Stop the use of online proctoring exams at UofT

The Issue

 The University of Toronto has implemented proctored exams into the syllabi of some summer courses and will continue to do so for the fall and winter semesters. The university has institutionally endorsed agreement with ProctorU(R), an online proctoring service, to protect the privacy of the videos. This allows ProctorU(R) to 1) record your activates and your background during an online exam and 2) have access and record your computer screen. The recordings will stay in the ProctorU(R) database for the next 60 days, if flagged for suspicious activity, it will remain available for 12 months. Proctored exams raise many concerns for students who often feel forced to follow these instructions without the ability to protest. The use of an external proctoring service brings up many security and privacy concerns. The university has even mentioned that the background should be prepared as to not show personal material that one does not want recorded, but isn't the recording supposed to be private? Is the human proctor able to access our private files on the computer as we're writing the exam? How are the human proctors being evaluated to ensure they don't invade the students' privacy? In addition, many students may not have access to a quiet area for their proctored exam and the anxiety of being watched may worsen their focus and negatively impact their performance on an important exam. Many may not even have access to great wifi that allows connection to both the online proctoring service and the exam page with the speed needed to complete the exam on time. Many may not have access to a functioning camera, so they have to purchase a new camera for the purposes of this one exam. We believe that alternatives to proctored exams must be considered; these could be breaking down the grading scheme and spreading the exam marks, coming up with a cumulative assignment, or making the exam open book.

 

 

This petition had 368 supporters

The Issue

 The University of Toronto has implemented proctored exams into the syllabi of some summer courses and will continue to do so for the fall and winter semesters. The university has institutionally endorsed agreement with ProctorU(R), an online proctoring service, to protect the privacy of the videos. This allows ProctorU(R) to 1) record your activates and your background during an online exam and 2) have access and record your computer screen. The recordings will stay in the ProctorU(R) database for the next 60 days, if flagged for suspicious activity, it will remain available for 12 months. Proctored exams raise many concerns for students who often feel forced to follow these instructions without the ability to protest. The use of an external proctoring service brings up many security and privacy concerns. The university has even mentioned that the background should be prepared as to not show personal material that one does not want recorded, but isn't the recording supposed to be private? Is the human proctor able to access our private files on the computer as we're writing the exam? How are the human proctors being evaluated to ensure they don't invade the students' privacy? In addition, many students may not have access to a quiet area for their proctored exam and the anxiety of being watched may worsen their focus and negatively impact their performance on an important exam. Many may not even have access to great wifi that allows connection to both the online proctoring service and the exam page with the speed needed to complete the exam on time. Many may not have access to a functioning camera, so they have to purchase a new camera for the purposes of this one exam. We believe that alternatives to proctored exams must be considered; these could be breaking down the grading scheme and spreading the exam marks, coming up with a cumulative assignment, or making the exam open book.

 

 

The Decision Makers

University of Toronto Students and Faculty
University of Toronto Students and Faculty

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Petition created on July 21, 2020