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Honorlock FAQs for Instructors

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What is Honorlock?

Honorlock is an online remote proctoring service that allows students to take exams remotely. It does not require users to download any software and it integrates seamlessly with your LMS by means of a Chrome Extension that can be easily removed and added back later.

Are instructors required to use Honorlock?

No. Instructors may use a variety of assessment strategies that do not include online proctoring. When the nature of the course or instruction makes online proctoring a necessity, they have the option to choose Honorlock to ensure the academic integrity of the test.

What should I tell my students in my Syllabus or eLearning about using Honorlock?

If you choose to enable Honorlock for your course, please include Honorlock in your course syllabus to provide students a basic understanding of what Honorlock is and how it will work. Feel free to copy and paste the sample syllabus text bellow to your syllabus:

NOTICE: enrollment in this course requires the use of Honorlock for online assessment proctoring. Your webcam is recording you during your test or assessment, but no one is watching your exam in real time. Honorlock uses technology to monitor your session, and, if it senses that something is wrong, it will trigger a pop in by a live proctor. The proctor will assess the situation, help you get back on track, and document this for your instructor. After your test, exam proctors may review the exam session to look for any potential violations, and the recording will also be sent to your instructor along with any notes from our proctors.

To successfully take an exam, you must have a web camera with microphone, a laptop or desktop computer (no tablets/phones), Chrome browser, a reliable internet connection and your photo ID. You will be prompted to install the Honorlock Chrome Extension (which you can remove after you finish the test). You will then access the exam within your eLearning course and go through the authentication process. Your microphone and web camera will be used by Honorlock to monitor you throughout your test or assessment. YOUR ACTIVITIES ARE RECORDED WHILE YOU ARE LOGGED INTO OR TAKING YOUR ASSESSMENT(S). THE RECORDINGS SERVE AS A PROCTOR AND WILL BE REVIEWED AND USED IN AN EFFORT TO MAINTAIN ACADEMIC INTEGRITY.

How do I add Honorlock LTI to a UTD eLearning Course?

screenshot of Honorlock's Build Content tab

To add Honorlock LTI to your UTD eLearning course, please follow the steps below:

Step 1: go to a course page (such as Exams page or Course Homepage)
Step 2: click on Build Content, then select the Honorlock LTI
Step 3: on next screen, enter the name as Honorlock LTI, click Submit and the Honorlock LTI link should appear on your course page.

Note: Before you are able to enable Honorlock in your exams, you will need to launch the Honorlock LTI by clicking the Honorlock link generated in steps 1-3.

Once I have enabled Honorlock for my courses in Blackboard for the first time, will I receive any forms of notifications from Honorlock?

When you enable Honorlock for your courses, you will receive a series of 3 emails from Honorlock over the course of several days. These emails will contain helpful information and links. Please check your junk email, if you do not see them.

I enabled Honorlock LTI in eLearning, but once I click on the LTI link I received this error message: “Unable to launch the link. The Tool Provider has been disabled by the System Administrator: Honorlock LTI.” What should I do?

You will want to do the steps listed below. Once you do this, you will be able to turn on Honorlock/Library Reserves.

  1. While in the course, go to Control Panel > Customization > Tool Availability.
  2. Scroll down to find LTI, and make sure the checkbox is checked.
  3. Click [Submit].

How is student data secured and privacy protected?

Honorlock has satisfied the requirements of the Information Security Office vendor assessment, agreed contractually to comply with FERPA, and uses encryption methods to protect Internet connections. Honorlock collects certain data elements from your computer which are necessary to perform proctoring services, but Honorlock does not have the ability to access your entire personal network. The use of the Google Chrome Extension limits access to operations provided by your browser during the period of time you are engaging in a proctored test. UT System Administration and UT Dallas are not aware of material weaknesses in Honorlock’s security that would allow a third-party hacker to access information about students.

Who has access to student data?

Only key staff within Honorlock will have access in order to provide quality control and support for UTD instructors, eLearning team members, and University’s Testing Center personnel. Those accessing student data are bound to the FERPA and privacy requirements required by the UTD/Honorlock master service agreement. Read more information on privacy here.

