And so we are super excited to learn that we are a 2017 CODiE Finalist for Best Student Assessment Solution. This category recognizes the best application or solution for high-stakes assessments in the PK-12 or higher education market and for use in either formative or summative assessments.

Best Student Assessment Solution – Why RPNow?

Remote proctoring is a necessary piece of the student assessment lifecycle,” said Doug Winneg, SVP Academic Markets, PSI and former founder of Software Secure. “Any assessment administered remotely via a test delivery engine without a proctoring solution is at risk. Whether from content theft, or cheating – you cannot truly assess online student learning and protect the integrity of online assessments without a security solution.”

Catching up with Doug Winneg, PSI-Software Secure 

We had a chance to chat with Doug Winneg to get his reaction to the good news.
Watch video here, or keep reading.

“We’re excited to learn the news that our RPNow Solution has been named a Finalist in the 2017 SIIA CODiE Awards for Best Student Assessment Solution. We’d actually first won a CODiE back in 2011 for our RP Pro offering which was the first to market and first generation proctoring offering. We’re thrilled that our 2^nd generation solution [RPNow] a SaaS model for on-demand remote proctoring solution which provides the most convenient, cost-effective, scalable and efficacious model by which institutions can truly assess their online students and students can demonstrate their knowledge and receive credit for their hard work and advance their academic and professional careers.

We’re very eager to try to win this award in 2018 with our 3rd generation/next generation for our remote proctoring product. So stay tuned!”

Winners will be announced during a CODiE Award Winner Ceremony in San Francisco on July 26 at the Education Impact Symposium, hosted by the Education Technology Industry Network (ETIN), a division of SIIA.

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What the PSI acquisition of Software Secure means for you

We are pleased to share that Software Secure (SSI) has joined the PSI family today. After spending 17 years building a successful remote proctoring business, we felt our customers would be best served by SSI partnering with an organization that had a complementary set of attributes and help allow us to scale faster and more efficiently.

Why we wrote this blog

We wanted to develop this article for two reasons. The first is to thank you – our valued and loyal customers. You have supported us through the years and entrusted us with the noble endeavor of protecting the integrity of your distance learning programs. We are grateful and honored to have this relationship. The second is to share with you why we made the decision to join PSI and what it means for you.

 Why did we make this decision?

We believe it is imperative that we provide the most up to date technology and services to our customer base of 450+ customers. In some cases, live proctoring is considered a better option by a course, program, or institution in higher education, or a certification organization. PSI has developed a live proctoring solution that meets the needs of these customers, and integrated with our Remote Proctor Now (RPNow) solution, will allow us to offer our customers the ability to choose the cost-effective solution that meets their particular needs best, all backed by a world-class customer support and services organization.

PSI offers a comprehensive solutions approach from test development to delivery to results processing, including pre-hire employment selection, managerial assessments, licensing and certification tests, license management services and professional services. Their focus on exam integrity and putting the customer first fits perfectly with Software Secure’s principles.

Why PSI?

PSI Services LLC (PSI) provides worldwide testing solutions to corporations, federal and state government agencies, professional associations and certifying bodies. It continues to grow globally with a presence in over 50 countries. PSI recognized Software Secure’s strong team, technology and market expertise; attributes that would enable PSI to compete more effectively in all market segments with a more innovative offering.  Software Secure’s strength in Higher Education dovetails with PSI years of experience and customer base in certification organizations.   PSI’s focus on test security as a priority, complementary product strengths, and global reach fit Software Secure’s needs perfectly. Which brings me to sharing why we believe this is a positive outcome for you.

Our Customers

Since day 1, our goal has always been to create convenient, affordable, scalable and efficient solutions that delight our customers. The Software Secure business has two main segments: higher education and certification/corporate assessments.

Higher Education: Working as one team, PSI and Software Secure will be able to serve institutions with the broadest range of proctoring services – including live proctoring. Together, we will be able to drive higher market penetration of online proctoring.

Certification/Corporate: PSI’s extensive experience sharpens our assessment delivery capability to drive increased ROI. With a combined base of over 1200 clients, PSI and Software Secure will be able to better serve this market, from assessment to credentialing.

Most importantly, as a Software Secure customer, we will continue to provide you with the same exceptional service and products you’ve come to expect from us. And we’ll do so as part of one of the world’s leading assessment companies.

