ICT -TOOLS BASED EXAMINATION MONITORING
SYSTEM; THE DELTA STATE UNIVERSITY
EXAMPLE

Franklin Ouvolelolo Okorodudu, Getty. E Izakpa

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Franklin Ouvolelolo Okorodudu, Getty. E Izakpa. ICT -TOOLS BASED EXAMINATION MONITORING SYSTEM; THE DELTA STATE UNIVERSITY EXAMPLE. ICT -TOOLS BASED EXAMINATION MONITORING SYSTEM; THE DELTA STATE UNIVERSITY EXAMPLE, 2023, 38 (1), pp.45-69. hal-04678843

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ICT -TOOLS BASED EXAMINATION MONITORING SYSTEM; THE
DELTA STATE UNIVERSITY EXAMPLE.

Franklin.O Okorodudu¹*, Getty.E Izakpa²

¹Computer Science, Faculty of Science, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria

²Computer Technology, Petroleum Training Institute, Warri, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

Most school districts utilize exam results to gauge assess students learning and their abilities. Some anomalies in the test for lower levels are prevalent at Delta State University. Examination malpractices are reduced using new technologies and communication channels and tools. Other applications are deactivated until the timer log the students out of the website, when the examination starts. Such impact that technology has on human life has the effect of recording and storing video and audio of the candidate, and there is a database that archives every operation made with every system. A widespread use of this new technology would promote awareness of everyone and go a long way to reduce examination malpractices in institutions. The agile approach provides real-time features that will be utilized to create the software development life cycle (SDLC). This will disable the web cam, freeze other applications, and block pop-ups until the time expires, for effective CBT monitoring.

KEYWORDS: CBT; student; malpractice; ICT tools; university

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# 1. INTRODUCTION

When applicants are writing an examinations, we keep an eye on them to ensure proper invigilation and prevent problems of cheating. Physical or remote invigilation is possible when using technology. For different examinations, it can also be a paper-based or computer-based test. Since remote invigilation of computer-based evaluations is difficult, many literary works have invested much effort into developing an automated system to carry out the procedure. Electronic invigilation (also known as invigilation for electronics-based examinations) is focused on controls used to protect electronic exams, which are often given in a controlled environment. E-invigilation appears in numerous places as "ornaments" to verify applicants ability to abide by the test rules. For example, Percval et al (2008) studied the capability of computer-based exams to pick up on deviations from routine practices by applicants. Ko and Cheng (2008) also investigated random video-based examination
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monitoring and found that a secure electronic-assessment platform is used, which includes both hardware and software components, along with numerous secure electronic-assessment conditions. The applicant must also verify their identity using this system. All of them are only focused on computer-based exams and fail to include paper-based tests when they are conducted in a classroom setting. Since the introduction of ICT into education, significant progress has been made, but, there are difficulties that must be addressed on the downside (Abubakar and Adebayo, 2014). According to Eromosele (2008), throughout time, test malpractice has evolved from the usual "giraffing" at a neighbor's workplace, utilizing notes, key points, textbooks, and handkerchiefs add new evolution of cheating. Due to the features of these hi-tech devices, multiple choice questions are now often answered using these gadgets. The older cheating techniques have mostly been superseded by various technological devices, which can carry a significant quantity of information. A multitude of different
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gadget might be utilized for mentioning examples of such are mobile phones, scientific calculators (such the T1-84 type), MP3 players, wireless receivers, PDAs (pocket PCs), invisible ink pens, wrist watches, and printed labels.

## Literature Review

The process of examining an individual's comprehension, knowledge, and academic aptitude is called examination. In university examinations, the academic success of students is evaluated and the students' degree of academic performance and knowledge is also determined (Suleman, et al. 2015). Examination, according to Kpangban (2008), is an evaluation used to test knowledge, abilities, attitude, physical fitness, or categorization in several other areas, such as beliefs. Omemu (2015) said that learning is made easier when students are put through an assessment process to see whether they have absorbed the lessons while also providing a way for teachers to see themselves in relation to their students' academic achievement. Evaluation of final examinations plays a significant role in measuring
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the success or failure of the academic process. Malpractice in the examination process is one
of the issues that have hurt the dependability of the evaluation. Candidate's misconduct in
order to gain an unfair advantage before, during, or after a test is prohibited. To get at a good
result by fraudulent methods, Adedojun (2003) describes examination malpractice as any
other act or misbehavior that is not in consonance with the norms and regulations governing
the examination with the intention of achieving a good result. Misconduct during
examinations, for example by other students, parents, professors, supervisors, invigilators,
printers, or anyone or any group of individuals before, during, or after examinations, occurs
when candidates commit examination malpractice alone or in conjunction with others. The
definition of examination malpractice offered by Nwana (2000) includes behaviour that
deviates from the code of conduct or the ethical and norm behavior shown by individuals or
groups throughout the examination process. Examination malpractice has eaten deep into the
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educational fabrics of Nigerian educational institutions. This has cast suspicion on all
university degrees earned by Nigerian graduates.

