Product Updates

We have successfully pushed a hotfix to all instances residing in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the European Union. This hotfix allows administrators to establish default institution-wide profiles, the option for assessment administrators to organize profiles, and more frequent AI monitoring for suspicious objects.

1. Establish a Default Institution-Wide Proctoring Profile
   Institution administrators can set a default proctoring profile, which is automatically applied to all proctored assessments. This guarantees that, in accordance with the institution’s policy, the necessary proctoring tools will be preselected for every proctored assessment.
   
2. Create and Organize Profiles for Institutional, Course, and Personal Use
   Proctoring profiles can now be created and organized into one of several categories:
   • Institution Profiles: Profiles available for all assessment administrators in the institution.
   • Course Profiles: Profiles accessible only within the course in which they were created.
   • For Myself: Personal profiles you have created for yourself.

   

3. More Frequent AI Monitoring for Suspicious Objects
   In our previous update, we introduced an AI analysis tool designed to detect suspicious objects like phones, books, and monitors within the student’s environment at the start of an assessment. We have now enhanced this feature to monitor objects more frequently through the student’s assessment.
    

We have successfully pushed an update to all instances residing in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the European Union. This update includes AI Video Analysis and Room Scan proctor settings, a redesign for the student proctoring report, new whiteboard and scientific calculator tools for the Recording Panel, a visual list of applications for the Block Applications feature, and a new privacy policy check for students.

1. New Proctor Setting: AI Video Analysis for Both Browser Extension and Lockdown App Proctoring
   Utilizing the student’s webcam, the AI Video Analysis module will monitor the testing environment to flag suspicious activities and detect faces.
   • Exactly One Person: The student’s webcam will monitor whether there is one person in view at all times.
     
   • Suspicious Objects: The student’s webcam will monitor if suspicious objects, such as phones, are within their testing environment.
     

   
   

2. New Proctor Setting: Enhanced Room Scan for Both Browser Extension and Lockdown App Proctoring
   To ensure testing environments are free of any prohibited material, assessment administrators can now require students to provide an enhanced 360-degree view of their surroundings by scanning their rooms using their laptops or webcams.
   
3. New User Experience for Student Proctoring Report
   We’ve modernized Verity’s proctoring report with improved summary analytics and flag-level insights, as well as introduced a new color palette and refined button designs in alignment with our branding goals. Those reviewing the assessments will gain access to comprehensive analytics, presenting insights into student attempts and the total number of students with severe, major, and minor flag levels.
   
4. Enhanced Media Player for Reviewing Proctored Assessments
   Verity’s Media Player has been updated to provide redesigned icons and now offers integrated multi-stream recordings, combining webcam and screen captures into one recording. Those reviewing the assessment can then filter flagged events within a dedicated tab to quickly navigate to the most concerning issues within the recording.
   
5. New Whiteboard and Scientific Calculator Tools for the Recording Panel for Both Browser Extension and Lockdown App Proctoring
   The Verity Recording Panel now offers more tools to help students during their assessments.
   • Whiteboard: Students can use the whiteboard to take notes during their assessment by drawing, typing, and creating images with various shapes.
     
   • Scientific Calculator: Students can use the Verity built-in scientific calculator to ensure they do not need extra material on their desks or additional programs on their computers.
     
6. Improved Block Applications with a Visual Selection List of Common Applications
   We have enhanced Verity’s Block Applications feature, now offering assessment administrators a pre-populated selection of applications, allowing them to easily choose which programs to block on a student’s device.
   
7. Privacy and Academic Integrity Agreement Check
   With the advancement in our remote monitoring capabilities, YuJa Verity is committed to being transparent with how data is collected and stored. That is why we have added a privacy and academic agreement check at the beginning of every assessment to ensure students are informed about who has access to their data.
   

We have successfully pushed an update to all instances residing in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the European Union. This update includes text and audio chat for the Live Proctoring, a new accessible design for Verity’s proctor settings, new restrictions to disable right-clicking and printing, the option to enforce screen recording, view website links visited by students, a redesign of the Verity Browser Extension, updated list view of Profiles, and overall usability enhancements.

1. Verity Live: Integrated Text Chat for Automated Browser Extension and Lockdown App Proctoring
   For live proctoring sessions, proctors and students can communicate with each other through our built-in chat feature.
   
2. Verity Live: Audio Chat for Automated and Lockdown App Proctoring
   Proctors and students can communicate with each other during a live assessment by establishing a two-way audio connection.
   
