Angry and cheating students
I have been teaching at a College/University for more than six years. I have had to deal with both the angry student and the cheating student. I will have to say that the students are getting more creative and bold when it comes to the cheating.
I had a student who became so angry at me when I asked her to stop performing a skill. I requested that she step back, watch the other students, and reread the information on the steps of the skill. I guess I should let you know I teaching allied health students. She became so angry, and upset at me, so I asked her to come out in the hall to talk. She was angry because I embarrassed her in front of her fellow students. I explained to her that the only way I could check her off and pass her on the skill was to make sure she knew how to perform it from beginning to end. She then stated that she was quitting school. I told her I thought that was a bit extreme and before she quit maybe she should go and talk with the program chair. She did what I suggested and then came back apologized and asked if she could return to class. What I found out from the student was that she was upset and angry before she came to class. So the lesson I learned was that this was misdirected anger and attempting to work the situation out was not going to work. So what I did to diffuse the situation and the student was to allow her to leave the physical space and talk with someone who was neutral. This has worked for me in more than one situation. The only thing is that you have to have support from the administration for it to work.
The cheating has happen relatively seldom in my class or I just have not noticed. I have learned that the fellow students will give up the cheating student, because they have studied and worked so hard to be prepared. This then makes the other students in the class very angry. In one of my current classes I have a student that others "student" have stated cheats in classes. I plan on sitting in the back of the classroom for the entire testing period so this cannot happen, or if it does I will be able to confront the student or students.
I have also seen both sides of this issue. What I have told to plenty of students who I have caught cheating is "you won't be an expert in your field if you haven't studied the subject matter to heart,so if you need to cheat you are only cheating yourself".
Hi Marilee,
I understand. I've seen both ends of the spectrum. Whenever you are guilty, you really need to admit it and move on.
Patricia
I had two students who I caught cheating.... they both automatically failed the class because it was so obvious... the one acted like a mature adult and admited to her fault and retook the class... successfully passed with an A... the other student.. played the denial and blame game... took the class 2 more times and failed both times before droping out... :-(
Most of them are in classes in which they do not want to be in. However, they are required.
Sometimes students are angry because in life in general they have been undervalued and ignored. I find that continually drawing on this student to add to class discussions, constantly asking them for their opinion and generally 'getting to know them' can help their anger subside.