In many forms, examination malpractice involves copying, sorting, bringing in foreign materials, impersonation, script exchange, use of technological devices like/as phones, and cooperation with invigilators. The growth of education innovations has also given rise to a new type of test cheating that uses technological ways to pass information to one's peers throughout the country. Akanni and Odofin (2015) suggest that certificate as a way of securing work or progressing from one point to another leads students to pursue certificates with desperation, resulting in test malpractices. As stated by Zakka (2014), examination malpractices occur because people wish to pass at all costs. As a result of this, the school pushes parents and students to acquire good grades, degrees, and jobs by all means.
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According to Ukpabi (2015), the primary reasons for test malpractices include, lack of students' motivation, a huge student population in many institutions, student desperation to pass examinations, demanding and challenging course material in many disciplines, and underprepared teachers. Examination misconduct in the Nigerian educational system has wide-ranging consequences. Instead of learners paying attention to their academics, today's youth have lost their focus on creative and inventive approaches. Teachers are no longer respected in society, while workers are shown to be incompetent in the positions for which they have been employed to their qualification. This has necessitated investigations into examination misconduct on behalf of organisations such as the JAMB, since it might lead to the complete collapse of the educational system if it persists. A tool employed to detect public examination misconduct, such as the UTME, is the Computer-Based Test (CBT) form of exam. As one of the current creative ways of assessments, Computer-Based Testing (CBT)
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mode has recently emerged as one of the more popular options. Taking an exam on a computer rather than using paper and pencil is called a computer-based test (CBT). computation-based assessment may also be described as assessments administered using a computer and integrated with a database or networked over the internet or the World Wide Web (Olsen 2000). As a result of using computer-based tests (CBTs), there has been a decrease in exam misconduct in the country, according to Ojerinde (2015). The introduction of CBT was intended to benefit the Nigerian students, as well as the nation as a whole. Prof. Ojerinde stated that CBT will make it mandatory for schools to adhere to their own school curriculum and that, most importantly, the Board decided to use CBT because of the importance of using global best practices in administering examinations.
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One of the biggest academic problems facing Nigerian education now is examination malpractice. A lot of failure and anomalies might occur during a person's career as a result of secondary school level examination malpractice, according to recent studies (Zakka 2014). It has been tried by many government organizations, as well as school and examination bodies, but without success thus far. The objectives of this research is to build a system that utilizes ICT technologies for close range observation, as well as for the storage of movies, pictures, and audio files for video playback reasons.

## ICT Adaptation and Integration

Given the significant educational benefits that information and communications technologies (ICT) bring, a number of hindrances stand in the way of both its expansion and its limitless potential. This opinion was provided by Bladergroen et al (2012), who believe that in order for ICT to be incorporated successfully into the learning process, it must be accompanied
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with acquired IT skills. The authors of a recent study Toro and Joshi (2013), recommend that technological advancements will help ICT to better improve the educational system. Some recent studies by Chigona, et al (2010), say that it may not be necessary to focus on technology, but rather on infrastructure and mix of IT and content management abilities. Our progress has been impeded by technological (infrastructure, skills, competence), pedagogical (the teaching and training methods, approaches) and social issues in the present examples of ICT integration into educational spheres (Olaore, 2014). Through constant training and financing, pedagogical and technological problems may be dealt with; nevertheless, the obstacles associated with ICT on learning, such as test misconduct, need to draw their answers from a different source (Oyelekan, 2008).

## Need For Educational Technologies and Institutional Change
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We must utilize Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in education. Nigeria is on the wrong side of the digital divide because she has not made notable attempts to integrate information and communications technology (ICT) enough into education.

## EXAMINATION MALPRACTICE

The act of breaking examination norms and regulations by a candidate who is writing an examination is called examination malpractice.

In order to unfairly assist a candidate or an agent prior to, during, or after an examination.

The level of competition such activities provide an unfair advantage to candidates, and as a result the dependability of the marks and scores candidates receive when not detected or sanctioned is reduced (Uwadiae and Uduah, 2008).

Some examination-related behaviors defined as “examination malpractice” include:

a. the use of imported items in the examination halls (Curran, et al 2011).
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b. unauthorized acts, such as passing information via informants or proxies
opportunities within the examination halls.

c. Knowing the questions before a test.

d. large-scale cheating, involving School Board officials, candidates, and exams Officials.

e. Intimidation of supervisors and inspectors by candidates.

f. miscellaneous cases: on a Candidate's script, having two different handwriting varieties etc (Uwadiae and Uduah, 2008). (Curran, et al 2011).

g. motion activated camera to store information on student activities during examination period to save memory space (Okorodudu, 2021).

