Carrie,
Excellent idea. I like the essay questions as well. Most people can memorize information, but are they really understanding the information?
Shelly Crider
I actually went through grad school in a distance education environment. My Professors each dealt with this situation in different ways. Some provided timed tests so that while yes, you could cheat since no one was really watching you, you really didn't have enough time to fully cheat otherwise you wouldn't finish the exam. Others allowed for open book tests but formed the questions in such a way that it would require reflective thought. I actually felt like I learned more from the tests that required reflective thought. Some questions were basic fill in but others were in essay form. Instead of just spitting back memorized information, I was required to try and apply what I learned. Not only did that cut out cheating, it also helped me learn more from the exams.
Detria,
Nicely stated and oh so true!! I love out of the box thinking because that is exactly how real life is!
Shelly Crider
Kelley,
I like your plan Kelley! This is a good course to gather ideas!
Shelly Crider
Instead of saying we shouldn't be concerned about cheating, I would say that we need to explicitly re-define what cheating is for online learners. Because the online learning environment is so different, cheating for online learners is not the stereotypical "writing the answers on your hand." Instead, allowing for tests where students can openly use their book but only, for example, allowing 1 or minimal attempts for answering the question help to combat online 'cheating.' The goas is to make sure they are learning, not just regurgitating information. Finding the best way to measure learning (without cheating) in an online environment, requires thinking outside of the box.
I do think that cheating occurs both in classroom and online environment. However after reading this discussion I will spend more time putting emphasis on the value and payoff of studying with integrity and authencity.
I so agree with Barbara that cheating in whatever context is cheating themselves. Since most of the threads I have read agree that cheating is ongoing, it might be beneficial to start each one of my courses with a discussion about both what needs one tragically attempts to meet by cheating and which needs are compromised.
Barbara,
I like how you state "de-value". That is right on target!
Shelly Crider
Robyn,
We do need to stress the importance of being proud of your own work.
Shelly Crider
To me cheating is cheating is cheating no matter if it is online or in a traditional classroom. As a facilitator and faculty it is important that we identify cheating however it is most important that students realize that cheating on subject matter is only cheating themselves of valuable information they may be missing out on. They are de-valueing themselves when they cheat. I also believe cheating can be malignant no matter if online or in traditional classrooms and if identified must be stopped and cheaters must be reprimanded and perhaps even kicked out of program they're studying.
I believe we should be concerned about students cheating. I think that we as instructors need to explain to our students the value of knowing the information rather than relying on someone else to provide it for them. In the end the person that cheats is only cheating themself.
Amie,
You sound like a Bloom educator! I like that in you!!
Shelly Crider
Cheating is cheating, regardless of the instructional delivery technique used. The goal should be to design authentic assessment versus rote memorization that will give the students an opportunity to demonstrate their understanding/grasp of the material. If the assessment is critical to passing the course, then the institution has a responsibility to develop a plan for assessment that alleviates or at least discourages the opportunity to cheat (i.e. in person testing site).
Kendra,
It does hurt reputation of everyone involved. Good point!
Shelly Crider
Kelly,
You can even go as far as have certain question sets for each test opened.
Shelly Crider
I think we should be concerned about cheating since it is dishonest behavior. Students who cheat their way through programs and online classes are not learning the knowlege, skills or abilities that future employers will expect them to have. This then hurts the reputation of the school and the instructors and makes it harder to recuit future students who would be interested in attending our school.
Unfortunately, to many students see cheating as the only way to "get ahead" so as educators we must have strong policies against the behavior and be willing to enforce them to act as a deterrent to such behavior.
Cheating is cheating, online or in a traditional class. We should take precautions when building online test material so cheating doesn’t occur. You can setup a test to give random order of questions instead of always the same order, you can prohibit students to open test in new window so then can’t review the course content when doing the test.
False – any cheating jeopardizes the integrity of the institution. Cheating should never be tolerated.
Bobby,
Where there is a will there is a way! No matter what the technology!
Shelly Crider
Depending on the structure of the class, some exams and quizzes do not time out in an online environment which allows the student to use the internet to help find answers to questions. I say this as I know some students who wee doing this until I set the online class exams/quizzes to be log on specific, and set the restrictions that did not allow questions to be copied/pasted.
However, students are inventive creatures and if there is a will to cheat, they will somehow find away to do so, especially in todays technology age.
