DEPENDABLE DISTRIBUTED TESTING - Can the Online Proctor be Reliably Computerized?

Ariel Frank

2010

Abstract

Distributed Education (DE) enables education, both teaching and learning, anytime, anywhere, using any media or modality, at any pace. Assessment, especially testing, is a major component in the overall evaluation of an educational program. However, there still is an important component missing from most DE programs to enable its full realization in a distributed environment: dependable distributed testing (DDT). The paper presents a comprehensive risk analysis of dependable distributed testing that classifies seven (types of) risks, introduces the resultant DoDoT (Dependable observable Distributed online Testing) reference model, and examines its coverage by three commercial systems. However, these systems are not yet in use in most DE frameworks and do not have yet full DoDoT coverage. The vision of the DoDoT reference model is the continued pursuit and adaptation of new, innovative technologies and methods to make dependable distributed testing increasingly more computerized, reliable, affordable and prevalent.

References

  1. Allen, I. E. & Seaman, J. (2010). Learning on Demand: Online Education in the United States, 2009. Newburyport, MA: The Sloan Consortium. http:// www.sloanconsortium.org/publications/survey/pdf/lea rningondemand.pdf
  2. Bailie, J. L. & Jortberg, M. A. (2009). Online Learner Authentication: Verifying the Identity of Online Users. MERLOT JOLT, 5(2), 197-207. http:// jolt.merlot.org/vol5no2/bailie_0609.pdf
  3. Bedford, W., Gregg, J. & Clinton, S. (2009). Implementing Technology to Prevent Online Cheating: A Case Study at a Small Southern Regional University (SSRU). MERLOT JOLT, 5(2), 230-238. http://jolt.merlot.org/vol5no2/gregg_0609.pdf
  4. Carter, D. (2009, July 10). ED OKs Proctors, Secure Logins for Online Tests. eSchool News. http:/ /www.eschoolnews.com/2009/07/10/ed-oks-proctorssecure-logins-for-online-tests-2
  5. Ellis, R. K. (2009). Field Guide to Learning Management Systems. ASTD Learning Circuits. http:// www.astd.org/NR/rdonlyres/12ECDB99-3B91-403E9B15-7E597444645D/23395/LMS_fieldguide_20091.pdf
  6. Eplion, D. M. & Keefe, T. J. (2007). Practical Tips for
  7. Preventing Cheating on Online Exams. Faculty Focus. http://www.magnapubs.com/issues/magnapubs_ff/4_4 /news/600136-1.html.
  8. Foster, A. L. (2008, July 25). New Systems Keep a Close
  9. Eye on Online Students at Home. The Chronicle of Higher Education, Information Technology, 54(46). http:// chronicle.com/article/New-Systems-Keep-a-CloseEye/22559
  10. Graf, F. (2002). Providing Security for eLearning. Computers & Graphics, 26(2), 355-365.doi:10.1016/ S0097-8493(02)00062-6
  11. Guess, A. (2008, October 8). From Blue Books to Secure Laptops. Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved Feb 3, 2010, http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2008/10/08/tests
  12. Heubert, J. P. & Hauser, R. M. (Eds.). (1999). High Stakes: Testing for Tracking, Promotion, and Graduation. National Research Council, Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. http:// www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=6336
  13. Jortberg, M. A. (2009). Student Authentication Solution Comparison. Online Student Identity blog. http:// mikejortberg.blogspot.com/2009/06/student authentic cation-solution.html
  14. King, C. G., Guyette, R.W. & Piotrowski, C. (2009). Online Exams and Cheating: An Empirical Analysis of Business Students' Views, The Journal of Educators Online, 6(1). Retrieved February 3, 2010, http:// www.thejeo.com/Archives/Volume6Number1/Kingeta lpaper.pdf
  15. Kopetz, H. & Verissimo, P. (1993). Real Time and Dependability Concepts, In Mullender, S. (Ed.), Distributed Systems, Addison-Wesley, 411-446.
  16. McCabe, D. L., Trevino., L. K. & Butterfield. K. D. (2001). Cheating in Academic Institutions: A Decade of Research. Ethics & Behavior, 11(3), 219-232. http://www.swarthmore.edu/NatSci/cpurrin1/plagiaris m/docs/McCabe_et_al.pdf
  17. Morgan, J. (2008). Online Proctoring Perfected, Spun off by Tech-savvy University. Retrieved February 3, 2010, www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=80502
  18. Naimark, M. (2002). How to ZAP a Camera: Using Lasers to Temporarily Neutralize Camera Sensors. http:// www.naimark.net/projects/zap/howto.html
  19. Powers, E. (2006, June 2). Proctor 2.0. Inside Higher Ed. www.insidehighered.com/news/2006/06/02/proctor
  20. Prabhakar, S., Pankanti, S. & Jain A. K. (2003). Biometric Recognition: Security and Privacy Concerns. IEEE Security & Privacy, 1(2), 33-42. doi:10.1109/ MSECP.2003.1193209
  21. Schaefer, T., Barta, M. & Pavone, T. (2009). Student Identity Verification and the Higher Education Opportunity Act: A Faculty Perspective. Intl. J. of Instructional Tech. and Distance Learning, 6(8), 51-58. http://itdl.org/Journal/Aug_09/article05.htm
  22. Shearer, R., Lehman, E., Hamaty, P. & Mattoon, N. (2009). Online Proctored Exams at a Distance: How can you Help Assure Academic Integrity?. UCEA 94th Annual Conference, Boston, Massachusetts.
  23. Simonson, M. R., Smaldino, S. E., Albright, M. & Zvacek, S. (2009). Teaching and Learning at a Distance: Foundations of Distance Education. Allyn and Bacon.
  24. VS1 (n.d.). Integrity in Education Online. http://www.virtualstudent.com/?page_id=19
  25. VS2 (n.d.). Accreditation in Online Degree Programs. http://www.virtualstudent.com/?page_id=9
  26. Weippl, E. R. (2005). Security in E-Learning. Advances in Information Security, Springer, Vol. 16. Wollenhaupt, G. (2005). How Cell Phone Jammers Work, www.howstuffworks.com/cell-phone-jammer. htm
Download


Paper Citation


in Harvard Style

Frank A. (2010). DEPENDABLE DISTRIBUTED TESTING - Can the Online Proctor be Reliably Computerized? . In Proceedings of the International Conference on e-Business - Volume 1: ICE-B, (ICETE 2010) ISBN 978-989-8425-17-1, pages 22-31. DOI: 10.5220/0002985500220031


in Bibtex Style

@conference{ice-b10,
author={Ariel Frank},
title={DEPENDABLE DISTRIBUTED TESTING - Can the Online Proctor be Reliably Computerized?},
booktitle={Proceedings of the International Conference on e-Business - Volume 1: ICE-B, (ICETE 2010)},
year={2010},
pages={22-31},
publisher={SciTePress},
organization={INSTICC},
doi={10.5220/0002985500220031},
isbn={978-989-8425-17-1},
}


in EndNote Style

TY - CONF
JO - Proceedings of the International Conference on e-Business - Volume 1: ICE-B, (ICETE 2010)
TI - DEPENDABLE DISTRIBUTED TESTING - Can the Online Proctor be Reliably Computerized?
SN - 978-989-8425-17-1
AU - Frank A.
PY - 2010
SP - 22
EP - 31
DO - 10.5220/0002985500220031