{"id":42884,"date":"2020-04-17T08:38:14","date_gmt":"2020-04-17T12:38:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=42884"},"modified":"2020-04-17T08:38:14","modified_gmt":"2020-04-17T12:38:14","slug":"arrl-remotely-administered-amateur-exam-systems-showing-promise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/04\/arrl-remotely-administered-amateur-exam-systems-showing-promise\/","title":{"rendered":"ARRL: “Remotely Administered Amateur Exam Systems Showing Promise”"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

(Source: ARRL News<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Facing a growing demand for amateur radio exam sessions in a time of social distancing and stay-at-home orders, sponsors of some Volunteer Examiner (VE) teams have risen to the challenge and are developing systems to remotely proctor test sessions.<\/p>\n

\u201cMany of our VEs and VE Teams have been working on remotely proctored exam session ideas, employing both video and in-person components \u2014 following social distancing protocols,\u201d ARRL Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (VEC) Manager Maria Somma, AB1FM, said. \u201cWe have been receiving interesting and innovative suggestions, and we appreciate the dedication and ingenuity our examiners have shown.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Spalding County Amateur Radio Club in Georgia is among those that have come up with plans to remotely administer amateur exams while complying with ARRL VEC testing standards during COVID-19 stay-home mandates and social distancing guidelines. Current systems leverage Zoom video-teleconferencing technology, the \u201cFill & Sign\u201d feature of Adobe PDFs, reliable email, appropriate computer equipment and internet connection, and no volunteer examiners (VEs) present at individual remote test sites. The Georgia club collaborated and shared ideas with the Emergency Amateur Radio Club (EARC) in Hawaii, which has successfully conducted sessions since 2011 with its own remote testing system, initially with paper exams with a proctor on site and now with fillable PDFs, with no on-site proctor.<\/p>\n

The Georgia club obtained ARRL VEC approval to administer video-supervised exams. The club\u2019s David Robinson, K4WVZ, said the first exam session took place this week, with another set for next week, and \u201cmany more in the pipeline\u201d going forward.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have started with testing just one candidate at a time but are planning to ramp up to multiple candidates \u2014 probably two or three \u2014 simultaneously,\u201d Robinson told ARRL. \u201cBefore we do that, we want a few more single sessions under our belt and a few more Video VEs trained. It also gives us an opportunity to garner lessons learned from each test session and upgrade our procedures accordingly.\u201d Robinson said this week\u2019s session went \u201cexceedingly well,\u201d and the candidate passed the test.<\/p>\n

The club\u2019s procedures entail a pre-exam video interview with candidates to ensure they understand all the requirements and procedures. \u201cThis also allows us to test the candidate\u2019s ability to work with the video and computer technology before the actual exam,\u201d Robinson explained. \u201cTraining sessions were conducted for VEs to make sure they understood their role and how to use the technology.\u201d<\/p>\n

Following the exam, the VEs score the test and sign off on the paperwork, with the VE Team Leader submitting the application online and by mail, per ARRL VEC instructions. Application and successful exam are first accepted and then submitted to the FCC for processing.<\/p>\n

New England Amateur Radio Inc (NE1AR), an affiliate of New England Sci-Tech, (NESciTech), has taken it one step further, Somma said. It got the approval of ARRL VEC to begin trials of what it describes as \u201ccompletely online testing with strict rules and protocols for maintaining the integrity of the testing environment.\u201d NE1AR is limiting candidates to one exam per candidate, due to the current candidate backlog and the \u201cdifficulty of administering exams online.\u201d Candidates must agree to a list of protocols, which include no visitors (or pets) in the exam room and a cell-phone camera scan of the entire room and exam area \u201cto show that there are no materials or people [in the room] that could aid in taking the exam.\u201d If the VE team suspects the possibility of cheating, the exam may be terminated and the candidate barred from future online exam sessions.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe began a series of trials on April 1 under ARRL VEC review and have now been asked to help train more VE Teams on the process,\u201d NE1AR President Bob Phinney, K5TEC, told ARRL. \u201cWe have now tested 12 applicants and are still working on streamlining the process. We are working with the software developer of the exam delivery system to help them adapt the system for video-supervised testing.\u201d At present, Phinney said, only one person at a time can be tested. Another time-related issue is how long it takes a candidate to go through the NE1AR security protocol. \u201cSometimes, the setup and follow-up for an exam take far longer than the exam itself, in order that we provide complete integrity of the exam session,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

