Always move around and keep the students wondering what my next move will be. If they concentrate on that, they will be finished with the test in no time.
By being aware of what is going on in the classroom. I recently caught a student cheating. I had been watching her for weeks, tryint to prove that this behavior was happening. I finally got word from another student that she had proof that this student was cheating. The student came to me and said that the other student had all of the answers to the test written on her arm. I thought that I had seen her looking at her arm, but wasn't sure. After class I went and talked to upper management and told them about my concerns. We then brought the student into a meeting, where we asked her numerous questions of which she denied. After upper management was finished asking question, I was then allowed to ask the final question of may I see your arm. She refused and abmitted that she had the answers on her arm. This was the second time this student was caught. She was then dismissed from the program. This was none of the most upsetting thing that I as an instructor had to do. You trust them all until they give you a reason not to.
Hi Douglas,
Great ideas as tho how to curtail cheating. It is much harder for students to cheat on an essay test versus a multiple choice/matching test.
Patricia
I believe instructors can do their best to teach the material but it will always ultimately depend on the student on how well he or she is prepared. Some students have learned it is easier to cheat then put in the time and effort to study.
Sitting at opposite ends of a table is a great idea. What if you had two versions of the quiz and the two people recieved different exams?
Separation of the students/spacing. Observation of the students. Enforcement of the communicated standards. A testing strategy that includes small essays or other methods that are not as easy to duplicate from others. Additionally the development of a grading rubric that spaces the grade among various subjects and does not create the feeling of the "monster" final exam.
Students cheat when they feel they are not prepared. As teachers teach, we need to prepare students for exams and quizes. But students will find a way to cheat if they want too.
There's always two instructors in the classroom during exam days and both are walking around the classroom. I like to "switch" my spot often to let students know I am watching everyone. We also avoid doing other work while students are taking exams (like grading etc)
I would like very much to fail students who cheat but I am constrained by school policy. All incidents of cheating must be referred to the Director of Education for action.
I tend to walk the outside, not all the time, but every now and then, just to remind them I am there. I agree in principle with the approach commended by Maxknowledge, but I believe it does no harm to move around the edges, after all, you have to start from a position of trust.
David
Hi Jennifer,
Having a professional relationship with students is definitely a plus. There is nothing like a good open line of communication between the two. Students need to know that you are personable and approachable.
Patricia
Hi Jim,
Students should be reprimanded for cheating. At my institution at the minimum students fail the course.
Patricia
I like to walk around the room and observe to reduce student cheating. After reading Maxknowledge about the “prancing cat approach†I am going to try to stay in back of room!
The most obvious way to reduce cheating on tests is for each student to have a different version of the test. Using our testing software that is very easy to do and it is something I use often. I also hand out a paper on plagiarism and cheating at the first meeting of the course and advise my students in no uncertain terms that cheating in any form will NOT be tolerated. At a minimum any and all students involved in cheating will receive a zero for that test/exam. I sometimes use on-line tests and for those all students are separated by at one blank seat/computer.
Build a rapport with students.
Some students will attempt to cheat no matter what we do, but I prefer to walk around the classroom while students are testing. This way, I can not only observe where their eyes are, I can also monitor if they are trying to access their cell phones too.
Hi David,
It sounds like you are really there for your students. I let my students know as long as they put forth effort on their end I will do everything in my power to help them succeed.
Patricia
I openly say to the students, its not cool to cheat and even if you look at someones paper what makes you think they got the right answer because if they did not you would look twice as dumb.
Hi Ronald,
This has always worked well. It is an effective way to minimize cheating.
Patricia
Patricia,
Although the module does not recommend 'walking the room,' I, like you, monitor the room, but do occasionally 'patrol the sides.' I spend a lot of time investing in my students and generally know them well by the time we get to the point of taking tests. I have never had a problem...(he says touching wood). From the start, I make it clear that I am here to help them succeed and if they give me or make every attempt to strive for 100pc effort in all that they do, I will reciprocate in terms of helping them to get thru the test.
