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Cheating In An Online Environment: How To Prevent, Detect & Deter Dishonesty Perry C. Francis Eastern Michigan University [email protected]

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Page 1: Cheating In An Online Environment: How To Prevent, Detect & Deter Dishonesty Perry C. Francis Eastern Michigan University pfrancis@emich.edu

Cheating In An Online Environment: How To

Prevent, Detect & Deter Dishonesty

Perry C. FrancisEastern Michigan [email protected]

Page 2: Cheating In An Online Environment: How To Prevent, Detect & Deter Dishonesty Perry C. Francis Eastern Michigan University pfrancis@emich.edu

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Your Presenter

Perry C. Francis, Ed.D., NCC, ACS, LPC

Eastern Michigan University• Department of Leadership &

Counselingo Professor of Counseling

• College of Education Clinical Suite o Counseling Clinic Coordinator

• Office of the Ombudsmano Interim Ombudsman

o Email: [email protected] Office: 734.487.4410o Web: people.emich.edu/pfrancis/

Page 3: Cheating In An Online Environment: How To Prevent, Detect & Deter Dishonesty Perry C. Francis Eastern Michigan University pfrancis@emich.edu

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Our Goals for the Next 90 Minutes

• Explore the reasons for cheating and how the online environment supports cheating

• Learn about the must have syllabus statements that help support honesty

• Acquire relationship-building techniques that encourage open communication

• Discover creative assessment tools that discourage cheating

• Identify creative tools to detect cheating if it occurs

Page 4: Cheating In An Online Environment: How To Prevent, Detect & Deter Dishonesty Perry C. Francis Eastern Michigan University pfrancis@emich.edu

Differing Online Platforms

Due to the number of different online learning platforms, I will only be able to offer general information about strategies to use within these platforms.

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Page 5: Cheating In An Online Environment: How To Prevent, Detect & Deter Dishonesty Perry C. Francis Eastern Michigan University pfrancis@emich.edu

The Story of Mr. Smith

• Registered for online course with friends

• They got together to take the tests together online

• Shared test questions through Google Doc along with right & wrong answers

• First student usually did poorly, but all improved over time; rotated who went first

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Page 6: Cheating In An Online Environment: How To Prevent, Detect & Deter Dishonesty Perry C. Francis Eastern Michigan University pfrancis@emich.edu

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Why Cheat?

The reasons are the same as they would be for a face-to-face course

• Fear of failure

• Inability to handle difficult material

• Tedium

• Time management issues

• Cheating is unacceptable at anytime

– 60% women

– 35% men

• All truly understood cheating is unacceptable

• Cheating generally declines over the life of the course

Page 7: Cheating In An Online Environment: How To Prevent, Detect & Deter Dishonesty Perry C. Francis Eastern Michigan University pfrancis@emich.edu

Motivation to Cheat

The reason for obtaining an education has shifted over time

• Before…

– Self-fulfillment

– Love of learning

– Obtaining critical thinking skills

• After…

– Obtaining credential• Growing number of

certification programs

– Better job – Better life

– $$$ Money

7Perry C. Francis

Page 8: Cheating In An Online Environment: How To Prevent, Detect & Deter Dishonesty Perry C. Francis Eastern Michigan University pfrancis@emich.edu

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Pop Quiz #1

Prevalence of Cheating

• In High School

–What is the percentage of HS students who admit to cheating?

• In High School

– How many students see nothing wrong with cheating?

Page 9: Cheating In An Online Environment: How To Prevent, Detect & Deter Dishonesty Perry C. Francis Eastern Michigan University pfrancis@emich.edu

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Prevalence of Cheating

• Depends on the setting

High school:

• 80% admitted to cheating

• 50% did not see cheating as necessarily wrong

• 95% who did cheat were not caught

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Page 10: Cheating In An Online Environment: How To Prevent, Detect & Deter Dishonesty Perry C. Francis Eastern Michigan University pfrancis@emich.edu

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Pop Quiz #2

Prevalence of Cheating

• In the college setting:

– How many college students admit to cheating?

• In the college setting:

– How many college students admit to cheating on a REGULAR basis?

Page 11: Cheating In An Online Environment: How To Prevent, Detect & Deter Dishonesty Perry C. Francis Eastern Michigan University pfrancis@emich.edu

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Prevalence of Cheating

• Depends on the setting

College

• 75% admitted to cheating

• 20-30% admit to cheating on a regular basis

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Page 12: Cheating In An Online Environment: How To Prevent, Detect & Deter Dishonesty Perry C. Francis Eastern Michigan University pfrancis@emich.edu

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Last Question!

