Best Practices for Proctoring Exams Online and In Person

Testing in general produces anxiety in students. The watchful eye of a proctor can potentially add more. However, some pressure is actually good for learning. Other kinds of pressure, like sorting out problems with unfamiliar tech, can have a negative impact. For exams, proctoring is certainly in large part about ensuring fairness and adherence to ​​NYU academic integrity policy but it’s also about setting up a clear, structured environment where students can demonstrate their learning to the best of their abilities. 

Testing often gets a bad rap in the classroom. Indeed, overtesting and cramming have been widely discussed as leading to poor outcomes. However, when done with care, exams can also have a lot of benefits for the learning process. Research shows that testing that is repeated at appropriate intervals, promotes recall over recognition and includes teacher feedback improves organization, understanding and application of knowledge in learners.    

Strategic transparent preparation can reduce tech-related anxiety and promote an exam experience that is fair and beneficial. Start by including details about your exams in your syllabus and in an announcement (NYU login required) on your NYU Brightspace course site several weeks ahead of exam time. Beyond the when and where of the exam, ensure students clearly know:

• What to bring (e.g. pencils and blue books, laptops and chargers, functioning webcams)

• What to do (e.g. download and install Respondus Lockdown Browser)

• What to expect (e.g. professor circulating the classroom, observing via Zoom all screens mode)

Give yourself (and your students) enough lead time to get your proctoring procedures (NYU login required) set up and ready to go. Early preparation minimizes surprises and allows for practice and identifying, troubleshooting and fixing any issues in advance.

• Start by getting in touch with your Academic Leadership for any department policies and procedures. 

• Get set up early. Make sure you are familiar with your tools and procedures. Some might require more time than expected.

• Run a practice session. Offer a short, low-stakes mock test or in-class walkthrough using your actual test setup at least a week before the exam. This gives everyone time to sort out tech issues and avoid unpleasant surprises.  

Lastly, consider how much proctoring is needed for your course. For some high stakes midterms or finals, it may be essential. For lower stakes activities like knowledge checks or quizzes, a lighter touch might be more appropriate. Strategically choosing the proctoring methods that make the most sense for your course will alleviate pressure on both you and your students. Communicating how you’ll proctor will set both you and your students up for success. 

For questions about setting up proctoring tools or designing balanced assessments, reach out to the Nexus team at nexus@nyu.edu.