The Marketplace

As the online education market has matured, and as testing has evolved –  the needs and requirements of institutions are changing. There is a growing need for integrated solutions that provide unlimited access and scalability. Together, PSI and Software Secure will provide higher education with the broadest product and solution set; and certification organizations and corporations with everything from test delivery to psychometrics and test banks. We are uniquely positioned to provide a complete offering; from the assessment and monitoring of online learners, to the testing of employee competency, all to help support life-long learning.

The future with PSI-Software Secure

The coming together of PSI and Software Secure is significant and we are excited about the future. Let me share a few of the key outcomes of our acquisition:

Single Source: With expertise in higher education, certification and licensure assessments, we provide a seamless solution. The PSI-SSI offering will help us continue our market leadership.

Shared Vision: We come together with the shared objective of solving the integrity challenge that faces our clients; colleges and universities, certification organizations and corporations.

Leading the Pack: Together PSI and Software Secure are best positioned to help the integrity and productivity of the assessment landscape through innovation in remote proctoring and test delivery.

Summing it up . . .

How do we feel about all this? Well, we’re pretty excited this is happening! It’s a great moment for Software Secure – and one that could only have been possible with the people around us – from our talented and dedicated employees to you, the 450+ customers who have supported us over the last 17 years. There will be changes and challenges ahead, but we couldn’t be more optimistic about the path ahead in 2017 and beyond.

Thank you, and looking forward to the future – with integrity!

Douglas M. Winneg, Founder, Software Secure
Senior Vice President, PSI Academic Market

P.S. — Read more about PSI’s acquisition of Software Secure in the press release here. And our Customer FAQ here.

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• In the increasingly unbundled world of college education, MicroMasters have emerged as the ‘AP Classes’ for Graduate Degrees.

MicroMasters – the AP Classes of Graduate Degree Programs

In his keynote speech at the 2015 NEASC Conference, Anant Agarwal, CEO of edX, asked, “Is the future of education unbundled?” This was the first of many ideas Mr. Agarwal has offered  on the unbundling of the components of traditional degree programs, and foreshadowed the announcement to come.

A couple of weeks ago on Twitter, the higher edi-verse blew up about the edX’ MicroMasters announcement. Exciting words like “revolution” and “breakthroughs” were hurled about as enthusiastically as those in the 2016 presidential debates (albeit less colorfully).

What is a MicroMasters? In a nutshell, it’s master’s degree-level classes, hand-selected by students, that can be strung together to form the credits, or academic currency, which can then be applied towards a traditional master’s degree program.

Image Source

Is this a Master’s Degree? No, but it can help you get one. MicroMasters is a bit like an Advanced Placement (AP) class. AP courses began as a way for students to stand out on their college applications. The purpose of these classes and tests is for students to earn college credit while in high school. They are a means to help students prepare for a competitive college entry market.

MicroMasters benefits the learner in two ways, similar to AP classes:

1. Professionals, employees and job-seekers can earn credit from a prestigious institution that can be applied towards a traditional master’s degree and,
2. They get salary-boosting gravitas for knowledge that can be placed on a resume or LinkedIn, and become more marketable as their credentials will attract the notice of employers.

“I think the MicroMasters is a big next step in the evolution of education,” said Mr. Agarwal, in an interview with The Hechinger Report last month.

Hyperbole aside, the MicroMasters concept is a milestone. Or a trailhead. Why? Because unlike most MOOCs, the MicroMasters’ program provides a curated pathway to the ultimate destination: a real master’s degree from an institution that has agreed to accept the credits.

What is Driving The Need? Long Term Employment Viability

The master’s degree business is booming. And with good reason. In the 2016 Georgetown University report America’s Divided Recovery: College Haves and Have-Nots, one of the findings is that out of 11.6 million jobs created in the post-recession economy, 11.5 of these went to workers who possessed some form of college education. 3.8 Million of these jobs went to graduate degree holders.

“Higher education is becoming less affordable to many in the bottom 60 per cent just at a time when higher education is more necessary than ever before to succeed in the modern economy.”

–Robert Reich, Former United States Secretary of Labor

According to the Georgetown University’s 2013 report: Recovery: Job Growth and Education Requirements Through 2020, 65% of all jobs will require post-secondary education. Many of these jobs in STEM, Healthcare require degrees beyond a Bachelor’s Degree.