How many college students cheat in the online environment?

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Page 13: Cheating In An Online Environment: How To Prevent, Detect & Deter Dishonesty Perry C. Francis Eastern Michigan University pfrancis@emich.edu

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Prevalence of Cheating in an

On-Line Environment• Surveys present varied data

Results from different schools and regions produce different results

Range: 3% to 26%

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Page 14: Cheating In An Online Environment: How To Prevent, Detect & Deter Dishonesty Perry C. Francis Eastern Michigan University pfrancis@emich.edu

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Perceived Seriousness of Cheating

Issue/Exam U/G % G % Fac %

Learning what was on the test from someone else

64 79 93

Helping someone cheat on an exam 89 93 98

Copying from another student w/ their knowledge

91 95 99

Issue/Written Assignment U/G % G % % Fac*

Working with others on assignments when told not to

42 26 60

Paraphrasing/copying w/o attribution (written source)

38 25 80

Paraphrasing/copying w/o attribution (internet) 36 24 69

Receiving unpermitted help 24 13 44

*Faculty have observed the behavior in a course (McCabe, 2005)

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Page 15: Cheating In An Online Environment: How To Prevent, Detect & Deter Dishonesty Perry C. Francis Eastern Michigan University pfrancis@emich.edu

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Do Faculty Contribute to Cheating?

YES!!

Major reasons cheating continues:

• Students rarely get caught

• Faculty fail to follow through when cheating is observed

• Fear of lawsuits

• Time involved in pursuing cheating incidence

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Page 16: Cheating In An Online Environment: How To Prevent, Detect & Deter Dishonesty Perry C. Francis Eastern Michigan University pfrancis@emich.edu

What’s a Professor to Do?

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Page 17: Cheating In An Online Environment: How To Prevent, Detect & Deter Dishonesty Perry C. Francis Eastern Michigan University pfrancis@emich.edu

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Build a Relationship

• Get to know your students

The greater communication between you and the students helps to decrease the motivation to cheat

• Students who feel a great “distance” with an instructor cheat more

• Students were less likely to cheat if they respected and felt respected by the instructor

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Page 18: Cheating In An Online Environment: How To Prevent, Detect & Deter Dishonesty Perry C. Francis Eastern Michigan University pfrancis@emich.edu

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Build a Relationship

• First threaded discussion assignment

Self introduction (including the instructor)• Everyone posts a picture

Interact with the students by asking:• What are you hoping to learn?• How will this knowledge help you achieve your

goals?• Other questions to promote “conversation”

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Page 19: Cheating In An Online Environment: How To Prevent, Detect & Deter Dishonesty Perry C. Francis Eastern Michigan University pfrancis@emich.edu

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Build a Relationship

• Second threaded discussion

Review the syllabus• Academic Honesty & Dishonesty

o Have clear examples and guidelineso Discuss academic integrity o Ask students for examples of cheating and how

cheating impacts the course

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Page 20: Cheating In An Online Environment: How To Prevent, Detect & Deter Dishonesty Perry C. Francis Eastern Michigan University pfrancis@emich.edu

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Build a Relationship

• A student’s propensity to cheat increases when s/he thinks others are cheating

42.6% of cheaters believed peers were cheating

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Page 21: Cheating In An Online Environment: How To Prevent, Detect & Deter Dishonesty Perry C. Francis Eastern Michigan University pfrancis@emich.edu

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Build a Relationship

• Second threaded discussion

As you discuss academic integrity, teach how to be successful

• NOT

How you are going to catch them cheating!

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Page 22: Cheating In An Online Environment: How To Prevent, Detect & Deter Dishonesty Perry C. Francis Eastern Michigan University pfrancis@emich.edu

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Sample Statement• Academic commitment and honesty

• Students are expected to abide by the Student Conduct Code and assist in creating an environment that is conducive to learning and protects the rights of all members of the University community. Incivility and disruptive behavior will not be tolerated and may result in a request to leave class and referral to the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards for discipline. Examples of inappropriate online classroom conduct include repeatedly posting disrespectful comments, FLAMING posts, and/or posting inappropriate content. You may access the Code online at www.emich.edu/studentconduct.

• Academic honesty is essential to the integrity of the mission and success of the University and is expected of all students. It is the responsibility of every student to avoid dishonest practices. There are eight broad areas of academic dishonesty: (1) obtaining unauthorized aid or information; (2) giving unauthorized aid or information; (3) committing plagiarism from written, electronic or internet sources; (4) misrepresenting facts or data; (5) offering bribes; (6) using the library resources unethically; (7) using computer resources unethically; and (8) knowingly assisting in any of the above practices.

