Penny,
I agree - we must take it seriously and do what we can to prevent it.
Best,
Jon
Agreed - you have to do take it seriously. - Jon
Yes, I strongly agree on this 'Cheating' topic. A student who wants to cheat, he/she will cheat regardless of leaning environment he/she is in. The only difference can be, cheating may be little easier in online learning environment, however with the technological advancement, 'Sky is the limit' when it comes to cheating (LOL).
I believe, student who cheats in their learning (borrowing someone else's work, purchase homework, termpaper, project and turn them in from paid online sources, etc.) would suffer in real life when he/she gets into the professional world. So, cheating in learning is really comes down to cheating him/herself.
Can you prevent someone from cheating, no. If a student really wants to cheat bad enough, they will find a way. I think as an online instructor you need to be aware of trends and patterns you might see even more then you might as a on-campus instructor. It's pretty easy to see if a student is cheating when you are sitting in a room with them compared to a student sitting at home taking a test. I think you can deter the desire or need for cheating if you provide enough opportunities for students to show their understanding of the material. If they can do well on those assignments and show they have retained the information they themselves shouldn't feel the need to cheat. If they think they need to cheat through the entire course, I doubt they will find someone willing to do all of their work for them when you have a substantial amount of work for them. That's not to say that you need to give just "busy work" to try and deter them, but logically the more work students have to challenge them with what they should be learning I think the less likely they will feel the need to cheat. Say, you give just 1 final test and nothing else through the term, I think students would be much more likely to find someone to take the test or to help them through it because they weren't as motivated to keep up with all the information during the year.
I suspect that it is much easier to cheat online (at least in a math class) than in a traditional classroom. For example, for an unproctored test that is supposed to be closed book, how does one know that the student isn't using a book? Or using another person?
I believe this is a matter of morale ethics. As an instructor it is our duty to help build and prepare students for their desired career paths(on the ground and online). By allowing students to cheat it enables the student from building key performance skills that will help them to be competitive in the work place. Cheating doesn't by any way help a student to analyze, learn to paraphrase, or critically think about a given concept.
All instructors especially those online should be concerned as it has been discovered that a large portion of our students do try to "CHEAT." We must realize these students will be the leaders of tomorrow, and if all they have learned is how to master the art of cheating--America is in a world of trouble.
Cheating is always important, whether online or onground.
Cheating is always a concern--regardless of the mode used to deliver a course.
Most of human history seems to be exercises in increasing the rewards that we get while minimizing efforts used to get them. The reason tools exist is because of this drive. The reason the PC exists is because of this drive. Cheating is an example of this as well--why should a student put forth extra effort when it's possible to meet the requirements while using another's work? From an evolutionary p.o.v., this runs counter to one of our most basic drives as humans.
As educators, I believe the way to counter this drive is by making the acquisition and application of knowledge the goal rather than the evaluation of that knowledge. The question is, how do we encourage students to learn with the mindset that learning is the tool that helps minimize required effort instead of learning with the mindset that they just need to pass a test or exam or assignment?
if a student is going to cheat online or on ground, we as instructors, have little contol over their actions. i can usuallt spot when a student is attempting to cheat and would think that online it will be pretty apparent also. it is often a matter of being aware of the level of each students work.
Cheating is cheating, as plagerism is plagerism. There is no getting around it. As an on-line instructor, you should be concerned about it.
However, if, as a student you have taken the time to join an on line course, it is ultimately up to you how you behave and accomplish your goals.
Cheating from another student is only doing a dis-service to yourself. You will have not gained the knowledge needed to move ahead.
Once you know your students, you get a fairly good sense of who is cheating. You can see it in their writings, postings, assignments.
Again, it is only the student who suffers from this behavior.
By mixing up your content and getting to know your students you can usually tell if they are cheating. There is no way to eliminate it altogether but by structuring your online course activities with verifiable activities or making the grades dependent on group activities and making the students show their work you can minimize it. with biometrics and other high tech surveillance tools you can also get extremely good at catching cheaters so it cuts both ways.
Cheating is a concern for online courses. In fact, it may be a larger concern than it is for resident courses. I have seen some recent articles asking how online schools confirm learner's identities? What stops online students from hiring somebody to do the course work for them? Proctored exams provide some verification, but in these days of advancing technologies, cheating in online courses should be a real concern.
Julie
I agree. I think that with sound course design and activities that involve interaction between learners and instructors, an environment can be created where there is little incentive and limited opportunities to cheat. Rather than trying to stop cheating (which will inevitably always occur) it is better to create opportunities for positive interaction and sharing of ideas. For example, one of the classes in our program is ethics. Situational debates and role plays about cheating itself can be quite enlightening and engaging. By having groups of students work together and present positions for and against an ethics issue or do a role play with a real issue from the news, they learn to look at an issue from different perspectives and learn from each other. If you do your grading rubrics to include group dynamics and participation there is no opportunity or incentive to cheat because everyone plays different roles. If the grade is not about what is right or wrong but how you participate,present, defend, support, and share your ideas good things can happen. If your online content relies too much on old ground class techniques like true/ false, multiple choice, term papers, and book exams there are more incentives to cheat.
It is easier to cheat in an on-line environment, in some capacities. The students could use their books and notes to help when it comes time for test. However, time limits tend to help curb theses issues. As far a being concerned about this, I do not think it much of an issue. Yes we should be a little concerned, but if we design the questions and test to be more open ended and to invoke critical thinking, this will not be much of an issue.
I agree that it is important to remind students why it is important to do their own work. I also think if an instructor makes the assignments enjoyable and relevent, a student might be less likely to cheat. If students feels that the assignment will be helpful in their careers, they might be more likely to do the assignment on their own.
We should definitely be concerned about cheating in both online and traditional classes. I believe the integrity of the school could be jeopardized if a student earns good grades but is not qualified for a job because of cheating. I do believe that in online courses, it is easier to cheat on exams as the instructor may not know who is actually taking the exam. However, in terms of writing papers or doing homework, I think it is just as easy to cheat in both settings. With devices such as Turnitin, many of those who cheat are caught. Those that really want to cheat, will find a way whether it is in an online or traditional class. As instructors, we can only hope that the students value their education enough not to. We should provide an environment in which students enjoy learning by making assignments interesting and relevant.
Cheating and plagerism are critical issues for the online environment. Students often try to take the easy way around assignements and will contact people they know who have taken a course previously to get copies of earlier assignments. Written papers are often copied from web sites that provide papers to students. Cheating is a huge problem online and in the traditional classroom. Unfortunately, it is a problem that has been around a very long time and one that is difficult to completely prevent.
Sharon,
Good points - I look for consistency, and use some anti-plagiarism tools.
Jon
I think cheating is always a concern, but with the adult student it is more difficult to address than with younger students. In an online environment, students who want to cheat, have an easier time than in a traditional classroom. I choose to assume they make ethical choices. If it is obvious they are doing something that is less than ethical, I would address it in an email to them.
Sharon
Good points - thanks for sharing! - Jon