Despite the crowded market for online learning, the MicroMasters represent a new breed of credential that can help anyone get closer to the most relevant jobs.

Many professionals considering an investment in education are going to find these very attractive. The opportunity to gain professional development – in some cases, at a fraction of the cost, in order to get a leg up in their career – or even to start a new one. Students can apply to prestigious and reputable institutions to get the education requirements and highly coveted skills that employers are demanding.

Eligibility and Student Cost Accessibility and affordability will have additional appeal to the busy and cost-conscious. The MicroMasters program has no eligibility requirements, and is available to anyone wanting to learn via the edX platform. Students can try it out for free, and for $1,000, can earn a verified certification of completion of the courses offered through this program.

Online Masters: But Will Students Go For It?

Georgia Tech seems to think so, the institution’s approach was discussed in The New York Times article, “An Online Education Breakthrough? A Master’s Degree for a Mere $7,000.”

What’s different now, is that students are demonstrating a willingness to pay for access to prestige as explained in The Times article:

“Some may see online learning as experimental or inferior, something associated with down market. But the nation’s best universities have fully embraced it.”

And this willingness to pay is one of the reasons institutions are doubling down on micro-credentials. 14 institutions have joined the newly formed edX MicroMasters Partnership, demonstrating how much they believe in this new approach.

But to see how far we’ve come, let’s dig into the past.

MOOCs Spur Online Degree Revolution

Way back in 2012, MOOC pioneers edX and Coursera promised the ultimate in education accessibility. And with technology as the curriculum (content) delivery vehicle, anyone-anywhere would have access to world-class education. In the end, what learners really got was proximity to prestigious professors and content for a great price. However, what MOOCs didn’t offer, were ‘official college degrees’.

That was a problem because as it turns out, students pay for school because they want the outcome, the degree – the kind that gets them a job. Yet many institutions held back on participating in MOOCs.

And then something happened that caused a change.

A few years later in 2013, enter the micro-credential. These were a natural extension of a learner’s journey. The ability to gain recognition for what they’ve mastered in a single competency. Students could ‘blockchain’ these recognitions into a valuable credential. Now, anyone could self-construct the curriculum necessary to develop the skills they needed that were previously attainable only by those who could afford to pay for a traditional education.

MITx Re-imagines Credentials by Disrupting Traditional Course Structure

Building on this trend, in 2014 MITx offered a new approach to MOOC instruction and certification, greatly expanding on the individual course doctrine, long the staple of the traditional classroom world. We actually explored this topic three years ago: ‘Imagine All the Credentials’. MITx believed that learners and employers would ultimately find value in an earned certificate. MITx began offering the XSeries – which took a modular approach to building a credential. They utilized edX’s ID verification process to provide the added value of identity assurance for the certificates.

Protecting Credential Integrity

Assuring the academic integrity of the assessments given in the MicroMasters program is imperative to safeguarding the value of the micro-credential. That’s why all institutions participating in the edX’ MicroMasters will be required to make a percentage of exams in their programs – online proctored exams. Similar to the proctoring process utilized by students in the edX Global Freshman Academy, MicroMasters learners will take a percentage of their exams using online proctoring technology. To be eligible to earn credit for the course, students must take and pass the proctoring review for the class.

EdX partnered with Software Secure to ensure the integrity of online assessments. EdX needed a solution with an asynchronous approach that could scale very quickly to thousands of learners. The proctoring solution was an important next step in providing a secure and verified learning environment for those students interested in credit bearing courses.

Becoming Legit: Value to be Gained in Non-Traditional Degree Pathways

One of the greatest achievements of the MOOC category is bringing legitimacy to online education. Brand-conscious students who would not consider taking a class from the for-profits were lining up to take an online course offered by top-tier universities like MIT.

However, choosing an online degree program should not be based on prestige alone of the institution offering it. Selection should also take into consideration the best combination of resources and most importantly: quality and integrity – as these are what gives the credential legitimacy and value.

This is where edX’ MicroMasters has a distinct advantage over other micro-credentials: all three have been designed and built into its framework.

The resources include extra services – like additional support from faculty. The quality is assured through the rigor of the course design and delivery, the integrity is assured through validation of student identity, and securely proctoring the assessments.