3. New Accessible Design for Verity’s Proctor Settings
   We have redesigned the Verity proctor settings to better suit smaller screens. By designing smaller UI elements and reorganizing each proctor setting, instructors can easily view and navigate to their desired settings on any screen size.
   
4. Screen Recording Is Now an Optional Proctor Setting
   Instructors can enable our screen recording feature on a per-assessment basis to provide proctoring features that are only necessary for paper-based assessments within a remote environment.
   
5. Enhanced System Check to Enforce Screen Recording
   To increase security measures, the Verity System Check will now require students to share their entire screen instead of having the option to share a tab or window for recording.
   
6. Review a List of Websites Visited by Students
   Instructors can enable Record Web Traffic to track and review specific websites visited by each student during an assessment.
   
7. Flagged Event for Server Disconnections
   In cases where a student’s device may become disconnected from Verity’s servers, such as losing internet connection, Verity will flag the issue for instructors to review.
   
8. Automated Proctoring: Flagged Event for When Webcam Feed Goes Dark
   If Verity cannot detect a student’s environment for reasons such as a covered webcam, the event will be flagged for instructors to review.
   
9. New Automated Proctor Setting: Disable Right-Click
   Similar to our built-in feature to disable right-click in the Lockdown App, instructors can now prevent students from using the right-click function during their Automated assessments.
   
10. New Automated Proctor Setting: Disable Printing
    Instructors can now prevent students from using the print function during their Automated assessments.
    
11. Choose to Enable Manual ID Verification
    Instructors can select manual ID verification in favor of AI-enhanced verification when reviewing student IDs.
    
12. Launch the Verity Portal from the Redesigned Browser Extension
    We have provided a more modern look to the Verity Browser Extension and have included direct access to the Verity Portal through the new Launch Portal button.
    
13. Search for Profiles Within the New List View
    Instructors can access a dedicated window to view and select profiles, which includes a searchable list to quickly find their desired profile.
    
14. Overall Usability Enhancements
    Verity is committed to providing the best experience for instructors and students, which is why we’ve been hard at work providing some usability enhancements, such as:
    • The new Exemptions UI provides an at-a-glance view of the number of students who have been exempted from Verity.
    • The System Check will automatically skip steps that are not required.

We have successfully pushed an update to all instances residing in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the European Union. This update includes a new redesign for the Live Proctoring Dashboard, the option to assign custom flag levels for events, ability to take private proctoring notes within the Proctoring Video Player when reviewing results, new proctor settings – such as Audio Detection, Block Virtual Machines, and Block Applications – ability to create institution-wide Proctoring Global Profiles, a pre-assessment compatibility check, and a new UI redesign for blocking embedded content.

1. Verity Live: New Dashboard for Live Proctoring
   Verity Live, a module within the YuJa Verity Test Proctoring Platform, has undergone a significant update to its dashboard, with an emphasis on adding new capabilities and user experience improvements. These changes provide a more intuitive and seamless navigation experience for proctors. Now, proctors can effortlessly explore various views, including:
   • Gallery: Conveniently view multiple live cameras within an improved dashboard panel
   • Screen View: Single-click to flip to view all proctored student’s screens
     
   • Student-Specific View: Select and focus on a single student’s view with a specialized full-screen view.
     

   
   
   

2. Verity Live: Student-Specific View
   Expanding upon our Student-Specific View, this feature will allow proctors to direct their attention to a specific student during an assessment by simply selecting a student and accessing a full-screen view of the live recording to oversee a detailed perspective of the student’s testing environment.
   
3. Assign Custom Flag Levels for Events
   Instructors have the flexibility to tailor event flagging to meet their standards by assigning custom flag levels—Minor, Major, or Severe—for events recorded during proctored sessions. Additionally, instructors can choose to have certain events ignored by Verity by simply choosing not to flag an event.
   
4. Proctoring Video Player Notetaking When Reviewing Sessions
   Complementing Verity’s automated event tracking and logging, when reviewing proctored assessments, instructors can now take notes directly within the Proctoring Video Player to manually keep track of important details in recorded sessions.
   
5. New Event to Flag Audio Detection
   To ensure the integrity of a student’s testing environment, any loud audio occurrences during the assessment are automatically flagged if the Record Audio setting is enabled. This will allow assessment reviewers to focus on areas of concern, aiding in the detection of potential unauthorized assistance.
   
