I reduce cheating by giving multiple test forms and let them know they will be able to cheat while taking the certification exam. Their partner will not be there to help them do their job. So learn it and love it.
Hi Christine,
You do a fabulous job of curtailing cheating. You have an effective sytem in place to help minimize cheating.
Patricia Scales
As an instructor, I reduce the incidence of cheating by paying specific attention to how I communicate expectations to my students, how I prepare exams, and how I administer the exams. I number seats and tests and then assign students to sit in the seat with the same number as the number on their test. Systematically, I hand out alternative forms, taking into account students sitting laterally as well as those sitting in front and in back of each other. I also will sit in the back of the classroom to watch. Students believe I’m in the back if they need to ask any questions. This system works for me and has been successful.
You as an instructor must make sure you are watching everything that goes on. You must not leave he class or sit on the computer. You need to make sure you even know some of the tricks they may use. Most of all NO CELL PHONES OR TABLETS out.
I personally walk around the entire classroom and sometimes stand directly in the back where I can see all of my students.
To reduce cheating i like to have students clear off their desk, turn off computer monitors and space out the seating.
I use several methods to reduce the opportunity for cheating in my course. The first is including a code for academic integrity in the syllabus and going over the academic integrity policy during the first class session.
I then remind students prior to the first test of this academic policy and how it relates to exams. During the exam, I ensure the class set-up is conducive for a test environment by providing enough space between student desks. In addition, I give students different versions of the test and require to show their work in addition to their answer.
I also vary the types of questions in the exam and go beyond true/false, multiple choice, and multiple select by having short answer and essay questions. Lastly, I walk around the room and am an active observer.
A method I use to reduce the opportunity for cheating is to give different versions of the same exam. I also annouce that I am giving different versions during the study discussion so that they are aware. Sometimes this prevents students from cheating.
To help reduce cheating one can use technology and produce different versions of the test to that no two students side by side have the same test. Also, I have found that putting the expectation of respect and honesty as part of the class requirement often helps the cheater as well as the straight up student put their best efforts forward.
A good way to help reduce the likelihood of student cheating is to create 2 or 3 copies of a test, simply jumbling the questions on each copy. All the questions remain the same for each student, but the students will not be able to copy answers as easily if they, in fact, do seek to cheat.
A way of reducing student cheating is providing testing based on critical thinking and not objective responses. Questions about topics allow students to use their distinctive voice and increase original thinking.
Hi ROBIN,
Wow, you have an awesome system in place to curtail cheating. It is a lot easier to cheat these days due to technology. Students have to be watched during testing and given guidelines because some students can't be trusted.
Patricia Scales
I create different versions of the test (the questions are mixed up in a different order for each and every student - I create the exams online so the system grades it for me, except for the questions that require me to read/assign points - like essay questions). To further prevent them from cheating, I also have the questions presented to them one by one without the ability to go back.
All notes and books have to be on the floor. Cell phones have to be turned OFF and kept on top of their books/notes on the floor.
I sit in the back of the classroom so I can see their screens, so there's no opportunity to google an answer.
I also have the students sit in every other chair so they're not sitting next to each other. Further, I ask a lot of "in own words" type questions. If the person's cheating, he/she still has to work to get the points.
There is a strict time limit on the test too, so there's very little opportunity for them to look things up on cheat sheets or online.
I wish I didn't have to do things like this, but I have found many times students cannot be trusted to do the right thing.
Hi Nicole,
I understand! I point this out to cheating students all the time...turning in someone else's work as if it were your own. Trying to get credit for someone else's work is cheating.
Patricia Scales
Nothing upsets me more than a student who tries to use a fellow student's knowledge on a subject matter in which they themselves may lack. I try, if we have the classroom space, to seat the students apart or with at least one empty chair between them.
leave no room for error. all desks clear. no phones. if needed, put all bags in the back of the class.
First off you should let the students know that cheating is not acceptable and disciplinary action will be taken if they are caught cheating. I let the students know that talking or using a phone while taking a test will be considered cheating. Also while they are testing I walk around the room and make sure they are paying attention to their own work. As far as paperwork goes, I ask them questions about it to make sure they understand it and I can tell if they have copied it or acturally done the work themselves.
We have smaller classes as well so I will seperate the students if I can. I am not able to I may give different versions of the tests depending on how well I know or trust the class.
I like to sit in the front because then I can easily see eyes wandering. This happened on one particuar occation. I witness a student with wandering eyes so I watched a little her and shortly we made eye contact. This did the trick, she knew I was watching and I did not see her eyes wander the rest of the exam or mod for that matter.
The school or environment must be secure. The overall academic climate at an institution can be critical. If the college or university can develop a sense of community, of shared intellectual purpose and excitement, then academic dishonesty will find it difficult to thrive in that environment. There must be some common sense of integrity that pervades the institution. Various authors who have examined this dimension have suggested strategies and techniques that can begin to build this sense of integrity and shared purpose. There must be consistent and vocal support for the concept of academic integrity. It should be clear to the students as soon as they arrive on campus that the institution has high expectations as a community of scholars and that violations of this ethos will not be tolerated. Finally, a well-known code of academic integrity is crucial in developing this sense of shared values. But this code of conduct must be the joint product of students, faculty, and administrators so that everyone has ownership of the code. Such a code can make expectations and norms clear and can provide a clear standard by which to judge behavior. Most studies are especially adamant in their insistence that students must be involved from the beginning if any honor code or student code of conduct is to be effective in changing the norms and the culture on campus.
Hi Chris,
You do a fantastic job with minimizing cheating. I simply stay on my feet the entire time my students are testing and watch them like a hawk.
Patricia Scales
