Frequently Asked Questions

Remote Proctor Pro

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• What is Remote Proctor?

  Remote Proctor Pro is an integrated software-hardware solution that brings academic integrity to distance learning exams. Remote Proctor Pro’s fingerprint scanner authenticates the identity of a test-taker, while the camera and microphone monitors the exam environment and records all sound and a 360° view of the exam room. Remote Proctor Pro is connected to the test-takers’ computer loaded with Software Secure’s Securexam software, which locks the computer into the testing program while simultaneously prohibiting access to all applications or pre-existing information which could be used to cheat during an exam. With Remote Proctor Pro, distance learning students can take exams, just as they learn, anytime, anywhere, and now, with integrity.

• How does Remote Proctor Pro work?

  In order for students to enter an exam using Remote Proctor Pro, they must first successfully pass through the ID authentication process which entails placing their finger on a scanner which will match their biometrics with the scan gathered during initial registration of the unit, and taking a picture. Once student identification is authenticated, Securexam launches the testing program while locking down their computer until the test is completed. During the test, Remote Proctor Pro will record changes in sound or motion. Those movements are recorded by Remote Proctor Pro and audio and video clips are organized on a website for later review by the institution or Software Secure performing video review services. 

• How does Remote Proctor Pro work with Securexam?

  Through a web-based interface, faculty can format an exam to require use of Remote Proctor Pro. When students launch their Securexam software and select an exam that has been formatted for use with Remote Proctor, the software will look for the Remote Proctor Pro device and if it is connected, will begin the authentication process to gain access to the exam.  If the device is not connected the student will not be permitted entry into the exam.

• What happens after the student has completed the exam?

  During the exam, Remote Proctor Pro captures audio and video clips of the entire exam environment, just as a human proctor would see. Once all the video clips are sent up to the server, they are stitched together for later review. If during the exam itself, the student’s Internet connection is dropped, or is inadequate to send up video, the program will attempt to re-establish an adequate connection at the end of the exam for transmission. Until all the exam-time video is successfully transmitted, each time the test-takers’ computer is launched, Remote Proctor Pro will continue the transmission process. After an exam has been completed, faculty and school administrators access a secure website to review the exam process, just as if they were proctors during the exam itself. For each test-taker, the website organizes and presents; (1) a picture of the student authenticating, (2) exam time sound and motion. Proprietary video playback tools enable fast, efficient and accurate review process - up to 22x the speed of normal video.  

• Does Remote Proctor Pro support MACs?

  Remote Proctor Pro for Mac provides support for Macintosh computers running Mac OS versions 10.5 and higher (Leopard) and (Snow Leopard).

• What are the system requirements of Remote Proctor Pro?

  PC Requirements
  

  64-bit Vista and Windows 7 (32 and 64) are supported Remote Proctor products. For further information, visit our Knowledge Base on how to determine your OS. 

  Memory Requirements by O/S:

  • XP - 512 MB of RAM
  • 100 MB free hard drive space 
  • Internet access

  MAC Requirements

  OS X 10.5 and higher (Leopard) and (Snow Leopard)

Securexam Browser

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• Does Securexam Browser support MACs?

  We do offer a Securexam Browser version that runs on Mac OS X.

• What common functionality is disabled during a test using Securexam Browser?

  Students cannot copy and paste content from outside the browser to inside the test, printers and print screen functionality is disabled, task manager is blocked, the ability to schedule tasks to launch is disabled, and the ability to access any other application – including those used to communicate with other computers is prohibited.

• Does Securexam Browser support links to other websites contained in tests?

  Faculty can embed links to other websites within an exam but any links from that new site to another website will be blocked, preventing the student from trying to access unauthorized content during an exam.

• Can Securexam Browser support the use of video and audio players during a test?

  Institutions can customize their Securexam Browser to support the use of video and audio players during a test. As the video and audio players are developed and controlled by third-parties, they sometimes also facilitate exam-time student access to external materials.

• How does Securexam Browser work with Blackboard, WebCT or Angel?

  When faculty want to ensure their students use Securexam Browser to take a test in Blackboard, WebCT or Angel, they simply use Software Secure’s Online Password Generator to create an encrypted password within the test settings. When the students properly log in to take their test, Securexam Browser will automatically populate the password screen with the proper password, ensuring that only those students using our “cheat-proof” Securexam Browser have access to the exam. 

• How does Securexam Browser work with Moodle?

  Software Secure provides a file that can be installed with your build of Moodle to create an option within the exam creation page of Moodle which will create a Securexam Remote Proctor setting which can then be selected for a Moodle exam.

• Can Securexam Browser be used as a normal Internet Browser?

  Until Securexam Browser enters a test, it supports standard browser functionality including browsing, printing, access to links, etc.

• What are the system requirements?

