Student Perceptions of Cheating in Online CoursesYour Name:Class Name:University Name:Instructor Name:Student Perceptions of Cheating in Online CoursesAcademic integrity has long been a core concern of faculty as well as administrators operating in campuses. Recent statistics done on the extent of cheating that occurs in college campuses shows that the large majority of students have engaged in this vice to some extent. The core difference in today’s environment is the wide proliferation of technological devices that are used for both delivering as well as accessing information on university courses. Educators are fast becoming concerned on the impact that technology has on the numerous forms of academic dishonesty. Indeed a number of sources have argued that the internet is fast becoming a major culprit for the increasing instances of academic dishonesty. This paper therefore strives to examine what is the prevalence of cheating in online courses looking at it from the college student’s perspective.The number of students who a-re actively participating in college level online courses has far outpaced other forms of distance learning. Online courses are becoming a critical part of many campuses long term strategy as evidenced by the fact that colleges have seen a distinct increase in the levels of online enrolment. The growth in learning opportunities online has increased on the concerns concerning cheating in online courses (Cluskey et al, 2011). Numerous studies have
Frequently throughout the article, Nathan discusses cheating as a part of college culture. She explains that certain forms of cheating have become more “accepted” in college society and that a student’s personal life and experiences must be factored into the reasoning behind cheating. Nathan (2005) uses student answers from her online posted query, in which she posed as a student, asking “When is it OK to cheat?” (p. 29). The answers of many of the students showed that many students recognize certain exceptions that would allow cheating to be seen as
In “Cheating in Online Classes is Now Big Business,” Derek Newton addresses the issue of cheating in online courses and proposes some avenues to explore in order to fight against it. There are businesses, agencies, and entrepreneurs who offer to take student’s online classes for them. Newton shares his findings from contacting one of these businesses that provide tutors to take online classes for their clients, even going as far as taking on their identities. Newton found that for a given price, he could not only have someone take his online class for him, but with a guaranteed high grade. Newton explains that with online education growing so do these businesses. Newton proposes that colleges should employ more interaction between the professors
Ethical behavior should be expected from college students; however, it is not always present. There is a moral obligation for students, earning a degree, that they are in fact the ones doing the homework and tests. The prevalence of online institutions has helped enable a multitude of working individuals earn a degree. Without the classroom setting, it is arduous for a professor to ensure who is on the other end of the keyboard and monitor. In fact, Gopala, Paswan, and Qin (2015) stated that regarding online classes and degree programs, “as a component of distant-learning initiatives, have attracted a lot of attention from educational institutions, administrators, policymakers, and society at large. According to results of Pew Research Center 2011 Surveys, about 23 percent of college graduates have taken online courses” (p. 67). Rocky University has conducted a survey asking 90 of its students whether or not he or she may have cheated on any assignments. Rocky University is interested in comparing itself with other Universities as well as setting a benchmark of its own situation. The following will enable the reader to understand just where Rocky stands after the results of the survey are tallied.
Evans & Craig (1990) found in a study that 61% of middle school students and 71% of high school students perceived cheating to be serious problem in their schools. Moreover, in research conducted by Murdock, Hale, and Webber (2001) on a survey among American High School students, 80% of high achieving high school students admitted to have cheated at least once. The Centre for Academic Integrity (2005) found that on most campuses, over 75% of students admit to some form of cheating.
The internet has made education better for teachers, student and parents however the use of the “information super highway” does not have its faults. What are some solutions to problems such as cheating, plagiarism and the validity of the information online? Ethics, honesty, and fairness in online education are always concerns because of the quick internet transferring of information available to our students. There are numerous ways that educators can help minimize this problem. Some action steps that are readily available to online internet education are TURNITIN which is plagiarism detection software, remote live PROCTORING which uses web cams and humans monitoring several screens in the room where students are connecting to their assignments online, a LOCKDOWN BROWSER can be downloaded to the students computer which prevents students looking up things during an exam, and there are KEYSTROKE RECOGNITION devices that recognize the student and assures that the work is done by that student. Educators have to pay attention to the criticisms as well. Some of the criticisms to examine are the claims that the internet is unreliable, students don’t get group interaction, teaching profession put at risk, no way to measure truth in learning, students sheltered from real world, learning is impersonal, and prevents students from learning how to communicate. The first claim to examine is that the internet is unreliable. In order to find an internet website that has reliable
Many researchers have indicated that cheating is a serious problem on campuses (Bowers, 1964; Engler et al., 2008; Gallant, 2008; Leming, 1978; McCabe, Trevino, & Butterfield, 2001). Studies completed by Bowers (1964) and McCabe and Trevino (1996) revealed nearly identical results regarding student-cheating behavior despite the 30 year time span; both studies identified that
Technology is rapidly evolving and changing, and as a result of the increasing availability and propagation of several forms of technology, academic dishonesty cases in every college and university have greatly multiplied and become a global issue. The issue on cheating behaviors in students is so pervasive and uncontrollable that it is almost considered as commonplace (Arhin & Jones, 2009). One of the hardest challenges for educators is knowing how and when to discipline their students. In the given scenario, there are several issues to take into account; the first and foremost being the issue of academic dishonesty. Academic dishonesty is defined by the Webster dictionary as the intentional participation in deceptive practices regarding one’s academic work or the work of another (Faucher & Caves, 2009). Jones (2011) states that many institutions of higher education have adopted academic dishonesty policies, instituted academic integrity tutorial completion prerequisites for next term registration, and acquired plagiarism software detection tools. They go on to say that within the past few years, high-tech cheating is gradually replacing the simple cut-and-paste cheating, and educators must be proactive and develop instructional strategies that integrate all facets of appropriate digital citizenship, that is, digital ethics. By implementing these academic dishonesty and integrity policies and making them attainable to
The dean of the College of Business at Bayview University wants to conduct a study to investigate concerns about cheating. In order to gain insight on this issue, there was an anonymous exit survey that was given to 100 business students that are in this year’s graduating class. The survey contains three
It’s no secret that every teacher as encountered one of their students cheating off one another; whether because they didn’t study the night before or because in their mind, they felt the need to. Nowadays, in many schools; student cheating is a very common case that’s occurring much more often and occur for various reasons. Whether it may be unpreparedness, lack of time management or focusing on the lesson. Student cheating couldn’t possibly be stopped by administrators because of the new ways of communication that are available to students and the fast pace system of which teachers have their students learn.
