How Does Canvas Detect When You Switch Tabs During a Test?

When conducting online tests and exams using Canvas, it is important to understand how the system tracks and monitors student activities. This understanding is crucial, especially when it comes to proctored tests and the measures taken to prevent cheating.

Proctoring vs. Non-Proctoring Tests in Canvas

When a test is non-proctored in Canvas, the platform cannot detect if a student opens new tabs in a web browser or switches to a different application. The system is designed to avoid intrusive monitoring during these types of assessments to maintain a fair and comfortable testing environment. However, if the test is marked as proctored, Canvas employs various methods to monitor and prevent unauthorized activities. Proctored exams are designed to ensure academic integrity by tracking and preventing any diversion from the test itself.

Analytics Beta and Technical Detection

Canvas uses its Analytics Beta feature to track more than just the end of a quiz or the movement to another page. This tool measures the activity happening across all devices, providing insights into how students interact with the quiz page. Within proctored examinations, professors can view general interactions with the site, ensuring that students are not switching to other applications or tabs.

For example, it is possible for Canvas to detect when you click off the exam page and return to it. Even when using a mobile device, the system can use technical and non-technical methods to monitor and detect unauthorized activities. This includes the use of software that lockdowns browsers and plagiarism detection tools. Non-technical methods such as comparing answers and exchanging questions are also monitored.

Understanding the Detection Process

An anonymous detection process is in place where Canvas does not record specific student activities. However, if a student becomes active, the system starts to detect and record their movements. When a proctored exam is underway, the platform will notice if you navigate away from the quiz page to another tab or application. This is because the system is designed to monitor browser activity and ensure test integrity.

Limitations and Privacy Considerations

It is important to note that Canvas does not measure activity on mobile devices currently; the monitoring is primarily done through desktop computers or laptops. Additionally, the system does not disclose specific details about individual student actions to professors or other users. Instead, it provides aggregated data to instructors, helping them to make informed decisions about academic integrity and student behavior.

Understanding the differences between proctored and non-proctored exams in Canvas can help students and instructors alike to navigate these assessments more effectively. By respecting the system's monitoring practices, students can avoid detection, and instructors can maintain the integrity of their online assessments.

Key Takeaways

Non-proctored tests do not detect new tabs or activities in other applications. Proctored tests in Canvas monitor and prevent unauthorized browser activities. Canvas uses technical and non-technical methods to detect cheating and ensure test integrity. Analytics Beta and other tools provide insights into student behavior during quizzes.

Conclusion: While Canvas cannot actively detect when you switch tabs or open new applications during a non-proctored test, proctored exams are equipped with robust monitoring tools to ensure academic honesty. It is crucial for students to understand these processes to avoid any potential penalties or dishonest practices.