Catching Students Cheat
If I catch a student cheating on any assignment or exam, I would talk to them to see what the reasoning was. Discipline is issued on a certain level based on the answer I get and if I feel they are being honest.
I agree with Scott. There is no recourse in life for the cheater. They do not care if if they've learned the material or not, it is just easier for them to cheat.
I agree with listening to students in why they cheat. But I will also look at their involvement in the class. If they never come to class or if they are late often and they do not even turn in assignments then at this time I realize they do not have an interest in this class. I would bring it to their attention and show them my findings on their behavior to the class. Then discuss the next step. They would have to decide: 1. Maybe they need to drop the class or 2. They need to decide to be a part of the class and then they can retake the test. There are many reasons I would like to know before I judge. If they cannot give me an answer they will receive a zero and I would bring it up to administration.
I agree. You cheat, you suffer the punishment. We too often coddle the student. I teach adults and for this there is no excuse. I can respect someone that gets an answer incorrect, then asks to have an explination as to the answer. The cheater doesn't care what the answer is. One student strives to learn the other just does not care.
Agreed. Listening to why a student cheated is important, but the consequence of giving that student a failing grade is also important because it teaches that student a lesson that will hopefully stop them from cheating again.
Hi Rachael,
The person who is cheating may be able to answer the why. An honest person may not know the why to cheating because they are honest.
Patricia Scales
is there really a why to cheating? They have broken the trust between the instructor and the student so for me the why never justifies the reason behind it. It is tough sometimes but cheating is cheating regardless of the why.
I think cheating is cheating an considered academic dishonesty. If my student is caught cheating I do listen to them and give them a chance to explain "why" they cheated, but I also fail them for that particular assignment and put them on academic probation. How do you follow up with your students after you have had a chance to listen to them?
