Proctoring with SMOWL in Open LMS: A Trusted Solution for Fair and Secure Assessments

With the rise of distance learning, ensuring academic integrity has become both a priority and a critical challenge. This is where innovative tools like SMOWL come into play, making remote proctoring possible.

In this article, we’ll explore in detail how this tool, together with the Open LMS platform, can enhance the quality of your academic environment.

What Is Proctoring in Open LMS?

Open LMS is a learning management system (LMS) based on Moodle™, which has become a popular choice for many educational institutions and organizations. Its integration with SMOWL offers a robust solution for proctoring, providing advanced remote supervision methods for online exams.

Combining SMOWL’s monitoring and identity authentication technologies with the stable and intuitive Open LMS platform you can ensure that students conduct their assessments without cheating and without interruptions.

Why Choose Open LMS?

Choosing the right platform for learning management is a crucial decision for any educational institution. Here are some reasons why Open LMS stands out from the crowd:

1. Based on Moodle™: Open LMS uses the open-source core of Moodle™, the most widely used LMS in the world. This ensures a solid and reliable foundation, with access to a vast community of developers and resources.
2. Scalability and Flexibility: This platform is highly scalable, making it suitable for institutions of all sizes. It adheres to Amazon Web Services (AWS) best practices, ensuring optimal performance and a guaranteed 99.9% availability.
3. Customization: Open LMS allows a high degree of customization, from the appearance of the environment to specific functionalities. This enables institutions to tailor the platform to their particular needs and enhance the user experience.
4. Support and Maintenance: Unlike many alternative open-source solutions that require institutions to manage their own servers and infrastructure, Open LMS is offered via a SaaS (Software as a Service) model. This means the provider takes care of maintenance, security, and updates, freeing institutions from these responsibilities.
5. Continuous Innovation: Open LMS continually incorporates the latest innovations and developments from Moodle alongside new Open LMS-exclusive functionalities. This ensures that institutions always have access to the most advanced tools for learning management.
   

Why Choose SMOWL for Proctoring in Open LMS?

SMOWL can enhance the online assessment experience for educational institutions and students alike. Here are some of the key advantages:

1. Security and Regulatory Compliance: SMOWL complies with the U.S. Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), ensuring that all user data is handled securely and in accordance with current regulations. This is crucial for maintaining student trust and protecting data integrity.
   
2. Identity Authentication: SMOWL uses advanced authentication technologies to verify student identities. This includes capturing images via webcam and detecting unauthorized behaviours, such as the use of external devices or the presence of unauthorized individuals. This functionality is essential to prevent academic fraud and ensure that the person taking the exam is indeed who they claim to be.
3. Computer Monitoring: SMOWL's ability to monitor the user’s computer allows the detection and recording of any suspicious activity during the exam. This includes detecting open applications, keyboard commands, and virtual machines. The detailed reports generated by SMOWL provide evaluators with objective evidence and all the necessary information to make informed decisions about the validity of exams.
   
4. Flexibility and Customization: SMOWL offers different plans and customization options that adapt to the specific needs of each institution. From basic monitoring in face-to-face exams with SMOWL CLASS to more advanced options like SMOWL+ and SMOWL PRO, institutions can choose the level of supervision that best fits their requirements. Additionally, security filters can be adjusted according to the type of exam and the institution's policies.
   
5. Simple and Efficient Integration: Integrating SMOWL with Open LMS is a simple and efficient process achieved via a plugin downloaded and installed on the Open LMS platform. This integration ensures that evaluators can manage and supervise assessments directly within the platform, without the need to switch between different tools.
   

SMOWL and Open LMS: The Future of Your Academic Integrity

In short, choosing Open LMS means opting for a robust, flexible, and scalable platform. Its SaaS model frees institutions from administrative burdens, freeing up time to focus on what really matters: providing quality education.

Thanks to its integration of SMOWL’s advanced proctoring features, you can ensure secure and effective assessments while offering an enriched and personalized learning experience. It’s the ideal choice for any institution seeking a reliable LMS that offers a wide range of integrations with the best tools available in the eLearning market.