Proctoring Guide
Can Canvas detect ChatGPT?
Canvas itself records quiz activity inside Canvas, such as timing and navigation, and a lockdown browser restricts the tab. Neither sees an application running beside the browser or on a second device. Those boundaries matter when instructors decide what a quiz log can support and what still requires evidence and human review.
Timestamped observations support a fair review.
Your institution applies its own policy and considers context.
Evidence informs a decision. A person makes it.
What do Canvas quiz logs actually show?
Quiz logs help an instructor understand activity within the Canvas assessment. Timing and navigation can provide context about how a session progressed, but they do not establish what was happening in a separate application or on a phone. A log entry should be interpreted as an observation within that limited view.
An unusual sequence may be a reason to ask a question, not proof of AI use. A student's explanation, assessment design and permitted materials all matter. Integrity officers should avoid turning an ordinary navigation event or an unexplained pause into a conclusion the underlying record cannot support.
What does a lockdown browser add, and where does it stop?
A lockdown browser adds control of the exam browser environment. It can support the institution's rules for that tab and reduce opportunities within the browser. This is useful work, but it is different from observing a desktop assistant, an overlay designed to hide from capture or another device beside the laptop.
Ask the provider to explain current coverage and limitations for your deployment. Avoid treating a restricted tab as evidence that no outside assistance occurred. The fair conclusion is narrower: the browser controls applied to the session, while other parts of the assessment environment may require a different evidence source.
How do instructors notice AI use today?
Instructors may notice a mismatch between a student's demonstrated understanding and a submitted answer, or an assessment response that needs explanation. Those observations can inform a follow-up conversation or an oral check. They should not be treated as a reliable diagnosis of AI authorship or as a substitute for a documented process.
Course-specific reasoning, clear allowed-tool policies and consistent follow-up can make assessment results easier to interpret. Apply the same review standard across students, allow legitimate explanations and record why a concern was raised. An integrity review should be grounded in the assignment and evidence, not a student's writing style alone.
What does device-level proctoring add inside Canvas?
Device-level proctoring adds timestamped evidence about the exam session beyond the browser view. ScreenComply fits the Canvas quiz workflow and returns evidence for instructor review. The report identifies observations for a person to examine; it does not automatically change a grade, fail a student or decide academic misconduct.
Keep the existing quiz and agree how the integrity office will handle findings. A focused pilot can help faculty understand the report, the student setup and the notice provided before the exam. Review retention and accessibility alongside the Canvas integration so the evidence fits the institution's process rather than creating a parallel one.
What should instructors tell students?
Explain which tools are allowed, what proctoring is enabled and what is and is not collected. Students should receive that notice before the exam, with enough opportunity to raise an accessibility or setup question. Do not imply that Canvas itself can see every application or device simply because quiz logging is available.
Tell students who reviews a concern, how they can see relevant evidence and how long the institution keeps session data. Clear communication protects the review process as well as the student experience. If evidence is ambiguous, the instructor should follow the institution's established procedure instead of making a disciplinary decision from a log alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Canvas itself detect ChatGPT?
Canvas records activity within Canvas; that is not the same as observing an AI assistant outside it. A quiz log can provide context, but it does not establish whether a separate application or second device supplied an answer.
Does leaving a quiz page prove AI use?
No. Navigation can have legitimate explanations and should be reviewed in context. Instructors should ask what the log actually records and allow the student to explain an event before drawing an integrity conclusion.
Can a lockdown browser close every gap?
A lockdown browser controls the browser environment, not every possible source of assistance. Verify current capabilities with the vendor and consider whether additional review evidence is appropriate for the exam.
Can ScreenComply fit an existing Canvas quiz?
Yes. ScreenComply adds proctoring to the Canvas workflow and provides an evidence report for instructor review. Academic decisions and grades remain with the institution, not the integrity software.
Should students be told about proctoring?
Yes. Provide plain notice of the checks, collection boundaries and review process before the assessment. Include the accommodation route and retention policy so students understand how session evidence will be handled.
Evidence. Context. Human Review.
Bring your next exam to the conversation.
Review the assessment workflow, the evidence your team receives and the policy that guides a human decision.