How long is student data stored?

Depending on the MSA, Honorlock retains data for a period of 6-12 months. Student data is deleted after the retention period. Only a request by a student’s educational institution will extend the retention period if the school is investigating a case of academic integrity.

Is there a fee for faculty?

No. Honorlock proctoring service is being offered at no cost to faculty.

Can students complete the test using a cellphone if they don’t have a webcam?

Students cannot test using a cellphone/iPad. They must use a laptop or a desktop computer to take the test. If they do not have a computer or webcam, they can check out one early in advance prior to the exam through the Office of Information Technology.

What is the difference between “Student Instructions” and “Proctor Instructions” when enabling Honorlock?

Student Instructions appear to your students prior to starting the test. Proctor instructions only appear to the Honorlock Proctor of the test.

Do I have to enable Honorlock on all of my quizzes/exams?

Yes. By default, Honorlock is disabled. You will select which quizzes/exams to enable it on in your courses.

Are whitelisted site URLs provided to students automatically or does the instructor need to proviee these beforehand to the students?

Instructor will need to provide these URLs to your students. It is recommended that the links be included in the exam so that students can easily access them after the exam begins.

If I use the Math Editor with Honorlock, is there anything special that I need to do?

If the Math Editor is used during an Honorlock test, the hyperlink below will need to be added to the Whitelist URLs. Otherwise, the Math Editor will attempt to open, but it will quickly close.

Can my students still access notes and files (i.e. PPT, WORD) testing if I have Browser Guard enabled?

No. if Browser Guard is enabled, the student will not be able to navigate to other areas of the course. In this case the Browser Guard needs to be turned off.

What if I want to allow my students to use an application, such as Microsoft Excel?

In scenarios where you would want students to access applications outside their exam, it is recommended that Browser Guard is turned off. Honorlock will continue to record the student’s desktop screen and our AI will generate flags when the student’s exam window loses focus, like when navigating to a specific application.

I whitelisted a PDF but my students weren’t able to access it, how can I prevent this from happening again?

If you’re using Honorlock’s Browser Guard and whitelisting a PDF file, you’ll need to make sure that the PDF is viewable directly within the Google Chrome browser. If the PDF file is hosted in such a way that it first prompts students to download the PDF file, Browser Guard may prevent students from accessing downloaded files on their device. Therefore, it’s recommended that the PDF is viewable directly within Google Chrome when a student accesses the whitelisted website. If you need further assistance with this, we recommend checking in with one of the eLearning instructional design team members, or reaching out to Honorlock support team.

When my students finish their exam, I want them to submit their written responses as a pdf., how can they do that?

We suggest instructors to create a question (as best practice, on the final question) that prompts the students to upload their work. Please include instructions on how to do that in the “Additional Instructions” field. See sample text below:

“Students please note: As part of your exam, you will be required to upload your written work on the final question. This can be done by utilizing a third party application on your cell phone or by simply taking photos of your work to email yourself, then uploading them into eLearning. Please do your best to remain within the camera at all times to ensure you are not flagged.”

screenshot of form field under Additional Instructions

Do I need to set up a password for all my exams (including Third Party exams)?

Please do NOT set up a password for exams in eLearning if you are planning to enable Honorlock. As part of the process of enabling an Honorlock exam, Honorlock automatically sets the exam password for each of your exams that looks similar to this: HL_NO_EDIT_m18OgNd3. This is the intended behavior, please refrain from removing/editing this auto-generated password.
Note: Editing the password could prevent your students from being able to access their exams successfully. Removing the password could allow your students to enter the exam without Honorlock enabled, thereby taking the exam un-proctored.

Third Party Exams

Please be mindful a password is required for all Third Party exams. It must be the same password you set up in the actual Third Party publisher website. You do not need to provide the password to your students; student do not need to know the password but they will have to click the “Insert Password,” button on the Honorlock webcam window to start their Third Party exam.

How can I allow my students to use a calculator during the exam?

