‘Out of line’ protocol forcing Laurier math students to buy webcams
Posted May 11, 2020 11:00:00 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Student expenses are going up for some math students at Wilfrid Laurier University.
Those students are being told to purchase an expensive webcam for their summer exams, which will run each student between $100 to almost $500.
Students are getting worried too, as they also have to buy a tripod and mount, which could cost up to another $100.
According to the Toronto Star, the reasoning is so that instructors can essentially look over a student's shoulder remotely during exam time, to ensure they don't cheat.
The department chair says built-in cameras on laptops are not accepted, and there are no alternatives to this action.
Finding webcams these days can be a bit of a challenge, considering most people are working and learning from home, and the majority of these cameras are sold out already.
Students are calling this protocol “out of line.”
A representative from Laurier says they will find alternatives for those students having trouble getting access to a webcam.
