Maintaining a secure computing device in a test taking environment

Abstract

The presently disclosed invention provides for the security of a computing device in the context of a test taking environment. By securing a computing device, an individual (or group of individuals) may more effectively proctor a large examination without worrying about a test taker illicitly accessing information on their computer or via a remote source of data. Securing a computing device includes locking out or preventing access to any application not deemed necessary or appropriate by the test administrator.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for securing a computing device during a testing event, the method comprising:
 modifying a registry of the computing device thereby limiting functionality of the computing device during the testing event and in accordance with a testing protocol;   executing a testing routine corresponding to the testing event at the computing device; and   providing for display, data visualizing activity not in accordance with the testing protocol when the computing device detects the activity occurring at the computing device during the testing routine.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the activity occurring at the computing device includes an attempt to make a change to the registry that is not in accordance with the testing protocol and the data visualizing the activity includes a real-time display of the changes to the registry occurring at the computing device. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the activity occurring at the computing device includes on-screen activity and the method further comprises:
 providing the data in real-time to a proctoring center computing device; and   receiving an indication, from the proctoring center computing device, identifying whether the on-screen activity constitutes activity that is not in accordance with the testing protocol.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising storing the indication in a database when it is determined the activity is not in accordance with the testing protocol. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein modifying the registry includes allowing for an allocation of address space and loading into a memory of the computing device only those applications required for testing during the testing event. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein modifying the registry includes deactivating network connectivity of a network card until the testing event is complete. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising monitoring a user of the computing device, in real-time, during the testing event. 
     
     
         8 . A system for securing a computing device during a testing event comprising:
 a computing device to:
 modify a registry of the computing device thereby limiting functionality of the computing device during the testing event and in accordance with a testing protocol; 
 execute a testing routine corresponding to the testing event at the computing device; and 
 provide for display a data visualizing the activity not in accordance with the testing protocol when the computing device detects the activity occurring at the computing device during the testing routine. 
   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the activity occurring at the computing device includes an attempt to make a change to the registry that is not in accordance with the testing protocol and wherein the data visualizing the activity includes real-time display of the changes to the registry occurring at the computing device. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the activity occurring at the computing device includes on-screen activity and the method further comprises:
 providing the data in real-time to a proctoring center computing device; and   receiving an indication, from the proctoring center computing device, identifying whether the on-screen activity constitutes activity that is not in accordance with the testing protocol.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising storing the indication in a database when it is determined the activity is not in accordance with the testing protocol. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein modifying the registry includes allowing for an allocation of address space and loading into a memory of the computing device only those applications required for testing during the testing event. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein modifying the registry includes deactivating network connectivity of a network card until the testing event is complete. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the computing device is further configured to monitor a user of the computing device, in real-time, during the testing event. 
     
     
         15 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having embodied thereon instructions executable by a processor to perform a method for securing a computing device during a testing event, the method comprising:
 modifying a registry of the computing device thereby limiting functionality of the computing device during the testing event and in accordance with a testing protocol;   executing a testing routine corresponding to the testing event at the computing device; and   providing for display a data visualizing activity not in accordance with the testing protocol when the computing device detects the activity occurring at the computing device during the testing routine.   
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the activity occurring at the computing device includes an attempt to make a change to the registry that is not in accordance with the testing protocol and wherein the data visualizing the activity includes real-time display of the changes to the registry occurring at the computing device. 
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the activity occurring at the computing device includes on-screen activity and the method further comprises:
 providing the data in real-time to a proctoring center computing device; and   receiving an indication, from the proctoring center computing device, identifying whether the on-screen activity constitutes activity that is not in accordance with the testing protocol.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 17 , further comprising storing the indication in a database when it is determined the activity is not in accordance with the testing protocol. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein modifying the registry includes allowing for an allocation of address space and loading into a memory of the computing device only those applications required for testing during the testing event. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein modifying the registry includes deactivating network connectivity of a network card until the testing event is complete. 
     
     
         21 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , further comprising monitoring a user of the computing device computing device during the testing event in real-time.