By: Diane Benjamin
I hear some teachers aren’t teaching. 3 hours on Zoom as turned into one hour. Some teachers are expecting students to teach themselves. Students are still charged for all kinds of amenities and buildings they aren’t allowed to use.
This story is worse.
ISU is worried about kids cheating on tests. Instead of doing something easy like taking tests in-person, they expect students to download software on all their devices so they can be tracked!
I will be obtaining more information on this software, but start here. Parents are OUTRAGED because this software takes video of students – even if they take tests in their bedroom. It tracks eye movement to deduct test points. Glance it the ceiling to think – lose points. Will points be removed for what the software picks up in the room? Who sees the video? Why is it stored for two years? Think it won’t get hacked?
The link has more information
This won’t be the only story! Stay tuned.
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George Orwell is spinning in his grave.
People pay good money for that?
Further cementing my decision not to send my kids to ISU – quickly becoming a third-rate school.
If people wanted an online degree, they could get it from the U of Phoenix for a lot less money.
Further evidence that a college degree is an overpriced credential and that students are paying big money for an “experience”, not invaluable knowledge or skills. Of course, the tenured professors are checking out, after all, they are unaccountable and can’t be fired. Isn’t it ironic that the colleges and universities that rail against the “evils” of capitalism are pocketing full tuition and textbook money while providing a fraction of the services promised and an ever declining product? If a large private company refused to give refunds, it would be front-page news. If a university does it, everyone pretends it doesn’t exist. Maybe RC and the gang at GLT can ask Deitz and Co. some real questions for once. As for the software, outside of the obvious Orwellian concerns, think how many students and parents are going to appeal or contest their grades for looking up or touching their forehead during the exam. I like technology and innovation as much as the next person, but this is trouble waiting to happen.
And the left wants the govt to help them learn and to help them live. Right. You are correct Diane, ‘it will only get better’.
Funny enough, just saw an article yesterday about how this sort of monitoring software doesn’t work well with certain skin tones. Shock of all shocks.
https://www.theregister.com/2020/10/05/in_brief_ai/
I see lawsuits
I agree, there will be lawsuits. I also don’t see many professors using it. It’s my understanding that it is not being required, but an option should a professor want it.
Wonder HOW in the hell a geology major, or biology major, etc would take a test on “specimens” or “samples” That they will NEED to know for their work in the future. Does the Professor send highlighted photos of said examples??
HOW do you do Chemistry experiments in your house? This is just ANOTHER example of ole JB overreaching and ruining peoples lives for a LONG time.. I would NEVER take a Geology class etc, on the damn computer, I don’t care if Penrose or Pauling himself was teaching it!
Here’s the follow-up from today, October 9:
Proctoring Software Update
Last week, it was announced that the University was moving forward with Proctortrack, an automated exam proctoring tool. This software is a resource for instructors, but its use across campus is not mandatory for faculty. Proctoring software is just one way to maintain the academic integrity of the examination process.
“After three months of consultations with faculty and students, Proctortrack was chosen as the least intrusive approach to online proctoring,” said Associate Vice President for Technology Solutions and Chief Information Officer Charles Edamala. “While proctoring software has been used at ISU for many years, this is the first time that it has been standardized and made more easily available to those instructors who need to use it.”
More information can be learned about Proctortrack by visiting the Frequently Asked Questions. Some important points regarding this software are as follows:
Most students will not be affected since very few faculty currently plan to use this software.
Many faculty that are currently using proctoring software are doing so for accreditation reasons.
Instructors will inform affected students if they plan to use Proctortrack in their course.
Proctortrack is software that has to be downloaded and installed and is different from ReggieNet; ReggieNet does not have the ability to monitor students.
Students do not have to pay for use of this software.
Humans (faculty or otherwise) do not monitor video in real time. There is no live streaming.
The software does not make decisions on academic integrity, it only flags unusual behavior during exams. It is the expectation that behaviors online during an exam should be comparable to behaviors when taking an exam in a face-to-face course.
The University’s Information Security Office has reviewed the Proctortrack practices around data privacy and legality.
Students seeking an accommodation should contact Student Access and Accommodation Services.