer is one of the functionalities that proctoring can offer you, and it can be key in the development of your company or virtual educational project in which the acquisition of knowledge, skills, and competencies can be made in a delocalized and personalized way.
As educational institutions digitalize their programs and more businesses adopt remote hiring, the demand for proctoring solutions like personal computer monitoring software has significantly increased.
This article will guide you through the process of overseeing a computer, highlighting both its benefits and challenges. Additionally, we will provide you with valuable tips to choose the most suitable computer monitoring solution.
But before we dive into the specifics of computer monitoring, let´s define proctoring and explain how it works, as not everyone is familiar with this term that encompasses different types of online supervision.
What is proctoring?
Proctoring refers to the act of monitoring digital assessments in academic and corporate settings.
With the rise of online learning and remote job interviews, more and more institutions and businesses seek reliable proctoring solutions tailored to their specific needs, such as personal computer supervision software or locked browser functionalities.
Many organizations employ monitoring programs to supervise the activity of their employees remotely or even locally. However, in proctoring terms, computer monitoring refers to the act of supervising an exam or test exclusively.
Origins of proctored exams
The term proctoring originates from the Latin word procurator and is far from a new concept. Its history dates back to ancient civilizations, where officials overseeing universities or legal institutions were referred to as proctors.
In the last decades, proctoring has expanded beyond traditional exam supervision to define a growing sector within the EdTech industry.
Although computer monitoring programs have existed for quite some time, their demand surged during the pandemic.
During lockdown, companies and academic institutions felt the need for proctoring solutions to ensure continuity in their operations while guaranteeing the integrity of their assessments.
What is computer monitoring?
In proctoring terms, monitoring refers to the act of supervising a desktop or laptop computer during a test to ensure that no cheating takes place. The test can be conducted on the user’s personal computer or on devices provided by the institution or organization.
Since digital proctoring is a relatively new concept, some might associate PC monitoring programs with computer tracking or other forms of invasive surveillance.
However, it is in the best interest of institutions and companies to use only PC monitoring software that fully complies with the relevant digital privacy regulations.
Needless to say, prestigious universities and reputable companies only use proctoring software that protects examinees´ privacy.
Therefore, students, candidates, and employees who take proctored tests do not need to be concerned about digital ethics when using personal computer monitoring software.
In case of doubt, they can always make sure that the PC monitoring software that is being used complies with the applicable regulations.
How to monitor a computer?
In general, you can monitor a computer remotely by installing tools that work in the background, collecting certain information about its activity.
There are three ways to monitor what is done on a computer:
- Focus on a particular task.
- Check activity in specific applications.
- Monitor everything the person is doing.
For example, SMOWL CM (the SMOWL computer monitoring tool) can detect open applications and browser tabs, connected devices, and copy-paste actions once installed on the test taker’s computer.
Computer supervision becomes necessary in online assessments because tests are vulnerable to fraud, but we will go into more details in the next section.
Monitoring a computer during digital exams
The most comprehensive way to oversee a computer in a digital test is to use personal computer monitoring programs.
Proctoring tools create secure monitoring environments in educational or corporate contexts to detect, among other actions:
- The impersonation of identity.
- The absence of the person.
- Plagiarism.
- The use of search engines or AI chatbots.
- The completion of the exam through communication devices.
- Attempts to print or copy the exam screen.
As examinees explore new ways to cheat, online proctoring companies continue to improve their products to remain relevant and competitive.
Artificial intelligence has been key in this particular context, as machine learning algorithms are getting smarter and better at identifying prohibited devices – such as smartphones, earphones, or calculators – and behavioral patterns.
However, to prevent false positives — situations where students or employees are incorrectly flagged by automated solutions — some proctoring software providers, such as Smowltech, offer human review of results to ensure that no examinee is unfairly penalized.
How to choose personal computer monitoring software
There are several programs available for this purpose so, before selecting one, we recommend defining your needs and objectives, ensuring that the provider complies with all the applicable data regulations.
While some institutions require just webcam supervision, some other examinations might be in need of proctoring solutions that oversee test takers´ actions in much more detail, such as PC monitoring programs.
Many personal computer monitoring software providers offer customizable products and plans to meet the specific needs of their customers. In line with the above, Smowltech allows custom-configured monitoring that can be adapted to any online assessment or exam.
Therefore, universities, schools, and businesses can configure a monitoring system in which the examinee has free access to tools considered necessary during the test.
As some organizations and institutions may be uncertain about which plans or solutions are best suited for their examinations, we recommend contacting the proctoring provider they are considering to request a free demo.
This is a common practice among software providers, as it is often hard to determine if a solution will meet the clients´ needs until they have had the chance to try the product themselves.
Contrary to popular belief, many software demos have no strings attached, meaning that the academic institutions and businesses will not feel obliged to subscribe to a plan once they have tried the tool.
Computer monitoring software should also be scalable and be able to grow with the company or institution, avoiding the hassle of having to look for new proctoring solutions in the future.
Lastly, the selected proctoring software should be compatible with their specific learning management system (LMS), such as Canvas, Blackboard, or Moodle, or should be easily integrable with their customized learning platform.
SMOWL, for instance, can integrate into any built-in learning system via API.
Advantages of monitoring a computer
Different methods exist to monitor computers within a company or educational institution and to create innovative contexts for secure online testing.
The advantages of monitoring are multiple and can add value for your employees or students.
Take a look at these five benefits:
- Increases efficiency.
- Facilitates decision-making.
