Anti-cheating method and system for students taking exams with their own computers

Abstract

The present invention discloses a method for preventing cheating when students use their own computers to take exams, which includes an invigilator and a student terminal; before the exam, the invigilator sets the licensed software and screenshot triggering events; when the exam starts, the student terminal cuts off the network connection of the computer; during the exam: the student terminal tracks the software running on the computer, records the name of the unlicensed software, the running time and the window screenshot; monitors the system events of the computer, takes a screenshot and records the screenshot timestamp when a screenshot triggering event occurs; when communication is possible, sends a verification signal to the invigilator at a regular time; records the verification timestamp at a regular time; when the exam ends, the student terminal sends the unsent data to the invigilator, and the invigilator determines whether there is cheating after receiving it. The present invention also discloses an anti-cheating system for taking exams using a self-contained computer, which includes an invigilator module and a student terminal module that realize the functions of the aforementioned invigilator and student terminal. The method disclosed in the present invention can detect cheating when taking an exam using a self-contained computer in an ordinary examination room, thereby expanding the scope of application of computer-based exams.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the application field of higher education, and in particular to a method and system for preventing students from cheating when taking exams using their own computers. Background Art

[0002] As colleges and universities continue to strengthen the cultivation of students' abilities rather than simply memorizing knowledge, modern information technology is playing an increasingly important role in the process of student training. From the perspective of ability training, compared with mechanical calculations using paper, pen and calculator, it is more meaningful and more effective for students to use modern software tools to complete the analysis, modeling, solution and evaluation of a practical problem. Therefore, in more and more courses, especially in science and engineering courses, the ability to apply modern software tools has become an important aspect of student assessment.

[0003] However, in order to examine students' ability to use modern software tools, it is inevitable that students need to actually operate these software on computers, that is, the corresponding examination links need to be completed in the form of computer operation. This requirement brings about a series of problems to be solved.

[0004] First, the number of computer labs that can conduct computer-based exams in most colleges and universities is quite limited, which is not enough to support the completion of exams for courses that require computer-based exams. Moreover, as students generally bring their own computers, the development trend of computer labs is more to maintain the existing situation rather than to increase the number of computers and venues.

[0005] Secondly, the modern software tools required for different courses are often different, and the overall number is huge. Therefore, considering the hardware conditions of the computer room and the affordability of the school, it is difficult to provide all these software on the computers in the computer room.

[0006] Thirdly, although non-examination examination forms such as course assignments, course designs, and course reports can be used, the reliability of these examination forms is relatively low, and the supervision of the examination process is not rigid enough. Therefore, they are generally not as effective as examinations in reflecting students' true ability levels.

[0007] Finally, if students are allowed to bring their own computers to take the computer-based exam in a regular exam room, it will increase the possibility of cheating and make it more difficult to supervise the exam. Compared with regular paper-based exams, allowing students to bring their own computers to take the computer-based exam will increase the possibility of cheating in two ways: students cheating on each other using social software, and students cheating by digitizing materials that are not allowed to be brought to the exam and storing them on their own computers.

[0008] There are currently several methods and devices for preventing or detecting cheating in exams. For example, patents CN201911101074.3 "A computer test device for preventing USB cheating" and CN201920305681.0 "Anti-cheating device for information technology computer-based exams" prevent certain cheating behaviors in computer-based exams by modifying the facilities and devices in the exam room. However, these modifications are not targeted and difficult to effectively prevent the cheating caused by the aforementioned self-provided computers; Patent CN201910163738.2 "Paperless Examination Method, System and Device" prevents cheating by randomly assigning questions, but uses computer rooms instead of students' own computers; Patent CN 201610140626.1 "An Unsupervised Intelligent Computer-Based Examination System" focuses on unsupervised examinations. After collecting examination room images through cameras, possible cheating behaviors are discovered through image matching; Patent CN202011031672.0 "An Anti-Cheating System Based on Paperless Examination" discovers cheating behaviors of examinees by shielding the signals of examinees' electronic devices, recording the examination process, and recording the files and programs browsed by examinees. However, screen recording occupies a lot of storage and communication resources, and it is very labor-intensive to watch the screen recording video of the entire examination process to discover cheating. Examinees can also change the file name, making it difficult for invigilators to intuitively and conveniently detect cheating by the file name and program name; 201610036508.6 "Anti-cheating methods for computer exams in power systems" uses the degree of simple color change on the screen to preliminarily determine whether there is cheating after taking a screenshot. However, in many cases, students need to switch between different program windows during the computer-based exam, so this criterion is difficult to remain effective.

