I physically seperate students from each other during a written test. During the practical "Product Identification" section (Culinary Arts Education) I make the students move thier papers off the desk while they are tasting the items so no one else can see thier exam papers
One way in which I reduce cheating is by spacing the students out through out the class.This makes it so they have no opportunity to cheat. But if the classroom is full of students then I implore another tactic. What I do this is I inform the students that cheating will not be tolorated and that most of the time when a student cheats it is because another student allows them to cheat off of them. I inform the students that if I catch them cheating that I will penalize the student who was cheating and the student whom they were cheating on. I have yet to have students cheating due to the concequences. Most students don't want to take the chance of getting themselves and their friend in trouble.
I do the same thing as the previous instructor who commented.I have the same questions on three exams and alternate them as I am handing the exams out. I let the students know this and it eliviates stress for me while they are taking the exam, as well as for the student! The "A" student feels a sence of safety so as not to be cheated off of.
Our classroom desks are laid out in a squared horseshoe. This eliminates a blind side of view for the instructor. The student knows they are being observed from an eye to eye stand point. I usually don't have anyone attempting even a glance to anothers paper. If I believe the possibility of a cheating occurance is present however, I will print multiple versions of the same exam and distribute them so no two are within eye shot of each other. This has happened only once over the past five years. The look on the face of the cheater was precious during exam review.
I tend to walk around & try to ease the students nerves about the quiz by asking general question like " how are you today?". I also like to state at the begining of the quiz that cheating off a neighbor is not a good idea since they might have studied less then they did, thus giving them wrong answers.
I stand by or in the area of those students who are taking a test
A lot of times I will stand or walk around students to make them think twice about cheating.
One of the ways I deal with cheating is I use the same test, but I have three or four versions. I just mix the questions and rename the test. I will rename the tests: A, B, C, D. I never have had a cheating student that I know of. I try to stay so connected to them and monitor them I think monitorying them really lets them know you are conerned and they tend to do well. It makes them feel they are not left behind, they feel they are in the game and they really do want to please the instructor.
I spread students out and sit behind them when they are taking exams.
Hi Kristine,
Great ways to monitor your students while testing. Sometimes all it takes is to watch students while testing, and they change their mind about cheating.
Patricia
Hi Shelly,
You are not totally off base. I have experienced the ones you least expect to cheat, will. Always watch students closely when testing.
Patricia
I am probably incredibly over optimistic, but I truly believe that students will not cheat if they respect you as an instructor, and want to perfrom their best to impress you. I have had a case where the student accidentally got the answers attached to the exam, and the student handled it very honestly. I think students know when you are invested in them as students, and they don't want to let you down. But I am also brand new - so I could be way off base.
To reduce cheating , I always have the class move their chairs around. Spread them out. Books and notes under the table. No phones (texting)
I walk the room and make eye contact if someone looks like they maybe thinking about cheating.
Hi Jaclyn,
Great points mentioned! I like the idea of walking around because if they are watching my every move, then they may possibly be up to no good.
Patricia
I change my final and quizzes on a regular basis
By being vigulant I stand in the back of the class only moving alittle.
I think that using a different version of the test is one good way of eliminating cheating, but also to be aware while your students are taking a test. To walk around and be concious of what the students are doing while they are testing. Make sure hands are above the table at all times, and they are not set back from their table. I also make sure that they have enough room so that they are not too close to their neighbor. If they have to be close, then different versions is a great idea.
I our courses the written tests are open book tests , which challenges the student to read and find the correct answers to complete their tasks , but there are always cases when a small percentage of students don't want to work that hard and may take a peek at another student's paper . We use 3 different tests entitled A B C and the questions are in different order . This way it keeps them honest .
Hi Mark,
I concur! We should not tempt our students to cheat by sitting them close together. Essays and short answer tests are much harder to grade, but it makes it tough for students to cheat. We must begin to not do things that are easier for us, but we need to focus on doing things that will be better for the student.
Patricia
I feel that the best way to reduce cheating is to try to eliminate the opportunities as much as possible. Spread the students out if classroom size allows. In addition consider using different tests with the questions in a different order. I am a big fan of short answer or essay tests as this shows if the student has learned and reduces the chance to cheat.
