CheatCode

Inspiration

The goal for this challenge is to enhance online learning for students. This means encouraging students to learn the material in its entirety rather than just completing assignments and projects.A major challenge with online classes is conducting and monitoring exams. With a limitless resource from books and the internet, having exams without using these references is nearly impossible and hence, students lose the essence of knowledge.

CheatCode is inspired from these motives and aspires to create an environment that lets teachers, professors and other faculty members hold exams without the risk of students cheating. With this motive, we think that students will take online classes more seriously and thus gain the intended knowledge from respective courses.

What it does

CheatCode uses a facial recognition API to confirm the identity of students taking the exam. This is done by comparing a pre-uploaded photo with the live facial recognition feature.

Additionally, CheatCode intends to use eye tracking in order to monitor where a student’s eyes are on the screen or to make sure their eyes are focused on the screen.

Another feature that CheatCode will implement is giving restricted access once the web-app is opened. This access will be controlled by the facilitator - deciding on what resources students can access if any, or none. If students try to access anything that is not allowed, necessary flags will be raised to notify the facilitator with this activity.

How we built it

This is built using firebase for web development and using the face-api for the facial detection. Node.js is used as the development platform and angular.js is the web framework used for this project.

With limited front-end knowledge on the team, the web app was designed using html and css.

Challenges we ran into

Implementing all the features in a short span of time was one of the biggest challenges we ran into. The features decided are very intricate and need a lot more time to be completely functional.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

Coming up and deciding on an idea that aims to enhance online learning for students
Finding a solution to the lack of engagement in online classrooms
Getting the facial recognition API to work
Working closely with one another
Getting past any disagreements we had
Completing tasks on time and working together to create new ideas.

What we learned

Pro-Squad: We learnt a lot of technical material. This included working with APIs we are not familiar with, learning new languages for both front-end and back-end development, and learning the various functionalities of GitHub. Apart from technical development, the pro-squad learnt a lot of techniques to communicate efficiently with the go-squad. This was a very important lesson as working closely with the other side of the team helped us have a better understanding of what our product is and what results are expected from our side.

Go-Squad: During our 5 week challenge, the Go-Squad learned how to communicate efficiently with the Pro-Squad on something we knew little information about. The Go-Squad members had some knowledge of coding, but nowhere near the amount of knowledge that our Pro-Squad had. Seeing this as a challenge, our teams worked closely together in the last 5 weeks to make sure each team, and member was understanding the processes happening to make CheatCode. In addition to this, the Go-Squad created multiple documents including an: environmental analysis, empathy map, value proposition and business model canvas to support our Pro-Squad. Our team focused mainly on who we could market CheatCode to, issues we may encounter with customers, how actual customers would feel about the program and how to showcase our product to the world.

What's next for CheatCode

In addition to the facial recognition software, our team agreed on multiple features we would implement if we were given more time during the S.O.S. Challenge. The ability for teachers to upload authorized aid to exams such as: study guides, formula sheets, a simple calculator. Creating a Frequently Asked Questions page for CheatCode’s website so users (both teachers and students) could work through some of the trickier aspects CheatCode’s software may have. Training videos created by experts of the software. This would benefit first time users and entire schools who aim to implement a software such as CheatCode into their school system. Case studies on how effective CheatCode is when it comes to stopping cheating, engagement in the classroom and overall grades from classes using and not using the monitoring service.

Meet the Team

Andrew Becker (Go Squad)
Devki Borad (Pro Squad)
Demi Linton (Go Squad)
Deandra Rodricks (Pro Squad)
Kiele Sacco (Pro Squad)
Samuel Tincher (Go Squad)
Coaches: Kristen Mann and Ishank Tandon

Acknowledgments

A huge acknowledgement goes to School Team 1's pro squad mentor, Ishank Tandon and go squad mentor, Kristen Mann who patiently guided us throughout the challenge and supported us during the 2020 TechPoint S.O.S Challenge.
We sincerely thank TechPoint and our coaches for giving us this experience!