Smowl

Guide for Faculty

Proctoring tool for use in Blackboard digital in-class exams.

If you need help or advice to set up your exam, please access our office hours!

SMOWL CM (Computer Monitoring): It's a proctoring tool for use in Blackboard digital in-class exams. Monitors the user’s computer activity during the exam, and generates a REPORT for each student, in which the instructor can verify if any programs, applications and web pages (URLs) were opened during the exam. SMOWL CM also takes screenshots and detects copy-paste, screen printing, and peripheral devices connected to the computer.

(Unlike Respondus, SMOWL CM does not block students' browsers. Instead, SMOWL CM records the computer activity in a report)

SMOWL CM is designed for in-class exams. If deemed necessary and authorized by the professor, students may open specific applications, such as Excel. The Smowl report will be used to verify whether they have accessed any unauthorized applications.

STEP 1. Include the Smowl proctoring tool in the course content

STEP 2. Share the Smowl Student Guide with your students

Digital Exams - Rules for Students:

STEP 3. MOCK Question + SMOWL CM

STEP 4. CREATE YOUR REAL EXAM IN Blackboard + SMOWL

Digital Exams - Rules for Students:

STEP 5. BACK UP - CREATE A COPY OF THE REAL EXAM without SMOWL

STEP 6. Review the Smowl computer monitoring REPORTS

1. Access the computer monitoring REPORT

2. Massive Validation. Compilation of incidents for the entire group .

3. Incidents by student

WEB NAVIGATION

What is the difference between a running app and app interaction?

APP INTERACTION

RUNNING APPS

Check the time on the screenshot.

VIRTUAL MACHINE

In case of incident / misconduct

STEP 1. Include the Smowl proctoring tool in the course content

Under the Course Content area:

1. Press the plus sign

2. Select Content Market

3. Click the plus icon

4. Make it visible to students

STEP 2. Share the Smowl Student Guide with your students

IMPORTANT INFORMATION TO SHARE WITH THE STUDENTS:

SMOWL is not compatible with iPad
In order to use SMOWL students need to install version 5: SMOWL CM | STUDENT GUIDE PDF

Mac computers: Video: How to install Smowl 5.0.3 on MAC

1- Register

2- Download SMOWL CM and install it

3- IMPORTANT: Go to System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility. In Applications, search for SMOWL → select Screen & System Audio Recording. Then, search for SMOWL again, open it, and provide screen recording permissions.

4. Finally complete mock question in the course where you will be taking the exam.

Windows computers: Video: How to install Smowl 5.0.3 on Windows

And complete mock question in the course where you will be taking the exam.

If students need help with the installation, they should visit the IT support team on floors 3, 6, 9, or 12 of the Tower, on floor 4 of the Segovia Campus, or contact them at https://ie.service-now.com and use Live Chat.

Digital Exams - Rules for Students:

Digital Exams - Rules for Students

STEP 3. MOCK Question + SMOWL CM

The mock test is MANDATORY to check if all the students were able to download the last version of SMOWL and detect any issue they may have before the real exam.

3.1 Create a SMOWL-MOCK QUESTION 2025

eg. Question 1

Please read the document Digital Exams - Rules for Students:

Digital Exams - Rules for Students

and confirm the following in order to be allow to take the exam:

I have

1- Register in smowl

2- Install the SMOWL extension in Chrome

3- Download SMOWL CM and install it

4- IMPORTANT: Go to System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility. In Applications, search for SMOWL → select Screen & System Audio Recording. Then, search for SMOWL again, open it, and provide screen recording permissions.

YES I agree

NO /No response

(only for mock) Number of attempts: unlimited students may need to take the mock again in case they use a different computer or they need to upgrade Smowl

3.2 Activate SMOWL CM in the settings of the mock question.

Click "Test Settings"

Select PROCTORED ASSESSMENT

TURN ON PROCTORING

SAVE

3.3. Make the SMOWL -MOCK- TEST visible to students

3.4 Once the students have installed Smowl CM, ask them to take the SMOWL -MOCK- TEST.

3.5 Then, access the GRADEBOOK and check.....

If the students took the mock test, means they were able to install SMOWL correctly.

If they didn't take mock test contact them, to identify possible technical difficulties.

STEP 4. CREATE YOUR REAL EXAM IN Blackboard + SMOWL

1. First you have to create the test guide

2. Click "Test Settings"

3. Select PROCTORED ASSESMENT

4. TURN ON PROCTORING

5. SAVE

Digital Exams - Rules for Students:

Please share these instructions with the students:

Digital Exams - Rules for Students

Add the link in the content area so that the students can read the rules before the exam.
You can also copy paste the rules inside the exam using the ADD TEXT option.

How to force an app to quit on your Mac https://support.apple.com/en-ca/102586

Prevent apps and windows from reopening on Mac https://support.apple.com/en-lamr/102318

STEP 5. BACK UP - CREATE A COPY OF THE REAL EXAM without SMOWL

It is recommended to create a copy of the exam without smowl and keep it "Hidden from students" to use it just in case a specific student is not able to install smowl correctly.

