AI-proctored online examination app set to make the ‘new normal’ easier for students, faculty
Bengaluru: As the education fraternity races to catch the wave of transformation in digital learning, the need for effective and reliable testing systems is felt more than ever before. After a conflict between the education regulators and top Indian universities to promote students without a final examination, online testing is being seen as the undeniable approach.
If lakhs of students appear for the top competitive exams such as NEET and JEE next month, social distancing norms, despite best efforts, may get compromised. It may also not be uncommon to see anxious parents who come to drop their wards hanging outside the examination venue putting this group at risk too.
With no end of the COVID-19 pandemic in sight till another year, all eyes are on technologists to provide reliable and cost-effective solutions for online assessments.
The primary need is to ensure students maintain integrity throughout the duration of the exam in the absence of a physical invigilator.
HireMee’s made in India ProEx mobile application addresses exactly that with its powerful three-tiered artificial intelligence (AI)-based backbone. A student can take the test on a laptop, tablet or even on an inexpensive
smartphone.
Advanced technology
The AI-ML (machine learning) algorithm used by HireMee for ProEx enables digital face recognition that can quickly detect any form of external help taken by test takers. Multiple photo grabs of test takers, taken every few seconds, are stitched to create a time lapse video of every examinee, which is shared as a report with the Controller of Examinations for proctoring. The technology identifies test takers seeking external help or looking away from the test-screen and flags them. This helps the institution to take an informed decision on the integrity of the test attempt.
“HireMee’s AI-enabled remote testing platform stems out proxy test takers effectively and works reliably even in inconsistent internet in rural areas and operates optimally even with low bandwidth. Creating test papers is a breeze for faculty in addition to giving them ample time to focus on e-learning to replace classroom teaching,” says Chocko Valliappa, Founder of HireMee.
Minimal human effort
Using such platforms also enables institutions to conduct examinations online, smoothly with just a fraction of the number of invigilators required otherwise for traditional modes. A case in point is the use of HireMee ProEx by BNM Institute of Technology, Bengaluru and Desh Bhagat University, Punjab – where half a dozen faculty members were able to easily conduct over 1,00,000 examinations.
“We were able to conduct the 2020 internal examinations digitally, very smoothly with zero glitches even in the remotest parts of the country. We are now planning to conduct our Computer lab examinations on this easy-to-use platform,” said Dr Krishnamurthy GN, Principal of BNMIT.
The platform’s additional features such as auto-selection and randomization of questions, navigation control, and window and image proctoring are built in to ensure a seamless examination process.
Cost-effective
ProEx’s remote proctoring helps reduce the multiple costs related to physical invigilation and minimize errors. While the system auto grades objective questions, the faculty only has to spend time to grade the subjective ones. Such proctoring is also especially useful when the candidates are located in multiple cities or diverse locations.
The AI-based system has been proven to be effective in identifying key cheating events like candidates taking help from any other person or electronic device and notes.
Remote proctoring is helping eliminate the need of exam centres and moving forward, we see a greater number of exams being conducted in such an environment, through the aid of technology.
The solution makes testing affordable in terms of time and money while effectively eliminating the spread of the SARs Cov-2 virus.
Speed with technology
Till date, the HireMee platform has completed nearly a million remote online tests since its launch 18 months ago. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the number of colleges and universities signing up for the ProEx solution has grown manifold.
Nearly two dozen institutions are now either in the midst of administering their online examination or scheduled to do so, using ProEx by HireMee platform. Many of these are final examinations. Overall, nearly 40,000 students from these institutions spread across the length and breadth of the country are taking these auto-proctored exams.
HireMee is also empanelled as an assessment agency by the National Skill Development Corporation’s three Sector Skills Councils, including NASSCOM’s the IT/ITeS Sector Skills Council, a frontrunner in technology related skills assessments in India.
HireMee operates in the EdTech field and has an MoU with the Ministry of Labour and Employment for providing services on the National Career Services (https://www.ncs.gov.in/) through a single-sign-in for video profiles.
The start-up complies with the highest global information security standards, like ISO 27001, ISO 9001 and ISO 27701, along with CMMI L3 for application development and data security.