Taking Exams with Honorlock

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Chrome Extension Update:
Honorlock released an update to its Chrome extension on November 14, 2020. With this update, all students will be forced to upgrade to this version prior to starting their next exam. Please note that this process should happen automatically. However, if you receive a message about your extension being out of date, you can simply uninstall and proceed to install the newest version of Honorlock Chrome extension.

Honorlock is an online proctoring service that allows you to take your exam remotely. You DO NOT need to create an account, download software or schedule an appointment in advance. There is no cost to the student. Honorlock is integrated directly into your myCourses exam and requires the following:

  • a computer with minimum system requirements
  • a working webcam/microphone
  • your ID (any government-issued ID(i.e. driver license, passport) or a student ID that has your photo)
  •  a stable internet connection
  • Google Chrome for your browser (required)

How to Use Honorlock

Getting Started

  • Before taking your exam, ensure that your device meets the system requirements by using the system check at Honorlock Support.
  • Ensure your device is charged and you have a stable internet connection.
  • You must use Google Chrome for your exam.
  • We recommend students take their exams in a quiet, private location with adequate lighting to limit potential flags or distractions. 
  • Take the Practice Test in your course to setup your device and to become familiar with taking a proctored exam with Honorlock. Reach out to your instructor if you don’t see the practice test.
  • Need Help? HonorLock support is available directly within the exam screen through the chat or at HonorLock Support. Honorlock support are available 24/7 and prepared to troubleshoot and resolve student technical inquiries. 

What actions might trigger a proctor pop in?
Honorlock’s AI system is designed to ensure that you keep your focus on your exam without any external distractions. You may trigger a live proctor pop in due to insufficient lighting, background noise, an incomplete room scan or your face does not stay within the full view of the camera. The proctor will assess the situation, help you get back on track, and send any notes about the incident to your instructor. Please review the Honorlock exam guidelines.

Resources
Student Guide (PDF)
Starting Your Exam: Frequently Asked Questions
Standard Exam Guidelines
Completing a Room Scan Using Honorlock
Honorlock Message to Students about Online Proctoring
Provost Message to Students about Honorlock
Honorlock Knowledgebase

Support
Honorlock support is available 24/7/365. If you encounter any issues during your exam, you may contact them through live chat on the support page or within the exam itself.

FAQs

What will I need to participate in a remote proctored exam?
The Honorlock extension is a small program that modifies the Chrome web browser and not your computer. Students can remove the Honorlock Chrome extension as soon as they submit their exam. Please note that the Google Chrome browser must be used when taking a proctored exam with Honorlock. Additionally, you will need your student ID to help verify your identity and you will need to have a working webcam, microphone, and either a laptop or desktop computer. Either an integrated or external USB webcam will work.

What if I don’t have access to a quiet location, reliable internet or technology?
Be proactive and communicate with your instructor well ahead of your exam if you are facing challenges with finding a quiet, disruption free environment, access to reliable internet, or access to technology. You instructor can work with you to find alternate solutions. The Claire T. Carney Library has testing areas available for students to take their exams. All students must check-in first at the Learning Commons desk on the first floor of the Library to be directed to the appropriate test area.

What about wearing a mask during an exam?
Students testing in a public space who are required to wear a mask, must remove it initially to authenticate themselves into an exam – when prompted to capture a student photo/selfie. However, once in the exam, students can put their masks back on for the duration of the exam.

Why do I need a photo ID? What forms of ID are acceptable?
Honorlock verifies the photo and name on your ID to ensure you are the correct test taker. You can use any government-issued ID (i.e. driver license, passport) or a student ID that has your photo.

What if I lose connection or mistakenly submit my exam?
In most cases you can restart the process and get back into the exam. Please reach out to your instructor if this happens.

The screen reads that I need to enter a password. What do I do?
You may need to need to relaunch the Honorlock authentication process. Once the authentication process is complete, you will click Begin and launch the exam. If that does not resolve the issue, please reach out to Honorlock Support.

Does Honorlock Access My Entire Wi-Fi Network?
No. Honorlock does not have any access to your network or any devices connected to your network. Please review  Honorlock’s Privacy Statement for more information.

