If I have the space I try to position students far enough apart that they do not have a neighbor to look at. If I don't have that luxury for a particular class I will make multiple versions of the same exam so students cannot cheat.
As mentioned in the lesson, have a well spaced seating chart for testing days. I always make two seating charts for a new group of students: one for regular class days and one for test days. The students become very familiar with both if you use them consistently and go right to their "test seats" on a test day.
Hello Jeff,
I agree with sitting in the back of the room. I teach computer courses and it is very easy to watch the screens. My biggest problem with the way the room is set up, the back row, where most students like to sit, is impossible to sit behind them. They know what they are doing!
One issue I am experiencing recently is students sending each other their work and then they copy & paste this into a new documents. This allows the computer to accept it.
I told my colleagues last term that I am going to create separate tests as well. The Grader for the assignment is pre-set, but what I can do is just change some of the column titles, or names in the documents they need to create. I will also pre-assign them. This should eliminate this problem. The students are very creative.
Also, when I am in the front of the room if there eyes are not on the monitor, they are not on the text. Walking over, usually results is quick screen changes or shuffling of material.
Sitting in the back of the room is the key, I just can't get behind that back row. Well, I stood at the wall the last class, this eliminated my issue with that particular students. It makes the other students nervous tho.
Best wishes, Wynell.
I give several versions of the test for students sitting beside each other to avoid cheating.
We can start by monitoring the classroom better, but we also need to make sure that they understand what you expect of them. And how cheating will be dealt with.
Hi Alyson,
You are lucky,no cheaters! As a safety net, I always stand and walk the room when my students are testing so that they are not even tempted to do so.
Patricia Scales
I am lucky that I have a very good group of students right now who have never displayed any urge to cheat- but, if the scenario was different, I would surely walk around the room during the exam- Make all the backpacks go to the front of the classroom and have students drop their phones into a basket at the front. This way their chances of cheating are greatly reduced.
My desk is in the back of the class room. So the students don't know what I'm doing. I tell them the very first day of class, if I catch anyone cheating I will take not only their test about the person they were caught cheating off,"Not that I would do that". But it does detract on the cheating. Also I do not allow cell phones to be used as calculators.
Hi Gordon,
These tactics have proven to be very successful to minimize students cheating.
Patricia Scales
Different versions of the same test, and physical separation seem to be the best methods. Also dealing with students directly prior to test situations can greatly decrease the potential for cheating.
Make sure students are not sitting to close together! Also make different versions of the test
Fortunately I have not yet come across an adult learner who was caught cheating. I know it is bound to happen so in order to take away the temptation I make sure that all notes and backpacks are out of sight, each individual is sitting a good distance away from the next and I sit in the back of the room. I make sure to walk near a student that I feel is attempting to cheat so that they know I am watching them.
I feel that during test time split everyone up so that a person with a wandering eye cannot see anything. Also you can make sure they write out the assignments instead of typing them.
I have the students put all items away except for pen/pencil and make sure there is adequate spacing between each student. I watch the whole time with out them noticing I am keeping an eye on them.
changing tests up for each class has helped reduce the cheating. Also, nothing out on the desk, no phones, etc.
I have my students clear everything from their work station except for a pen or pencil. All cell phones must be turned off and put away before the test is administered.
Two things I have tried is to give out a piece of blank paper to cover answers, and also give two different quizzes, and have them set up that no one next to each other will have the same quiz. If there is enough seating I have the student have an empty seat in between each student.
Hi Brenda,
When I have a test students cell phones must be put out of sight. I do not want to even tempt them in the least way with cell phones.
Patricia Scales
I read through the threads, and didn't see anything about the importance of emphasizing that students should not be sharing external/jump drives with each other. It only takes a second or two for an unethical student to take another student's files.
I have also used different selections of the same version of the test. I can position myself at the rear of the classroom, this helps so that the students don't know exactly where I am.
