So I was trying to get a jump start on some of the work that we had for this week and I read over an article on cheating for this class that got me thinking. I think that most of us went to major universities and I imagine that we've all taken our fair share of standardized tests and I was wondering how many of you have either seen cheating going on or at least known that it was happening for a given exam?
For me cheating has been one of those things that I know has been going on right in front of me but I've never actually seen it. I've always wondered how people pulled off elaborate schemes in order to fake their way to a better grade, even in large classes I've had people had to remove their hats and there were always TA's checking things out. I'd certainly be interested in hearing some of the more amusing stories that people have of others who have tried and gotten caught or those who were more successful.
In third grade, we had these tri-fold things that supposedly were to prevent us from seeing/being seen by people in front and beside us. We sat at grouped desks, so anyone behind you would have had to turn 180 degrees to see what you were doing.
ReplyDeleteWe used these tri-folds mainly for spelling tests, but I found that I could still compare my answers to those of my neighbors if I leaned back to stretch. (I should like to point out that this was the only time I ever tried to cheat in my academic career.)
I don't know if that helps or not.
I think my favorite was actually on an essay exam. The teacher gave us 10 questions which we needed to be prepared to write an essay for. One student bought 10 blue books and wrote out a 5 page essay in each one. Got to class, waited 10 minutes (not even pretending to write) switched the blue book on his desk with one of the 10 in his bag and turned it in.
ReplyDeleteThe teacher knew there was no way he wrote a 5 page essay in 10 minutes. He caught the student and failed him on the spot.
Sean,
ReplyDeleteI know several ways you can cheat in class. I saw it happen all the time, people writing on their arms or just staring at your test. I've already thought of some ways to cheat in MAC. I'll share my ideas if you do my next Taxonomy assignment for me. Deal? Good. (Kristin and Jeff, please ignore this post)
P.S. Follow me on twitter at https://twitter.com/dagolden744
This post cracks me up because as much as it pains me to admit it I cheated in high school a couple times. I remember once writing answers on the desk that I could not memorize and covering up them with a paper. It pains me to say that I got away with and and a decent grade on the computer. That brings me to my point, I thought of myself as a pretty honest student in high school and yet I will admit I resorted to it. However, with new technology students are now able to use more and more things to cheat that I would have never even thought of. This means as teachers we have to be extra vigalent.
ReplyDeleteEvan,
ReplyDeleteActually now that you mention that I definitely wrote on the table to remember some spelling for French class. But that was for French so it doesn't count.
I've seen research that the percentage of students who admit to cheating is really high -- something like 75%. And there are a growing number of stories about teachers cheating to help their schools make "adequate yearly progress" or AYP.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/11/education/11cheat.html
On the AYP note, my sister is an elementary school teacher in Philadelphia. She said she knew of other teachers in her grade actually giving the students the answers to their standardized tests in order to make themselves look good. It's a shame, but as Kristin said, this stuff happens all the time. I guess it is what it is...
ReplyDeleteMy favorite story comes from high school as well. It wasn't on a test, but we had a huge assignment in AP chemistry class due on this particular day. One of my friends didn't have the assignment done, and he didn't want to have the teacher catch him completing the assignment in class. So, my friend asked our teacher to use the bathroom, and when she said yes, he walked back to his desk, discreetly shoved his paper down his pants, and walked out of the classroom to complete the assignment. The teacher didn't say a word.
I once had a Latin-American civilization class with my cousin in high school. She had a hard time remembering the order of certain historical events. I remember one time she had put her study guide under her desk but visible enough to see the answers. I knew she was doing this because she told me. She sat behind me. She kinda got caught and she was quite embarrassed. But the teacher didn't peanalize her because she knew my cousin was a hard worker... I wonder if the teacher would have done the same with her other students...
ReplyDelete