  PC Requirements:
  Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7
  512 MB of RAM
  100 MB free hard drive space
  Internet access

  
  

  MAC Requirements:
  Mac OS 10.5 or higher (including Snow Leopard)
  NOTE: 10.3 is no longer supported
  40 MB or more free Hard Drive space
  Internet access

Securexam Student

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• How does the security work?

  Securexam Student has three layers of security:
  

  1. Lockdown: The student is locked into a secure word processing window. This lockdown functionality is also invoked during a restart and reboot.
  2. Alarm: automatic monitoring process, which, in the unlikely event of a breakout, will detect and record the violation on the encrypted exam. 
  3. Encryption of all Securexam files.

• What happens when a student's computer crashes in the middle of the exam?

  Whenever a student's computer is rebooted during an exam, after entry of the appropriate password, Securexam will automatically re-launch without permitting student access to the computer desktop, and return the student where he or she left off. The exam will continue as if an interruption did not occur. The exam statistics file has captured the shutdown and restart events.

• How often will students' work be saved during an exam?

  Exams are automatically saved to the computer's hard drive every 60 seconds. Students may also use the manual save function under the 'File' pull-down menu. Whenever a student switches between exam answers, all answers are automatically saved. Securexam also performs periodic full backups in separate locations, ensuring the ability to audit the exam process (record progress) and maximize the data integrity.

• Why does Securexam require the student to “Type Start” at the beginning of the exam?

  Securexam requires the student to type Start as a way to have the exam proctor control the exam time and process. When the student types 'Start', the Securexam exam clock will begin. The timer stops when the student exits the Securexam session, and the time is recorded in the encrypted exam. The timer is not shut off until the student fully exits the exam, and the clock will remain active for restarts or re-entries. The student may check the timer at any point during the exam. If the student is taking a “formatted-exam” (an exam with the questions contained in the document), she will not be able to see the questions, until first typing Start, ensuring that no one has an unfair advantage. Professors also have the option of using the auto-timer feature when creating exams, which sets a time limit on an exam. If an exam has timed out while the student is still working, the system will automatically save and exit the student from the exam when the time is up. If the situation requires, an exam proctor can access a time-expired exam and extend the permitted time limit.

• Does Securexam enforce any blind grading?

  Schools can choose to have their students work with Securexam using an Identification Number (“ID”) rather than a name. Those exams are organized by ID, and the student’s name is never attached the answers or exam file container so that teacher can receive an grade answers anonymously. School administrators can still see from PlanetSSI whether exam files are missing from particular students.

• Can Securexam be used in an Open-Book mode?

  Each exam can be designated as either an Open or Closed-Book exam. Open-Book exams mean that Securexam can be used just like any other word processor, enabling the student to simultaneously open any other application or file during the exam. While in Open-Book mode, Securexam still performs all of the automatic back-ups, provides the exam recovery features, and automatically saves the exam to the appropriate class folder for recovery from PlanetSSI.

• What exam settings can be applied to a Securexam?

  A test can be created with word-count limits, page-count limits, time restrictions, date availability restrictions, access to a spreadsheet, passwords to open and close the exam, as well formatting settings such as whether spell-check is available on an exam-by-exam basis. All exam settings are supported on both native Mac and PC versions.

• Where are exam answers saved?

  Institutions using Securexam register their users in PlanetSSI which controls how the software is used. When students use Securexam they are either taking a particular exam posted to PlanetSSI and made available to the student’s computer, or are taking a blank exam “Blue-Book” which is associated with one of the classes for which the particular student is registered within PlanetSSI. In either case, Securexam knows to which Institution, Class, and exam file to save the students exam answer for later recovery from PlanetSSI.

• Can exam files be saved anywhere other than PlanetSSI?

  At the end of a Securexam session, a Securexam transfer utility automatically launches, restores the users Internet connection if there is one, and prepares the exam file that is saved on the desktop for transfer to the appropriate folder within PlanetSSI. The transfer utility contains a checkbox that enables the student to request that the utility also saves a copy of the encrypted exam file to a USB device, utilizing a wizard that will even check the key and confirm a successful save. As the encrypted exam file is saved to the student’s desktop, it can be manually saved to any other devise. Completed Securexam response files cannot be printed, or opened without proper access to PlanetSSI administrative tools.

• What keys and functions are disabled during a Securexam session?

  All Function Keys: F1-F12
  Right-Click and Double-Click; which functions can be executed by using the pull-down menus
  Start Menu Button
  The Task Manager

• What word processing features are included?

  All basic editing functions are included. From a technical standpoint, the only change is the disable of the right-mouse click. All the features accessed from right-mouse click are accessible from the menu options

• What are the system requirements?

  PC Requirements:
  Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7
  512 MB of RAM
  100 MB free hard drive space
  Internet access

  MAC Requirements:
  

  Mac OS 10.5 or higher (including Snow Leopard)

  NOTE: 10.3 is no longer supported
  40 MB or more free Hard Drive space
  Internet access