reducing cheating
One way I reduce or have no cheating in my class is to walk around while they are testing.
I like the ideal of being in the back of class if the student can't see you they may not look around as much.
I used to walk the class during a test but then I noticed the increased anxiety of the students and realized that "I" was then being a distraction to them. Every time I would walk by they would stop, look up at me, and then look back down and have to find where they left off. I would break their concentration. Now, I do one of two things: I stand in the back of the room and switch angles every so often (left to right for example) or I recruit a complete stranger (other faculty or staff) to proctor for me and advise them to stand in the back as I do. This, I found, helps to debunk any cheating attempts. I am very cognizant of becoming an obstacle to their success while also ensuring that they, as well as I, am not being cheated.
Walking around is a great idea, but I have found students in the front of the class will wait for you to move towards the back of the class and than cheat. I usually position myself in the back of the class and monitor head movements. This is helpful once I have spread the class out and utilized all empty seats.
