The University of South Africa (Unisa) has reminded students that listening to music during their examinations is strictly prohibited. However, the institution acknowledged that some students may not be able to control the environment where they are writing their examinations.
Unisa uses an Open Distance e-Learning (ODeL) education model. This means that students do not attend classes in person and learn from a distance. Additionally, students participate in examinations online.
Students have expressed their concern regarding the prohibition of listening to music during examinations. Some students make use of public spaces to connect to the internet when participating in examinations.
They are concerned because they are unable to control the environment around them and music may be playing in these public spaces while they are writing their examinations.
Unisa said they will consider this when reviewing the proctoring or invigilation recordings. This is done to ensure students were not attempting to avert the proctoring or invigilation tool and engage in prohibited activities during their assessment.
If we find that you were indeed in a public space where music is being played, we will take that into consideration while evaluating your online invigilated assessment.
Students are reminded that muting their phone or computer microphones is a transgression of Unisa’s examination rules. The university pleaded with students to avoid muting their microphones.
The university uses proctoring tools to ensure the integrity of examinations is upheld. Proctoring tools are online invigilating tools which require a connection to a smartphone, laptop or desktop with a functional camera. All students must use a proctoring tool while they write their exams.
Proctoring tools are used to verify a student's identity while they are participating in an examination. They also ensure the examination rules and regulations are adhered to.
University reminded students that minimising or exiting the examination invigilator application is deemed “out of the application”. If students are “out of the application” for 10 minutes, their examination marks will be withheld.
We would like to remind students that any attempt to cheat or engage in any misconduct during the assessment has serious consequences, and we expect all students to adhere to the Unisa rules and regulations.
Students who early prompt “finish assessment” on the Application, while they continue to write their examination, will be deemed to have transgressed Unisa’s rules.
