What is Honorlock?
Honorlock is an online remote proctoring service that allows students to take exams remotely. It does not require users to download any software and it integrates seamlessly with your LMS by means of a Chrome Extension that can be easily removed and added back later.
Are instructors required to use Honorlock?
No. Instructors may use a variety of assessment strategies that do not include online proctoring. When the nature of the course or instruction makes online proctoring a necessity, they have the option to choose Honorlock to ensure the academic integrity of the test.
What should I tell my students in my Syllabus about using Honorlock?
If you choose to enable Honorlock for your course, please include Honorlock in your course syllabus to provide students a basic understanding of what Honorlock is and how it will work. Feel free to copy and paste the sample syllabus text bellow to your syllabus NOTICE enrollment in this course requires the use of Honorlock for online assessment proctoring. Your webcam is recording you during your test or assessment, but no one is watching your exam in real time. Honorlock uses technology to monitor your session, and, if it senses that something is wrong, it will trigger a pop in by a live proctor. The proctor will assess the situation, help you get back on track, and document this for your instructor. After your test, exam proctors may review the exam session to look for any potential violations, and the recording will also be sent to your instructor along with any notes from our proctors. To successfully take an exam, you must have a web camera with microphone, a laptop or desktop computer (no tablets/phones), Chrome browser, a reliable internet connection and your photo ID. You will be prompted to install the Honorlock Chrome Extension (which you can remove after you finish the test). You will then access the exam within your eLearning course and go through the authentication process. Your microphone and web camera will be used by Honorlock to monitor you throughout your test or assessment. YOUR ACTIVITIES ARE RECORDED WHILE YOU ARE LOGGED INTO OR TAKING YOUR ASSESSMENT(S). THE RECORDINGS SERVE AS A PROCTOR AND WILL BE REVIEWED AND USED IN AN EFFORT TO MAINTAIN ACADEMIC INTEGRITY.
How is student data secured and privacy protected?
Honorlock has satisfied the requirements of the Information Security Office vendor assessment, agreed contractually to comply with FERPA, and uses encryption methods to protect Internet connections. Honorlock collects certain data elements from your computer which are necessary to perform proctoring services, but Honorlock does not have the ability to access your entire personal network. The use of the Google Chrome Extension limits access to operations provided by your browser during the period of time you are engaging in a proctored test.
Is there a fee for faculty?
No. Honorlock proctoring service is being offered at no cost to faculty.
Can students complete the test using a cellphone if they don't have a webcam?
Students cannot test using a cellphone/iPad. They must use a laptop or a desktop computer to take the test.
Do I have to enable Honorlock on all of my quizzes/exams?
Yes. By default, Honorlock is disabled. You will select which quizzes/exams to enable it on in your courses.
Can my students access notes and files (i.e. Powerpoint, Word) during testing if I have Browser Guard enabled?
No. if Browser Guard is enabled, the student will not be able to navigate to other areas of the course. In this case the Browser Guard needs to be turned off.
What if I want to allow my students to use an application, such as Microsoft Excel?
In scenarios where you would want students to access applications outside their exam, it is recommended that Browser Guard is turned off. Honorlock will continue to record the student’s desktop screen and our AI will generate flags when the student’s exam window loses focus, like when navigating to a specific application.
I whitelisted a PDF but my students weren't able to access it, how can I prevent this from happening again?
If you’re using Honorlock’s Browser Guard and whitelisting a PDF file, you’ll need to make sure that the PDF is viewable directly within the Google Chrome browser. If the PDF file is hosted in such a way that it first prompts students to download the PDF file, Browser Guard may prevent students from accessing downloaded files on their device. Therefore, it’s recommended that the PDF is viewable directly within Google Chrome when a student accesses the whitelisted website. If you need further assistance with this, we recommend reaching out to Honorlock support team.
Do I need to set up a password on my exams?
Please do NOT set up a password for exams in eLearning if you are planning to enable Honorlock. As part of the process of enabling an Honorlock exam, Honorlock automatically sets the exam password for each of your exams that looks similar to this, HL_NO_EDIT_m18OgNd3. This is the intended behavior, please refrain from removing/editing this auto-generated password. Note, Editing the password could prevent your students from being able to access their exams successfully. Removing the password could allow your students to enter the exam without Honorlock enabled, thereby taking the exam un-proctored.
How can I allow my students to use a calculator during the exam?
Honorlock does include a built-in basic and scientific calculator that you can enable in the Honorlock exam settings. If you allow your students to use a handheld calculator, please include this information in your Exam Instructions.
What about my accessibility options?
Honorlock is VPAT certified and fully accessible to students with special needs. Exam availability settings and student-specific time accommodations are managed and set up within the exam in Canvas. Honorlock will piggyback off of these settings when students login to test. Any other exceptions for specific students should be added to the ‘Accommodations’ section to ensure Honorlock proctor team can assist them during an exam.
Can my students take an exam in a public area?
To avoid any possible interruptions during an exam, students are encouraged to test in a private/quiet area.
If I student gets up during the exam, does the timer continue to run?
The timer continues to run if the student leaves the exam for a restroom break. When they return they will have to show their face to the camera for the exam to start back up. You may choose to add 15-20 minutes to the exam time to compensate for restroom breaks or possible technical issues if that’s applicable for your assessment.
How often will a live proctor jump-in and pause a student's exam?
Honorlock proctors will only pause the exam and jump-in if the student is doing something they should not be doing. Honorlock proctors take the time to look at the exam before they pause it and jump-in. Note, the exam timer will keep counting down during a proctor pop-in. We recommend instructors to add an extra 15-20 minutes to exams that are proctored via Honorlock.
Do the Student Guidelines change the behavior of the AI?
No, the Student Guidelines display to your students before they launch the exam and serve as a reminder so they know what actions are permitted and what are not. Honorlock proctors also reference these guidelines before they engage with a student.
Is the use of a VPN restricted during an exam?
No. students can have a VPN running during the exam if they need to.