Honorlock does include a built-in basic and scientific calculator that you can enable in the Honorlock exam settings. If you allow your students to use a handheld calculator, please include this information in your Exam Instructions.

Can I copy a course from previous semester to current semester? What happens to the Honorlock settings when a course is copied?

When a course is copied from your old course into the new, Honorlock LTI that you used in that course will be copied over as well. You will need to actually click the Honorlock LTI link that’s in your course to activate it. Once you’ve done that, Honorlock is available to use within your Test Options. As you’re updating the settings for each of your tests, we recommend just checking the Honorlock settings to make sure they look good.

How about accessibility and students with special accommodations? Can we extend exam times for students with accommodations (and any accommodation-type questions)?

Honorlock is VPAT certified and fully accessible to students with special needs. Exam availability settings and student-specific time accommodations are managed and set up within the exam in Blackboard. Honorlock will piggyback off of these settings when students login to test. Any other exceptions for specific students should be added to the ‘Accommodations’ section to ensure Honorlock proctor team can assist them during an exam.

One of my OSA students cannot use the computer independently and will have a reader or a scribe present, will Honorlock AI allow this?

Yes, it is possible. We recommend to put a note in the “Accommodations” field that this is allowed so that Honorlock proctors don’t think the student is getting help.

Do I still need to enable extra time (i.e. 1.5x or double time) on the quiz if a student has accommodations? Or do I just put that in the Proctor Instructions?

For students with special accommodations, this can be accomplished through “EDIT TEST OPTION”> “TEST AVAILABILITY EXCEPTIONS” > “Add User Group” in Blackboard. Be sure to also provide the accommodations and student name in the Proctor Instructions so that Honorlock Proctors are aware of the student’s needs. Below is a sample text:

“Mary Jones has double time (total 4 hours) for this exam. She can use a handheld graphing calculator, one page single-sided formula sheet and reader/scribe.”

Should I leave the Lockdown Browser for the Third Party Assessment to be on or off if I use Browser Guard?

Please keep any other Lockdown Browser for Third Party Assessments set to OFF if you are using Browser Guard.

How to create a Practice Test in eLearning/Blackboard?

You can create a Practice Test by following the instructions here.

Note: Please be sure to set up the “Display After” and “Display Until” date/time in eLearning. Your students might experience issue accessing the test if the exam window is not set up correctly.

screenshot of form fields to assign display dates

For Third Party Assessments, can I just set the due date in Honorlock?

Any customization of exam availability would need to be done within the publisher website. We recommend notifying students of the due date/late submission dates.

How can I check if my 3rd party exam is set up correctly?

If you have access to a student account for your 3rd party publisher site, you could technically take the exam from the student experience to ensure everything is set up correctly.

Where can I get a Sample Student Instructions to include when enabling Honorlock in Blackboard?

Below are a sample of Student Instructions. Instructor can modify these based on the specific needs and requirements for your exam.

Student Instructions:

  • Failing to follow these exam instructions could result in a violation which may impact your exam grade and course grade:
    • This is a CLOSED note exam. Using your e-book, textbook, or any other resources is NOT ALLOWED. (Or: One page of notes double-sided is allowed).
    • You will have (?) hour and (?) minutes to complete this exam.
    • You may use (?) sheets of scratch paper. (Or: Scratch paper is NOT allowed)
    • You must remain in front of your computer for the entire duration of the exam.
    • NO BATHROOM BREAKS.
    • Cell phones, smart watches, and any other electronic devices are NOT PERMITTED.
    • You may use the built-in calculator in the top right corner of the exam page. (Or: Only an approved (basic 4 or 6 function) calculator is allowed. No scientific or graphing calculators are permitted.
    • A clear and complete 360 degree room scan is required. Students must show work area as well as the entire room during the room scan. This includes a clear view of your desktop/work space, both sides of each sheet of scratch paper, and your calculator (if permitted).