What does the program track/record?
Honorlock can log the websites that you access, or attempt to access, from Chrome (which processes the request) and only when you are actively in an exam. The program collects your IP address, email address, and name from myCourses. It also stores your Photo and ID for a limited period of time after the exam, in case the university requires those for authentication. Your instructor has the option of choosing to record your exam session via your webcam; if this is the case, the recording will contain audio and video of the session. Honorlock identifies when a student exam ends. This is determined by the student submitting an exam within Blackboard. When this occurs, Honorlock automatically stops all recording and ends the exam session monitoring. This ends the recording of the webcam, the desktop screen, and the audio.

Is someone watching me the whole time?
Yes and no. Your webcam is recording you during your test, but no one is watching your exam in real time. Honorlock uses AI technology to monitor your session, and, if it senses that something is wrong, it will trigger a live proctor pop in. The proctor will assess the situation, help you get back on track, and send any notes about the incident to your instructor. After your test, one of Honorlock’s 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 the proctors. We all know things can happen inadvertently during an exam, such as an unexpected movement or sound. Please communicate with your instructor. 

How does Honorlock work and how does it protect student privacy?
Instead of interacting with your computer at the operating system level or needing a software download, Honorlock only requires that you use the Google Chrome browser and install the Honorlock Chrome extension. This helps to minimize any unnecessary or perceived invasion of student privacy. Google Chrome extensions are sandboxed within the Chrome browser, and they only have access to limited operations provided by the browser. The extension is only active while you are within the myCourses exam environment with Honorlock enabled. When the Honorlock extension is active, there is a flashing red indicator on the extension. If this indicator is not being shown, you can trust that nothing is actively being monitored or recorded during that time. If you still have concerns, we recommend creating a new Google Chrome profile to complete your testing with Honorlock. This will create a fresh version of the Google Chrome browser free of all data and when finished, you can simply remove the extension. This can easily be accomplished by right clicking on the extension and selecting “Remove from Chrome.”

All data, including photos and video, is stored in an encrypted format on isolated storage systems within Honorlock’s private cloud in Amazon’s AWS U.S. data centers. They are SOC 2 Type 1, U.S. Privacy Shield and GDPR compliant.

Does Honorlock have control of my computer or my mobile phone?
No. Honorlock uses a Chrome browser extension that uses AI to detect the presence of faces in your camera and different voices. A student will have to install the browser extension to take an examination. The student can immediately delete the browser extension following the examination. Honorlock does not have the ability to control your computer, read your passwords or download any files at any point in time. Honorlock does not have access or the ability to control secondary devices such as mobile phones.

Is Honorlock tracking my online activities and watching me when I am not taking an exam?
No. Honorlock is only proctoring your examination via the Chrome browser extension. You are free to delete the Chrome browser extension immediately following an exam. However, the extension will not track any activity or record any data unless you are taking an exam and logged into myCourses.

Does Honorlock sell my data or monetize my data to third parties outside of my school or university?
No. Honorlock will never sell or monetize your data. Honorlock only shares your data with UMass Dartmouth.

Are proctors employees of Honorlock?
Yes, proctors are employees of Honorlock.

Does Honorlock monitor my entire network?
No. Honorlock does not scan or monitor a student’s device or network or monitor data from other devices connected to the network. The program can detect secondary devices, such as phones, but this does not occur via network snooping. Because the browser extension does not get installed onto secondary devices, the program cannot procure data from those devices, nor can it capture web traffic from other devices on the student’s network at the time of the exam.

Does Honorlock determine who is cheating?
No. Honorlock simply reports back possible incidents. Ultimately, your instructor determines if cheating occurred by viewing the video recording.

How is my data and privacy protected?
Honorlock is FERPA compliant and uses securely encrypted protocols to save and view all test taker assets. Honorlock’s certified proctors and your instructor are able to review test session videos until deleted based on the UMass Dartmouth’s retention policy. You can find more information on privacy on Honorlock’s student site.

What about accessibility and students with special needs?
Honorlock is VPAT certified and fully accessible to students with special needs. Additionally, Honorlock works with screen readers if needed.

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.

Where can I find more information?
Please visit the Honorlock instructor and student sites for more information and FAQs. Additionally, 24/7 support is available at  https://honorlock.com/support.