Policy on cheating
We cannot allow cheating because of the serious and consequential nature of some of our course curriculum. If I observe cheating, I use eye contact and if this doesn't produce the desired result, I remove the test and the student. At that point I turn the matter over to my supervising instructor.
Students that are observed by the instructor cheating automatically receive a zero for that exam.
I definitely do not allow cheating in my classroom. I do my best in avoiding cheating by making sure that the students understand the discussions and allow them plenty of time to ask questions and get a good understanding. I feel that by helping your students as much as possible and working with them should avoid cheating.
Hello Karla,
I would like to believe that no instructor allows cheating. It should always be a "0" tolerance level for cheating. There can be times where the student fully understands the discussion, asks plenty of questions, and the sutdent appears to have it all together, but the student still cheats. I have witnessed helping students and working with the student one-on-one, and the student still is dishonest. It is very disappointing as an instructor when you do everything you can for the student, and he or she still violates the honor code.
Patricia
It is very disappointing to have a cheater in the classroom.
When students start classes I talk with them about the importance of trust. We discuss how important trust is in the workplace. I tell students that I expect a high degree of trust with them. Throuhgout the class I will say that I "trust" them to complete an assignment, etc. to reinforce that trust. I have had a student cheat on very few occasions (thankfully). I think the student is just as disappointed in themself as I am.
Hello Judy,
It is very disappointing to have a cheater in the classroom. You can talk about cheating, but invariably someone is going to take their chances. When a student is caught cheating at my educational institution, the student is automatically suspended, and the student receives an "F" in the course, however the student does have the right to appeal the suspension within a 48-hour time frame. The committe hears the hearing, and if the student is granted the right to return, the student still keeps the "F" in the course and must repeat the course. We have had students that were not granted the right to return because the students saw no wrong in what they did and would not take responsibility for their action. Do you have an Honor Code Policy at your institution?
Patricia
I usually position myself in the rear of the class as that allows me to better observe movement such as looking on another students paper. I have gently moved repeat "lookers" to other locations in the test area and then discusssed the move after class.
Hello Samuel,
Positioning is everything whenever you are monitor assignments/tests. I tend to even walk around from time-to-time as students are testing. If I notice "lookers" I make a friendly announcement, "Let's keep our eyes on our own papers." I like how you handle your situation with gentleness and tactfulness, but you do followup with a private conversation, which is important. I have a private conversation as well.
Patricia
I have not run across any cheaters yet, but I did have a student plagiarize his first 2 papers. By the time I caught the first one, he had already turned the second one in. I confronted him with an administrator and he played dumb, saying he'd never heard of plagiarism before. He also did not admit at this meeting that his next paper (which he had just turned in that day) was also plagiarized. We decided to let him redo the work, but before he had a chance to turn them in, I got his final paper and realized he had plagiarized because he had no idea how to properly structure a sentence. Now I'm left with 2 weeks of the semester and have no time to catch him up on basic skills. If I had known early on, I could have helped him.
Hi Jennifer,
You are right, he played dumb about plagiarism. Have you ever known of a college student that never heard of plagiarism? Lucky him, I would have immeidately suspended him from school. He really got only a slap on the wrist. This should be a lesson learned for him. I am sure at some point, he will try this trick again with another instructor. If he is caught again, he should get the maximum penalty.
Patricia
I move throughout the room during an exam to monitor very closely the activity during a test.
Hi Kristin,
What is your instutition's policy on cheating or your policy? Positioning is everything whenever you are monitoring tests. I tend to walk around from time-to-time as students are testing to deter cheaters.
Patricia
Quite honestly, all of my tests and quizzes are take-home and part of them involve doing artwork in the 'essay' section; that way, they're forced to be original and to not copy each other. I cannot control them helping each other in the true and false and multiple choice parts; however, in spite of the relative 'easement' of my tests and quizzes being 'take-home,' a number of students still fail them and do poorly. The student population at the school where I teach is
'open enrollment,' which means that entrance is not competitive and does not require a portfolio or good high school grades to enter. Some students can barely read, which is why I allow the 'take-home' factor. It does give them a chance to use the book and class notes and consult with classmates.
Hi Anne,
Why don't you make your qizzes and tests open-book tests as oppose to take-home tests, therefore, you wil know that the T/F and multiple choice parts are their own work? A test is to test one's knowledge, not one's knowledge along with everyone else's knowledge.
Patricia
You are right! I will try that the next time instead of making the quizzes take-home. This is clearly a better plan. Thanks, Pat! Anne
Hi Anne,
You're welcome. Let me know how things work.
Patricia
We use a test A and a test B. If a student copies it is easy to identify. Same information is covered on both.
Hi Richard,
Yes, this old remedy normally works when cheating is occurring.
Patricia
I like to walk around the room. I make noise while doing so. I hope that their awareness of my presence keeps the cheating down.
Hi Edward,
I am certain their awareness of your presence has detered cheating. An instructor must take a scroll around the room when students are testing, simply to let students know you are watching.
Patricia
