I think it is far easier to cheat in an online environment as compared to the traditional classroom for several reasons.
1) If tests/quizzes are to be a true test of a student's knowledge, then that means that they are not using the book or their study notes as a crutch or reference when taking an online exam. How do we know that they are truly learning the material? How do we know that they are being honest when they agree to not use their study resources when taking an exam? We really don't know and have to trust that they are academically honest in doing so.
2) Regarding discussion posts, especially those that have a deadline to meet, it is far too easy for one student to slip in there at the last minute and write almost verbatim what someone wrote already (but 2 days ago). I'm not quite sure how to get around this issue.
I think in an online setting is easy for the student to cheat that in the traditional setting.
Patricia,
I think cheating in the classroom has become a bit easier with texting and or google right on your phone.
Shelly Crider
Jacquilin,
True, and you can assign work that is personal or at least add a personal touch.
Shelly Crider
Well, I agree that students cheat in traditional classes, but I don't agree that this means we should not be concerned about students cheating in online classes. The nature of online instruction - that the students work remotely on their own computers - means that cheating will always be a big problem. The bigger question is how you use course design and technology to discourage students from cheating and/or catching them when they do.
For instance, once I post an assignment I assume that the questions and answers will be on the web from that point on. So when designing classes I change the assignments each term and don't reuse questions. This is much more time consuming than photocopying the same assignment sheets each term, as I would in an on-ground class. But it also means I don't have to worry about an online answer site having an A-paper ready for my students to download.
Another technique is to use tools like Turnitin to detect when students are borrowing from other students or sites on the web that are not referenced.
Finally, there are ways to design assignments that discourage students from copying from one another. Asking questions where each student is required to come up with their own example using a situation from their home or work life is one way.
In the end, though, online education will always have the inherent problem of authentication. Unless you have in-person exams or some other way of verifying a students identity, there will always be the question of authorship. This is one of the trade-offs of having the convenience and ease of access that online classes allow.
I would have to disagree with this statement, let’s forget about the actual cheating itself – it occurs, but look up to the level of when cheating occurs. I’ve found that in online classes, it seems more of the students do not study as they would in a face-to-face, and I wonder if this is because of the perception that cheating may be easier online. After all, no one is watching, if I am taking a class with a friend no one will find out, and if it’s online and usually at home, they have all the textbooks and the Internet to look for questions.
While this is not based on any research per se, most of this comes from Turnitin reports over time. Maybe the perceptions of making it easier might otherwise entice someone who would not normally cheat to cheat. In that regard, I think it’s harder to monitor for cheating in an online environment, but also much more important to get the point across early on that cheating will not be tolerated.
I feel that cheating should be treated the same way regardless if it is online or in the classroom. A zero grade for any cheating. Even if justified by a crazy schedule, forgetting to study, etc. It is not fair to the other students who have put forth the effort to study and it shortchanges the student who is doing the cheating.
I agree to the extent that there is not much that you can do about some types of cheating. You cannot control who is at the computer when an exam is being taken. But you can manage expectations of other types of cheating such as plagiarism by letting the student know that it will not be tolerated.
I agree students can cheat in the classroom as well as in online courses. I feel it is much easier to cheat in an online forum though. Minimizing and looking up answers to question because they know no one can tell is very tempting.
Monica,
I love the fact that students have to take ownership of a plagiarism policy.
Shelly Crider
Monica,
It is an easy way out. If a student learns the easy way in college, what will he/she do in the workplace?
Shelly Crider
Monica,
It is unfortunate for everyone involved. Cheating hurts.
Shelly Crider
We should be concerned about cheating in an online environment. When the learner cheats, they rob themselves of the opportunity to learn and grow. Cheaters take shortcuts, are dishonest and detract from those who study and earn their good grades.
We have a plagiarism policy in place; prior to the start of the course we have the students review and sign off indicating they have received the policy. In addition we include the consequences involved if a student plagiarizes their work
The plagiarism policy also provides the students with how to cite their references and resources according to the APA format.
I agree that cheating occurs when a student chooses not to apply themselves. They think it’s the easy way out. Unfortunately, the student who cheats is only cheating themselves.
You can always identify the cheater especially in the face to face environment due to their facial expression as you’re lecturing and particularly if you pose a question that was answered in a previous assignment and the cheater doesn’t know the answer yet copied it from their peer.
As for a cheater in the on-line environment the answer is copied and pasted and is usually out of context because the cheater does not fully understand the objective and competencies.
Unfortunately cheating occurs in both face to face and the on-line environment. Cheating probably occurs more so in an on-line environment due to the various technological tools and resources at the students’ disposal for instance email and discussion threads.
I was facilitating a course where a student accidentally included me in on the email thread that she was sending to her fellow students with the answers to the test questions. I was appalled by her actions. What the student did not know was that the questions were rotational preventing each student from having the same exact test question.
On the other hand, students can actually learn from one another through the discussion assignments especially if it’s formatted as an open forum. Most students tend to learn from their own peers.
Shirley,
A dis-service to student and the work place that student will be going into!
Shelly Crider
I disagree with this statementl. We should be very concerned abut students cheating in the online environment. This is important.
Since I think it is very easy to cheat in the online environment, students are more apt or tempted. Therefore it is very important to pay attention to academic honesty issues and plagarism and hold them to their work, with proper evaluation.
Students should feel the same level of accountability as when they are taking a test in a traditional class. I believe it is very important in online education to be able to teach students to be able to write papers on their own, in their own words and use their own critical thinking skills so this would benefit them more in the future. If you don't correct the cheating than you are doing a dis-service to the student.
Dr. Shirley Chuo
Kimberley,
Some students will feel more at ease to use material that is not their own if nobody is watching! Be a watchful instructor and make your presense known in the classroom!
Shelly Crider
Cheating will always be cheating. I think in an online environment students have more access to online materials, and the comfort of annonimity. Nobody is watching therefore no one will find out. I think that this thought may encourage more cheating than within the traditiional classroom setting.
