I agree that walking around the room is effective. In addition, I don't allow water bottles, juice bottles, cell phones on the tables once the test has been given.
Melissa
I have also stood in one spot and looked around and then made eye contact with the student that tends to look around.
One way I try to reduce cheating is by creating three different exams that the students take, test A, B, C; and after a certain length of time I update each version of the exam.
Always stand in a spot where you could make eye contact with any given student. Periodically scan the room slowly back and forth--a student who wants to cheat will not be spending as much time with his/her head down at the test. They will frequently look around the room like they are thinking about something, but in reality they are trying to find out who's watching them!
Talk about the reasons why not cheat and that cheating only hurts the student
Hi Christopher,
You're welcome! A lot more work for the instructor, but it certainly minimizes the cheating.
Patricia
Hi JoAnne,
Great setup! I especially like how you check the assignments in intervals to reach the overall goal.
Patricia
Hi Raymond,
Great strategies to reduce cheating! You are certainly at an advantage to arrange such creative seating arrangement.
Patricia
Hi Patricia,
To reduce student cheating, I like to ask the students to leave an empty chair between them and the next person if possible. When I have a large class and that is not possible, I will make 3 versions of the same test so that students sitting on either side have different tests. I found that I only do that for a couple of tests and it seems to solve the problem.
Halina
Personally in all my courses I have an open book and note policy for taking tests. In this day and age memorization does not accomplish anything and is generally not required for most jobs.
Success is not about stuffing their heads with a bunch of facts that they will forget the second they leave the room, but instead knowing how to apply knowledge to different situations.
Dave
Use the same questions on a test, but in different order
Hi Leslie,
Once you determine if cheating has occurred how do you reprimand the student?
Patricia
Hi Mark,
I do the same as you. They are not to be visible during test time. Students have thought of very creative ways to cheat using electronic devices.
Patricia
Hi Jill,
I like to stand and move around from time to time. My students know that during test time they are being watched like a hawk.
Patricia
For major exams, I spread the students out. Otherwise I stay attentive during exams and try not to get distracted with grading papers or other chores.
Hi Daniel,
If I were to do this I would tweak it just a little by starting everyone at the same time to review their answers. This way I feel as though I can better control things.
Patricia
Hi Kathryn,
I have a rule that all electronics must be put away during test time.
Patricia
It is really hard with "smart phones" to reduce cheating in the classroom. I find that it's best not to allow any electronics, as well.
I like this concept. While I haven't used it in the past I think I will start by just putting the same questions in three different orders for each test. In the past I have merely separated the students from each other as much as possible and walked around as they took the exam.
Some things that I include for reducing cheating are: have students remove everything from there desk accept the exam; Since I teach IT classes were there are computers in the classroom, I do not allow students to be logged into the computer while they are taking a written exam, only when they are completing the skills assessment, which requires them to ust the computer; Also, "no cell phones allowed out in class" students may text one another during an exam. I also try to space students out if possible it I don't have time to make alternate forms of the exam.
Ruth Armstrong