6. New Lockdown App Setting: Block Virtual Machines
   Virtual machines provide students access to multiple operating systems on a single device, which can be used to bypass proctor settings. The Lockdown App will allow instructors to enable virtual machine detection to provide online integrity during proctored assessments. If a virtual machine is detected, this will prevent students from starting or continuing their assessment.
   
7. New Lockdown App Setting: Block Applications from Running
   Instructors now have more control during online proctored assessments with the new Block Application feature for the Lockdown App. By listing as many applications as desired, instructors can prevent students from using tools, such as social media and Microsoft apps, to provide distraction-free assessment.
   
8. Create Global Profiles for Institution-Wide Proctor Settings
   To streamline access to proctor settings on a per-assessment basis that consistently meets requirements for a standardized online environment, administrators can now establish Global Profiles for their institution. Instructors will then have access to select these profiles to apply the required proctor settings to their assessments.
   
9. Lockdown App: Pre-Assessment Compatibility Check
   Students requiring the use of the Lockdown App for their assessments will now have the opportunity to conduct a comprehensive pre-assessment compatibility check. This will provide students with information regarding the upcoming proctored assessment, including details on monitored actions, assessment restrictions, and verification of external devices, such as audio and video. This proactive step ensures students are well-prepared and their devices meet all necessary requirements before starting the assessment.
   
10. Refreshed UI to Block Embedded Content
    Assessment administrators can allow students to access specific web pages during their assessment; however, some pages may incorporate embedded content from external sources. To provide students with a clear indication that they do not have access to this content, we’ve provided a refreshed UI that will only block the embedded areas, ensuring the rest of the web page is visible.
    

We have successfully pushed an update to all instances residing in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the European Union. This update includes the option to enable the Lockdown App for Canvas New Quizzes, improved processing times for recordings, the option to adjust email settings at the institution level, and enhanced design and text elements across the platform. 

1. Improved Design for the Verity Recording Panel
   
   The Verity Recording Panel now provides a new look and feel that seamlessly aligns with our brand development goals. Our intuitively refined design enhances the user experience, particularly when utilizing the Zoom feature.
   
2. Lockdown App now Supports Canvas New Quizzes
   Instructors who prefer to use “New Quizzes” in Canvas can now utilize the Lockdown App and its available settings to create the most reliable proctoring environment for online assessments.
   
3. Improved Processing Time for Recorded Assessments
   We’ve enhanced our processing efficiency to ensure that recorded assessments are available within the Results table in as little as a few minutes, whereas previously, instructors could have to wait up to three hours.
   
4. Adjust Email Settings at the Institution Level
   Verity provides daily emails detailing a summary of all proctored sessions submitted. This setting can now be disabled on an institutional level and available on a per-course basis.
   
5. Delete Assessments from the Assessment Tab
   The Verity Portal offers a dedicated tab on the Automated Proctoring, Lockdown App, and Live Proctoring pages, presenting a convenient list of assessments. Instructors can access this Assessment tab for each proctoring tool, allowing them to delete assessments without the need to locate them within the LMS.
   
6. Enhanced Design Elements and Text Across the Lockdown App
   
   To enhance the user experience, we have taken a step toward updating areas of improvement for the Lockdown App through incremental design elements and text adjustments. The refreshed UI and text have been curated to guide students through the essential proctor checks, ensuring a seamless transition into their assessments.
7. Visual Refresh for the Verity Portal
   We have provided a new look and feel to the Verity Portal, providing a structured approach to the various Proctored Tools accessible from the left-side navigation menu. Instructors and students will be able to select their preferred tool, view setup steps, and have access to view and edit associated assessments.
   
8. Streamlined User-Friendly Updates
   As we continue to expand upon Verity, we’ve taken a close look at providing minor updates to existing features to help elevate the experience for instructors, proctors, and students. Below are some of these enhancements.
   • Microphone and Camera permissions will automatically be enabled on the Chrome browser.
   • When students register for a time slot, if only one option is available, it will be automatically selected.
   • Proctors will receive a notification if students leave a live proctoring session. 

We have successfully pushed a hotfix to all instances residing in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the European Union. This hotfix includes refined workflows for Canvas New Quizzes, students attempting to take a proctored assessment, ID Verification, and several optimization and bug fixes.

1. Refined Verity Workflow for Canvas New Quizzes
   Previously, instructors were required to create a Canvas New Quiz before enabling Verity. We have refined this process to allow instructors to enable Verity as they are creating their quizzes.
   
