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Glossary

What is online proctoring?

It's the umbrella term for the tools that watch you during a remote exam — and the line between a normal quiz and a serious one. Here's what it actually involves.

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Definition

Online proctoring is software that monitors students during a remote exam — through screen recording, webcam and microphone capture, browser lockdown, or automated behavior flagging — to deter and detect cheating. It's a separate layer an instructor adds on top of a quiz, not a standard Canvas feature.

How online proctoring works

Proctoring tools generally combine some mix of:

  • Browser lockdown — preventing you from opening other tabs, apps, or copying and pasting
  • Recording — capturing your screen, webcam, and microphone for the duration of the exam
  • Automated flagging — an algorithm marking moments it considers suspicious for an instructor to review later

The main tools

The names you'll see most are Proctorio (a recording-and- flagging extension) and Respondus LockDown Browser (a locked-down browser, often paired with webcam recording via Respondus Monitor). Others like Honorlock and ProctorU work along similar lines.

How reliable it really is

Less than the recording implies. Automated proctoring is widely documented as error-prone, flagging ordinary behavior — glancing away to think, a noise in the room, lighting issues. A flag isn't a verdict; it's a prompt for a human to look, and many institutions weigh it with real skepticism. None of that means it's beatable, though: CheatGPT is for standard quizzes, not proctored exams.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if my exam is proctored?
You'll be told and asked to set it up — installing software or an extension, granting camera and screen permission, and sometimes doing a room scan. A normal Canvas quiz asks for none of that.
Is online proctoring accurate?
It's controversial. Automated proctoring is well-documented as producing false positives — flagging normal behavior like looking away to think or background noise. A flag is a prompt for human review, not proof.
Does CheatGPT work with proctoring tools?
No. CheatGPT is built for standard, browser-based Canvas quizzes. Proctoring tools record your screen and camera or lock your browser, which is a different situation entirely.

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