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Page 23: Cheating In An Online Environment: How To Prevent, Detect & Deter Dishonesty Perry C. Francis Eastern Michigan University pfrancis@emich.edu

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Academic Contracts

• Presenting students with an academic honesty policy can minimize dishonesty.

• Contract: Clear, simple policies Tailored to the

specifics of the course Clear examples of

what IS and what is NOT acceptable

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Page 24: Cheating In An Online Environment: How To Prevent, Detect & Deter Dishonesty Perry C. Francis Eastern Michigan University pfrancis@emich.edu

Sample Simple ContractI affirm that I have read and understood and will comply with the following two texts:

1. The description of plagiarism given in the University’s Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters

It shall be an offence for a student knowingly:

(d) to represent as one's own any idea or expression of an idea or work of another in any academic examination or term test or in connection with any other form of academic work, i.e. to commit plagiarism.

2. Dr. Margaret Proctor’s advice on “how not to plagiarize” http://www.utoronto.ca/writing/plagsep.html

I also understand the necessity of:

1. Acknowledging dependence on another’s ideas with proper citations

2. Acknowledging the use of another’s words with quotation marks or indenting and proper citations.

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Page 26: Cheating In An Online Environment: How To Prevent, Detect & Deter Dishonesty Perry C. Francis Eastern Michigan University pfrancis@emich.edu

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Beware…

• The 90/10 rule…

People generally focus on the 10% of their lives that are going wrong and overlook the 90% of their lives that are going normal or well

Do not over focus on cheaters…it builds defensiveness in the students who are then more likely to cheat

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Page 27: Cheating In An Online Environment: How To Prevent, Detect & Deter Dishonesty Perry C. Francis Eastern Michigan University pfrancis@emich.edu

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Going too Negative

• When presenting information about academic integrity:

Balance the “Should Nots…” with the “Here is what successful students do…”

Give positive examples of writing style, success, and study hints

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Page 28: Cheating In An Online Environment: How To Prevent, Detect & Deter Dishonesty Perry C. Francis Eastern Michigan University pfrancis@emich.edu

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Walk the Talk

• As previously noted…

Students cheat if they believe they will not be disciplined

If they think you will not act, they might…

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Page 29: Cheating In An Online Environment: How To Prevent, Detect & Deter Dishonesty Perry C. Francis Eastern Michigan University pfrancis@emich.edu

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Use Multiple Assessments

• Never depend on one type of assessment

Multiple forms create a more in depth picture of the student

Makes it harder to cheat throughout the course

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Page 30: Cheating In An Online Environment: How To Prevent, Detect & Deter Dishonesty Perry C. Francis Eastern Michigan University pfrancis@emich.edu

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Writing Assignment Strategies

• Writing assignments are generally the same online as well as face to face

1. Give clear instructions

2. Electronically archive all written assignments for comparison

3. Review online sources (term paper sites) prior to giving written assignment

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Page 31: Cheating In An Online Environment: How To Prevent, Detect & Deter Dishonesty Perry C. Francis Eastern Michigan University pfrancis@emich.edu

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Writing Assignment Strategies

4. Use extensive threaded discussion to obtain writing sample for students

5. When possible, use short answer/essay questions on exams

6. Use plagiarism detection websites as tools to improve writing

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Page 32: Cheating In An Online Environment: How To Prevent, Detect & Deter Dishonesty Perry C. Francis Eastern Michigan University pfrancis@emich.edu

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Small Clues (Krask, 2007)

• Unusual line breaks, margins, or spacing

• Inconsistent quote marks Microsoft Word and WordPerfect use curly

quotation marks (“and”), while material copied and pasted from the World Wide Web may use straight quotes

• The paper may cite a “mystery instructor” from another college

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Page 33: Cheating In An Online Environment: How To Prevent, Detect & Deter Dishonesty Perry C. Francis Eastern Michigan University pfrancis@emich.edu

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Small Clues (Krask, 2007)

• Unusual spelling, as is used in other English-speaking countries. “Colour” and “flavour” are typical examples

• References that refer to publication cities of publishers that are outside the United States. For example, Prentice-Hall publishes in Sydney

within Australia, while it publishes in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey here in the United States

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Page 34: Cheating In An Online Environment: How To Prevent, Detect & Deter Dishonesty Perry C. Francis Eastern Michigan University pfrancis@emich.edu

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Small Clues (Krask, 2007)

Paper may be somewhat off-topic with occasional paragraphs that the student has inserted that are on-topic