2. Updates to the Student Workflow Interface for the Browser Extension and Lockdown App
   Text and icons are thoughtfully centered, providing a more intuitive and visually pleasing process as students prepare to access their assessments.
   
3. Refined Workflow for ID Verification
   In addition to our AI-enhanced ID verification, we offer students the convenience of capturing photos of their ID and face for manual verification by their proctors.
   
4. Improved Facial Analysis Recognition Under Low-Light conditions
   We’ve improved our AI-enhanced ID verification to deliver faster and more dependable student identification, even in low-light conditions.
   
5. Optimization and Bug Fixes
   We have optimized the performance of YuJa Verity and made several bug fixes to improve the user experience. Highlighting some of these optimizations and fixes are:
   
   • Resolved issues related to color adjustment and user-friendly messages.
   • Enhanced the precision of Course and Institution reports.
   • Flagged events will accurately appear on recordings.

We have successfully pushed an update to all instances residing in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the European Union. This update includes assessment support for the standalone proctoring for students not enrolled in the LMS, AI-enhanced ID verification support for the browser extension, improved third-party integration with Pearson, live monitoring of student devices during proctored tests, and a new UI to enhance the student workflow.

1. Support for Proctoring Tests for Students Who Are Not Enrolled in the LMS
   In certain instances, institutions may require proctored assessments for individuals not enrolled in the institution’s LMS (example: an entrance examination or placement test to the institution). For these cases, instructors now have the option to create standalone proctored assessments that can be sent via email. These assessments are secured with a personalized password and require users to utilize the Lockdown App or Verity Browser Extension to create a secure testing environment. To learn more, please visit our guide on How to Create a Standalone Proctoring Session.
   
2. Verity Browser Extension Now Supports AI-Enhanced ID Verification
   Our optional AI-enhanced facial recognition used for ID Verification is now available for the Verity Browser Extension. This integration allows instructors to seamlessly incorporate authentication capabilities into any proctored assessment with Verity, ensuring a secure match between the test taker and their uploaded ID. Keep in mind that the use of AI-enhanced ID verification is an optional workflow.
   
3. Improved Third-Party Assessment Integration with Pearson
   Verity has expanded its integration with Pearson Assessments with an even tighter and more streamlined third-party assessment integration. Unlike standalone third-party assessments, the improved Pearson integration streamlines the initiation process for students taking a third-party assessment in the Lockdown App.
   
   
4. Auto-Detection for Disconnected or Additional Devices Added
   During an assessment, Verity will monitor all external devices to ensure proctoring restrictions are adhered to. Should devices be added or removed during the assessment, Verity will pause the session and prompt the student to follow essential steps to continue with their assessment.
   
5. Revised Student Workflow for Taking Proctored Assessments
   To enhance the student workflow for taking proctored assessments through the browser extension, we’ve introduced a more intuitive UI that leads students through each step of the process. By guiding students through verifying proctoring restrictions, setting up their recording devices, and using AI-enhanced ID verification, Verity is committed to ensuring a seamless process for students accessing their proctored assessments. In upcoming releases, we will also implement this UI for the Lockdown App.
   

We have successfully pushed a minor update to all instances residing in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the European Union. This update focuses on enhancing the user experience for the Verity Lockdown App and includes a modal to launch the app from any LMS, a new welcome page, and a comprehensive system check to ensure all requirements are met.

1. Launch Lockdown App Assessments Directly from the LMS
   In response to providing students with seamless access to the Lockdown App, we have implemented an automatic launch feature. Now, when students click to begin their assessments within their Learning Management System, the Lockdown App will launch, if installed, granting them access to their assessments.
   
2. First-Time Steps to Access Lockdown App Assessments
   For students attempting to access a Lockdown assessment for the first time, we have introduced a new, user-friendly two-step process. This process ensures quick access to the app by guiding them through a seamless download and launch experience that will give them direct access to their assessment.
3. New Welcome Page for the Lockdown App
   In the event that the Lockdown App is unable to launch an active assessment, we have implemented helpful instructions in our new welcome page directing students to navigate to their Learning Management System and launch the assessment.
   
4. Detect System Requirements for the Lockdown App
   In certain situations, the Lockdown App might encounter permissions that need attention before launching an assessment. To address this, we have introduced a comprehensive system check that can be accessed when the Lockdown app is launched. This check will inform students of any unresolved issues that need to be addressed, ensuring that all necessary permissions are met before the assessment can begin.
   