Testing Area:

  • Be sure your Testing Area meets the follow criteria:
    • Lighting in the room must be bright enough to show the student’s face and surrounding area in a clear and detailed manner.
    • Be sure the desk or table is cleared of all other materials. This means the removal of all books, papers, notebooks, cell phone or any additional electronic devices etc.
    • No visible writing on desk or on walls.
    • All other programs and/or windows on the testing computer must be closed prior to logging into the proctored test environment.
    • Loud music, television, or other distractions playing in the background are prohibited.
    • No other persons or parties aside from the exam taker should be permitted near the testing environment, and all communication between exam taker and third parties is prohibited. Make sure your background is clear of pictures as they may be flagged as an additional person in the room.

How can I avoid students calling me endlessly, or emailing me at midnight with software issues or if they’re uncertain how to use Honorlock?

Please strongly encourage students to reach out to Honorlock Student Support for any questions that they might have, or any technical issues that they run into. Throughout their exam, students will find support access just a click away. They will be able to connect with one of the Honorlock support agents quickly and easily to troubleshoot issues and get back on track with the assessment via the “LiveChat” button, pinned at the lower right corner of the exam page. Please note: For Third Party exams, Honorlock Student Support is on the pinned tab not the publisher exam page. If a student needs to use the “LiveChat” they must go back to the pinned tab. This includes the built-in calculator and guide as well.

How do I view students’ recorded exam sessions?

The recorded exam sessions can be viewed in the Honorlock application in Blackboard. You will also be able to download summary reports that are easy to read. These reports will make a note of any incidents, and each incident will include a timestamp for the test session recording so that you can review it yourself and determine whether you need to address it. Read instructions on how to view student results.

Note: If your exams were completed within 24 hours, the video sessions may not have fully processed and uploaded, which can display the video as black or have not playback at all. In this case, please view the recorded sessions at a later time.

Will suspicious behavior be flagged or do I need to watch all of the videos?

For best practice, we recommend clicking on the Summary Report button (under Honorlock LTI in Blackboard) then scroll through the high red flags and only look at students with serious flags.

What if a student’s home environment makes it extraordinarily difficult to take online-proctored exams?

We recognize that student resources and living situations can vary. If your students believe that they have an extraordinary circumstance, they should discuss this with you to determine if a mutually-agreeable solution or alternative can be reached.

Can my students take the exam in a public area?

To avoid any possible interruptions during an exam, students are encouraged to test in a private/quiet area. If for any reason a student is allowed to test in a public area such as a library or coffee shop, please be sure to provide that student’s name in the Proctor Instructions area so that Honorlock proctors are aware of the request. Below is a sample text:

“Susan Smith is allowed to test in a public area (a library, coffee shop) for this exam.”

If a student gets up during the exam to use the restroom, does the timer continue to run? Do they have to re-authenticate into the exam?

The timer continues to run if the student leaves the exam for a restroom break. When they return they will have to show their face to the camera for the exam to start back up. You may choose to add 15-20 minutes to the exam time to compensate for restroom breaks or possible technical issues if that’s applicable for your assessment.

How often will a live proctor jump-in and pause a student’s exam?

Honorlock proctors will only pause the exam and jump-in if the student is doing something they should not be doing. Honorlock proctors take the time to look at the exam before they pause it and jump-in. Note: The exam timer will keep counting down during a proctor pop-in. We recommend instructors to add an extra 15-20 minutes to exams that are proctored via Honorlock.

Do the Student Guidelines change the behavior of A.I.?

No, the Student Guidelines display to your students before they launch the exam and serve as a reminder so they know what actions are permitted and what are not. Honorlock proctors also reference these guidelines before they engage with a student.

If my students have to use the VPN to dial in to get to some remote systems, is the VPN connection going to interfere with how Honorlock tool does the tracking?

No. Students can have the VPN running during the exam if they need to.

Where can I find more information?

Honorlock Hours: Support is available 24/7/365
Honorlock Support Phone: + 1 (844)243-2500
Honorlock Support Email: support@honorlock.com
Honorlock Support Website: https://honorlock.com/support.If those resources do not provide the answer to your specific questions, you are welcome to contact the Testing Center at infotestingcenter@utdallas.edu.