I thought a student was cheating
A student was looking in her pocket during test time. I kept my eye on her and watched her do it several times. When she submitted her test, I asked her to step in the hall way with me. I confronted her and she said her mom texted her and she was looking at her phone. She then showed me the text messages. I let her go and did not accuse her of cheating. Did I do the right thing?
I think you waited to long. I would have addressed the issue immediately. I like that you pulled the student aside and talked privately and that is always a good idea in that situation.
Regards,
Scott
Hi Gary,
You did these two students a favor because you could have witnessed the student looking on the other student's paper and write down the answer (s) at that point you would have had grounds to punishment them for violating the honor code.
Patricia
I was standing in the back of a class and watched two students sit at there desk in a manner as to let the other watch what they were marking on there answer sheet! when I saw there head's turn beyond a point of eyes on there papers, I informed them to move seat's they both did poorly on that test but had done well on test leading up to it, no doubt they had been doing this for some time they actions caused them to miss to much information and fail the course over time
I do not have that problem with my present class, but I would think that having the policy, "No cell phones" in the class while testing is prohibited. That way, there is no second guessing about what is really going on. I know some students can be very savvy when it comes to things like that. I'm kind of naive, sometimes; had a student who wanted to use an MP3 players while testing, I let her, however, I was told that I should not have because they could have recorded the test. Never even thought about that as my brain does work that way. Now, I know better!
Hi Jennifer,
I would have confronted her the very first time I saw her looking in her pocket during test time as oppose to waiting after the test was submitted.
Patricia
No if your policy is no texting in class then you didn't enforce your own policy. If your students can use the phone for any reason then that's your call. My students cannot touch their phone the whole time they are in my kitchen; they can step out & use phone once I have approved that.
I always give the benefit of the doubt in those types of situation.
One way to avoid that problem is to not allow cell phones being active and accessible during an exam. Just explain that the policy is in place to both i prevent an unfair advantage to some students (anti-cheating) and to provide a quiet and distraction free environment (respect for others.)