That said, prestige of institution matters as the cache they possess will be noticed by future employers. Legitimacy is a component of prestige – and thanks to the MicroMasters design, its prestige will not only be perceived – but concrete. For this reason, it is a very valuable credential as it can be used as universal currency.

Critics may argue that that online credentials earned through MOOCs cannot be compared to credentials from on-campus programs – or even traditional online programs, i.e. not the same experience, level of engagement or quality. EdX MicroMasters challenges this notion and presents an innovative, credible and viable solution.

Taking a Shape-Shifting Approach to Education

The hope is that we can evolve from talking about whether or not MOOC credentials are good or just less expensive, to how they are a legitimate and valuable alternative to the status quo.

A University of Florida professor (link to comment here) summed it up in his remark in Kevin Carey’s NYT article:

“Online Learning needs to move away from justifying itself by trying to replicate the traditional campus experience. I believe the real contribution of these programs will happen when we start to get a better understanding of the new things online can do better than traditional programs.”

This professor has a refreshing and modern perspective. He further extolled the benefits of exploring online education – and challenges institutions to take risks:

“Once that exploration becomes more robust, and institutions start taking more chances to do things no one would dare to do in traditional programs – then we’ll start to see programs that are attractive not because they are less expensive – but more expansive.”

It’s clear that the jobs of tomorrow will go to those who invest in their education today. The edX MicroMasters has aligned itself to the needs of the economy – and provides professionals an affordable and legitimate pathway to the top jobs of today and the future.

Next Up: What Does Unbundled Accreditation Look Like?

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The end of the academic year serves as the perfect time to think about what worked – or what technologies you’d like to try out over the summer or fall. Like remote proctoring. The challenge is, this time of year is more than just a little hectic – it’s downright crazy, right? So researching and trying out anything new is probably not at the top of your list – even if it’s something you already know will work with your Learning Management System. We get it.

So many questions. How do you know where to start? Is this really as easy as it seems? What’s the best way to do this?

Luckily, we’ve got the answers for you. We teamed up with Canvas and our customer Columbia University May 10^th  on a webinar to showcase how to integrate and use remote proctoring simply and seamlessly in the Canvas LMS. Over 160 universities and colleges participated in this live webinar. And now you can watch this event when you can come up for air – anytime, anywhere.

[VIDEO] How to set up a proctored exam in Canvas

Don’t have time for webinar? Check out this video to see how easy it is to set up a proctored exam in your LMS:

Webinar On-Demand

So once things calm down, add this to your playlist of summer reading. Tune into the webinar to learn:

1. How to register a proctored exam using RPNow that takes advantage of Canvas’ unique and easy to use capabilities.
2. How to reduce the amount of time you spend on proctored exam management processes
3. Why Columbia University | Engineering centrally manages the exam process for faculty

Enjoy this webinar anytime – anywhere. Click here

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Earlier this year, an op-ed in the New York Times written by Kevin Carey, “Here’s What Will Truly Change Higher Education: Online Degrees That Are Seen as Official,” explored the topic of online education credibility. In the article he discusses the relationship between online credentials and their trustworthiness and value. According to Carey, until online credentials become more ‘official’ their quality will continue to be questioned.

Enter now the discussion about solutions that protect the integrity of the assessments delivered online. Here’s an excerpt from the November 4, 2015 Atlantic article “Cheating in Online Classes is a Big Business”:

“. . . If online degrees and certifications achieve the same stature as traditional, on-campus ones, an online education marketplace could transform higher education and change the very meaning of going to college. That’s exactly what some some online education advocates want . . .”

This is what Kevin Carey picked at in his op-ed piece in The New York Times.

While Carey writes “degrees give meaning and structure to collections of college courses”, we believe proctoring solutions that stop academic dishonesty online give quality and integrity to the degree, or collection of credentials earned online.

We’re not alone in our belief. In Gartner’s Hype Cycle for Education 2015, they state “Good digital assessment is a necessity for trustworthy and scalable online or hybrid (digitalized) education.”