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Page 35: Cheating In An Online Environment: How To Prevent, Detect & Deter Dishonesty Perry C. Francis Eastern Michigan University pfrancis@emich.edu

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Meaningful Assessments

• Give students a clear rationale for all assignments

Assignments that are perceived as worthless, too hard or easy, promote cheating • “What’s the point…I’m not learning anything…”

Assignments that require application of knowledge to a related situation give students a chance to apply what they know and demonstrate mastery

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Page 36: Cheating In An Online Environment: How To Prevent, Detect & Deter Dishonesty Perry C. Francis Eastern Michigan University pfrancis@emich.edu

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Exams & Quizzes

• Major Exams When possible and necessary have student

arrange for proctoring

• Testing centers (may involve $$$)• Local Community College Testing Center • Public Libraries • Police/Fire Stations• Places of worship & clergy

Proctor receives password to access the exam on the day of the exam

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Page 37: Cheating In An Online Environment: How To Prevent, Detect & Deter Dishonesty Perry C. Francis Eastern Michigan University pfrancis@emich.edu

Exams & Quizzes

• Use of a Test Bank

Some online platforms allow the instructor to create a test bank• Create 2 test banks and change sources from

semester to semester or rotate questions throughout the quiz

• Change order of the answers in 2nd test bank

Create two exams and randomly assign students to one of the exams• Access granted through password

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Page 38: Cheating In An Online Environment: How To Prevent, Detect & Deter Dishonesty Perry C. Francis Eastern Michigan University pfrancis@emich.edu

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Exams & Quizzes

• Short answer justification for quizzes

Adding short answer justification sections for randomly chosen multiple choice questions calls for higher order thinking and discourages cheating

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Page 39: Cheating In An Online Environment: How To Prevent, Detect & Deter Dishonesty Perry C. Francis Eastern Michigan University pfrancis@emich.edu

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Exams & Quizzes

• Time Limits

Most platforms allow for time limits on quizzes

• After time is up, quiz closes down and is graded

• Prevents student from exceeding time limits

• Allows for you to see how much time student is spending taking the exam

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Page 40: Cheating In An Online Environment: How To Prevent, Detect & Deter Dishonesty Perry C. Francis Eastern Michigan University pfrancis@emich.edu

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Exams & Quizzes

• Chat Room Quizzes

For those who are chat room savvy, creating a private chat room for each student to take the exam at specific times helps defeat group cheating work

Allows flexibility to create different exams for specific students • Work intensive

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Page 41: Cheating In An Online Environment: How To Prevent, Detect & Deter Dishonesty Perry C. Francis Eastern Michigan University pfrancis@emich.edu

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Question Construction

How you create an exam or quiz also promotes honesty by making it more difficult to cheat

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Page 42: Cheating In An Online Environment: How To Prevent, Detect & Deter Dishonesty Perry C. Francis Eastern Michigan University pfrancis@emich.edu

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Exams & Quizzes(Krask, 2007)

• Design questions that could not be answered easily unless the individual has done the previous work in the course

• Have students apply personal experience when answering questions

• For courses that test using calculations, give each student the same exam with numbers changed slightly (rotating the answers)

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Page 43: Cheating In An Online Environment: How To Prevent, Detect & Deter Dishonesty Perry C. Francis Eastern Michigan University pfrancis@emich.edu

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Exams & Quizzes(Krask, 2007)

• Use multiple-choice questions only for ungraded assignments

• Use “rote memory” questions for “gauging the pace of the course and identifying students who are lost”

• Use multiple-choice tests to emphasize important terms and concepts

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Page 44: Cheating In An Online Environment: How To Prevent, Detect & Deter Dishonesty Perry C. Francis Eastern Michigan University pfrancis@emich.edu

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Exams & Quizzes(Krask, 2007)

• Nelson said that he permits referring to the textbook for answers “so much the better; for some, sad to say, it

may be the only time they read the text” (1998, pp. 7-8)

• Design open book questions so that they are more than “scavenger hunts” for correct answers

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Page 45: Cheating In An Online Environment: How To Prevent, Detect & Deter Dishonesty Perry C. Francis Eastern Michigan University pfrancis@emich.edu

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Exams & Quizzes

• Locking computer down

Securexam Browser service (and other platforms like it, e.g., Resondus LockDown) offer high tech solutions to taking exams• Fingerprint technology• Facial recognition• Proctoring services

Additionally, it locks down the computer so no other program can run while the exam is running

