SMOWL

SMOWL is an online exam proctoring tool made by Smowltech, a company the site describes as European and GDPR compliant. The About section says "Smowltech was created in 2012 to improve the quality of online evaluations, thanks to our SMOWL proctoring solution, which generates evidence for correct decision-making at the time of examination." The buyers are universities, schools and training providers that run digital exams, and companies that test staff or job candidates online. The site says more than 350 institutions worldwide use SMOWL, and the site comes in English, Spanish and French versions.

What SMOWL monitors

The features menu sets out what the tool covers: computer monitoring, a browser lock, real-time proctoring, user authentication, an environment check, webcam monitoring, detailed reports and analytics, and customization and scalability. The company's guide to proctoring explains how these fit together in a SMOWL exam. The test-taker is first authenticated by comparing a camera image taken at login with an ID photo the student, candidate or employee supplied earlier, or with images the institution or HR department already holds. During the test, the webcam keeps capturing images to recognize the user. Room checks, which SMOWL calls Enviro Scan, look for other people in the frame, and the software watches the browser or computer for visits to outside help. The guide adds that some setups use two cameras, one on the computer and one on the test-taker's phone.

The home page testimonials describe the same thing from the institution's side. Ana Cristina García, Director of Educational Innovation at Universidad Isabel I, says the webcam stays on to see whether the student leaves the desk, and that the system also detects other programs, an open Skype window or a new browser tab. Enrique Dans, Professor of Innovation and Technology at IE Business School, puts the privacy point in his own words: "Como profesor, no veo ni escucho a mis alumnos mientras hacen el examen, solo cuando la herramienta detecta algún comportamiento sospechoso" (as a professor, I neither see nor hear my students while they take the exam, only when the tool detects suspicious behavior).

Proctoring types and plans

SMOWL is sold in three proctoring types: automated proctoring, Record & Review, and live proctoring. In its guide the company says it takes pride in being a leading hybrid exam monitoring tool and recommends hybrid monitoring, a blend of AI and human review, because it protects students who are flagged by mistake. Its example is a student reading questions aloud to concentrate, which software alone could mistake for cheating.

The plans menu names four plans: SMOWL CLASS, SMOWL PLUS, SMOWL PRO and SMOWL ENTERPRISE. The home page shows four plan cards built around different needs: real-time human supervision, 360-degree environment control, user authentication, which is marked as the most popular, and classroom exams. The features listed across the cards include API customization, chat and phone assistance, control of applications and tabs, a browser lock, audio capture, webcam monitoring, monitoring with an extra camera, human supervision and live proctoring. The home page says the plans are configurable, with extras added as needed.

How it fits into a school's systems

SMOWL runs inside the learning platform. The home page lists among its advantages a solution "integrada 100% en la plataforma educativa sin necesidad de salir de la misma" (fully integrated into the learning platform, with no need to leave it), and says it is compatible with most learning systems and has certified integrations with the main LMSs. The guide names Canvas, Blackboard and Moodle as examples and says SMOWL can also connect to other learning environments, including in-house systems, through an API. The blog lists a post on SMOWL becoming an Instructure-verified Canvas integration. Getting started is a three-step process the site describes: register in mySmowltech and name your LMS, follow the emailed steps to integrate the tool, then use the free trial.

The rest of the advantages list covers how SMOWL behaves on a student's machine: a restrictive exam with a device lock, dual camera and human supervision, no applications to install, and low internet use because it captures images instead of video. The guide gives an example of why that matters. Amref International University in Nairobi turned to SMOWL after students found other tools intrusive, and the company says its software runs on older devices and works with basic 3G connections. REGENT Business School in South Africa integrated SMOWL into its new LMS in October 2022 to support a growing number of simultaneous exams.

Who uses it

The education menu covers online degrees, admission exams, assessment platforms, degree and postgraduate programs, vocational training, digital in-class exams and language certifications. The corporate menu covers business certifications, HR, training courses, recruitment, psychometric tests and learning and development programs. The home page adds that SMOWL can be configured for any kind of assessment, in person, online or both. Víctor Abella García, director of the virtual teaching center at Universidad de Burgos, says SMOWL allowed the university to launch online degrees, and that some low-demand programs became among its most popular once they were offered both online and in person.

Security, privacy and support

The site says its proctoring is "ISO 27001 & ENS CERTIFIED," and the home page promises privacy guaranteed at 100% in line with the GDPR. The privacy menu has pages on GDPR, FERPA, CCPA and the EU AI Act, and the guide says SMOWL adheres to the GDPR. The site advertises 24/7 technical support, separate support sections for clients and students, and an 8.8/10 user satisfaction score for its support.

Pricing and trial

The home page does not print prices, but the site has a pricing page and a savings calculator, and it claims institutions can save up to 75% on exams by avoiding travel, infrastructure and paperwork. Licensing is flexible, by exam or by user. Anyone who requests a demo receives 25 free licenses to try SMOWL, and the team then recommends the plan that fits the institution.

Who it suits

SMOWL suits universities and training providers that run exams inside Moodle, Canvas, Blackboard or another LMS and want proctoring without sending students to a separate platform. The image-based approach and the low bandwidth claim make it a reasonable fit for students on older laptops or slower connections, and the range from automated checks to live proctoring lets one institution use different levels of supervision for different exams. Companies running certification, recruitment or psychometric tests are also part of its stated audience. Buyers who want a live proctor on every exam should note that the company itself recommends the hybrid mode, with live proctoring offered as one option among several and priced through the plan recommendation after a demo.