Case in point – Software Secure hosted a webinar along with eCampusNews on November 4, 2015 featuring two speakers from nursing schools at The University of South Alabama and Samford University. Academic integrity in the nursing  field is an imperative. Stated Dr. Tracey Taylor-Overholts, “Nursing has been ranked as one of Gallup’s most trusted professions for  13 years straight. Which is why at USA CON, academic integrity is of paramount importance at the College of Nursing.” During this webinar, the two universities discussed what they were doing to assure the integrity of their online nursing programs. Because in their business, if a student cheats and gets away with it – downstream, the patient (and that could be YOU) is now at risk. So beyond institutional brand and reputation – academic dishonesty impacts everyone.

The reality: It’s going to take some time for ‘online trustworthiness’ to develop. Technology solutions alone are not a panacea to solving the credibility problem in online education – but definitely part of the solution. A real world example of how the world of MOOCs and traditional education recognize that –  is evidenced by the edX/Arizona State University collaboration – the Global Freshman Academy. This high profile institution decided to make RPNow a cornerstone of their offering –and by doing so adding to its credibility – and integrity.

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The courses would be part an initiative called the Global Freshman Academy and initially consist of 12 courses for a student to pick from.   Eight courses make up a freshman year at ASU, and the courses are designed to provide a general education.

EdX had started out two years ago like other MOOCs, by offering free courses that did not provide any credit.   They provided a form of authenticity to the successful completion of the course by offering identity verification for a small fee and allowing the student to show a certificate that would have the potential of being meaningful to current or future employers.   They found that tens of thousands of student were signing up take these courses, and that the completion rate was five percent for non-verified students, but fifty-nine percent for identity verified students. The concept had been proven, that students who had even a small amount of skin (cash) in the game, took the course seriously, studied, and the majority passed the course.    The next logical step: charge a small amount to the thousands of students that would sign up for those offerings, and provide an option to purchase the course credit.   ASU can charge less for these offerings because they get much larger volumes, and by having edX bear the brunt of marketing the offerings — and hosting the courses.

The Global Freshman Academy is just one of many strategies edX is following in pursuit of its primary goal to broaden access to education. MOOCs in general are offering excellent content for free to whomever is seeking additional knowledge, regardless of the student’s goal. Even this exciting new initiative with ASU offers students a path to free access. But now, if a student wants credit, or a way to demonstrate her “knowledge”, she can do so at a very modest price.

What has been perfectly clear for some time is that higher education is ripe for disaggregation.  The one size fits all model of charging high fees to a small number of the global population of people interested in gaining the advantages of advanced degrees is a 20th century model — in a 21st century world. ASU and its forward-thinking President, Michael Crow has been vocal on the subject for some time now.   In conjunction with Anant Agarwal, the CEO of edX, they are putting their money where their mouth is.   And the world of higher education will only be the better for it.

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To make online test more convenient but secure, Florida Institute of Technology implemented gold-standard online remote proctoring with Remote Proctor PRO (RP PRO) System. This gave the institution the reliable security they needed and afforded students the flexibility that they loved.

Eager to ensure they were providing a standout exam taking experience, the school was always looking at solutions whose features gave the greatest flexibility for students – primarily ease of use for students and faculty, as well as convenience and security. Florida Tech turned to award-winning Remote Proctor NOW (RP NOW) to deliver an even better way to take a proctored exam online.

Beverly Strickland, Program Supervisor for Continuing Education at Florida Tech talks about her experience with Remote Proctor Solutions.

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Secure testing is an essential component in the fight for legitimacy. For MOOCs to begin to hold equal weight when compared to traditional on-site courses, students must be held to certain standards, and these standards must be verifiable. Verification and safeguards are in the best interest of any student taking an online course, and more and more students seem to be realizing this.

This realization has caused many students to advocate for systems such as those offered by Software Secure. Students are beginning to request that these types of solutions for academic integrity be included in their online coursework. They are looking to a future where online courses are comparable to their traditional counterparts. Before they are willing to put in a time investment, they want to know that their work will be given the credit it deserves.

As both students and educators alike embrace secure testing solutions, the market for these systems will continue to expand. Technological solutions like Software Secure’s Remote Proctor NOW are likely to become more prevalent. Students will check for their inclusion before committing to a course.

It will be interesting to watch and participate as the narrative of trust in education continues to develop. As students and educators learn to navigate the evolving world of MOOCs, the discussion of legitimacy will remain at the forefront. It’s encouraging to see students standing up for online courses and advocating for solutions that can make a real difference in the legitimization of MOOCs.

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