Blatant cheating detected in an online exam Simon The University of Newcastle

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Blatant cheating detected in an online exam
SimonThe University of Newcastle
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QA

• Why have exams?
• We can be sure theyre the students work.
• In an online distance course?
• Comparability with the on-campus course.
• Do we expect cheating?
• Of course.
• Survey results McCabe 50 Kidwell 75 Lim
  95 Pulver 12 in a single course.

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Some considerations

• Cheating on exams considered more serious, less
  prevalent than cheating on coursework
• (Franklyn-Stokes, Pincus)
• Cheating in an online distance course considered
  more likely than cheating on campus . . .
• (Colwell)
• . . . difficulty of proper supervision
• (Olt, Christe, Rowe)

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Our online distance exam

• Available over a long period (48 hours)
• Students download when theyre ready, return
  within 3½ hours timing obvious to lecturer
• Possible ways of cheating include
• collaboration on one students exam
• early access to exam, eg from someone whos done
  it
• substitute candidate doing exam

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An attempt to detect cheating

• Multiple versions of exam, available at different
  times over the 48 hours
• All must look the same to the students
• Will any students return earlier versions than
  they downloaded?

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Exam downloads and uploads

• alternating grey white exam versions
• dashed lines actual students
• arrows detected cheats

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Cheating discovered

• One group of three of more
• One group of two or more, we believe at least
  three
• Cheating not discovered
• ?

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Closing thoughts

• At least 17 cheated on this exam
• How many more cheat on assignments?
• How can a university justify offering online
  courses when students can and do cheat with
  impunity?
• What can a teacher do?
• Give up, go with the flow, and assess as if
  everyone were honest?