DISQUS

Luke1946 · 3 months ago

I used to give "open book" tests, telling the class, "If you don't know the answer to a question, then you should at least know how to find the answer." Perhaps that kind of outlook can change how we look at the use of tech to aid us in asking and answering questions.

coolcatteacher · 3 months ago

Open books can be harder than closed. I also give "open notes/ closed
neighbor" pop quizzes to reward good notetaking ( or at least having a
copy of notes in their binder!)

Vicki Davis
Cool Cat Teacher Blog

Building the bridges of today that the society of tomorrow will walk
across.

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Cam · 3 months ago

I just allow kids a 1/2 page sheet of looseleaf with anything on it. I teach Math / Physics. I give them no formulas or constants. By forcing kids to create a "cheat sheet" they end up studying, and often don't have to look at it at all during the test. And why would they "cheat" with a phone when I allow the sheet? I wonder why we insist on kids memorizing material.

coolcatteacher · 3 months ago

Wow, Cam - what a GREAT idea!!! Phenomenal!!! I love it!

Cam · 3 months ago

In fact, here in Manitoba (Canada) our applied math provincial exam allows a full sheet of looseleaf of notes.

Dr. Frank Buck · 3 months ago

Cam,

I had a professor who did the same thing. I put in more time on the material making decisions about what should go on the card than I would have spent with normal studying. It was a great tool.

Alfred Thompson · 3 months ago

I once gave a class several versions of the same test. When I handed them out someone complained that they and their neighbor answered C for question 5 but I maked them wrong and their neighbor right. I explained that they had different tests. Student asked if I had told them about that. I asked "why would I need to do that?" :-)

Charles · 3 months ago

What if teachers set up an anonymous whistle blower hotline? Would that help? Other students probably know when others are cheating but don't want the social stigma of reporting cheaters.

coolcatteacher · 3 months ago

A text message line perhaps? :-)

Vicki Davis
Cool Cat Teacher Blog

Building the bridges of today that the society of tomorrow will walk
across.

Sent from my iPod touch

Dr. Frank Buck · 3 months ago

Vicki,
I think your last paragraph hit the nail on the head. Good supervision squashes any number of sins both now and in days gone by.

Multiple versions of tests make cheating much tougher, and with technology, making those multiple versions is a snap.

coolcatteacher · 3 months ago

You are right, but I do know many who have a file of tests they pull
from each year!

Vicki Davis
Cool Cat Teacher Blog

Building the bridges of today that the society of tomorrow will walk
across.

Sent from my iPod touch

K1 Teacher · 3 months ago

Consumer technology will continue to make it easier to access information anytime, anywhere. In that sort of environment, shouldn't we be teaching students to search better/smarter/faster?

I think this is a variant of the "no calculators during math" argument, and the side you take says something about your educational values. Do you value the time and effort it takes to learn by rote and memorization, and the benefit of the automaticity that comes with it? Or do you value creative problem solving, collaboration, and research skills?

I also have to admit my bias - I don't think this is fundamentally a technology problem. I think it's pretty clear that grading has several negative educational outcomes, one of which is cheating. I know, that sounds pretty far out, but I can make a pretty good case if you want to hear it.

Anonymous · 3 months ago

Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this. It is definitely a problem. How do you even get the students to admit they have a phone with them in the classroom? I could see that as a problem

terryfreedman · 3 months ago

At the risk of sounding completely out of whack with everyone else, I should like to suggest the following:
1. Cheating has always gone on, electronically or otherwise.
2. Sometimes cheating can be legitimate: I found when I was 14 that the ONLY way to avoid math detention every single week was to sit next to the brightest boy in the math class, and surreptitiously copy his answers. That leads me to the next point...
3. At some point, isn't it necessary to admit the possibility that cheating behavoiur is a legitimate response to poor teaching? Not in all cases, obviously, but in some?
4. In contrast to #3, it's hard to counteract a general culture and some parental upbringing that seems to reward cheating!
5. In my experience, kids live up or down to our expectations of them. I always assumed that the students in my class wouldn't cheat, and I reinforced this by making it clear that I would always know if they had -- you don't need electronic aids to recognise changes in writing style or plagiarism. Consequently, none ever cheated, as far as I know.
6. If a student finds a really good way to cheat, shouldn't they be be rewarded with a privileged position of working with the school to close cheatiing possibility loopholes? Like sensible companies do with computer hackers?
I admit that some of what I've written is slightly tongue-in-cheek, but I do think we all fret too much over this without thinking about it in a more creative way.

Pam · 3 months ago

I am an administrator at this time and deal with lots of complaints about cheating. those of you who are willing to monitor closely as students test and are willing to mix up your test questions on different versions will have fewer problems. It is just that simple! Be proactive and remember that kids will take advantage of your lack of vigilance for the most part. A tough school policy will deter some as well. I like the response of someone who stated that teachers who allow a note card etc. are really prompting kids to study. After all, that card takes a lot of preparation.
My praise goes out to all of you who are willing to work at assessing learning in ways that make sense to kids and also help us judge whether or not they have met the learning targets we put out for them.

Anonymous · 3 months ago

Being a student myself attending college I know the in's and out's of cheating and what goes on behind closed doors. I know the tricks and yes going to the bathroom using a cell phone is the most popular! If the student is ever going to achieve anything and learn anything then the teacher must not be so lazy. Of course it takes more work for the teacher to make up different tests but in the end it's totally worth it. The teacher and the student are gaining more than what they think.