I agree with you...there is definitly no good reason for cheating! Nothing good is learned in that process!
Katie,
I just spent over three years as online student and I can tell while it is true that there are easier ways to cheat in an online environment the schools are getting really good at catching them. The school I just graduated from had recently implemented some really neat tools that they use to catch someone cheating. It is good to see it hopefully those website that sell term papers will go out of business soon.
Marcos
General education courses are certainly courses that students don't always like to take because they don't recognize the direct connection to their chosen career field. I think it is helpful when the instructor is able to make connections to the student's career field whenever possible. That might be a reason why students cheat, but it is certainly not a good reason--I don't think there is any good reason to cheat.
Well, you must look at the fact that sometimes a student must take a course to complete a degree. A student may not always be excited about every course needed in achieving his or her degree.
I like your phrase that cheating "cheapens the thrill of learning." That is a great way of looking at it. Now we just need to help all of our students realize that!
Having sat in a students' role many years myself, I couldn't imagine cheating on work. However, I realize that it is now more prevalent with students and easier to do on-line. The student is in control of his/her learning experience for the most part on-line. If one cheats, then it lessens the satisfaction of knowing that you as an individual accomplished the task at hand. It cheapens the thrill of learning so to speak. It would be much more productive for the student to seek assistance from the instructor than to take from that learning experience by cheating!
That is an interesting way of looking at it Cecil. I appreciate your perspective.
