Chapter 17 Will the Real “John Doe” Stand up? Verifying the Identity of Online Students

Abstract

In an educational era focused on expectations related to program accreditation, academic integrity is paramount to program success and credibility. Because Internet-based learning is not limited to geographical or political lines drawn on a map, there is a certain amount of ambiguity regarding the application of regulations and laws governing online learning and how they are enforced. Managing the financial and accreditation needs of institutions with authentic and appropriate methods of teaching, learning, and assessment is a precarious balance – one in which the potential for misbehaving online can quickly tip the scales to the side of questioning the credibility of online learning and misusing power in terms of data privacy. Wendy Kraglund-Gauthier and David Young explore the issue of how online students misbehave when being tested at a distance, what technological challenges emerge when verifying the identity of online students, and issues of privacy. They also include a comparison of methods used to confirm the identity of online students. In light of the inherent challenges that emerge alongside the demand for more technology-based screening tools and devices, Kraglund-Gauthier and Young question whether solutions lie in competence-based assessment for learning, rather than a reliance on surveillance. They argue that in spite of stakeholders' best efforts and best intentions, legislation directed at ensuring online privacy is fraught with potential challenges.

Citation

Kraglund-Gauthier, W.L. and Young, D.C. (2012), "Chapter 17 Will the Real “John Doe” Stand up? Verifying the Identity of Online Students", Wankel, L.A. and Wankel, C. (Ed.) Misbehavior Online in Higher Education (Cutting-Edge Technologies in Higher Education, Vol. 5), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 355-377. https://doi.org/10.1108/S2044-9968(2012)0000005019