class rule all cell phones turned off and upside down on desk, no talking after test is handed in, and constant movement around class.
By moving about the class
keep test secure and closely observe
I find it is much easier to control cheating in a residential course, so I have some ideas for on-line courses.
1. Don't take questions directly from their text book
2. Have them write short answers or essay responses
3. Set the time on the test so that they don't have time to look up all the answers on-line or in the text.
I find that these techniques make some students complain more, but usually the complaints are coming from the students that haven't been doing the work in the class.
Hi Karen,
As long as you are well positioned this deters cheating as well. Student need to know that they are being watched during exam time.
Patricia
Hi Craig,
Separating students does minimize cheating. You have some students that will cheat solo, thus having no other student involved.
Patricia
Hi Amy,
I've experienced students telling me the same thing. Students want cheaters to be caught.
Patricia
Yes, and more times than not, other students have no problem in letting instructors know if they have observed another student cheating. As one student told me, " I had to study and do the work, why should they get a free pass?"
There are several ways to reduce cheating. While having multiple versions of exams helps, it does not totally prevent cheating. I have found that I need to use seating arrangements in addition to multiple forms of the exam. Even this will not totally eradicate cheating students, however it does help to make it harder to do so.
Having a good rapport, seperate students and talking about it. I have small classes to it is easier than having large classes.
Craig Couillard
Having copies of a test with questions in different orders is a simple way to cut down on the wandering eye syndrome! I've tried it, and when they know from the beginning they may not have the same, this discourages cheating( which is all too easy at tables where they are shoulder to shoulder!!)
Hi,
I really don't walk around the classroom when giving an exam, but position myself so I can view every students.
When you do not have the alternative of changing the seating arrangement of a class, the best way to reduce cheating is giving every other student a different version of the exam. It is actually the same exam, but just a reversal of the questions.
I basically keep the same format from one semester to the next but change the numbers because I let students from each class keep quizzes to help them review. Simply changing the numbers eliminates friends or relatives getting qizzes from a previous student. (This is for short quizzes only!)
For a Math class, I don't accept answers only.........they must show all work they did to arrive at their answer. Policy up front....no work, no credit.
Great idea......an't copy if you KNOW those around you have different problems!
This is a good idea...................or you could just change the order and if the first few are different, they believe they have different tests!
Not allowing cell phones out in the classroom as a rule from day one. Believe it or not, some students will text their friend across the room for an answer!!
Hi Donna,
What do you do to help minimize cheating. I like for my students to know that they are being watched, simple, yet it works.
Patricia
Hi Allen,
Various versions of a test is extremely helpful when trying to deter cheating. I let my students know that they are being watched, just by me making the statement it helps reduce cheating.
Patricia
