{"id":123075,"date":"2021-02-17T14:13:57","date_gmt":"2021-02-17T13:13:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=123075"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:25:24","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:25:24","slug":"youre-guilty-until-proven-innocent-online-proctored-exams-cause-students-anger-and-frustration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2021\/02\/17\/youre-guilty-until-proven-innocent-online-proctored-exams-cause-students-anger-and-frustration\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018You\u2019re guilty until proven innocent.\u2019 Online proctored exams cause students anger and frustration"},"content":{"rendered":"

Students are being watched from multiple angles, are declared guilty until proven innocent and had to deal with a francophone helpdesk when things went wrong. Proctored online exams, particularly those involving a two-camera set-up, are causing students to feel anxious, angry and frustrated. \u201cIt took a heavy toll on me, so much so that I actually considered doing my Master\u2019s at a different university.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\u2018My phone was vibrating, but there was nothing I could do\u2019<\/h2>
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Mara F\u00f6rster<\/span><\/p>

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Mara F\u00f6rster, a second-year Communications and Media student, sat her first online proctored examination featuring a two-camera set-up two weeks ago. \u201cIt was an open-book exam. I found it a very stressful experience. That second camera is a ridiculous violation of your privacy. During the exam I absolutely didn\u2019t dare take my eyes off my screen, as they might think I was cheating if I did.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mara is blessed with a \u2018tiny little study\u2019 where she can sit her exams in peace and quiet. \u201cThere is a small desk, and behind me there is an empty shelf where I can place my phone. It can\u2019t be positioned right behind you. It must be placed at a 45- to 90-degree angle. And you need a charger, because if you don\u2019t use one, your battery will die during the exam. I tried to remove all personal objects from view. ProctorExam presents us with a brief instructional video that shows a student seated at a big, beautiful kitchen island. Not that realistic, if you ask me. If your situation differs from that one, their advice is to be \u2018creative\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t

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\n\t\t\u2018You have to perform a room scan and show your ears to the webcam. A fellow student who is a Muslim told me she hated having to do that.\u2019\n\t<\/blockquote>\n\n\t<\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n

Read more about proctoring<\/h2>