cheatiing students
one of the ways I approach the problem is to use multiple tests foe the same test. Using an "A", "B", "C" TEST with the exact same questions on the test is fair to the students. They all answer the same questions just in different order. Any cheaters will only effect their score.
Cheating has becoming a science and art with the invention of internet capable cellular devices. So I police the room and if I suspect you of cheating. . . . .Case Closed you are done!
Hello Amy,
What is your policy/school's policy with cheating?
Patricia
Hello Dee,
Roaming is super because you get the full scope of the classroom.
Patricia
I use the multiple test option. I too roam around. Although the course said to stand in the back of the room, our room is really large and I would miss things going on in the front of the room.
I also use multiple test, i also walk around the room also. I always give a speech about how cheating only cheats you not anyone else.
Amy
Hi Novella,
I like how you limit the students tools. If I have a class that has enough seats, I have my students to leave an empty seat between each other.
Patricia
I use the method of multiple tests also. I also have the students move to another seat for test taking. They cannot sit with the same person they normally sit with and they have to place an object between them that is too large to peak over with roaming eyes.
They can take no cell phones or anything except 2 pencils with erasers to the testing seat.
Hi Norman,
You can really tell when someone is cheating. Normally, the cheater is watching you.
Patricia
I also point out to students that cheating will hurt them in the long run, but I concentrate more on ethics. I make it clear to my students that I am a strong believer in ethics and will not tolerate cheating.
I try to add a little humor in my discussion so that I don't sound too threatening. I tellthem that if they must cheat, they should avoid the following two things: (1) don't let me catch them and (2) be sure to copy from someone who knows what they are doing. There is nothing worse than cheating and then getting a bad grade.
The module suggests that we shouldn't walk around the room because of the stress that it may cause some students. I agree. If I suspect cheating, I let them catch me watching them. If it continues, I do walk towards the suspects but only stay about a minute. The suspects will then do everything to avoid looking guilty.
Hi Pamela,
I understand why the students were not reprimanded because they were not caught by personnel. We follow the same practice at my institution. At my insitution, we do not even talk to the student, if a student has been told on by another student. We never take students' words. However, we do take heed based on what was told by the student to catch the cheating student. We use it as kind of as a headsup.
Patricia
When informed by another student that one student was allowing another student to copy from them during tests it was handled in a manner that I found acceptable. Two instructors spoke privately to the two students, informed them of the accusation and that they would be monitored closely during future exams. The two students were then placed in different areas of the room during exams, and an additional instructor monitored the exam also. If the students would have be caught cheating they would have received 0's on the exam, met with the Dean, and the option of being withdrawn from the program would have been considered. I think having different versions of the exam is an excellent ideas and reduces the odds of cheating.
Hi Sara,
I solely agree. I also stay on my feet the entire time to monitor my exams. I constantly walk the entire room.
Patricia
Using multiple exams is one of the best ways to eliminate cheating. Also if the room permits it's a good idea to space the students out which makes it harder to look at a neighbor's paper and easier for the instructor to view all of their students during an exam.
Hi Tracy,
A great way to monitor any test is for the instructor to walk around the room. This tactic deters cheating.
Patricia
I feel that If I walk around the room during the test, students seem to focus more. They realize that you are serious about the importance of learning the material, and about the success of their education.
Hi Linda,
Your speil is right on point about cheating. Sadly enough, there will be some students that will test the waters. The strategies that you use to deter cheating really help, and you can quickly determine those who are cheating from utilizing these strategies. Let's continue to strategize to prevent cheating as much as possible.
Patricia
I make a point of addressing the subject of cheating on the first day of class. I let the students know that they are not helping anyone by letting them copy their papers. An "A" on a transcript may help a person get a job, but when they cannot perform on the job at that level, it will not help them to keep that job.
I then let the students know that if any student is found in possession of their paper, that both students will receive a zero for the work.
When I suspect students of cheating on exams, it is easy to give different versions of the same tests to students seated adjacent to each other. For example in math, transposed numbers in the same type problem will yield different answers. For objective type tests, rearranging the sequence of the questions will quickly prove a student has cheated.
Hi Joseph,
Cheating is not major at my institution. Occassionaly, you encounter cheating. When it has been determined that a student cheated, the cheating is handled quickly and swiftly.
Patricia
Fortunately, as the module points out, cheating isn't really a major problem in career schools. I tell the students that by cheating they're telling themselves that they're not living up to their career goals.
The bigger issue of cheating, I've found, is in the "recycling" projects (using the same art for multiple classes and projects), stealing/plagiarizing other students' work (or a portion of it) and claiming it as their own, or stealing designs from an internet source.
I had one student use an image she found on a stock photo site, put a title on it and turn it in for a cover contest. She didn't win, and was in tears that she didn't because she thought she had a great cover. Later we saw that same image appear in 4 different sources (online, and in magazines) and were shocked that she was so emotionally tied to something that she didn't even do.