We have successfully pushed an update to all instances residing in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the European Union. This update includes third-party assessment support for the Lockdown App and Live Proctoring, AI-enhanced ID verification for the Lockdown App, a new Assessment tab for the LTI app, presets settings for Automated Proctoring and the Lockdown App, and new analytics for Institution and Course Reports.

1. Monitor Third-Party Assessments Integrated With Either Verity Lockdown App or Live Proctoring
   Building on our support for third-party assessments through the Verity Browser Extension, we now provide the monitoring of assessments through the Verity Lockdown App and Live Proctoring. The Lockdown App offers robust measures to enforce strict assessment protocols, including:
   
   • Access to only the Lockdown App during assessments.
   • Recording of user inputs, such as keystrokes and clipboard activity.
   • Disabling file downloads.

   In addition, Live Proctoring provides live video recordings of students as they complete their assessments. By choosing either one or both, users can create the most secure environment for their third-party assessments.

   

2. Optional AI-Enhanced ID Verification
   The Verity Lockdown App provides ID verification through AI-enhanced facial recognition software. Users can seamlessly capture and upload an image of their ID and face, allowing Verity Lockdown to perform advanced analysis to determine the authenticity of the match. We expect to release a similar capability to the Verity Browser Extension in a near-term release.
   
   
3. Access All Proctored Assessments Directly from the LMS-Integrated Verity App
   To optimize the student experience, we have established a centralized location that contains all proctored assessments. From the new Assessment tab, students can select their desired quiz or third-party assessment and access it through their browser or the Verity Lockdown App.
   
   
4. Proctor Setting Presets for the Browser Extension and Lockdown App
   To conveniently access the preferred proctoring mode for assessments, we have added presets to select either Automated Proctoring or Lockdown App settings.
   
5. New Live Proctoring Analytics for Institution and Course Reports
   To provide a greater depth of analysis for our reports, institution reports will now feature a monthly count of quizzes taken and live sessions created. Administrators can review these analytics to determine the needs of their institution for various proctoring modes.
   
   The Course Report offers a comprehensive table showcasing Students’ Live Experience, which includes a detailed list of registered sessions for each student and their corresponding attendance record.
   
   

We have successfully pushed an update to all instances residing in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the European Union. This update includes custom video tutorials for first-time users of Verity, the ability to monitor third-party assessments, Verity Live proctoring support, an integrated updated checker for the Verity Lockdown App, and a countdown timer for live assessment in the Verity Lockdown App.  

1. Improved Proctoring Workflow of Third-Party Tools Across all LMSs 
   Previously, we presented Canvas users with the option to monitor third-party assessments using Verity. To improve the process, we now offer an integrated system within the Verity LTI app, which allows users to seamlessly add assessments and apply proctor settings to ensure a secure environment. This approach enables all Learning Management Systems supported by Verity to benefit from its comprehensive monitoring capabilities during students’ assessments for virtually any third-party tool. To learn how to use this feature, please visit our guide on Creating a Proctored Third-Party Assessment with YuJa Verity.
   
   
   
2. New LMS-Specific “First Time User” Video Tutorials for Students
   Starting a Verity proctored assessment is easier than ever with our new LMS-specific video tutorials integrated right into the LMS. These videos have been specifically designed to assist first-time students in effortlessly navigating the Verity authentication process. With our user-friendly interface and step-by-step guidance, students can now start their assessments with ease. With these steps in place, we’re committed to guiding students through their proctored experience, ensuring assessments are started in a timely manner.
   
   
   
3. Enable the Verity Lockdown App for Live Proctoring Sessions
   In continuing to provide the most secure environment for proctors and students, our new Verity Lockdown App works seamlessly with Verity Live proctoring. By offering strict video-recording measures through the Verity Lockdown App, proctors can be assured students are unable to end their recordings during their assessment.
   
4. Integrated Update Checker for the Verity Lockdown App
   To provide the most up-to-date version of the Verity Lockdown App, we now automatically check to ensure that the latest release is installed. If the application is outdated, an automated message will present users with the option to update the Verity Lockdown App.
   
5. New Countdown Timer for Live Assessments in the Verity Lockdown App
   To enhance the live assessment experience in the Verity Lockdown App, students will be presented with a countdown timer when entering their assessments early. This feature ensures that students have clear and accurate information about the exact start time of their assessments.