What kind of cheat does it prevent?
I imagine it wouldn't be terribly hard to run the machines so that only one full-screen window is shown, or a user for whom the internet is disabled. Is that not enough?
I imagine it wouldn't be terribly hard to run the machines so that only one full-screen window is shown, or a user for whom the internet is disabled. Is that not enough?
Many of the anti-cheating software will also run the webcam and yell at you if it thinks you aren't paying attention to only the screen, while recording everything on your screen.
And students are being forced to install this on their home machines.
Wait, what if I work from home and my kid is sitting in the living room as well. I get recorded then? WTF???
Who owns these machines? Is it the parents or the school or the government or who? What if they decline? Can someone explain why a child has to accept that they are being watched on a webcam without their consent? Without the consent of their parent? And, "either accept it or don't get allowed at exam" isn't a choice. They ain't going to high school yet, but I don't envision I would allow my children to be scrutinized by this. Then again, who expected COVID-19. I can only hope this is temporary, but perhaps its part of 'the new normal'.
If the software detects that you're in the room your kid fails.
Your child will not be allowed to take the exam.
Can you explain this defeatist attitude to me and what purpose it does providing the already known negative outcome?
To me, the language you used suggested that you are already bought, sold, and controlled.
You take the tests, with the software, or you fail.
It's simply a compromise.
However, not everyone has that option, is willing to take that option, or understands the ramifications of not taking that option.
I hate the current system. I also understand why people choose to follow it.
Edit 0: It looks like maybe this conversation has hit the maximum depth for HN? If you'd like to continue talking, please feel free to email me.
Edit 1: Turns out I was wrong. The reply timer just hadn't passed. Still feel free to email me if you like.
Your question is about the current process though, and the answer is if you really do not have access to a room with internet that you can use for a couple of hours, the best thing you can do is to contact your school and see what arrangements can be made to accommodate you.
Not much. When lockdowns first started I remember seeing _tons_ of first and second hand accounts of all the ways anti-cheating software failed when exposed to the real world.
> I imagine it wouldn't be terribly hard to run the machines so that only one full-screen window is shown, or a user for whom the internet is disabled. Is that not enough?
It can be a little tricky. We put the test in a single full-screen window on top of any other windows, and...the students alter the transparency to view their notes behind it, or they notice that we only check windows in the current desktop or for the current active user. Maybe "full-screen" on the system in question only fills a single monitor and leaves another open for research.
All of that assumes that the student is only using a single device and doesn't have a hi-def pet silicon rock in their pockets at all times, hence the webcam monitoring and whatnot to check that a student is actively staring at the screen the whole time.
The webcam solution also seems entirely bypassable if the student is determined. (Speaking from my experience as a TA, students who cheat are usually pretty determined) Just put a phone to the level of the monitor, and there's nothing a webcam can do.
So, obviously, everyone just used their phones for cheating lol.