The generation we live in now always tries to find a way to do something the shortest way possible no matter if it violates rules. Cheating in an online class seems to be more prominent than in brick and mortar schools people have to attend because online classes give, “more opportunities to cheat” (Miller and Young-Jones). Statistics show that 23.3 percent of students in online classes have given answers to other students, who have not taken the test or quiz, compared to an 18.1 percent for students in traditional classes (Watson and Sottile). That makes a 5.2 percent difference in the two classes. Many students in brick and mortar schools feel that they cheat more than anybody but statistics state that this can only be a myth. Online students cheat easier this way because teachers do not monitor their tests or quizzes. Statistics on kids using their cell phones or handheld devices during quizzes and test in online classes claimed to be 4.2 percent (Watson and Sottile). On the other hand, students in traditional schools
Cheating is always wrong, however, everyone still performs it. It has become a vast deal too apparent today. Remarkably, abounding activities pass as cheating present-day. Whether it is in school, work, sports, relationships, or just life in general, cheating is frequent and familiar. 75% of high school students have admitted to cheating (Educational Testing Service (ETS), 1999). On another note, 70% of men and 50-60% of women conceded to cheating on their spouse (FOX News Network, 2016). An exceeding sector of the world’s population agrees that cheating is not always wrong, and can be beneficial. Cheating may result in getting a good grade or getting ahead, however, ultimately, nothing was learned, and comparable to lying, in the end, it is not worth accomplishing.
How do you catch a cheating student participating in an online environment? As defined in the University of Phoenix 2007-2008 Online Master Catalog, cheating is using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information, or study aids in any academic exercise (University). However, without physically interfacing with the student, how does a teacher ensure a student is turning in assignments that are homegrown within the mind of the writer? With the advent of the internet, information is rampant and often unchecked for credibility. In the same instance, it is a Mecca of information potentially influencing the personal education of billions. Coupling the internet with an online academic environment, there is a potential for cheating. Students are less likely to cheat if they are educated, monitored
The Introduction of online education into the pool of academia has proven to be one of the biggest triumphs since Mac ‘n’ Cheese; its inception complementing this new age of technology. Be that as it may, does this so called “distance learning” threaten the consistency, validity, and integrity of the education system as a whole? While offering more convenience, does online learning unwittingly create a hospitable terminal for slackers and a commodious e-community for academic dishonesty? Despite its advantages, online education is about as significant as a pocket on a suit jacket. To suggest that online education is the equivalent of traditional, in class, learning would be a diabolical misstatement of elephantine proportions. Online education, while offering more flexibility and accessibility, has limited social and instructor interaction, requires mandatory self-discipline, and leaves too much leeway for dishonesty.
Fox news reported that more than 600 students have been expelled from school in India amid widespread cheating. In the Fox news article “600 Indian students expelled after footage shows parents scaling walls to pass cheat sheets there were parents and younger children climbing up a wall to hand other people notes so they would be able to pass their test.” Many people do not want to get expelled because in India if you get expelled from school for failing a test you basically get belittled in society. When I say belittled, I am trying to stress the fact that education is the key, in achieving a higher social class. True education cannot be accomplished without having a standard teaching method where both students widespread, teachers, along with administration break social boundaries to create a more productive learning environment without leaving students widespread any other option but to cheat.
Most students have thought of at one time how to cheat on a test or homework. The sad part about it is that most of us do find a way to take the easy path to get our homework done. If the course is online the education board has made it that much easier for us to find the answers. If someone was to take an online science class let 's say in biology and the teacher ask a question about how a frog reproduces. The students has less worries about being caught from the teacher because most of the questions are multiple choice and it’s online someone else could take the test for them. Unfortunately technology is a tool and can be used in negative and positive ways. If the student if using the Internet for a quick fix he is not understand the material. Students need attentiveness from the teacher to make learning not an option they can skip out on. Even if the online course was to block out other tabs a student could use another computer and device to cheat. No one benefits from this. As