To reduce cheating, I ask my students to completely clear off their tables, put all cell phones or electronics away, I have them sit a seat apart and I stand in the back of the room. I ask for complete silence while tests are out. I do not allow studtents to enter or leave the room during the test. I also pick up the tests instead of having them get up and bring them to me to reduce the distraction.
I think the following will be helpful.
1. Get to know your students, check how many of them work part time after college classes.
2. Find out how many of them have kids and attend to thier needs after the college.
3. Check if the syllabus meets the needs of the accrediting exams.
4. Check if the module syllabus and the course content be completed by an average student in the designated time frame.
5. Review your syllabus every few months or atleast annually.
6. Check if you have the time and resources to fairly assess the students.
7. Decide what objectives should be met/ achieved at the end of the course.
8. Arrange the student desk and chairs distantly.
9. Stand at back of the class.
10. Always ask students for their feedback after an exams.
If you course meets realistic learning objectives, if will have a profound effect on the students cheating in your class.
At my school students take their multiple choice tests on their laptops. All of the instructors have gotten into the habit of simply sitting in the back of the class during their test. This is a very simple way of discouraging students from cheating.
As far as situations where we can't do that, I make it clear that as much as they can "fake" certain skills in order to pass a test, that will not help them in the real world and they will end up looking foolish and incompetent in front of their clients. This seems to hit home for most of them.
A few ways I feel that reduce cheating is to separate the students from each other. Second walk around the students as they test. Third the instructor must be aware and not e distracted.
I have many small classes. I usually spread my students out or in some cases give them different tests. The questions are the same but they are just in a different order. Fortunately, I have not had any cheating problems yet.
I also give a speech where I ask my students if they would want a healthcare professional or any professional taking care of, or helping them and that person cheated their way through.
Hi Peter,
I have known instructors to make their students check their work with turn-it-in and submit the documentation from turn-it-in to help minimize cheating.
Patricia
I have my students remove all objects from their desks and place them either in their backpacks or on the floor. They are only allowed to have a pencil. I also ensure they are seated with enough space between them so they can't cheat off of eachother.
Since all assessments in my classes are research papers and projects I stress that I use the turn-it-in software to check for plagiarism. I have the software to use but it is not a requirement for students to submit using the software. I found that students tend to reference more and copy less.
I think to only wy to reduce cheating in class is to pay close attention to the class walk around so they know you are watching.
Hi Marshall,
Very important, NEVER just sitting at your desk during test time. It is crucially important for the instructor to be on their feet during test time. Watching students is an easy deterent to prevent cheating.
Patricia
I try to reduce student cheating by assigning seats, and so that it is not bias, I assigned based on last names. I also use every other seat and I walk around the classroom. In some cases, I do use multiple exam versions.
I always have them take everything off their desk as well as have them sit every other seat in space permits. I also walk around the class but most times I sit in the back of the room. I only allow a certain time frame to take the test.
One, if there is enough room to space students to where students cannot see the other students papers next to or across from them. I am constantly walking around the room stopping at students area and just for a moment observing a students test answers. Going from front of the class and they can see I'm looking around the room, to the back of the class. Never just sitting at my desk.
I agree letting them know ahead of time let them know you are aware of them
The best we have found is by spreading the students out so that their is not an opportunity to converse or for someone to look at another student's test. We also have someone monitoring them in front or back of the classroom.
Hi Maryrose,
If a student cheats one time, they may try to do it again. It is always give to give other instructors heads up about cheating students so that they can be on the look out or at the very best be proactive as you have done. Smart move on your part.
Patricia
Hi Pascha,
I like your cheating policy! It sounds like you let your students know that you are serious, and they will be reprimanded accordingly.
Patricia
I also attempt to reduce classroom cheating as much as possible. I explain to the students prior to giving each test that they can choose to cheat or not, but if I do "catch" them that is even looking like they are cheating then they will not earn a passing grade on that test and will not have any opportunity to make up. This policy is also listed on my course outline as well.
Seating is also extremely important as well, seperate the students as much as possible on testing days.
I had a student in my last class that was caught cheating with a differnt instructor. Having this information, I decided to pass out two versions of the midterm. I felt more at ease while the exam was taken.