[0009] In order to meet the needs of testing students' ability to apply modern software tools and implement computer-based tests without relying on limited school public computer room resources, it is necessary to find a computer-based test method that allows students to use their own computers to complete software operations in ordinary examination rooms, while effectively preventing and detecting cheating in the test through social software and by checking documents that are not allowed to be brought on the computer due to the use of their own computers. Summary of the invention

[0010] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to find a method for preventing cheating in computer-based examinations, which can prevent possible cheating behaviors when students use their own computers to perform computer practical operations in ordinary examination rooms.

[0011] In order to solve the above technical problems, the solution proposed by the present invention is: the invigilator and the student end cooperate to set the software or APP that students can use and the events that trigger the student end to take screenshots on the invigilator end, and send them to the student end; the student end cuts off all network connections of the students' own computers when the exam starts, thereby eliminating the way to cheat using social software; during the exam, the student end monitors the system events of the students' own computers, such as window switching, specific keyboard input, etc. If a screenshot triggering event is found, a screenshot is taken, so that during or after the exam, the examination staff can determine whether the students have viewed unauthorized information; at the same time, during the exam, the student end regularly sends a verification signal to the invigilator end or records the verification timestamp locally to ensure that the student end is always in normal working condition and is not forced to close.

[0012] The anti-cheating method for computer-based examinations described in the present invention specifically comprises the following steps:

[0013] S1: Before the exam, the exam administrator sets up the software or APP that students can use during the exam on the invigilator’s end, sets up the screenshot trigger event on the student’s end, and sends the settings to the student’s end;

[0014] S2: When the test starts, the student terminal cuts off all network connections of the student's own computer and starts to monitor all system events of the student's own computer;

[0015] S3: During the examination, the student terminal simultaneously performs the following operations: ① If the student terminal finds that the student's own computer is running other programs besides the usable software or APP, the student terminal records the name and running time of the unauthorized software or APP. When the window of the unauthorized software or APP is displayed on the screen, the student terminal automatically takes a screenshot to obtain the window image of the unauthorized software or APP, and sends the name, running time and window image of the unauthorized software or APP to the invigilator terminal; or when the student terminal and the invigilator terminal cannot communicate, the name, running time and window image of the unauthorized software or APP are sent to the invigilator terminal; 1. The student terminal monitors the system events of the student's own computer and contains the screenshot trigger event, then the student terminal automatically takes a screenshot, and then sends the screenshot image and the screenshot timestamp to the invigilator, or when the student terminal and the invigilator cannot communicate, the screenshot image is temporarily saved locally on the student terminal; 2. During the examination, if the student terminal and the invigilator can communicate, the student terminal periodically sends a verification signal to the invigilator to indicate that the student terminal is still running; 3. During the examination, the student terminal periodically records the verification timestamp locally;

[0016] S4: When the student voluntarily submits the paper or the examination time is over, the student terminal restores the network connection of the student's own computer and waits for the communication between the student terminal and the invigilator terminal to be restored. Then, the name, running time period and window image of the unauthorized software or APP temporarily saved locally by the student terminal, the screenshot image, the screenshot timestamp, and the verification timestamp and other information are sent to the invigilator terminal; the invigilator terminal determines whether the student terminal has stopped working during the examination based on the verification signal received during the examination and the verification timestamp sent by the student terminal. If it has stopped working, it is recorded as an abnormal event and reported to the examination staff.

[0017] The invigilator terminal has the following functions:

[0018] The invigilator can set the software or APP that students can use during the exam, can set the screenshot trigger event of the student terminal, and can send the above settings to the student terminal before the exam;

[0019] Able to receive the name, running time period and window image of the unauthorized software or APP, the screenshot image, the screenshot timestamp, and the verification signal sent by the student terminal during the examination;

[0020] When the student finishes the exam, the name, running time period and window image of the unauthorized software or APP, the screenshot image, the screenshot timestamp, and the verification timestamp are received from the student terminal;

[0021] It is possible to determine whether the student terminal stops working during the examination according to the time of the verification signal received during the examination and the verification timestamp received at the end of the examination;

[0022] It is capable of saving and displaying the name, running time period and window image of the unauthorized software or APP, the screenshot image, the screenshot timestamp, and abnormal situations such as the student terminal stopping working.

