According to “Learning to E-Cheat: A Criminological Test ofInternet Facilitated Academic Cheating,” authored by John M. Stogner, Bryan Lee Miller & Catherine D. Marcum, the 2012 study shows that “approximately 40% of [American] college students have engaged in some form of E-cheating.”
In her recent article, “How Students Use Technology to Cheat and What Faculty Can Do About It,” Lisa Z. Bain acknowledges some in-class and out of class E-cheating methods including:
In her recent article, “How Students Use Technology to Cheat and What Faculty Can Do About It,” Lisa Z. Bain acknowledges some in-class and out of class E-cheating methods including:
“ · Use
of electronic device to access unauthorized information
· Use
of text messaging (including IMenabled calculators)
· Use
of programmable calculator
· Use
of cameras
· Use
of MP3 players
· Copy
information from the Internet and electronic media
·
Purchase papers/documents, solution/instructor manuals, test banks from the
Internet
or by email
or by email
· Use
of Cheating Web Sites
· Use
of Amazon’s Search Inside the Book
· Use
of Social Media to share information”
Students Cheat to Cope with Social Stress
“The answer came up and I was able to get it right without having to go to my textbook to look it up,” Student A continued.
Besides the accessibility provided by the Internet, Student A agreed that in-class online cheating has become more prevalent because some professors allow their students to use laptops in class and have their cellphones out during lectures.
In addition, Student B shared how he has cheated in almost one–third of his web-based quizzes in a class.
When asked if he thought technology can facilitate E-cheating, Student B nodded his head and replied, “It has gotten so bad that it comes to the point where students are asked to submit their paper through a program to detect if there is any plagiarism,” he said. “It’s really sad. “
However, some students hold the opposite opinion. “People who used to cheat before will continue to cheat using technology, whereas people who do not cheat before probably are not going to cheat using technology,” said Student C. “It’s just depends on whether you are the type of person who cheat or not.”
On the other hand, some students like Student D cheat to help others instead of cheating for his or her own sake.
Student D remembered that a physics exam was split into two back-to-back sessions and the cheating involved more than 15 students.
She said she helped her friends to cheat throughout all their midterms and finals. "There was one time that my teacher realized I was helping my friends to cheat but luckily no action was taken against us."
Professor Says Online Exams Offer Time Flexibility, Locational Convenience and Grading Efficiency
Michael Evans, an Associate Professor from the University of
Maryland Department of Geology, shared the reasons why he still chooses to
distribute web-based exams even though he is aware of the issue.
He said that students in his class are allowed to use any
resources available to them but no help from a human being is permitted during
the two-hour, multiple choice online final exam.
“I believe that the exams are actually not that hard so it’s
not worth the effort of copying or sharing information if [the students] have
been to class,” he said. “If [the students] have been awake, [the students]
should do just fine.”
In order to prevent students from engaging in academic
dishonesty, he has developed several strategies to secure and maintain the
quality of his tests.
Another strategy that he implements is to randomize the exam
questions. “I am building up a bank of questions so it’s possible that I may
ask students a subset of the total possible questions that are randomly
selected so not everyone will have the exact same test,” said Professor Evans.
Expert Says Using Testbanks to Study Old Lecture Notes and Past Exams is Academically Acceptable Only If Professors Approve
As information
sharing over the Internet has become more extensive, testbank websites such
as Koofers offer a new way to help students access to old class notes,
past quizzes and old exams.
This becomes a
question when many students are confused if studying these materials is
considered violating the code of academic integrity. James E. Bond, an
Associate Director from the UMD Office of Student Conduct, provided his understanding
on the issue.
Bond also said students
often get into trouble because they don’t carefully read on the Academic Dishonesty
or the Honor Pledge sections listed in the syllabus.
In terms of punishment students will receive if they are caught cheating, Bond said it varies
depending on the severity of the offense.
All in all, professors
are encouraged to update their syllabi regularly and communicate clearly so that students understand what
resources they are allowed to use during in-class quizzes or
take-home exams.
The Office of Student Conduct also encourages students not to cheat in order to avoid any harmful consequences.
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