Examity for IU instructors

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Overview

Examity is an online proctoring service that allows online and distance learners to take exams without needing to schedule an on-campus visit and proctor.

For the latest information on the availability and cost of using Examity at IU, see About online proctoring at IU. All instructors using online proctoring are required to complete the Online Proctoring Acknowledgment.

Note:
As of summer 2021, Examity has a new user interface, a new automated proctoring level, and improved Canvas integration. The updated version will appear in all Canvas courses as "Examity v5-2". The old version of Examity has been removed from all Canvas courses. If you need access to videos or other information from an old course, send mail to edshelp@iu.edu.

New features available for summer 2021 (Examity v5-2)

  • Automated practice exam: Allows test-takers to get familiar with the interface and procedures as well as ensuring that all equipment works properly. No audit is performed.
  • Automated premium proctoring level: After an automated authentication procedure, Examity's automated system monitors the test-taker's surroundings and desktop and flags particular behaviors. A human proctor then audits the flags and passes the information back to the instructor.

System requirements

To take a proctored exam using Examity, you'll need the following:

  • A computer (PC, Mac, or Chromebook), a camera, and a microphone. Both built-in and external cameras and microphones are acceptable. To test your webcam, visit https://webcamtests.com/.
  • A location with a sufficient internet connection and at least 2 Mbps upload and download speed. To test your internet speed, visit http://www.speedtest.net.
  • Chrome browser. Examity will run only on Chrome.

Use Examity in Canvas

Examity is integrated into Canvas as an external tool. For instructions for adding Examity to a module, see How do I add an external tool as a module item? Be sure to check Load in new tab when you create the module item. (Note that you cannot add Examity to your course navigation; it can only be added to a module at this time.)

Note:
The first time you click the Examity link in your course, Examity creates your new course instance. After creating it, you'll need to click the link again to ensure that Examity receives your exam information. You need to do this every semester for all courses that use Examity. Examity will automatically import your exam information (for example, dates and times the exam is available, password). Importing is a nightly process that can take up to 24 hours to occur.

To use Examity in Canvas, you'll first create course assessments in the Canvas Quizzes tool or a third-party testing tool, and then use Examity to schedule assessments that require proctoring.

To set up an assessment to be proctored using Examity:

  1. Create an assessment using one of the following methods:
    • The Canvas Quizzes tool: You don't need to create all of the questions for the assessment to schedule proctoring with Examity, but you must create and save the assessment.
      Note:
      You must use classic Canvas Quizzes with Examity; the New Quizzes tool does not work at this time.
    • A third-party testing tool (such as a homework platform): Copy the link to the exam.
      Note:
      Third-party tools may not work with Automated Premium proctoring. Contact your teaching center or your Examity representative for more information.
  2. Be sure to password-protect your exam. Check Require an access code and enter the password for the exam. Don't share this password with students; it ensures that students have authenticated with a proctor before taking the exam.
  3. Publish your exam.
  4. In Modules, click Examity.
  5. Click Load Examity in a new window. The Examity dashboard will load. If you are using an assessment created in Canvas, and you have allowed time for the nightly import to occur, open the exam settings and check to make sure the imported information is correct.
    Notes:
    • The "Exam Name" should match the name of the assessment in Canvas Quizzes.
    • Choose the Security Level appropriate to your assessment (see Proctoring levels available).
    • Choose additional rules or give special instructions as necessary
  6. Click Save Changes.
  7. Communicate with your students to let them know they must access their assessments via Examity.

Practice exams

UITS strongly recommends that you offer your students a practice exam so that they can gain familiarity with Examity before any graded work is due. If you are using the Automated Premium proctoring level, take advantage of the Automated practice test. If you are using Live proctoring (either Standard or Premium), give your students a low-stakes quiz to get them familiar with the service.

Privacy and security

Examity has been vetted for privacy and security standards as part of IU's contract with the company. You and your students may have confidence that their data is secure when using Examity. See below for sample syllabus language to share with them.

Important:
As an instructor, if you use an application managed by a vendor with whom IU does not have a contract, and it collects protected student data, you may be subject to sanctions, according to university policy Disclosing Institutional Information to Third Parties (DM-02). If your intended use will collect any FERPA-protected data in a third-party tool, do not use it before working through appropriate institutional offices to get a contract with the service. For guidance, see Cloud resources for teaching and/or consult your campus teaching and learning center.

Sample syllabus language

Following is sample language regarding Examity and data security that you may wish to include in your course syllabus.

When your instructor uses a third-party teaching and learning tool through Canvas, the company and the application have been vetted for compliance with IU's policies regarding privacy and data security. As part of the vetting process, all third parties must ensure that 1) they are only accessing data they require to perform the service, and 2) they are securing that data appropriately during both transfer and storage. For more, see Classification levels of institutional data.

When using proctoring tools (such as Examity) for online exams, government IDs, security questions, and video feeds of the test-taking environment are encrypted to ensure the data is protected from unauthorized access. Only properly authorized people, instructors and the service administrators, have access to the information and the videos that are stored. All videos are saved for a prescribed period of time and then deleted. The individual proctors employed by Examity work in proctoring centers with supervisors overseeing them, and everything they do is recorded on video and audio.

Get help and learn more

Consult the resources below for pedagogical or technical assistance with Examity.

Documentation

Contact Examity

Examity provides 24/7 phone, live chat, and email support for students and faculty using the service:

  • Phone: 855-Examity (855-392-6489)
  • Live Chat: Available on the Examity site
  • Email: support@examity.com

To contact Examity's IU account manager, Lisa Martini:

  • Phone: 855-392-6489
  • Email: lmartini@examity.com

Teaching and learning centers

Instructors can get help using technology in their teaching at the teaching and learning centers on each campus.

Related documents

Examity for IU students Add an external app to your course in Canvas About online proctoring at IU

This is document aphr in the Knowledge Base.
Last modified on 2021-10-11 15:26:45.