[0023] The student terminal has the following functions:

[0024] The student terminal can receive the software or APP settings that the student can use during the exam and the screenshot trigger event settings sent by the invigilator terminal before the exam;

[0025] Ability to disconnect all network connections of students’ own computers when the exam starts;

[0026] It is capable of tracking all software or apps running on students' own computers during the examination, and when it is found that the students' own computers are running the unauthorized software or apps, it is capable of recording the name and running time period of the unauthorized software or apps, and when the window of the unauthorized software or apps is displayed on the screen, it is capable of automatically taking a screenshot to obtain the window image of the unauthorized software or apps, and sending the name, running time period and window image of the unauthorized software or apps to the invigilator, or when the student terminal and the invigilator cannot communicate, temporarily saving the name, running time period and window image of the unauthorized software or apps locally on the student terminal;

[0027] It is capable of monitoring all system events of the student's own computer during the examination, and automatically taking a screenshot when the system events of the student's own computer contain the screenshot trigger event, and sending the screenshot image and the screenshot timestamp to the invigilator, or when the student terminal and the invigilator terminal cannot communicate, temporarily saving the screenshot image locally on the student terminal;

[0028] During the examination, when the student terminal and the invigilator terminal can communicate with each other, a verification signal can be sent to the invigilator terminal at a fixed time;

[0029] Ability to record and verify timestamps locally at regular intervals during the exam;

[0030] After the exam, the name, running time period and window image of the unauthorized software or APP, the screenshot image, the screenshot timestamp, and the verification timestamp and other information can be sent to the invigilator.

[0031] The invention also discloses an anti-cheating system for students to take exams using their own computers. The system comprises an invigilator end module and a student end module, which respectively realize the functions of the invigilator end and the student end.

[0032] In summary, the method provided by the present invention can block students from using social software on their own computers to cheat, and can screen out suspicious screen images for further judgment by examination staff, thereby effectively preventing the access to unauthorized data on their own computers without significantly increasing the workload of examination staff. At the same time, by sending a verification signal or recording a verification timestamp through the learning end, the normal operation of the learning end is ensured, and students are prevented from forcibly closing the learning end to bypass supervision. The above measures can effectively prevent students from using their own computers to take computer-based exams, and combined with ordinary exam room invigilation, can effectively ensure the reliability of this examination method. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 2 The flowchart of the invigilator of the method proposed in the present invention;

[0035] Figure 3 A student-side flow chart of the method proposed in the present invention;

[0036] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the system structure of Embodiment 1;

[0037] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the system structure of Example 2. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] The present invention will be further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. It should be understood that the embodiments described herein are only used to explain the present invention, rather than to limit the present invention.

[0039] The overall structural diagram of the method proposed by the present invention is as follows Figure 1 As shown, the flowcharts of the invigilator and the student end of the method proposed by the present invention are respectively as follows Figure 2 and Figure 3 shown.

[0040] 1. Embodiment 1

[0041] The system structure diagram of the first embodiment is as follows: Figure 4 shown.

[0042] The invigilator module in the first embodiment is implemented by a program deployed on the examination staff computer 30, and the student module is implemented by a program deployed on the student's own computer 10. Since the examination room shields the public network signal, a wireless router 20 is installed in the examination room to build a local wireless network inside the examination room to provide a communication channel between the invigilator module and the student module.

[0043] The access key of the wireless router 20 is solidified in the student-side module and is kept confidential from the students. After the exam begins, the student-side module cuts off all network connections of the student's own computer 10, collects relevant information according to the method disclosed in the present invention, and then temporarily connects the wireless router 20 inside the module to obtain a communication channel with the examination staff computer 30, and disconnects after completing data transmission. At the same time, the student-side module saves the verification timestamp locally on the student's own computer 10 in an encrypted form. After the exam is over, the student-side module opens the communication channel again and sends the verification timestamp to the invigilation module. On the invigilation module, in addition to using the method disclosed in the present invention to judge cheating, other methods such as text recognition methods in screenshots can also be implemented to jointly complete the identification of cheating behavior.

[0044] 2. Embodiment 2

[0045] The system structure diagram of the second embodiment is as follows: Figure 5 shown.

[0046] The invigilator module in the second embodiment is also implemented by a program deployed on the examination staff computer 30 , while the student module is composed of a program deployed on the student's own computer 10 and an anti-cheating module 20 externally connected to the student's own computer 10 .

[0047] The anti-cheating module 20 is integrated with an independent controller, a Bluetooth wireless module and a local storage, and is externally connected to the student's own computer 10 through a USB interface. In addition to the student-side program on the student's own computer 10, the anti-cheating module 20 will shield other access requests from the student's own computer 10, so that the communication channel of the anti-cheating module 20 and the internally stored data are invisible to the student's own computer 10. During the examination, the student-side program on the student's own computer 10 saves all the data that needs to be saved into the internal storage of the anti-cheating module 20. The anti-cheating module 20 sends the saved data to the invigilator module according to the availability of the Bluetooth communication channel. It is also possible to directly read the data in the anti-cheating module 20 through USB at the invigilator after the examination is over, after the examination staff recovers the anti-cheating module 20.

