After practicing law for many years, serving as a Special Prosecutor, and then sitting as a criminal judge, I've learned in my teaching that cheating can be eliminated if one sticks to the following format: first, on written exams, make certain that exam answers VARY on alternate rows, so that a student copying from his/her neighbor in entirety for an "A, B, C or D" exam will give a student a ZERO on the exam. That's a sure "tell" which will tell you who is of concern. Also, try to place yourself in the BACK of the room, so that the students never know you are watching, or WHO you are watching. Finally, on essay questions, there exists software on the graduate level that detects plagarism. If your college can't afford that, and you suspect that the material was copied, call the student in PRIVATELY to ask them to EXPLAIN the suspect answer again. If they can't there's the tip off! MARC
On the first day of class, I tell students that cheating will not be tolerated. That it is stealing. I remind them that they need to learn the material because there is no way to cheat taking their state boards. I realize that if a student intends to cheat this "reminder' will not stop them so I spread them out to make it difficult to see another students work.
I would have multiple test and I would make sure there is plenty of room between the students
Hi Robert,
Self confidence has a lot to do with one's performance. If they feel they know a subject really well, they will attack an assessment without any hesitation. Instilling confidence is a big plus.
Patricia
Hi Jean,
Smart move about copying the tests. This speil is enough to deter any cheating. The speil even intimidated me. It will definitely put fear in you.
Patricia
during normal lab time I try to keep students working as much as possible on their own to help build self confidence and keep them off the friends and family plan carrying this over to performance assessments.
My very first class at the University level was an Inorganic Chemistry course. On the first day of class the Professor stated that he disliked cheating more than anything and so he copied 10% of the tests so that when we had our tests returned and changed our answeres he may be able to tell. If he foulnd us cheating that he would put a letter in our perminant file and that we would never get into the health field for which we all were working for. This was enough to make all of us tow the line. I repected him for this. It also gave him poof that we had cheated.
I use this concept today in my classes.
Hi Trish,
You can have a Version B of each test, and use the Version B as the makeup test.
Patricia
Hi Christine,
Great! Continue to use smart tactics to avoid cheating.
Patricia
I always make three different versions for quizzes and exams and students are aware of this. I also spread students out to avoid "wandering eyes." So far I have not caught a student cheating!
I would say it is a bit more challenging, simply because of the time span that may be when the make-up test is given. I do like the idea of using the same test and deducting 10 points off the top!
Hi Walter,
I really like that idea of of scrambling the answers as well. Most instructors will scramble the questions, but leave the answers the same. Very smart practice!
Patricia
Hi Kelly,
It is always a good idea to change the test from time to time. I really like how frequent you change your tests. Rearrannging a test can certainly reduce cheating.
Patricia
Hi Dena,
What do you typically do to minimize cheating in your classes? I make an annoucement to let my students know I will be watching them.
Patricia
I know that many instructors seem to have this problem, but I outline things with my syllubus, I explain to the class that I don't tolerate any kind of cheating, and that if I suspect it, they get a 0 for that activity. I also explain that when they "cheat", they are only hurting themselves, the 0 doesn't hurt my GPA, or my grade for that class. This seems to work very well.
I like to use more than 1 test per assessment. My students set 2 students per table, so I make sure that neither of those 2 get the same test. These tests are very similar in nature, and in fact, usually are exactly the same questions, just in a different sequence.
I also like to change up those tests for each term, so it can't get passed around and memorized by the class yet to come.
I love this idea. Thank you so much for this.
Dena
Besides the obvious, essay, separation/space, I have 2 or 3 versions of the same test. I scramble the order of the questions and the answer. Question 1 with a correct answer of c on one version of the test may be question 16 with the correct answer now being a on the second version of the test. I inform the students of this. I of course have to have an answer key for each version. I also ask students if they really want to rely on another student's answers.
Hi Lynn,
It is time consuming, but remember we have to do what's best for the students, not what's easiest for us.
Patricia
Hi Linda,
Absolutely nothing on the desk except for necessary test materials, i.e. pencil/pen etc.
Patricia
