Technology and Cheating
We all know the value of technology, but it can also work against us as instructors. Technology has certainly made the ability for students to cheat a lot easier. The camera on cell phones are being used by students to take pictures of test/quiz answers, test/quiz questions, and test/quiz study notes to assist with test taking, thus allowing the students to ACE tests/quizzes. The internet has caused a widespread of plagiarism on research papers, book reports, presentations, etc. Technology can be a great educational tool as long as students look at it as a resource and not as a way to have their work done for them.
Cell phones can certainly be problematic. One example that happened with me went like this: The strong A student finished an exam and left. Shortly thereafter, her friend, a very weak student, got a phone call and walked out to take it.
When I followed the second student out and asked her if she was done with the exam. She hung up with a frustrated expression and started back to class. Just then, her friend walked out of the restroom putting away her own cell phone.
It is not practical or desireable to confuscate an adult's cell phone and investigate the call or text history. So rather than accuse students of cheating with their subsequent denials and defensive arguments, I simply explain that their actions give the appearance of cheating and it would be a shame for them to be dropped because of that. They get the message and I don't have to fence with bogus denials.
I am an online Instructor and our student's take their quiz on merit. You can suspect when some student's continually ace all test that they are using a source. I have even had some students mistakenly tell me that they used the unit review while taking their test. I always like to think the best of students, but you have opened my eyes to the cell phone usage for quiz and test questions. Thanks for the advice.
