Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin - E-Assessment

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Distance supervised examinations include remote written examinations as well as oral, practical and multimedia distance examinations, which are not discussed in detail here. Distance examinations are supervisory examinations, i.e. examiners can only ensure their supervisory duty by means of technical aids, in particular through the use of video conferencing software. Since this entails an interference with the students' informational self-determination, this form of examination is subject to special regulations. However, the distance examination is also only to be understood as an alternative offer for supervisory examinations in presence, e.g. in the context of applications for compensation for disadvantages or in the case of the existence of exceptional circumstances.

Authentification for a distance examination

Authentification is carried out in 1:1 mode with the video conferencing system, i.e. either with the help of the waiting room or the breakout room function. No data, e.g. as screenshots, may be stored during this process. The establishment of identity can be done before or during the examination with the help of a valid official photo ID (§ 107d) and requires the verification of photo, name and date of birth. The remaining information may be concealed. If the name displayed in the video conferencing software differs from the name in the examination list, the assignment of the name pair will be noted in the examination protocol. Repeated verification of identity is only permitted if there is a suspicion of cheating, e.g. when the person is replaced. This must be noted in the examination protocol.

If the student is personally known to the examiner, this is sufficient for authentification.

Caution: Depending on the size of the cohort, a corresponding amount of time must be planned for the identity check. For a reliable guideline, examiners should have tried this process beforehand.

Conducting a distance examination

Before the examination begins, students must register in good time in the examination Moodle and go to the examination course. At the same time, they must switch on the specified video conference with sound and images, which must not be muted or blinded during the entire examination.

Before the immediate start of the examination - 15 min is recommended - the necessary statements on health, independence, cheating and aids are automatically released. Only if the students answer all items in the affirmative will they be given access to the actual examination.

The exam is taken under supervision, questions can be asked via direct chat to the host using the video conferencing software. General instructions for all are passed on to the students verbally (audio) and in writing (chat) (video conferencing). The supervision or monitoring of the remote proctored examination should be additionally secured via another channel, usually telephone, so that in the event of a connection failure (see technical malfunctions), the student can contact the supervisor.

Immediately after the examination, the examination course should be set to "hidden" again.

Important: In the settings for the video conference, the waiting room function should definitely be set so that students can only "enter" the supervisor's conference room individually. This can also prevent students from contacting each other. Likewise, the chat function must be turned off so that students can only send messages to the host.

Technical disruptions during remote supervisory examinations

In the case of remote proctored examinations, a distinction is made between short-term, recurring short-term and persistent technical malfunctions (§ 107c). Students are obliged to inform their examiners immediately of this type of disruption. The examiners decide whether to discontinue or continue the examination and document reports of malfunctions in the examination protocol.

Depending on the severity of the disruption, the following regulations apply:

• If the examination cannot start due to a permanent technical malfunction, e.g. a broken microphone, the examination attempt is deemed not to have been taken.
• If a permanent or continuously recurring technical malfunction occurs after the start of the examination, e.g. internet or camera failure, the examination will be cancelled for the person concerned. The examination performance achieved so far will not be assessed. The examination attempt is deemed not to have been taken.
• If, after the start of the examination, there is a brief disruption, e.g. internet or camera failure, or several very brief disruptions, the examination will be continued if the examiner considers this to be justifiable within the context of equal opportunities. A time allowance to the extent of the duration of the disruption is at the discretion of the examiner.
• If, during an oral, practical or multimedia remote supervision examination, a permanent image disturbance occurs after the substantial part of the examination time from the point of view of content, the examination may, in the opinion of the examiners, be continued without the use of the image data if the examination has already been passed with what has been done so far.