Yes, your teachers can watch you on Proctorio, but not in real-time unless the Live Proctoring option is specifically enabled.
For most exams, the process is automated, meaning Proctorio records your session and then provides your teacher with a detailed report and video playback of any flagged suspicious activity for later review. The level of monitoring is entirely determined by the specific settings your instructor chooses for the exam.
What Proctorio records during an exam
Depending on your instructor's settings, Proctorio can record a wide range of data from your device during the exam. You will be notified before any recording begins.
Visual and audio recordings:
- Webcam video: A recording of you and your testing environment. In some cases, your instructor may require a 360-degree room scan.
- Microphone audio: Audio from your environment is recorded and reviewed to detect conversations or other noise.
- Facial and gaze detection: The software can detect the presence of a face and whether a test-taker is looking away from the screen for an extended period. This is distinct from biometric facial recognition, which is not used.
Computer and browser activity:
- Screen recording: Your entire computer screen is recorded to see any unauthorized websites or programs being accessed.
- Web traffic: A list of websites visited during the exam is recorded.
- Browser lock-down: Depending on the settings, Proctorio can lock down your browser to prevent you from opening new tabs, copying and pasting, or using other applications.
- Clipboard data: Your clipboard may be disabled to prevent you from copying exam content.
- Other applications: Proctorio can monitor which applications and processes are running on your device.
How teachers access and review the data
After your exam is completed, Proctorio generates an encrypted report and recording that your instructor can access through their learning management system, such as Canvas.
- Automated flags: Proctorio's algorithm automatically analyzes your session and flags moments it identifies as potentially suspicious. These flags are based on the specific behaviors the instructor has chosen to monitor.
- Report generation: A report is created for each student, organized by the level of suspicion (red, yellow, or green).
- Instructor review: Your instructor can then review the video recordings, audio, and flagged events to determine if academic misconduct occurred. Proctorio does not make the final decision—that is left to the instructor.
- Security and encryption: All recordings are protected by "Zero-Knowledge Encryption," meaning Proctorio itself cannot access or decrypt your information. Only institution-approved representatives (like your instructor) have the unique decryption key.
Key takeaways and privacy considerations
- No real-time human proctoring: Unless specifically using a Live Proctoring feature, a human is not watching you take the exam in real-time.
- Data access is controlled by your institution: Only your instructor or approved school officials have the ability to view your encrypted exam data.
- Highly customizable settings: The extent of the monitoring depends entirely on the settings chosen by your teacher for each specific exam.
- Privacy concerns persist: The use of invasive proctoring software raises significant privacy concerns for many students. For example, a 2022 court case found that a mandatory room scan may have violated a student's Fourth Amendment rights. Critics also note the potential for biased flagging against certain groups and the general stress this type of surveillance causes students.
- Data security: While Proctorio uses strong encryption and security protocols, critics still point out that forcing students to install monitoring software on their personal computers poses a security risk.