With pressure continuing to build to provide testing compatible with COVID-19 guidelines and stay-home orders, ARRL VEC Manager Maria Somma, AB1FM, has asked the amateur radio community to be patient. \u201cPlease remember that with the introduction of significant new processes such as these, that there should be proof of concept, establishment of protocols and procedures, and beta testing, before expanding to a larger audience,\u201d she said this week. Somma said video-supervised exam sessions require a different skillset than in-person exam administration, and not all teams will be equipped to deliver video exams right away.<\/p>\n

\u201cARRL is pleased to be one of the leaders in providing an opportunity, although limited initially, for video-supervised exams in this time of social distancing and isolation required by the current health situation,\u201d Somma said.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Click here to read the full article at the ARRL News.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

(Source: ARRL News) Facing a growing demand for amateur radio exam sessions in a time of social distancing and stay-at-home orders, sponsors of some Volunteer Examiner (VE) teams have risen to the challenge and are developing systems to remotely proctor test sessions. \u201cMany of our VEs and VE Teams have been working on remotely proctored […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[545,3],"tags":[2011,8446],"class_list":["post-42884","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ham-radio","category-news","tag-arrl","tag-ham-radio-exams"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-b9G","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":43084,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/04\/fcc-is-crystal-clear-remote-ham-radio-licensing-exams-are-absolutely-permitted\/","url_meta":{"origin":42884,"position":0},"title":"FCC is crystal clear: Remote ham radio licensing exams are absolutely permitted","author":"Thomas","date":"April 30, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"In the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic, amateur radio VECs in the US have been experimenting with remote testing sessions--meaning, administering ham radio license exams via real-time teleconference apps like Skype, Zoom, and Google Meet. Amateur radio operators in support of remote testing have been contacting the FCC asking for\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ham Radio"","block_context":{"text":"Ham Radio","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/ham-radio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/FCC-Notice.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/FCC-Notice.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/FCC-Notice.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":42886,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/04\/radio-waves-libre-space-foundation-reviews-sdrs-arrl-vec-statement-pandemic-pastime-and-former-ceo-of-radioshack-now-c-19-er-doctor\/","url_meta":{"origin":42884,"position":1},"title":"Radio Waves: Libre Space Foundation Reviews SDRs, ARRL VEC Statement, Pandemic Pastime, and Former CEO of RadioShack Now C-19 ER doctor","author":"Thomas","date":"April 17, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Radio Waves:\u00a0 Stories Making Waves in the World of Radio Because I keep my ear to the waves, as well as receive many tips from others who do the same, I find myself privy to radio-related stories that might interest\u00a0SWLing Post\u00a0readers.\u00a0 To that end:\u00a0Welcome to the\u00a0SWLing Post\u2019s Radio Waves, a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "AM"","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Zenith-Transoceanic-R-7000-2-angle-dial-1024x768.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Zenith-Transoceanic-R-7000-2-angle-dial-1024x768.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Zenith-Transoceanic-R-7000-2-angle-dial-1024x768.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":50137,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2021\/09\/radio-waves-shady-5g-chip-shortage-affects-radio-tech-cw-contestings-secret-storm-arrl-to-cover-youth-fcc-app-fees-and-arrl-response-to-insulin-pump-story\/","url_meta":{"origin":42884,"position":2},"title":"Radio Waves: “Shady” 5G, Chip Shortage Affects Radio Tech, CW Contesting’s “Secret Storm,” ARRL to Cover Youth FCC App Fees, and ARRL Response to Insulin Pump Story","author":"Thomas","date":"September 4, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Radio Waves:\u00a0 Stories Making Waves in the World of Radio Because I keep my ear to the waves, as well as receive many tips from others who do the same, I find myself privy to radio-related stories that might interest\u00a0SWLing Post\u00a0readers.\u00a0 To that end:\u00a0Welcome to the\u00a0SWLing Post\u2019s Radio Waves, a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "AM"","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/VOA-Site-B-50-of-170.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/VOA-Site-B-50-of-170.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/VOA-Site-B-50-of-170.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/VOA-Site-B-50-of-170.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":39510,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/09\/fcc-recommendation-to-make-all-uls-filings-electronic\/","url_meta":{"origin":42884,"position":3},"title":"FCC recommendation to make all ULS filings electronic","author":"Thomas","date":"September 10, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: ARRL) The FCC is seeking comment on a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that is part of an overall plan to complete its transition to electronic filing, licenses, authorizations, and correspondence. 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