Protect student privacy: ban eproctoring
Me and my roommate are first year undergraduate students. We do different bachelors; I have taken all my tests this year with online proctoring, my roommate has had all his tests without online proctoring.<p>The proctoring process is actually pretty simple: I have a Google Chrome extension installed that I enable when I have to take an exam. It takes 5 extra minutes before the exam: I have to show my identification, the materials I&#x27;m using on my desk, my ears to check whether I&#x27;m using wireless earphones, and do a quick sweep around the room. It records my screen, my webcam, and my microphone. Of course, the system is not fool proof (I&#x27;ve heard some students use post-its on their display), but communicating with other students becomes nearly impossible.<p>My roommate is actually jealous of my proctoring. He does not cheat, but knows most others in his year do. There are groups of students who meet up and take exams with each other. As a result, some of his peers consistently get higher grades, while my roommate clearly put in more effort and is more capable of achieving a high grade on his own. Because the barrier to cheating is so low, it almost becomes a requirement to cheat if you want to achieve grades that are high relative to your peers.<p>I do not believe proctoring is a breach of my privacy. Google Chrome&#x27;s sandbox is good at explaining what information the extension is requesting, and when it is turned on. Chrome&#x27;s battle-tested sandboxing makes me confident that the extension is not snooping through my files, for example. It only sees my screen. I can hide things I do not want the online proctor to see before the exam starts. Similarly with my room, you can hide everything that would breach your privacy before the exam starts. Of course, online proctoring is invasive, but I believe students should think more carefully about the dilemma our teachers are facing. Lack of online proctoring discourages smart students, discourages learning, and hurts the reputation of the university in the long term with unreasonable diploma&#x27;s. This pandemic requires flexibility from everyone, and simply crying &quot;privacy&quot; without considering both sides is short-sighted. The data recorded for online proctoring is reasonable, and does not bring us closer to any kind of &quot;big brother&quot; scenario.