I state the first day of class that I have a zero tolerance policy for cheating. I separate students during a quiz or exam, and I also make several versions of the quiz or exam.
I recently read an article which stated: Cheating is less likely to occur when the goal for students is "personal mastery" of the material - in other words, learning and understanding what is being taught. These are my thoughts exactly.
I try to reduce cheating by only testing students over what I have covered in class. I provide them with a study guide a week in advance. We have a practice quiz at the beginning of each class over previous class.
Also, I make sure my cheating policy is stated the syllabus.
1, Help students prepare for the tests.
2, Explain the penalty of cheating clearly.
3, Sit behind the students.
creating multiple series of the test will help with wondering eyes, "active proctoring" waking around the class as the test is being taken. Eliminate the use of cell phones, and other electronic devices from the testing environment
Hi Johnson,
Seating arrangement is a strategy that has proven over the many years to be an effective way to minimize cheating.
Patricia Scales
Hi Brandee,
I prohibit all electronic devices during testing. Students have come up with clever ways to cheat utilizing electronics.
Patricia Scales
Hi Jennifer,
You are right, students will tell if know of someone cheating. When I am made aware by another student that a student is cheating, I put a plan in place to catch the cheating student.
Patricia Scales
Change the seating arrangement and not allow temptation to cheat.
Hard if you have a big class, and a small room. What has been successful for me, is displaying the consequence of chating at the begining of class to ensure each student understand there is a no tolence policy.
Before a test I make certain that all backpacks, purses, books, and everything else is up at the front of the room with me. The student is not allowed to have anything beside them nor in the chair with them as they test. I walk around the entire time that they are testing up until the last student is finished testing. I also stress how I do not approve of cheating in the class, day one. I stess it every time the students have a test or quiz.
I actively walk around the room to discourage cheating.
I will make the student leave all there belongings at the front of the class room.
I think one of the best ways to help avoid cheating is to make sure you are striving to build understanding of the material with all students. One of the biggest motivators of cheating is not knowing how to answer the question. That being said, some students don't want to learn or think it is your responsibility to make them "get" the material. In that case I would say that I would make sure to space students out so the temptation wasn't there as well as watch the class as they take an exam. The fear of being caught can be a huge deterant.
To reduce the cheating in my class, I have different versions of the same test. I have the same questions, but just in a different order. Also, if the students eyes glance they look the same, but they the exams are different!
I have redueced cheating by giving more than one version of a test. I also prohibitted cell phones whe students ae taking test or quizzes.
I give multiple versions of the test so that it is very clear if a student cheats. I also do not allow them to have anything on their desks while the test is out. Walking around the room so that the students know you are paying attention to their actions cannot hurt either. I have had very few incicdences of cheating in my classroom because the other students will tell on the them after I give an accountability speach.
This is a tough one.
I include a paragraph in the syllabus that explains what cheating is and what the consequences are for cheating.
On the first day of class, I go over the whole syllabus with the students, including the paragraph on cheating.
Before an exam, I make my students spead out to minimize copying.
If I see a student that appears to be cheating during an exam, I stand near them, making sure that they know I'm there. If they aren't cheating, they won't think anything of it. If they are, it sends a message that I know they are doing something they shouldn't be doing and
they stop.
ps
It is a mistake to assume that students are cheating unless there is very clear evidence -- like using a cheat sheet. Wandering eyes could just mean they are at a loss and trying to collect their thoughts.
Not only do I have 4 different versions for every test, I also walk around the room and occasionally stop in different areas to view the class as a whole. I make sure evertyhing is off desks, all items under desks and not exposed. If there are any math calculations on a test, no cell phone calculators used, only basic calculators with no special functions and I check calculators prior to testing. I have dealt with a cheating student before so I try to cover as many bases to discourage cheating.
Hi Gina,
How do your PowerPoint presentations minimize cheating?
Patricia Scales
