We should still be concerned about students cheating in any classroom.
I remind students several times at the beginning of the term about the importance of citing their sources. I also remind them the sources have to be academic sources. After the second assignment and they still don't comply then I start giving zeros. Some of them have argued that no one cared before and what's the difference now.
It does create more work if I give them a second chance.
Cheryl,
I agree with you! There are things students missing coming out of high school!
Shelly Crider
Given that students do cheat online and on-ground, I do think they are the same. However, it is amazing to me that students (from both types of schools) are not troubled by cutting and pasting and I wondering how much of this is that plagiarism is not drilled into their heads from the moment they reach middle school. I have heard the excuses that everything has been said, so why think of something new to well we all use the same sources, so of course there are going to be matches. But what I tell these students is that cutting and pasting (even if they cite, which is also a major problem) does not reflect an understanding of a topic, just that they can cut and paste. Paraphrasing demonstrates knowledge, cutting and pasting does not. I also educate them that stealing someone else's words is just as bad as if someone stole their smartphone. It would suck, right, so why think that words are not property because they are. When I tells students this, many times the lightbulb goes off in their heads and they are like, "I never thought of it that way." It drives me nuts because when they get to college, I should have to be teaching this stuff!! What do you all think?
Lisa,
Oh I so agree!!! Teach the students how and where to find resources...good resources.
Shelly Crider
Sean ,
Good point. You can tell when a student knows the topic and when they are just reading posts to answer the question.
Shelly Crider
Troy,
Good point. Is there really a way to make sure the student is who they say? It really comes down to what the student will get out of the class if they do, indeed, get someone else to take their exams.
Shelly Crider
Carol,
Then when the student goes out and applys for a job they will say "I got my education at....." Cheating effects everyone!
Shelly Crider
Lyn,
I totally understand that response to cheating or copying and pasting results to a zero grade. What about if it is first time, the option of warning the students and the opportunity to rewrite the paper?
Kristin,
Great point. In most of my classes, I noticed that majority of the students pay attention to their turnitin percentage rating. At times, they can email me to inform me the reason for their high percentage rate in turnitin. Carefully reviewing the papers can also show that they actually did not plagiarize. But am glad that the message has been sent out, meaning students understand that credit has to be given to the author of the article they are citing or referencing. This helps to continue the awareness program of originality in the academic world.
For traditional and online environment, we should be concerned about students cheating. Scholarly learning is all about originality. If this aim is defeated then knowledge will be down the drain and quality education deranged. So adding checks and balances (like Turnitin tool) is an added advantage to ensure that students understand the meaning and need for originality.
Sean
I caught students cheating on the final exam in my on-campus class. They emailed the other student the final answers.
I reported this incident to the Dean of Instruction.
Thanks
Fred K
Faculty need to be aware of cheating in online classes and also in on-campus classes.
Plagiarism is a main way of cheating. Several years ago I taught an online class in which the quiz answers were displayed after the students completed the quiz. Students would give the answers to other students for the quizzes. I leaned that faculty should try to use random questions and also display the answers after the end of the lesson plan.
Thanks
Fred Kellenberger
I think the term cheating is very broad. Monitoring cheating is relative to the activity in which the student is engaged. One thing I always find to be curious about the topic of cheating in schools is that in the work setting, if need an answer, we look it up or ask a colleague. If we do that in school, they call it cheating. More emphasis should be placed on teaching students how to find answers and problem solve rather than memorizing ideas, terms, etc.
I disagree, we should be concerned with cheating/plagiarism regardless where it occurs. I think plagiarism is major consern with online course especially using dicussion forums. Sometimes it is very clear that a student used several forum discussion answers from other students but proving it is hard.
While cheating on assignments is always a concern with online and traditional classes, I've always wondered about tests and major exams. How would we know that the actual student was taking an online exam? Some online schools require the student to post authentication statements, but I often wonder if that is enough.
we should be concerned if a student cheats online as well as in traditional classes because it would mean they are not really getting the material that they should to pass the course.
Kristin,
Here are some more great resources! Take notes and check out these websites!
Shelly Crider
Louis,
I love the fact you ask critical thinking questions. This is a great tactic.
Shelly Crider
I do think cheating should be considered the same and treated the same. I'm sure we are all aware it is a little harder to track in an online environment, but I have personally seen more instances of plagiarism than I can count. Great tools like SafeAssign, PaperRater and TurnItIn are making it easier to track instances of cheating, but the students are also becoming more and more savvy about it. I do think that we, as designers, need to create discussions and assignments that provoke a student to form their own opinion. I personally really like to use ethical issues because there is usually an argument for both sides that need to be backed up with research. I have found that to be the best option for reducing blatant plagiarism.
I think cheating in any format should be addressed. It does not help anyone and only furhter condones it. Implementing ways to limit the likely hoood of cheating and having consequences in the policies is a must. Education in any delivery method needs to do just that, educate.
Michelle Smith