[0048] The above description is exemplary and not restrictive. Through the above description, those skilled in the art can realize the various changes and modifications of the present invention, as well as the various specific implementation modes and approaches based on the method and system structure framework of the present invention, which will also fall within the essence and scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for preventing students from cheating when taking an exam using their own computers, characterized in that the steps include: S1: Before the exam, the exam administrator sets up the software or APP that students can use during the exam on the invigilator’s end, sets up the screenshot trigger event on the student’s end, and sends the settings to the student’s end; S2: When the test starts, the student terminal cuts off all network connections of the student's own computer and starts to monitor all system events of the student's own computer; S3: During the examination, the student terminal simultaneously performs the following operations: ① If the student terminal finds that the student's own computer is running other programs besides the usable software or APP, the student terminal records the name and running time of the unauthorized software or APP. When the window of the unauthorized software or APP is displayed on the screen, the student terminal automatically takes a screenshot to obtain the window image of the unauthorized software or APP, and sends the name, running time and window image of the unauthorized software or APP to the invigilator terminal; or when the student terminal and the invigilator terminal cannot communicate, the name, running time and window image of the unauthorized software or APP are sent to the invigilator terminal; 1. The student terminal monitors the system events of the student's own computer and contains the screenshot trigger event, then the student terminal automatically takes a screenshot, and then sends the screenshot image and the screenshot timestamp to the invigilator, or when the student terminal and the invigilator cannot communicate, the screenshot image is temporarily saved locally on the student terminal; 2. During the examination, if the student terminal and the invigilator can communicate, the student terminal periodically sends a verification signal to the invigilator to indicate that the student terminal is still running; 3. During the examination, the student terminal periodically records the verification timestamp locally; S4: When the student voluntarily submits the paper or the examination time is over, the student terminal restores the network connection of the student's own computer and waits for the communication between the student terminal and the invigilator terminal to be restored, and then sends the name, running time period and window image of the unauthorized software or APP temporarily saved locally by the student terminal, the screenshot image, the screenshot timestamp, and the verification timestamp to the invigilator terminal; The invigilator determines whether the student terminal has stopped working during the examination based on the verification signal received during the examination and the verification timestamp sent by the student terminal. If so, it is recorded as an abnormal event and reported to the examination staff.

2. The anti-cheating method for students taking exams with their own computers according to claim 1, characterized in that: The invigilator can set the software or APP that students can use during the exam, can set the screenshot trigger event of the student terminal, and can send the above settings to the student terminal before the exam; Able to receive the name, running time period and window image of the unauthorized software or APP, the screenshot image, the screenshot timestamp, and the verification signal sent by the student terminal during the examination; When the student finishes the exam, the name, running time period and window image of the unauthorized software or APP, the screenshot image, the screenshot timestamp, and the verification timestamp are received from the student terminal; It is possible to determine whether the student terminal stops working during the examination according to the time of the verification signal received during the examination and the verification timestamp received at the end of the examination; It is capable of saving and displaying the name, running time period and window image of the unauthorized software or APP, the screenshot image, the screenshot timestamp, and abnormal situations such as the student terminal stopping working.

3. The anti-cheating method for students taking exams with their own computers according to claim 1, characterized in that: The student terminal can receive the software or APP settings that the student can use during the exam and the screenshot trigger event settings sent by the invigilator terminal before the exam; Ability to disconnect all network connections of students’ own computers when the exam starts; It is capable of tracking all software or apps running on students' own computers during the examination, and when it is found that the students' own computers are running the unauthorized software or apps, it is capable of recording the name and running time period of the unauthorized software or apps, and when the window of the unauthorized software or apps is displayed on the screen, it is capable of automatically taking a screenshot to obtain the window image of the unauthorized software or apps, and sending the name, running time period and window image of the unauthorized software or apps to the invigilator, or when the student terminal and the invigilator cannot communicate, temporarily saving the name, running time period and window image of the unauthorized software or apps locally on the student terminal; It is capable of monitoring all system events of the student's own computer during the examination, and automatically taking a screenshot when the system events of the student's own computer contain the screenshot trigger event, and sending the screenshot image and the screenshot timestamp to the invigilator, or when the student terminal and the invigilator terminal cannot communicate, temporarily saving the screenshot image locally on the student terminal; During the examination, when the student terminal and the invigilator terminal can communicate with each other, a verification signal can be sent to the invigilator terminal at a fixed time; Ability to record and verify timestamps locally at regular intervals during the exam; After the exam, the name, running time period and window image of the unauthorized software or APP, the screenshot image, the screenshot timestamp, and the verification timestamp and other information can be sent to the invigilator.

4. An anti-cheating system for students taking exams using their own computers, characterized in that: The system comprises: an invigilator module and a student module; the invigilator module can realize the function of the invigilator described in claim 2; and the student module can realize the function of the student described in claim 3.

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