Gabriela Danger | Staff Writer
The Student Government Association has recently put out a survey meant to gauge student attitudes toward online proctoring systems like Respondus Lockdown Browser, ProctorU, and Honorlock.
The survey simply asks students whether or not they’ve needed to use these applications for an assignment, and then asks them to rate their experience with it (whether it was user friendly and whether it increased testing anxiety).
These softwares are most common for online classes, used frequently for assignments, quizzes, and exams. Even for in person or hybrid classes, it’s no secret that this type of program is controversial amongst students.
Sending out such a questionnaire is part of SGA’s process of finding what students enjoy about their class experience, and where they can come in to negotiate.
According to SGA President Alexander Sutton, “It’s important to make sure that our students are upholding academic integrity, which is the purpose of proctoring software, but it’s equally important that the software that FIU is paying for doesn’t actively contribute to a worse student experience.”
Many students hold different views about these proctoring systems. For example, business analytics major Opeyemi Akinde shared that she “has an adverse opinion” about Honorlock in particular.
“It definitely does increase my test anxiety, and there’s so much stress that already goes into taking an in person test, plus now the added stress of connectivity issues, passwords, room scanning, and such,” said Akinde.
“Compared to in person, it’s harder to perform on a test. I sometimes ask professors if I can simply come in and take the exam in person so it’s better for me,” Akinde concluded.
Another student, IT major Helen Gomez, had an alternative opinion. She expressed that even though seeing her own face in the Honorlock camera window worried her a bit, that “it was simple to learn.”
She also explained that the time consuming nature of scanning one’s room and reviewing the footage tends to take away from the testing experience.
“I would say that’s more stressful,” said Gomez.
Gomez also added that she would prefer using Lockdown Browser, or “a proctored testing area.”
Regarding pushback from professors about proctoring policies, SGA’s Secretary of Online and Remote Engagement, Jhamil Pujols, said “It is just as much a headache for [professors] to have to go back and let a student retake a test, or unlock a test because of a false flag, as it is for a student taking a test using Honorlock or other proctoring services that have falsely flagged students…”
“I think that the results of this survey and working with university officials will help make testing on campus a more positive experience for everyone,” Pujols concluded.
Overall, the main objective and reason behind the survey is to give SGA next steps on this issue, putting into facts and data what many can assume is true about sentiments regarding these programs.
President Sutton went on to say that, “Once we obtain the data from this survey, we will work with administrators to investigate potential changes to the university’s contracts with various proctoring services. If the survey shows that one particular software, such as Honorlock, is an ineffective tool or significantly worsens the learning environment, then we will work with administrators to implement the necessary changes.”
To participate in this survey, visit https://go.fiu.edu/proctoring, or find it on SGA’s Instagram page, @fiusga.
About Post Author
