New software application helps ensure honesty on computer-administered exams
November 29, 2011
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - High school and college instructors who administer computer-based exams now have a tool that monitors the process and dissuades cheating.
Officials at DelMar Information Technologies LLC, based in the Purdue Research Park, have developed Envigilator, a test-proctoring and computer-monitoring application. Instructors can use Envigilator in their classrooms for free during an open-ended beta testing period.
Software developer Mikel Berger said Envigilator was created so students who complete homework using word processors, spreadsheets, graphics arts and other software can use the same tools in testing environments.
"If students are required to do homework with a computer, they should be allowed to use a computer when being assessed on what they have learned," he said. "Envigilator can provide peace of mind to instructors who are concerned that students may be tempted to cheat when using a computer during an exam."
Berger said the Envigilator system does not require installation, administrator privileges or training to be operated.
"To set up Envigilator for a test, an instructor visits Envigilator.com and clicks the link to run the application. The instructor creates a new proctoring event and gives it a unique name," he said. "Students then visit the Envigilator site and click a link to run the application. They log on using their name, the instructor's name and the event name."
Envigilator continually records each student's computer screen, which can be viewed in real-time by the instructor or exam proctor.
"During the test, the instructor can log onto Envigilator and monitor which students are logged on, view thumbnail images of all students' computer screens or watch an individual student's screen in full size," Berger said. "Instructors can review and replay screen recordings if they want to review a student's behavior during a test."
A tutorial video about using Envigilator is on http://www.envigilator.com
About DelMar Information Technologies LLC
DelMar Information Technologies LLC is an information technology consulting firm specializing in custom software development. The firm has been developing software professionally since 1982. Clients include small businesses, medium-sized businesses and large corporations in diverse industries such as health care, education, utilities, manufacturing, telecommunications and retail.
About Purdue Research Park
The Purdue Research Park, with four locations across Indiana, has the largest university-affiliated business incubation complex in the country. The park network is home to about 200 companies that employ 4,000 people and are located in West Lafayette, Indianapolis, Merrillville and New Albany.
Purdue Research Park contact: Steve Martin, 765-588-3342, sgmartin@prf.org
Source: Mikel Berger, 765-577-5757, mjberger@delmarit.com
