Most of the time, when we talk about proctoring, we tend to focus heavily on the technology and often forget about the people who will use it most frequently: students or employees of an institution or organization.
At SMOWL, we never get tired of saying that proctoring for students is a key solution to ensure transparency in digital exams.
But what is it really like to experience this technology from the other side of the screen?
To answer that question, we spoke with Karen Carriel, a student at the International University of La Rioja (UNIR), who kindly shared her personal experience using SMOWL’s proctoring system during her online assessments.
From Ecuador to the world: Meet Karen
Karen is 29 years old, originally from Ecuador, and a trained psychologist. She currently works in the university wellness department at a local university, where she provides academic and emotional support to students.
In addition to her job, she also runs a personal business and, of course, fulfills her most important role: being a mom.
Her demanding lifestyle made it difficult to attend in-person classes. That’s why, when she decided to pursue a Master’s degree in Psychological Intervention in Education, the online format became the perfect solution.
“I chose UNIR because many colleagues recommended it. I did my research before enrolling and found that the program offered everything I was looking for—including content I can apply directly to my work.”
Online education: more than an alternative, a real opportunity
Flexibility was key for Karen. Being able to study from home, at her own pace, and without having to commute allowed her to balance her personal, professional, and academic life without sacrificing any of them.
“What I value most is that I can watch the classes live or recorded, depending on my availability. This allows me to stay present for my family and my job, while still progressing in my studies.”
Beyond saving money on transportation and materials, Karen highlights the added value of online education when delivered with international standards:
“I feel like online learning has exceeded my expectations. I’ve had access to tools and knowledge that aren’t yet widely available in my country, and that’s helped me grow a lot as a professional.”
First contact with student proctoring
Like many students facing an online exam for the first time, Karen had never heard of proctoring before. She first encountered this remote monitoring system during her master’s program at UNIR, thanks to SMOWL.
“At first, the term was new to me. I knew there were monitoring systems out there, but I had never used one as complete as this one.”
The university offered her the chance to run a connectivity test weeks before the actual exam, which allowed her to get comfortable with the tool, configure her devices correctly, and ensure everything would work smoothly on exam day.
“We did a full simulation: a 360-degree video of the room, camera and audio checks, phone setup… That gave me a lot of peace of mind.”
A safe, trustworthy, and hassle-free experience
For Karen, proctoring was more than just a technical tool- it was a way to ensure her efforts would be evaluated fairly. Despite initial nerves, her exam experience was very positive.
“I followed all the instructions, and the system kept confirming that everything was set up correctly. I felt like I was taking a secure exam, and if anything went wrong, I had immediate support available.”
Karen also emphasized that the proctoring system captures evidence that instructors can review afterward, adding an extra layer of transparency and reliability.
“My exam was reviewed by the university afterward. I think that’s an excellent way to ensure everything was done honestly.”
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Does proctoring increase the value of your degree?
According to Karen, the answer is clear: yes.
“I believe my degree is more respected because of the proctoring. It brings ethical assurance to the exam process and shows that, as a professional, I have integrity and respect for evaluation procedures.”
This type of technology helps uphold academic standards even in virtual settings, and it reinforces trust in online degrees from both institutions and employers.
A recommendation with a personal touch
When asked if she would recommend SMOWL to other students, Karen didn’t hesitate:
“Absolutely. It’s a safe, easy-to-use, and very helpful tool. In today’s fast-moving world, having access to technologies like this is key to ensuring more people can pursue quality education, no matter where they are.”
Her story is a clear example of how student proctoring can be an ally, not a barrier. Far from being an obstacle, this technology was a facilitator for Karen—a silent companion on her journey toward personal and professional growth.
