This proposal introduces an open-source Proctoring MicroFrontEnd (MFE) for Open edX. It will provide secure, flexible proctoring features—including ID upload, timed exams, and webcam recording with manual (for early phases) or AI review, and comprehensive instructor dashboards. Institutions may optionally enable integration with Safe Exam Browser (SEB) to add device lockdown and screen monitoring.
Problem
Currently, Open edX lacks an integrated, accessible, and affordable proctoring solution. Institutions must rely on expensive, proprietary services that raise concerns around cost, privacy, and accessibility, especially for underfunded organizations and learners in the Global South.
Use Cases
As a course author, I need to configure secure proctoring settings so that I can ensure exam integrity without relying on costly third-party tools.
As an instructor, I need to efficiently review flagged exam sessions so that I can uphold academic standards while managing my workload.
As a learner, I need to take proctored exams within Open edX using accessible, transparent tools so that I can demonstrate my knowledge fairly and securely.
Supporting Data
ASU has highlighted their institution’s need for an affordable alternative to the costly third-party proctoring tools available on the market.
This seems like a useful addition and option for the community to have a tool that can provide ideally both proctored and simpler timed exams if possible. I know the configuration of special exams is complex and coupled, but I just wanted to flag that making it possible to have timed exams as a more easily enabled tool is one example small step as we work toward an open source proctoring solution.
By having more instances adopt special exams in general it helps expand the possible set of community funding partners to help make the open-source proctoring solution a reality as well.
Perhaps it is sensible to split out the timed exam notes / suggestions to another thread but I figured I was worth noting here to start.
@marcotuts Thanks for sharing your thoughts on timed exams. Your timing is great since we’re working on the first draft of the proposal at the moment.
Right now, the plan is to include ID upload, webcam recording, and timed exams in an MFE, with browser lock-down available as an optional add-on. We haven’t gone into all the details yet, but I imagine course teams should be able to enable/disable each of these options (ID upload, webcam recording, timing) for individual exams.
Do you think it would it make sense to offer timed exams as a completely separate feature, rather than linking them to ID upload and webcam recording?
Currently “special exams” is a progressively set up feature - you can enable timed exams (more common) or proctored exams (less common). The platform capabilities for proctoring rely on a time access limited area / mode that lets yo uaccess exam content and then the access expires after a set period.
So proctoring I think generally requires timing constraints, and the special exams instructor dashboard UI I think grants you the ability to provide extra time allowances, reset attempts etc.
As for ID upload and webcam recording, I can imagine that special exams could perhaps be configured to include / exclude certain details perhaps?
Special Exam Course A:
Proctoring
ID upload enabled
webcam recording enabled
Timing
timing constraint enabled
browser lockdown disabled
Other Categories?
other feature / capability?
Special Exam Course B:
timing enabled
browser lockdown enabled
Proctoring capabilities / tools disabled?
I’m not sure how to really think about it but hopefully this helps!