Using the release conditions, you could make the exam available just to this specific student, so he/she can take this other exam at the same time as his/her peers.

TO CREATE A COPY OF THE EXAM

Select the plus sign that divides the Course Content area, and select Copy Content.

Settings: keep the exam "Hidden from students".

Remove SMOWL option

IN CASE YOU NEED TO MAKE THE COPY OF THE EXAM (without Smowl) AVAILABLE TO ONE SPECIFIC STUDENT:

STEP 6. Review the Smowl computer monitoring REPORTS

1. Access the computer monitoring REPORT

Once the students have completed the exam, you will be able to view the reports Accessing Smowl Proctoring tool

IMPORTANT: Access the report through ACTIVITIES and be sure to choose the correct Exam .

(Don´t access through results)

Once inside Activities, select the exam you want to review and click on SEE THE RESULTS.

2. Massive Validation. Compilation of incidents for the entire group .

First of all, it is advisable to consult

CM Massive Validation

This report option displays incidents for the entire group of students in a consolidated format.

Within Massive Validation, there are 3 sections.:

WEB NAVIGATION: Websites visited by the students. Displays screenshots.
APP INTERACTION: Applications used by the students. Displays screenshots.
RUNNING APPS: List of applications running in the background. Does not display screenshots.

To see the name of the student, press the circle icon on the right with the 3 lines.

3. Incidents by student

Press on the name of the student you want to review. You may start with the ones that have more incidents.

By student: 3 views

Incidents report: Selection of incidents.
Full report timeline view: Chronologically ordered screenshots (useful for understanding the actions taken by the student).
Full Report: Grouped View Divided into sections

Grouped View Divided into sections:

RUNNING APPS: List of applications running in the background. Does not display screenshots.
APP INTERACTION: Applications used by the student. Displays screenshots.
WEB NAVIGATION: Websites visited. Displays screenshots.
VIRTUAL MACHINE:
PERIODIC SCREENSHOTS: Screenshots taken at regular intervals (every 5 minutes) even if the student takes no action outside of the exam. Displays screenshots.
COMMAND: e.g., copy-paste actions.
USER ALERT: Alerts when the student closes Smowl before submitting the exam.
TOOL STATUS: Displays information on Smowl usage.
Peripherals: Detects, for example, if more than one monitor is connected.

WEB NAVIGATION

under WEB NAVIGATION you may find the use of ChatGPT, Copilot, Wikipedia ...

What is the difference between a running app and app interaction?

A running app can be open in the background; there doesn’t have to be any interaction from the user, which is why screenshots are not generated. If the user interacts with it, then it appears in the App Interaction section with a screenshot as evidence. For example Whats app.

APP INTERACTION

Under APP INTERACTION you can check the Excel page they have opened.

RUNNING APPS

Under RUNNING APPS check if there is any application that allows REMOTE ACCESS such us TeamViewer , Anydesk

Check the time on the screenshot.

IMPORTANT: In case you detect an incident, always Check the time on the screenshot.

Also check in Blackboard to see what time the student submitted the exam.

When the student finishes and submits the exam, if they do not explicitly close SMOWL, it may continue taking screenshots for a couple of minutes.

VIRTUAL MACHINE

RUNNING ON VIRTUAL MACHINE !!!!!

A Virtual Machine (VM) emulates an operating system within another. It acts as a separate computer, allowing users to run multiple systems on one device. Popular VM software includes VirtualBox, VMware, and Parallels Desktop. Proctoring software may only monitor the VM, while the host system remains free to access unauthorized resources .

In case of incident / misconduct

In case you detect an incident/misconduct, please contact the program managers as soon as possible. Send them the following information:

Student Name:

Student Nº:

Program:

Course:

Date and time of the exam:

Campus:

Brief Description of the Facts:

Evidence: (screenshot)

HELP Smowltech Help Center

AIRDROP: allows the transfer of files between MAC computers and iOS devices via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The transferred files go to FINDER (Similar to the file explorer in Windows). If a student opens a file in finder, it would be reflected in the SMOWL report.

ACCESS TO DIFFERENT DESKTOPS - (ESCRITORIOS) (SPACES - MAC): If a student during an exam accesses another desktop from which he/she opens an app or access a website (e.g., chat GPT), it would be reflected in the SMOWL report. (Also applies if they use Parallels desktop app.)

Screenshot taken by SMOWL, while taking the exam in DESKTOP 1

Screenshot taken by SMOWL, while accessing CHATGPT in DESKTOP 2

.1 Create a SMOWL-MOCK QUESTION

eg. Question 1

Please read the document Digital Exams - Rules for Students:

Digital Exams - Rules for Students

and confirm the following in order to be allow to take the exam:

I have read and will comply with the rules for digital exams.

I agree to close and double-check that no applications are running in the background by checking the Activity Monitor (Mac) or Task Manager (Windows).

I understand that, for example, the WhatsApp app needs to be uninstalled to avoid detection.

I have uninstalled Smowl version 4 and installed the new version of Smowl 5.

Smowl does not work with iPad.

Once the exam is submitted, I must close Smowl CM.

YES I agree

NO /No response

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse