8 ms·

While I despise software like this and how high-stakes and petty it can be, keep in mind that it's in the institution's interests to not only provide a quality

While I despise software like this and how high-stakes and petty it can be, keep in mind that it's in the institution's interests to not only provide a quality education, but to defend the value of their brand. You might have worked very hard for a diploma from University X, but if it was found that University X was handing out diplomas like candy to other students that were not as academically rigorous, it weakens the value of your diploma.

Angostura 6y ago
It's not even the value of their brand - it's the value of all students' diplomas
- hhjinks 6y ago
  Universities don't give a shit about that. And they shouldn't. A lot of diplomas are worthless, but that doesn't make the education worthless.
christophilus 6y ago
Requiring distopian spyware doesn’t weaken your brand. It destroys it. For most of history, reputable universities built their brand just fine without any software at all.
- devenblake 6y ago
  Totally agree. I personally chose not to go to college (I'm graduating HS this year) because of things like Proctorio and Zoom becoming more common.
  - distances 6y ago
    Honestly, it's fine to not choose higher education but IMHO use of surveillance methods should affect where you apply, not whether you apply.
    - wheelinsupial 6y ago
      It’s possible that some institutions are dictating blanket use of software, but where I am studying that’s not the case. It’s basically up to the instructor on how to run the class. Some require proctorio, some are on Zoom with lots of TAs to watch the screen, some issue an exam on your own time where the browser monitors what you do / visit, and others just offer take home projects.
    - dnautics 6y ago
      No but it's very reasonable to wait a year before applying so that you don't pay out the nose for zoom classes (there are things like socialization and connections that make a super expensive college worth it)
- granshaw 6y ago
  Unless every other university also implements it, then it’s just par for the course
- michaelt 6y ago
  For most of history, in-person exams were possible.
evrydayhustling 6y ago
Yes. This is a problem for universities to solve, with the money they get from constantly expanding tuitions. This is one of many places in which a problem is cheap to "solve" if you are ok being racist/ablist/generally not adapting the variations in your customer base. Handing over the solution for the problem to a software company shouldn't be an accountability shield for the Universities. Impacted students should sue the universities, and then they should sue the software company.
deleted 6y ago
[deleted]
dariosalvi78 6y ago
The role of universities is to provide education not to police students. People put in place reasonable means to detect cheating (proctorio isn't) and then it's students responsibility to learn. They're adults and should value what they get. If they don't, they're missing an opportunity.
necovek 6y ago
Ideally though, I've worked very hard to get certain knowledge. Diploma is a nice side-effect that's supposed to be a shorthand proof of it, but most companies in eg. software engineering would test candidates anyway, which is where knowledge helps, a degree, not so much.

Angostura 6y ago

It's not even the value of their brand - it's the value of all students' diplomas

hhjinks 6y ago
Universities don't give a shit about that. And they shouldn't. A lot of diplomas are worthless, but that doesn't make the education worthless.

christophilus 6y ago

Requiring distopian spyware doesn’t weaken your brand. It destroys it. For most of history, reputable universities built their brand just fine without any software at all.

devenblake 6y ago
Totally agree. I personally chose not to go to college (I'm graduating HS this year) because of things like Proctorio and Zoom becoming more common.
- distances 6y ago
  Honestly, it's fine to not choose higher education but IMHO use of surveillance methods should affect where you apply, not whether you apply.
  - wheelinsupial 6y ago
    It’s possible that some institutions are dictating blanket use of software, but where I am studying that’s not the case. It’s basically up to the instructor on how to run the class. Some require proctorio, some are on Zoom with lots of TAs to watch the screen, some issue an exam on your own time where the browser monitors what you do / visit, and others just offer take home projects.
  - dnautics 6y ago
    No but it's very reasonable to wait a year before applying so that you don't pay out the nose for zoom classes (there are things like socialization and connections that make a super expensive college worth it)
granshaw 6y ago
Unless every other university also implements it, then it’s just par for the course
michaelt 6y ago
For most of history, in-person exams were possible.

evrydayhustling 6y ago

Yes. This is a problem for universities to solve, with the money they get from constantly expanding tuitions. This is one of many places in which a problem is cheap to "solve" if you are ok being racist/ablist/generally not adapting the variations in your customer base. Handing over the solution for the problem to a software company shouldn't be an accountability shield for the Universities. Impacted students should sue the universities, and then they should sue the software company.

deleted 6y ago

[deleted]

dariosalvi78 6y ago

The role of universities is to provide education not to police students. People put in place reasonable means to detect cheating (proctorio isn't) and then it's students responsibility to learn. They're adults and should value what they get. If they don't, they're missing an opportunity.

necovek 6y ago

Ideally though, I've worked very hard to get certain knowledge. Diploma is a nice side-effect that's supposed to be a shorthand proof of it, but most companies in eg. software engineering would test candidates anyway, which is where knowledge helps, a degree, not so much.