As a preventative measure,, some of the ICT methods presently employed to combat this malpractice include:
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1. pre-print of Objective Answer papers bearing the examination particulars of each candidate and the topic that they studied.

2. To combat instances of Impersonation, electronic registration was established in 2005.
Where pictures are saved electronically

3. Introduction forge-proof certificates with watermarking and other security features
Holograms, and copy proof markings help distinguish fraudulent findings.

4. Proof of findings from the online confirmation and verification systems.

5. amid other certificate embossing (Uwadiae and Uduah, 2008).

Introducing Electronic-Invigilation

Despite major progress, integration of ICT in education has also resulted in challenges to be
addressed on the other side (Abubakar, and Adebayo, 2014). The examination malpractice
practised at a neighbor's workplace has long been upgraded from "giraffing" which involves
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key-points, notes, textbooks, and copying on papers, to more advanced and sophisticated practices such as digital watch and handset? (Uwadiae and Uduah, 2008). These gadgets are now being used by certain candidates to retrieve answers on multiple choice questions, notably for functionality. Possible ways to implement include the recommendations made by Uwadiae and Uduah, (2008) regarding the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) registrar/CEO, who says that effective equipment and software implementation is the approach outlined in the document: The Impact of Information and Communication Technology on Examination Malpractice at the West African Senior Secondary school Certificate Examination in Nigeria.

The authors emphasize the pace with which prior cheating tactics are being superseded by technology that can store bigger quantities of information. In today's competitive work market, companies frequently implement novel technology. Examples of novel technology in
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this setting include mobile phones, scientific calculators (e.g. T1-84 model), MP3 players, wireless receivers, PDAs (pocket PCs), invisible ink pens (P59), wrist watches, and printed labels.

## ICT Tools Activation Approaches to Preventing Cheating

With the constant recurrence of the exam malpractice nuisance, satisfactory procedures ought to be taken to curtail the continuous repetition and effects of exam Malpractices in Nigerian Higher Educational Institutions. There are a number of different technological approaches, which could be summed up under the broad-term: ‘Electronic Invigilation’, adaptable to cushion the growing effects of examination malpractices.

The use of ICT tool to track culprit is a necessity, this will activate all arsenal in exam monitoring such as web cam, audio recording of the activities that happen within the defined perimeter where the exams take place which will also aid the CCTV mounted for monitoring.
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MATERIAL AND METHODS

The unified software development process was used in this paper. Due to the component-
based approach to development, the finished application consists of interconnected software
components. These components are connected via well-defined interfaces, and use of
visualization tools like the UML are invaluable in creating a functional system architecture.
When conducting CBT exams, researchers also observed in order to obtain information that
would improve the CBT exam system.
<figure><img src="image_17.png" /><figcaption>FLOWCHART FOR ICT TOOLS FOR MONITORING SYSTEM</figcaption></figure>

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Figure 1: Flowchart of the ICT based tools for examination monitoring

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Each component of the system was tested using C++ to make sure that it works. During the tests, pictures, audio, and videos of students were captured and saved. These recordings may be played back whenever needed. Figure 1 above shows the flowchart of the examination monitoring system and the sequences it follows to achieve an effective and efficient result that is needed to conduct a successful examination, while figures 2 and 3 show the report of what the system captured and recorded during the period of examination exercise.
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<figure><img src="image_21.png" /><figcaption>Figure 2 shows student already login to an exam</figcaption></figure>
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<figure><img src="image_23.png" /><figcaption>Figure 3 shows students activities during examination period</figcaption></figure>

CONCLUSIONS

It can be very beneficial for the management of student data during exams to utilize the proposed system. The use of ICT tools in the examination monitoring system will significantly reduce the amount of effort required by examination administrators. It will play an important role in the world of education at the moment. By using this system, the examination tools necessary for Delta State University to monitor exam malpractices are all
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set to go. This tertiary institution has a huge opportunity to bring examination malpractice to a zero percent level because of their utilization of ICT tools as a monitoring system. To ensure this goal, ICT tools are an essential tool. Nigeria's tertiary educational institutions are using overages, which are human operatives for CCTV surveillance systems. Conventionally and manually carrying out manual patrol and supervision during examinations is also known as "100% engaged" or "fully involved." A lot of setbacks have befallen tertiary institutions, the education sector, and the nation as a whole as a result of this system. The use of CCTV surveillance system will help prevent exam malpractice and create a better environment for examinations. The system is built on the .NET framework, using C++.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We want to say a very big thank you to Prof Achuba of Biochemistry, Delta State University Abraka for his mentorship.
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