Here David Patterson takes a fresh look at UK online proctoring technology company, Comprobo, with an updated review of their tools and services.
Comprobo provide a SaaS, cloud-based AI-powered remote invigilation toolkit – a world class suite of highly configurable tools for automated proctoring.
The system automates the process of ensuring the right person is on your website or testing environment. The system biometrically checks the user’s identity against an authorised picture of the intended user, and regularly checks to ensure they are paying attention and are not substituted by someone else.
Business rules can be configured to automate an outcome, such as rejecting a candidate if the system believes they are not the right person or perhaps halting the user’s access should they attempt to cheat by using another application of browser.
Comprobo provides a revolutionary opportunity for companies to modernise their training and testing. It allows the implementation of streamlined business processes that can automate previously manual and labour-intensive processes and therefore reduce time, cost and personnel.
Providing a turnkey, zero install, web browser delivered system, Comprobo solutions can be rapidly deployed into any size of organisation in under a day. Comprobo have evolved the tools over the years by listening carefully to their customers and rapidly adding features that are truly required by users.
In this review, I will talk about what Comprobo is, how it works, and its potential for various industries.
What is it?
Comprobo provides two versions of its assurance validation technology: Comprobo Complete and Comprobo Verify.
Comprobo Complete
An end to end, turnkey solution that can be delivered within days. Full integration with LMS such as ClassMarker, while SCORM enables rapid delivery.
Comprobo Verify
A white label solution that enables this powerful proctoring technology to integrate with your LMS, such as Moodle, or websites build with the likes of WordPress.
Both products are cross-platform, software-as-a-service, browser-based technologies. This means that they do not require any installation to use; they simply take place in the browser. Comprobo’s automated platform is limitlessly scalable. Institutions of any size can use it for any online verification.
Comprobo products are easy to use, and easy to roll-out to multiple users regardless of their technical proficiency, as well as removing the possibility of an IT headache.
The technology provides a significant deterrent to cheating and gives confidence that the user has completed an assignment honestly themselves and with diligence.
The level of cheating detection and prevention in both products is fully configurable to suit the purpose and audience. Biometric analysis is used to add a high level of monitoring to securely proctor or invigilate online examinations and dramatically reduce the possibility of cheating. This enables proctoring to take place online, eradicating the need for examinees or invigilators to visit a test centre.
How does it work?
With state-of-the-art facial detection technology and a large variety of fully automated software, Comprobo includes ID verification, automated proctoring, browser excursion settings, administrative controls, and deep, instantaneous analytics.
Central to the technology is the ability to assure the presence of users by using a Webcam.
When remote ID Verification setting is required the user’s webcam captures an image of the candidate and their photographic ID which is then available for acceptance or rejection by the exam administrator.
At the start of a session, the system will capture a picture of the candidate and in conjunction with facial recognition technology to confirm that the person in front of the webcam is always the intended user.
The webcam is also used to take photos and video recordings of the user and their behaviour. This is part of what makes up the report of the invigilated or proctored event, which is stored securely against tampering and hacking for any future review should the candidate’s integrity be challenged.
There are lots of customisable features to ensure user activity. Users are required to complete simple tasks throughout their session to ensure that they are paying attention, and questions can be posed to the user during the session to test their comprehension.
In addition, the system monitors the browser and the use of other software and this means it can constantly be verified that the user is completing only the specified content, and not looking at anything unauthorised in their browser. This eliminates the possibility of the user cheating in their exam by using resources on their computer.
Comprobo has many customisable features. By using the webcam and this recording facility, Comprobo can deter and detect cheating, such as the user moving away from the task at hand; looking at other materials on their computer; looking at other devices and materials apart from their computer; copying and pasting; and any suspicious behaviour that takes place in front of the webcam.
By using Comprobo, an examiner can be sure of the level of security and conformity that would be produced at a test centre or during an invigilated exam. The results produced are robust enough to hold up in court.
Invigilation report storage and GDPR
Lets discuss Comprobo ARC – central to both products is the robust integrity report record that is created. It verifies the identity of a user, monitors their activity, and records the desired event and stores this record so that it can be reviewed at any point in the future should it be required.
What is Comprobo’s potential for eLearning?
As we have seen, the Comprobo products can match the level of invigilation that takes place at a test centre. As the Comprobo products take place entirely online, and Verify can be integrated with a Learning Management Systems and is SCORM compliant, this means that secure invigilation can now take place in elearning tests and examinations.
This opens the door for a new level of certification for eLearning. Previously, eLearning courses could be accredited based on their quality and the delivery of learning outcomes, but now they can be used to provide evidence for qualifications that require a user to be examined, and to provide a record of this examination.
If remote proctoring takes off and is recognised as a genuine alternative to regular invigilation, then we might see a new breed of elearning courses aligned to, for example, GCSEs and A-levels, which enable learners to work towards, and to achieve, a recognised qualification entirely online.
Comprobo also provides some features that can be used to enhance and create elearning courses. Being able to add prompts to detect attention levels will provide another reporting criterion for elearning courses, which can be used to determine how effective they are, and these prompts can also be used to promote engagement throughout the course.
The ability to add tests during videos is also an extremely useful feature. Any elearning videos which did not previously feature interactive testing can now be turned from passive videos in to interactive courses which test comprehension and competency.
This could make elearning videos in to much more valuable learning experiences without the need for costly development work.
Benefits of Remote Invigilation with Comprobo
The obvious advantage of the Comprobo suite is that it eliminates the need for examinees to visit test centres, and the associated costs. However, it also eliminates the need for an assessor to visit an examinee in order to evidence their learning.
This type of visiting can take place when a practical assessment is required, such as for a qualification in the waste and recycling industry. However, with remote proctoring, the evidencing of this kind of learning could take place remotely.
With the learning for this assessment being elearning, and the examination taking place with remote proctoring, Comprobo could revolutionise this type of qualification, turning it from an operation which requires multiple expensive on-site visits, to a process which takes place entirely online.
In conclusion
Comprobo provides an innovative and simple addition to online assessment. By offering an online solution which is as secure as regular invigilation, Comprobo can be used to enhance online courses and greatly increase their potential.
As it is so easy to use, the opportunity for it be used on a large scale is real, and as such it could revolutionise the way we currently carry out examinations.
Head office:
Comprobo Limited
The Old Town Hall
4 Queens Road
London SW19 8YB
UK
Telephone: 0203 488 3392
Visit: comprobo.co.uk to learn more.
