WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE via COLLEGIATE PRESSWIRE)--Jan. 24, 2006--Ergocentric Software, Inc., an eEducation technology company, announced today the launch of the Ergotest Assessment Platform, a comprehensive distance learning testing application dedicated to resolving the issues of academic integrity in online education.
The exponential growth of web-based distance learning is drawing attention to academic dishonesty and student accountability concerns, and, interest in online education continues to grow at all levels. ''Now is the time to begin using the technology we have to provide a more secure environment required for online test delivery,'' says John Baumbach, President of Ergocentric Software.
With approximately two-thirds of colleges and universities offering distance education, proctored testing has become an accepted method of providing validity and security to the online delivery of high stakes assessment. The proctoring system incorporates designated proctors to supervise and administer any major examinations throughout the student`s program.
The Sloan Consortium, an education group, recently published the study ''Online Learning and Time-on-Task: Impact of Proctored vs. Un-Proctored Testing,'' which showed that proctored testing proved a better facilitator of learning than un-proctored testing.
''We wanted to take it a step further with the integration of biometric technology,'' says Baumbach. ''Biometric identification enables educators to determine if a student is actually the one completing an examination without using resources not permitted by the institution or assistance from another person. The Ergotest system replaces traditional human proctors and physical testing centers with biometric identity verification methods installed on the user`s PC.''
An independent study conducted at the University of Nebraska, where instructors using proctored testing were surveyed, found that approximately two-thirds of respondents said they think biometric identification would help online testing. Respondents agreed it could be a deterrent to cheating in situations such as employment and high stakes standardized tests.
A reported sixty-three percent of schools offering face-to-face, undergraduate courses also offer online undergraduate courses, making it essential to ensure the integrity of the testing environment. Ergotest uses fingerprint scanners and webcams to capture identity information from the student at exam time and compares it with data stored on a master server. This vastly improves the academic integrity and acceptance of distance learning in the educational sector.
About Ergocentric Software
Ergocentric Software, Inc. is an innovative eEducation technology company dedicated to providing secure and flexible distance learning education software solutions. For more information about Ergotest Assessment Platform, visit www.ergocentricsoftware.com.
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