- Helps identify errors in the early stages.
- Objectively compares test results.
- Promotes work-life balance and accessibility.
As you can see, the advantages of PC monitoring software are not just about supervision but also about improving performance. Let’s get into the details right below.
Increases efficiency
Monitoring the activity of both employees and students facilitates performance analysis and helps develop interpersonal skills.
Improves decision-making
Knowing the difficulties of dealing with a problem or the time it takes to solve an exercise or task are data that can be obtained by monitoring the activity. This helps organizations and institutions make informed decisions regarding their assessments.
Helps identify errors before they escalate
Remote monitoring prevents serious problems by identifying errors or blockages in the early stages thanks to the reports, which alert academic institutions and businesses so they can start looking for adapted solutions proactively.
Similarly, the analysis of the test flows facilitates the planning of projects by adapting them to the realities of work and education.
Objectively compares test results
Knowing the performance of examinees through reports based on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) helps to avoid unfair evaluation systems on the one hand and to be able to assess the results on the other objectively.
And finally, through this system, examinees can self-evaluate and be aware of their potential.
Promotes work-life balance and accessibility
Remote interviews and online exams have been in high demand in recent years, enhanced by the restrictions imposed in the pandemic, and require an evolution in practical, simple, and effective assessment procedures.
Gradually, proctoring systems are proving to be an optimal method of reconciliation with family life and a solution for people with reduced mobility or that do not have the capacity to travel to attend classes.
How can institutions benefit from computer monitoring software?
Online proctoring tools, such as PC monitoring software, have helped schools and universities access a broader pool of students by making remote learning and examination possible.
Traditional in-person education limits institutions to students who can physically attend classes, but remote learning removes geographical barriers, allowing them to enroll students from different states, countries, and time zones.
By offering remote programs, universities and schools can increase their income by expanding their reach beyond local and on-campus students. This expanded accessibility leads to higher enrollment numbers without the need for additional infrastructure, such as classrooms, dorms, or campus facilities.
Additionally, remote programs open the door for new revenue streams, such as online certification courses, micro-credentials, and corporate training partnerships.
Proctoring solutions: a game-changer for organizations
Companies can also benefit from proctoring by interviewing candidates remotely.
Proctoring solutions are valuable not only for fully remote roles but also for positions that require employees to work from the office.
Many skilled professionals may be interested in relocating or commuting for the job but cannot travel multiple times for interviews. Without remote assessments and proctored solutions, these candidates could be excluded from the selection process simply due to logistical constraints.
By adopting desktop or laptop monitoring software, locked browser tools, or any other proctoring solution available, companies ensure they are not missing out on top talent due to unnecessary in-person requirements.
Proctoring tools are also used in corporate settings to evaluate employees after completing training programs and sessions.
8 interesting facts about proctoring
Fill out the form and download the guide where we cover everything about online monitoring and help you choose the best software.
Challenges of monitoring a computer
Remote monitoring for work or academic purposes presents various challenges not only related to digital privacy, digital responsibility, and digital ethics, but also digital literacy and technology.
Let´s take a look at the biggest challenges of monitoring a computer:
Digital privacy, responsibility, and ethics
- Consent and transparency: users must be informed about what is being monitored, and for how long.
- Data collection and storage: storing and handling sensitive user data raises concerns about who has access to it and how it is protected.
- Surveillance overreach: excessive monitoring can feel intrusive, creating discomfort and a sense of constant surveillance.
- Balancing security and trust: institutions and businesses must find the right balance between ensuring security and respecting employees’ and students’ autonomy.
- Accuracy of monitoring: automated monitoring tools may generate false positives, wrongly flagging innocent behavior as suspicious.
- Avoiding over-reliance on technology: organizations and academic institutions should use monitoring as a support tool rather than replacing human judgment entirely.
At Smowltech, we are committed to digital responsibility and digital ethics.
Our software also complies with the European GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), the strictest data privacy law in the world, which makes SMOWL a suitable computer monitoring solution for any academic institution and organization, regardless of their location.
Digital literacy
Overly complex computer supervision software can demand significant technical expertise, making it difficult for personnel in academic institutions or organizations to implement and manage effectively, as well as for examinees to use it.
Proctoring tools should be user-friendly, with intuitive interfaces that allow easy adoption. While institutions and organizations familiarize themselves with the product, they should receive comprehensive support from the provider to ensure smooth operation and minimize technical issues.
Technology
Although the intention behind proctoring solutions – such as personal computer monitoring programs – is to make education and remote exams available to everyone, these tools could inadvertently contribute to inequality if they demand high-end devices or overly fast Internet connections to function effectively.
We recommend that you take a look at this success story. Amref International University (AMIU) implemented SMOWL to improve the integrity of exams, making education accessible in digitally-limited environments in Africa, where many students rely on older computing devices and 3G mobile Internet services.
Final thoughts on monitoring a computer
By employing proctoring solutions like personal computer monitoring programs, academic institutions and organizations can ensure both accessibility and integrity during their examination and recruitment processes.
To avoid the potential challenges associated with these solutions, it is crucial that institutions and businesses choose scalable software that is not only easy to integrate but also fully complies with relevant data protection regulations.
This ensures a seamless user experience for both candidates and administrators while safeguarding sensitive personal data and maintaining the trust of all parties involved in the process.
Our scalable, easy-to-integrate proctoring solution complies with the strictest data protection regulation in the world. Check out our plans and request a free demo with 25 complimentary licenses now.
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