The RFID Professional Institute, a nonprofit organization founded to promote professionalism in the RFID industry through standardized certification exams, and InstructedU, an online learning solutions and exam delivery provider, announced today a partnership that will enable the Institute to deliver such testing via the Internet, using InstructedU’s test-delivery platform. The exams will be monitored in real time by ProctorU, an online proctoring company that has partnered with more than 500 training organizations, corporations, colleges and universities, and has monitored more than one million exams since 2008.
“We looked at a lot of different exam management and delivery systems, and InstructedU had, by far, the best combination of features and affordable pricing,” says Ian Robertson, the RFID Professional Institute’s chairman. “The InstructedU team has been great to work with. They have helped us every step of the way.”
InstructedU’s exam-delivery platform allows organizations to load test questions, or items, into a database and assign difficulty levels and subject areas, so that tests can be generated according to a predefined blueprint. The exams can then be delivered to students online in a virtual testing room. Secure online proctoring will be available through InstructedU’s partnership with ProctorU.
ProctorU provides services to make online testing of examinees more secure. Developed out of a unique necessity, ProctorU provides the growing population of online test takers with a flexible and convenient way to complete assessments. Individuals can take the exams in the comfort of home, while administrators have peace of mind knowing that the academic integrity of a traditional testing center is being upheld.
Serving as an extension of the institutions, ProctorU’s proctors use a three-step process to ensure an exam’s integrity. An authentication process ensures the test taker’s identity, while a proctor can watch the test taker via that person’s webcam, as well as employ screen-sharing technology to see what the test taker is doing during the exam. Proctors are trained to monitor for specific behavior, ensuring that a high level of integrity is maintained throughout.
After proctored exams are completed, the InstructedU exam-delivery platform provides individual and aggregated exam results that an organization’s test administrators can access at any time. Reports are available for detailed analysis.
“We are honored to partner with the RFID Professional Institute and support their mission by increasing access to their certification exam,” says Rich Wirth, InstructedU’s VP of information technology. “The Institute shares our commitment to delivering exams that ensure integrity in the most cost-effective and efficient way. Now, RFID professionals will have the option to take the exam online at their convenience or in a face-to-face, in-person testing environment.”
Online exams are available immediately by registering at rfid.instructedu.com. Face-to-face exams will be delivered at RFID Journal LIVE! 2016, being held on May 3-5, in Orlando, Fla., as well as at future industry events. More information is available at the RFID Professional Institute’s website, www.rfidpros.org.
Formerly called the RFID International Institute, the RFID Professional Institute was established in 2012 by 10 RFID industry members, including Mark Roberti, RFID Journal’s founder and editor, who currently serves as the organization’s vice-chairman. Last year, the Institute officially announced its name change in order to better reflect its long-term mission and scope.