I like to reduce the opportunity for cheating by keeping the students as far apart as possible. I also check their knowledge with periodic verbal tests that lets me know that not all their knowledge is from tests.
I have had to resort to making different versions of tests. Even though this can be cumbersome I still find that students tend to put forth the effort when they understand the consequences.
I do not allow them to use or answer or get on their cell phones. In our technical day and age, any answer can be found on the cell phone.
Discuss at the beginning of class the penalities if caught cheating. Separate the students by at least 2 chairs on each side, walk around the room observing as they take their test and maintain eye contact when they look up.
first i make sure they all understand that if they cheat they are cheating themselves , when they graduate and take real test in the field , they will be in a test booth with a QC watching them with no possibility of cheating !
Having the students sit in alternatig seats and having the instructor set in the back of the room helps to reduce cheating.
I have a small class so I ask each student to sit individually in a table. I also stay focused paying attention to what they are doing.
There are several ways to reduce opportunity for cheating in the classrooms. Some of my techniques might be to stand in front of the class, walk around the room, or perhaps give students different versions of the test. These three things has eliminated alot of cheating in my classroom.
The idea of administering different versions of the same test is a wonderful idea, but time consuming unless I have taught the class for quite some time or if it is my only class. I find the least demanding is to seat the students more spread out that our usual classroom layout. They are close together for lecture/discussion, but spread out for quiz/exams.
I give specific instructions before distribution of questionnaires such as:
-no talking once I start distributing the questionnaire
-tables are clear
-if possible, only 1 student per table
-leave the room after submitting answer sheet & questionnaire & be back at a specific time
-they are not allowed to leave the room until they are done
-I emphasize that I have zero tolerance to cheating
-I emphasize the consequence of cheating
Be more aware of the student's activity during tests
We have small class sizes so spreading out the students with the tables clear of everything but their pencil and paper works fine. My problem with cheating lies with the assignments they do. They are assigned case studies that they have to read and answer questions about usually involving soem research. Getting them to put the answers in their own words and not cut and paste from a resource (ie Plagiarism) is a big problem. I easily recognize the words are not their own. I am trying to get them to understand that, by not processing the information and putting it in their own words, they are not learning or retaining anything.
This is a HUGE problem - the students have been getting very creative. I have resorted to using multiple versions of the tests.
To reduce cheating in the classroom, I have moved student apart, handed out an "A" or "B" test so if they even try to cheat they can't, and also talk to them about why they shouldn't cheat how they are cheating themselves out of education.
I do testing on the computers in the class, the program that I use scrambles the test questions and students who are sitting by each other do not have the same test questions. Walking around the room has also reduced the amount of cheating that goes on.
I have found that walking the room while students are testing has worked significantly and has reduced cheating by 95%. I have found that by walking around the students have had less inclination to even cheat. I also have been making sure that all the students have a clear and deeper understanding of the materil that they are being tested on. I do this by giving test reviews the day before the test.
Ways that I reduce cheating is by asking my students to spread out and sit at tables by themselves. I also ask that when they finish their exam that they go 'on break' and give them a return time so as not to disturb or tempt the others into talking to them.
I create two version of exam and quizzes. Two students who are sitting together will get version A and version B.
I like the idea of creating at least an A and B version of every exam. The content items are the same but I also like using alternative format questions like select all that apply, matching, or fill-in the blank for variety.
The idea of separating the students, at least one seat between, is my favorite next to the use of individual screening apparatus between each student.
I make it very clear from the first day of class that cheating will not be tolerated. Cheating equals expulsion, period. No exceptions. I have a section on cheating in every Syllabus and I verbally reinforce what is in writing. I have never had a problem. I believe that if you are clear from the beginning, there is less room to "test the waters".
