For Students
Here's exactly what happens during your exam.
No surprises. No hidden monitoring. Just a clear explanation of Nigel's consent-based exam monitoring: what it does and does not do.
What happens, step by step.
You open your exam in your LMS (Canvas, Blackboard, Moodle, or D2L) and click to begin.
A small Chrome extension activates. It can see your webcam and, if your exam uses it, a 360-degree camera on your desk.
You take your exam in your normal browser. You can use all your tabs, bookmarks, and tools. Nothing is locked down.
AI watches the room for things like unauthorized phones, extra people, or materials that aren't on your allowed list.
If something is flagged, a real person reviews it. No computer ever decides your grade.
When you finish, you submit normally. The exam is over.
What consent-based exam monitoring captures.
This is the full list. There is nothing else.
Video from your webcam (and 360 camera if used)
Which tab is active during the exam
Timestamps of any flagged moments
What we never capture or analyze.
Not because it's turned off. Because it was never built.
Your keystrokes or typing patterns
Your facial expressions or emotions
Your eye movements or gaze direction
Your browser history or other tabs' content
Any audio for behavioral analysis
Anything from your computer outside the exam
Your rights.
If something is flagged, you can see what was flagged and why.
You can contest any flag through an appeals process.
Your institution controls how long exam data is kept, not us.
You can ask your institution about their data retention policy at any time.
You always see a visible indicator while recording is active. Capture never runs outside your exam session.
Accommodations are arranged through your disability services office, and accommodated behavior is never treated as suspicious.
Questions students actually ask.
Do I need to install anything?
A lightweight Chrome extension that captures and relays your exam session. It does not control your computer, and no lockdown software is ever installed.
How do I know when recording is on?
A visible recording indicator is shown the entire time capture is active. Recording starts when you begin the exam, stops when you submit, and never runs outside the exam session.
Can it see my other tabs?
It knows which tab is active, but it cannot read the content of other tabs.
Does it record or analyze audio?
No. The capture list is webcam video, the 360 room view if your exam uses one, active-tab status, and timestamps. Audio is not captured, and nothing Nigel captures is ever analyzed for stress, tone, or behavior.
Why does it require Chrome?
Nigel runs as a Chrome extension because Chrome runs on nearly every laptop and Chromebook students already own, and its extension platform gives Nigel a strict, auditable permission model: the extension can only see what you have explicitly granted. If you cannot use Chrome, ask your instructor; your institution can arrange an alternative assessment format.
What if I have a disability accommodation?
Request accommodations through your institution's disability services office, the same way you would for an in-person exam. Your instructor then configures them per exam: extended time, breaks, allowed items, camera alternatives, and assistive technology all work because nothing is locked down. You never have to disclose a disability to Nigel.
What if I'm flagged for something I didn't do?
Every flag goes to a human reviewer, and you can appeal any decision.
Who sees my exam recording?
Only authorized reviewers at your institution.
System requirements.
Google Chrome (latest version)
Webcam
Stable internet connection
Optional: 360-degree camera (provided by your institution if required)
Still have questions? Ask your instructor, or read how we handle security and privacy on our trust page.