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Page 46: Cheating In An Online Environment: How To Prevent, Detect & Deter Dishonesty Perry C. Francis Eastern Michigan University pfrancis@emich.edu

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Group Projects

• Vote you off the island

Randomly assign students to groups

At the end of the assignments, students evaluate one another (confidentially) as to the quality of work

Becomes a simple gauge as to who worked and who did not• Look for consistency in the

evaluations

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Page 47: Cheating In An Online Environment: How To Prevent, Detect & Deter Dishonesty Perry C. Francis Eastern Michigan University pfrancis@emich.edu

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Summary

• Cheating does happen and there is no magic way to stop all cheating

• Use multiple meaningful assessments Structure threaded discussion Quizzes/Exams Papers (short and/or long) Projects

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Page 48: Cheating In An Online Environment: How To Prevent, Detect & Deter Dishonesty Perry C. Francis Eastern Michigan University pfrancis@emich.edu

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Summary

• Prevention is the best way to stop cheating before it happens

Build relationship with students at the beginning of the course

Teach how to be successful

Review the meaning of Academic Integrity

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Page 49: Cheating In An Online Environment: How To Prevent, Detect & Deter Dishonesty Perry C. Francis Eastern Michigan University pfrancis@emich.edu

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Summary

• Prevention is the best way to stop cheating before it happens

Get buy in from the students (contract)

Openly discuss cheating and let students know you are willing to help them succeed and willing to act if they cheat

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Page 50: Cheating In An Online Environment: How To Prevent, Detect & Deter Dishonesty Perry C. Francis Eastern Michigan University pfrancis@emich.edu

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Summary

• Test banks are good

Rotate questions and answers

Split form tests

• Time limits for exams

• Short answer justification for random quiz questions

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Page 51: Cheating In An Online Environment: How To Prevent, Detect & Deter Dishonesty Perry C. Francis Eastern Michigan University pfrancis@emich.edu

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Summary

• Use plagiarism software as teaching tool

• Know the small “cut and paste” mistakes for papers

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Page 52: Cheating In An Online Environment: How To Prevent, Detect & Deter Dishonesty Perry C. Francis Eastern Michigan University pfrancis@emich.edu

ReferencesAdkins, J., Kenkal, C., & Lim, C. L. (2007). Deterrents to online academic dishonesty. Journal of Learning in Higher Education, Vol

1(1), 17-22.  Cercone, K. (n.d.). Tips, Tricks, and How to Prevent Cheating in Distance Education. Housatonic Community College. Retrieved

from: http://it.usu.edu/fact/files/uploads/cheatingdistanceeducation.pdf Christe, B. (2003). Designing online courses to discourage dishonesty. Educause Quarterly, Vol 4, 54-58.  Krask, A. M. (2007). Curbing academic dishonesty in online courses. Technology, Colleges and Community World Wide Web

Conference. Referred proceedings, Vol 2007(1), 159-170.

McCabe, D. L. (2005). Cheating among college and university students: A North American perspective. International Journal of Educational Integrity, 1(1). Retrieved Sept 8, 2012 from: http://ojs.ml.unisa.edu.au/index.php/IJEI/article/view/14

Perez-Pena, R. (2012, September 8). Studies find more students cheating, with high achievers no exception. The New York times,, A 14.  

Raines, D. A., Ricci, P., Brown, S. L., Eggenberger, T., hindle, T, & Schiff, M. (2011). Cheating in online courses: the student definition. The Journal of Effective Teaching, Vol 11(1), 80-89.

 Roberts, J. A. & Wasieleski, (2012). Moral reasoning in computer-based task environments: Exploring the interplay between

cognitive and technological factors ion individuals’ propensity to break rules . Journal of Business Ethics, DOI 10.1007/s10551-011-1196-z ( Retrieved online Sept 8, 2012).

Stuber-McEwen, D., Wiseley, P. & Hoggatt, S. (Fall, 2009). Point, click, and cheat: Frequency and type of academic dishonesty in the virtual classroom. Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration, Vol XII(III).

 Wignall, E. (September 11, 2011). How to stop cheating in online courses. Retrieved from: On Teaching Online,

http://www.onteachingonline.com/2011/09/how-to-stop-cheating-in-online-courses/  Young, J. R. (June 3, 2012). Online classes see cheating for high-tech. The Chronicle of Higher Education.

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Page 53: Cheating In An Online Environment: How To Prevent, Detect & Deter Dishonesty Perry C. Francis Eastern Michigan University pfrancis@emich.edu

Contact Information:

Email: [email protected]: 734.487.4410Web: people.emich.edu/pfrancis/

www.innovativeeducators.org