Reduce The Ability to Cheat
One way to help reduce the cheating aspect is, we have multiple versions of the same test. I distribute a different version to every other student, and I do for warn them of this. You will get your occassional student that will test the waters so to speak by looking around to see if there are multiple versions, but I have found this cuts down on any attempts to do so greatly.
For fear of copying and being wrong. Also if they brought notes or such for cheating they are not certain if they are the right notes or not now.
I have made threee versions one one exam and informed the class prior to handing out the test and that had help with some "suspected" cheaters in my class. I have also address to my class day one that the college and I, personally, do not tolerate cheaters. I relate to cheating be giving them a real life situation: "What do you do when you get pulled over by a cop?" YOu turn off your engine and make sure that your hands are onn the wheel and ALWAYS visible. Why? So that the cop does not pull out his gun. I tell my students not to give me reason to suspect that they are cheating. Also, I remind them that the FINAL TEST of all that they have learned will be their board exam and that it would be to their benefit to learn it right now so that their board exams became a pie-of-cake.
Multiple version of an exam creates more work for the instructor, but it keeps the integrity of the class, which students can appreciate.
Hi Donald:
I have used both real and perceived different versions of a test successfully. sometimes different colored copy paper for 2 or 3 different versions is sufficient. I have to think about letting students use notes, though a 3 x 5 notecard or two works wonders. I insist that the notecards are handwritten and not photocopied/reduced. Students seem to learn quite a bit while deciding what goes on the notecard and while actually preparing the notecard.
John
Hi Donald,
Great psychological use of notes. Students will take thorough notes if they know that they can use them when taking a test.
Patricia
One way to help reduce the cheating aspect is, perceived multiple versions of the same test. I distribute test from the top of the stack then from the bottom of the stack.
Additionally, I let them uses their notes, witch makes them better note takers. Memory dumps to pass a test does not aid in retention.
Hi Detra,
Simple solution,you can always revert to paper-based exams. More work for the instructor, but the students will not be tempted to use the computer. Sometimes we give our students too much temptation.
Patricia
I, too, have used different versions of the same test. I teach math and it's easy for me to create multiple versions of my exams, especially with all the latest software and technology. On the other hand, I have found students cheating on web-based exams by surfing the web and finding sites where all they have to do is enter the math problem and it gives them the answer. My solution to this problem? If they are caught with other windows open during the exam, they fail the test.
Hi Edward,
You've told your students exactly right. It is a jungle out here.
Patricia
I always inform potential cheaters that by being rubber necked giraffes the only ones they are cheating are themselves. It's a jungle out there and whilst they're munching on the top leaves of the learning tree because they're seemingly so easily within their reach durng a test situation,[the rest of the herd is around],watch how fast the lions dine on their behinds when they're going solo and grasping at thin air for sustenance in real world 'test' situations... seek true knowledge now because only the strong/smart survive.
Hi Anton,
This method does minimimize cheating. It is an old strategy, but it still works today.
Patricia
