WATA - A System for Written Authenticated though Anonymous Exams

摘要

University exams or open competitions raise significant security concerns because they are typically driven by strong interests. The candidate and the examiner may want to cheat on each other, or even coerce each other. While candidate authentication would address certain threats, his anonymity would address some other threats, but their conjugation appears to be contradictory. The classical approach to facing this security problem is weak as it poses significant trust upon the examiner. It is the double envelope, with a big envelope containing an anonymous exam sheet and a smaller envelope in turn sealing the candidate's identity. Surprisingly, there appears to be almost no computer-assisted solutions available. WATA is a system, implemented in a portable software, for Written Authenticated though Anonymous exams. It protects the candidate and the examiner from each other by ensuring that the examiner corrects an authenticated though anonymous exam sheet. The candidate is the sole entity who can establish the link between his identity and his exam sheet, and normally has interest in safeguarding such a link. With various additional functionalities, WATA can be freely downloaded from the Internet for academics to try (Gianpiero, 2009).