Proctoring

Danger

The proctoring feature is deprecated and will be removed.

Proctoring is implemented with the solution provided by SMOWL.

Note

Allowing users to book proctoring requires vouchers to be enabled.

Platform configuration

Proctoring requires different options to be provided, which are listed below.

First of all, a store URL (or multiple URLS for different languages) must be set for integration with the external shop.

xikolo.yml

proctoring:
  store_url: "https://shop.example.org/voucher/qualified-certificate"

xikolo.yml

proctoring:
  store_url:
    de: "https://shop.example.org/gutscheine/qualifiziertes-zertifikat"
    en: "https://shop.example.org/voucher/qualified-certificate"

For configuring the proctoring solution provided by SMOWL, the following options are relevant:

Example

xikolo.yml

proctoring_smowl_options:
  # Thresholds for proctoring passed/failed features.
  # If the user has the same number of images or more than the threshold,
  # the activity will be treated as failed.
  nobodyinthepicture: 5
  # Wrong user detected.
  wronguser: 0
  # More than one user detected.
  severalpeople: 1
  # The user has covered the camera.
  webcamcovered: 0
  # Bad lighting or incorrect position.
  invalidconditions: 5
  # The webcam was rejected.
  webcamdiscarted: 5
  # Cheating attempt detected (e.g. the user tried showing a photograph
  # to the camera).
  notallowedelement: 0
  # The user had another tab open during the quiz. When another tab has the
  # focus, the camera does not send images, which is not allowed.
  othertab: 5
  # SMOWL received black images (usually a technical issue, e.g. the webcam is
  # not working properly or the laptop is closed). We allow five black images
  # as this can happen due to technical reasons.
  emptyimage: 5
  # A not supported browser is used.
  notsupportedbrowser: 5
  # The user does not have a webcam (connected).
  nocam: 5
  # Another application is blocking the webcam.
  otherapp: 5
  # Minimum number of correct images.
  # If the user has more correct images than the threshold, the activity
  # will be treated as passed. Set it to '0' to deactivate this option.
  correctimages: 1

The credentials for SMOWL’s REST API are set via the secrets:

secrets.yml

  smowl_entity: my_entity
  smowl_license_key: my_license_key
  smowl_password: my_password

Last, the proctoring feature flipper must be enabled for the platform (usually for all courses and all logged-in users).

Course configuration

With the enabled feature flipper, a course can be set to be proctored in the “Certificates” section in the “Course Properties” in the course administration.

When the course is set to proctored, the homeworks / exams must be activated for proctoring as well. For this, navigate to “Structure & Content”, edit the respective item, and toggle the “Proctored” option.

Note

Proctoring must be initially activated for a platform (and individual courses) on SMOWL-side as well.