Honorlock

The University recognizes the need to validate the identity of the learner and ensure the integrity of the assessment process in digital learning environments. Student identity and assessment integrity may be facilitated through various means such as authentic assessments, presentations, portfolios, timed exams, intense writing assignments, and proctored exams.

Proctored testing is one method to enable the university to ensure the academic integrity of assessments and to comply with federal regulations that require universities offering online and distance education to verify student identity. The instructor of a distance learning course may elect to require proctored exam(s) as a means of assessment. Online proctoring helps prevent academic honor violations such as:

• Use of a false identity,

• Unauthorized collaboration,

• Use of unauthorized materials, and

• Copying or distributing test items to others.

Proctored exams will be administered through the University’s approved online testing service, Honorlock, at no additional cost to the student. The student will, however, be responsible for supplying a web camera to be used during the testing process. In the event the University’s approved testing service is not applicable to meet the learner’s needs, the instructor may appoint/approve an in-person proctor in which the student will incur any associated costs. In-person proctors must be approved by the instructor and attest that there is no relation to the student by family, marriage, close friendship, or subordinate relationship. Services at the Freed-Hardeman University Testing Center or an official testing center at another regionally accredited college or university may also be used.

No. As the instructor you are not required to administer proctored exams and may elect to use a variety of assessment strategies that don't include online proctoring. When the nature of the course or instruction makes online proctoring a necessity, you are asked to use Honorlock to ensure the academic integrity of your test rather than other proctoring protocols.

Honorlock understands that you don’t want to have to write new exams every semester, but as online test bank sites become more common, it gets harder to use the same questions from semester to semester. Honorlock's virtual proctoring system includes proprietary technology to search for and destroy unauthorized copies of your test. Once you enable Honorlock on an assessment, the software automatically searches for leaked questions and works with the website to remove the test questions before the exam opens to the students. Note: You will need to have Honorlock applied at least 48 hours in advance to allow the system time to search and destroy unauthorized copies of your test that may appear on unauthorized sites.

Honorlock verifies the photo and name on the student's ID to ensure he/she is the correct test taker. The student may use any government issued (i.e. driver license, passport) or a student ID that has their clear, recognizable photo and name.

The student can still test but will be directed to a live proctor to bypass the authentication process. A report will be sent to the instructor within 24hours.

There is no charge to FHU students for using Honorlock. The University will cover proctoring charges associated with Honorlock. The student will, however, be responsible for supplying a computer and web camera to be used during the testing process. 

Students do not have to schedule an appointment to take Honorlock proctored tests. The student may take your proctored tests on-demand any time, day or night, during the testing availability window you have designated.

By default, Honorlock is disabled on all quizzes. You may select which quizzes you wish to enable Honorlock be required for within each of your courses.

Student Instructions appear to the student prior to starting the exam. Proctor Guidelines only appear to the Honorlock proctor and provides your expectations for how you wish them to handle the testing environment. 

Yes, you can control the open and closing of test dates and testing exceptions through the Canvas test options.

No, when Browser Guard is enabled, the student will not be able to navigate to other areas of the course.

You will need to provide these URLs to the students as well as list them in the Honorlock Whitelist URLs section. It is recommended that the links be included in the exam so that students can easily access them after the exam begins. 

It is up to you as the instructor. If a calculator is needed for an exam, Honorlock has a Basic Calculator and Scientific Calculator that can be enabled for any exam and accessed with the testing environment.

If a student attempts to use screen-capture, this will cause the exam session to briefly go out of focus which will generate a flag. If the student attempts to photograph the screen, the action will be recorded by the webcam, in which you would be able to view the offense and take appropriate action.

Secondary devices, such as phones, can be detected, but this is not accomplished by network snooping. Students using their smartphones to search online resources for test questions should note Honorlock utilizes a manual technology to detect academic integrity issues. Specifically, Honorlock hosts websites with seeded test questions that, when accessed during an examination session, sets off an action on the phone. This action is picked up during the student’s session and alerts the instructor to review for academic integrity issues. Honorlock does not initiate any technologies to eavesdrop on the student’s smartphone activity either during or after an examination session. It is important for your students to understand your policy regarding the authorization to use a phone or tablet during an Honorlock proctored examination.

The AI automatically generates a flag if unusual activity is detected, such as another person entering the room, and can alert standby proctors to "pop in" and briefly monitor the session to correct problems. There is no live person watching the student during the entirety of the exam. Once an exam session is completed, you, the instructor, are able to review flagged recordings to determine if a cheating incident may have occurred.

You as the instructor makes the final assessment about whether suspected cheating has taken place during an exam session. Only students engaging in unusual activity during an exam are flagged and reviewed. If you review the video and determine that the student did not violate FHU's academic dishonesty policy, no action is taken. However, if you determine that the student violated the academic dishonesty policy, you will follow the appropriate channels for academic dishonesty policy violations.

No, unfortunately, Honorlock is only accessible when taking the exam. Once the exam has been submitted, the system releases the monitoring of the student's computer and test session.

• A laptop or desktop computer running an operating system of Windows 10 or higher or Mac OSX 10.14 or higher - Honorlock will not function on a mobile phone or tablet.  Ensure your computer is charged and has a strong internet connection. You can check your system at honorlock.com/support. 

• Google Chrome browser - Make sure to use Google Chrome when you log in to take your test. Chrome version 93 or higher is required.

• One-time installation of a Chrome browser extension - The system will guide the student through this simple step, and the student can remove it after use by following these instructions.

• A webcam

• A stable and strong Internet connection of 1.5 Mbps download, 750 Kbps upload - We strongly advise students to test their system in advance via a link on the Honorlock support page.

• A photo ID

• We recommend students take your exam in a quiet private location to limit potential flags and distractions. You may provide specific requirements regarding exam setting.

If a student is unable to meet the technical requirement to complete an exam using Honorlock, the student will be directed arrange to take the exam at the testing center on the FHU campus.

The Honorlock extension is a small program that modifies the Chrome web browser and not the personal computer. Nothing is installed on the computer. The Honorlock Chrome extension can be uninstalled at any time should the user desire.

Honorlock offers technical support 24 / 7 / 365 to assist students before, during, and after their proctored tests. If a student should need any assistance, direct him/her to contact Honorlock's support agents through Honorlock's Live Chat service. The student should always contact Honorlock support via chat if a problem is encountered during the exam.

If the student is being prompted for an access code or password, the student is most likely not in Google Chrome or does not have the Honorlock Chrome Extension installed.

Honorlock is VPAT certified and fully accessible to students with special needs. Additionally, Honorlock works with screen readers if needed.

No. The university's agreement with Honorlock for online test proctoring does not allow Honorlock to sell student information to third parties. Our contract with Honorlock has specific legal requirements for the protection of student information that binds Honorlock to all of the protections supplied by FERPA (the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act).

No. Honorlock does not scan home networks or monitor data from any device on the network other than the one used for testing. Secondary devices, such as phones, can be detected, but this is not accomplished by network snooping. See the questions below for more detailed information on how Honorlock tracks and monitors data and devices.

Honorlock does not employ any technologies to allow detection of secondary devices connected to a student’s local/home network used during the proctoring session. No agents or applications are downloaded to these secondary devices to initiate any type of surveillance activities. Other users connected to the local/home network during a student’s Honorlock session can process personal or confidential information concurrently without fear of the student’s Honorlock session monitoring or eavesdropping on secondary device activities. In addition, the application does not have the capability of intercepting local/home network communications from devices connected during the student’s session.