Testing integrity remains a valid concern for distance learners.  With enrollments growing in distance learning programs across the country, ensuring honest and secure test taking is becoming a real challenge. 

Living in the technology age there is no short of new-fangled gadgets to prevent cheating.  Various kinds of "webcam" devices are now available on the market but some say that is too close to big brother himself invading a testing space.  They have also faced scrutiny about whether they really do prevent cheating.  An extra resource or cheat sheet could be placed in sight of the student and out of sight to the camera.  Some of the more advanced cams are costly to purchase and provide an additional financial burden on the student.

Other devices such as browser locks have also been used to entrust the student does not browse other sites for answers.  However, they too have weaknesses that haven't been fully explained. 

Thus, schools and organizations continue to discuss the challenges and solutions of testing integrity.  How do they assist their students in staying honest, while not invading their privacy?  How do they promote honest test-taking without assuming those who are online students will cheat?  Once upon a time, people depending on people to administer exams. 

SmarterProctors is bringing the human touch to testing integrity.  Even though a student is taking a course online doesn't mean they cannot travel to a local designation and have a test administered by a proctor.  This provides an inexpensive, secure, convenient option to the student and the school.  SmarterProctors is a database of individuals who want to proctor exams.  It is absolutely FREE to create a profile.  The profiles include basic information, location availability, and whether the testing site will include internet access, printing, etc.  Currently we are building the database and plan to open it up for students and schools to search from in the Fall.  To learn more go to www.SmarterProctors.com.

Testing Integrity - Valid Concern

Are you interested in making some additional income?  Are you a clergy member, teacher, librarian, notary public, or educator?  We are currently having a member drive to increase our database of proctors to administer high stakes exams.  SmarterProctors is a database of individuals who want to earn money proctoring exams for learners.  It is absolutely FREE to create a profile.  While currently in the early stages, SmarterProctors will soon be opened up for students and schools to search.  Don't delay, create a FREE profile today!

SmarterProctors' Drive Begins!

Thinking Smarter (formerly eToolsAlert) May 2010
Do you want to THINK SMARTER?  Do you want to work SMARTER, NOT HARDER?  Our new monthly newsletter is designed to help you make minutes count. It is our new commitment to you.  Organizing your data and giving it back to you in a format that empowers you to make an informed decision.  Let's start THINKING SMARTER together! Life Factors Section of SmarterMeasure Makes Its Debut! Life Factors is now available!  We are so excited to announce the launch of our new section of SmarterMeasure called Life Factors.  For the past eight years SmarterServices have been doing a good thing. Now we are preparing to do a great thing.  Our SmarterMeasure learning readiness assessment (formerly known as READI – Readiness for Education At a Distance Indicator) has been helping students understand things that internal to themselves that impact their ability to succeed in an eLearning environment.  Examples of these internal aspects include their learning styles, their individual attributes like motivation and willingness to ask for help, their technical competency, their typing ability and their reading ability.  Helping students understand more about these things  are internal to them has been a good thing.  But experienced educators know that many times students do not continue their education because of things that are external to them.  These external factors can be things in their life like having to work many hours at a job, health issues, financial issues, lack of support from family, etc.  With the addition of the new Life Factors section, SmarterMeasure will help students because they will receive a measure of the impact that these “life factors” may have on their educational plans.  To learn more about the new section, click here and view a message from the president, Dr. Mac Adkins. Our First Month as SmarterServices Since our recent name change, we have been overwhelmed at all of the positive growth our company has experienced!  We are excited about the changes and appreciate your patience as we continue to communicate with clients about what’s happening.  Thank you for your continued support.  We’d also like to welcome our new clients, St. Louis CC, Northwest Arkansas CC, North Central Michigan College, Broward College, Argosy University, Cincinnati Technical and CC, Roxbury CC, Yorktown University, Central New Mexico CC, Virginia College,  South Arkansas CC, University of Nebraska at Kearney eCampus, and Anoka-Ramsey CC.  SmarterSurveys in Full Swing! Are you currently evaluating your end of course evaluation system?  Would you like to replace pencil and paper?  Are you interested in saving time with valuable reports in clicks? Would you like to increase participation in your end of course evaluations?  SmarterSurveys offers flexible, dependable, affordable automated surveys.  With a survey builder, data upload wizard, and email integration, SmarterSurveys will save you time and money!  Call or email today and ask about our Fall 2010 discount!	Become our fan on Facebook If you want to get updates on all the exciting things that are happening at SmarterServices, click here to become our fan! Do you Tweet? If you want to learn about what's going on with SmarterServices first, follow us on Twitter. SmarterMeasure Training Series Do you need some training on the administrative features of SmarterMeasure?  We provide bi-monthly 30 minute - FREE training sessions to all current clients.  To view a calendar of opportunities and register, click here.
This email was sent to $contact_email1 by news@SmarterServices.com. You can unsubscribe your address by visiting http://smarterservices.com/optout.cfm?e=$contact_email1  SmarterServices | 696 N. Silver Hills Dr, Suite 110, Prattville, AL 36066

Thinking Smarter

Happy SmarterServices day!  We are pleased to officially announce our company's new name.  eLearningToolBox will now do business as SmarterServices.  In addition to our new company name, we have renamed our products as indicated below.

New Name                       Formerly known as
SmarterMeasure (.com)      READI.info – Readiness for Education At a Distance Indicator
SmarterSurveys (.com)        PostCourse.com
SmarterFaculty (.com)        FacultyFinder.com
SmarterProctors (.com)      TestProctors.com (in Beta form)
SmarterRetention (.com)    RetentionRadar.com (in development stages)

For more information check out Smarter in 2010.  If you have any questions or if your school or business needs a new W9, please contact us at namechange@SmarterServices.com.

SmarterServices at Your Service!