1. Proctoring Center
Despite a long-standing demand, BCC still lacks a dedicated proctoring room. Multiple efforts have been made to address this issue, including attempts to join a national consortium, yet these initiatives have not yet materialized. The absence of a proctoring facility poses a significant drawback, particularly as proctoring plays a vital role in maintaining academic integrity in online classes. Without a dedicated space, ensuring secure and fair assessments becomes increasingly challenging.
In any online learning project, proctoring is essential. It secures the learning process by monitoring students during assessments, preventing dishonest behaviors, and verifying each student’s identity. By creating a secure environment for exams, proctoring upholds academic standards through supervised, controlled assessments. This role becomes even more crucial in online education, where institutions must uphold fairness and trust without in-person monitoring.
Creating a hybrid proctoring center, with both physical and virtual options, would extend this support to students who cannot come to BCC, allowing all students to access secure assessments regardless of location. By combining in-person and online proctoring, BCC can support a diverse student body while maintaining academic integrity in a way that aligns with the needs of remote learners.
A proctoring center is especially critical in asynchronous online programs for several reasons. It ensures academic integrity by monitoring standards of honesty, preventing the misuse of materials, and protecting the program’s reputation so that grades reflect students’ true efforts. Asynchronous formats are challenging for instructors to manage without proctoring since there is no real-time oversight. Even if teachers schedule one-on-one meetings or other methods to verify student work, this approach is time-consuming and detracts from other vital academic activities, such as curriculum development and personalized feedback.
Proctoring also ensures equity in assessments by standardizing exam conditions for all students, which is essential when direct supervision is not possible. This levels the playing field and prevents disparities in resource access or external assistance. Additionally, proctoring centers can provide special accommodations, such as extra time or specific environmental modifications, that maintain fairness in the assessment process. A proctoring center adds credibility to the program, demonstrating to employers, educational institutions, and accrediting bodies that assessments are rigorously monitored. This reputation reassures stakeholders that graduates’ skills are assessed under conditions similar to traditional, in-person settings, boosting program reputation and making graduates more competitive in the job market.
Moreover, a proctoring center offers flexibility for asynchronous students, allowing them to complete assessments from any location within a secure environment, at convenient times. This flexibility supports a diverse student population, including international students and working professionals, and reduces the need for travel to testing centers.
2. LMS Tools that Identify Synthetic Writing
The distinction between synthetic and human writing is diminishing as advancements in AI enable machines to replicate the nuances of tone, style, and context. AI models trained on vast datasets generate realistic text, blurring the lines between human and machine creation. This phenomenon extends beyond writing into hyper-realistic images, audio, and video content, raising questions about authenticity and trustworthiness in digital media.
LMS tools that detect synthetic writing, such as AI-generated or translated text, are invaluable in maintaining academic integrity within both assignments and live forums. These tools ensure students engage authentically, preserving the educational value of assignments and discussions. They also provide accurate feedback by identifying non-original content, allowing instructors to better assess and address individual needs.
Using synthetic writing identifiers offers a non-punitive way to better understand students’ needs and support their growth. Instead of simply preventing AI usage, these tools help educators understand student capabilities, allowing for tailored instruction and targeted resources. This supportive approach emphasizes understanding and guiding students in a world where AI is increasingly integrated into learning and creativity.
3. Integrating AI Tools in the LMS
When used through best practices, AI tools in the LMS can enrich the learning experience rather than serve as a means of academic dishonesty. AI can act as a learning companion by generating practice quizzes, personalized study plans, or real-world scenarios that enhance understanding. It can also provide immediate feedback on drafts, promoting skill development as students refine their work. AI-powered peer review can improve collaboration, as structured suggestions facilitate peer evaluations and foster a thoughtful online community.
Personalized learning recommendations, based on student progress, keep students engaged by offering resources suited to individual needs without replacing authentic study. Furthermore, AI enhances accessibility through real-time translation, text-to-speech, and speech-to-text features, which benefit students with disabilities or those who are non-native speakers. AI can also foster collaboration by identifying students with complementary skills for study groups, promoting authentic interaction over reliance on pre-generated content.
Educators can also encourage ethical AI use by guiding students in idea generation, helping them use AI for creativity rather than shortcuts. Incorporating AI literacy into the curriculum prepares students to understand AI’s limitations, ethical concerns, and appropriate uses, building critical thinking and responsible digital literacy. When thoughtfully integrated into the LMS, AI tools can enhance the learning experience, encourage authentic engagement, and equip students with valuable skills for future academic and professional success.