The National College Testing Association Conference is an annual event that brings together thought leaders, innovators, and experts from the world of academic testing. This year, Proctor360 continued in its role as a sponsor of the event, held in the city of Savannah, Georgia, from August 4th to August 7th. While recent years have rewarded the National College Testing Association with wonderful weather, this year we faced an unexpected twist when Hurricane Debby decided to make an appearance. Despite the challenges posed by the storm, the conference turned out to be a resounding success, showcasing the resilience and dedication of the NCTA community.
Braving the Storm
Hurricane Debby descended upon Savannah on Monday as the conference got underway, causing travel disruptions for many attendees and sponsors. Flights were canceled, roads were flooded, and there was a general air of uncertainty about how the storm would impact the conference. However, the Proctor360 team was fortunate and managed to arrive in Savannah intact. Our dedication to the cause of exam integrity and innovation drove us to push through the challenges, ensuring we were present to share our insights and solutions with the NCTA members and to meet with our customers and partners who currently use our platform for proctoring online exams.
A Compelling Presentation Despite the Chaos
On the morning of August 5, amidst the swirling winds and torrential rain, Proctor360 delivered a presentation on Integrating Remote and In-Person Testing. The workshop was well-attended, with engaged NCTA members eager to learn about solutions for managing online exam sessions for their institution. Our presentation emphasized the critical need for testing services programs to be equally adept in remote testing as they are in in-person testing to ensure true testing equity and integrity.
We demonstrated our platform's capabilities, showing how it can manage all aspects of making test center proctors available for online exams – from handling instructor testing requirements to scheduling and registration, to secure live proctored exam monitoring at scale. The feedback from the attendees was overwhelmingly positive and inspired interest in the potential of remote testing opportunities for college test centers.
Exhibiting Innovation in Real Time
Our booth in the exhibitor hall became a popular spot for attendees. We ran live demonstrations of our multi-camera feature, which can optionally require students to connect their cell phone as a secondary camera (in addition to their webcam), providing an additional view to the proctor of the remote testing space. This feature, designed to enhance security and integrity, drew significant interest from test center administrators looking for robust solutions to modern testing challenges.
Visitors to our booth appreciated the hands-on demonstrations and the opportunity to see our platform in action. The live proctoring demo was a highlight, showcasing how our technology ensures a seamless and secure remote testing experience that empowers college testing centers to proctor online exams with a purpose-built platform designed uniquely for their needs.
Key Takeaways from the Conference
Despite the disruptions caused by Hurricane Debby, the conference provided several key insights into the evolving landscape of academic testing:
- Growing Recognition of Online Testing Demand: College test centers are increasingly recognizing the need to participate in online testing to stay relevant and bring value to their institutions. As more exams move online, the ability to offer secure, reliable remote proctoring services has become essential.
- Budgetary Concerns and Engagement: Budget constraints and finding new ways to engage with their institutions for secure testing services opportunities remain significant concerns for test centers. It’s crucial for these centers to demonstrate their value in strategy, solution development, and decision-making to the institutional leadership in order to build academic support.
- Institutional Decision-Making: Decision-making about the tools and vendors needed for modern test centers is still frequently made at higher levels by institutional leadership. Often, these leaders are not directly engaged in testing, highlighting the need for test center administrators to establish their critical value within their institutions.
Commitment to NCTA's Vision and Value
Proctor360 has always been committed to supporting the NCTA conference because we share their vision for exam integrity as a critical part of higher education. We are proud to be the only sponsor that has developed a platform uniquely designed for test centers to proctor online exams and manage all the processes that allow them to provide this service at scale. Our belief in the value of NCTA’s mission drives our continued support and active participation in their events.
The Unyielding Spirit of NCTA Volunteers
One of the most inspiring aspects of this year’s conference was the dedication and resilience of the NCTA volunteers who staffed the event. Despite the challenges posed by Hurricane Debby, these volunteers ensured the conference ran smoothly. Their unwavering commitment and exceptional service were instrumental in making the event a success. They managed logistics, assisted attendees, and maintained a positive atmosphere, embodying the true spirit of the NCTA community.
Looking Forward
As we reflect on our experience at the NCTA annual conference, we are filled with gratitude and optimism. The storm tested our resolve, but it also brought out the best in everyone involved. We are proud of our team, grateful for the engaged and enthusiastic attendees, and appreciative of the incredible NCTA volunteers.The insights gained and the connections made at this year’s conference will undoubtedly shape the future of academic testing. Proctor360 remains committed to advancing the field of remote proctoring and supporting the NCTA in their mission to uphold exam integrity.
We look forward to next year’s conference, hopeful for calmer weather but confident in our collective ability to overcome any challenge that comes our way. The story of NCTA 2024 in Savannah will be remembered not just for the storm, but for the resilience, innovation, and camaraderie that defined it!
