Marissa Richardson October 25, 2013

Scenarios of Academic Dishonesty Heard from professors: In one of Dr. Griffiths major classes his first years at Gardner-Webb, he experienced his classmates engaging in blatant forms of cheating. To make matters worse, the class was taught by someone high up in the Gardner-Webb social hierarchy. For the first test in this class, the professor handed out the papers then mysteriously left and never returned for the remainder of the class, leaving the students to take their first test on their own. As soon as the professor left, all the students except for Dr. Griffith moved together at the end of the large table at which they all sat to congregate, discuss and take the test together. Dr. Griffith being the new kid in class knew if he told on the students, they would all know it was him who betrayed them. However, Dr. Griffith later found out that none of the students did very well on any of the tests or in the course at all and one individual ended up going to jail for a felony that took place outside of Gardner-Webb. Solution: The professor could remain in the class for the duration of the test, require students to spread out, randomize question order, and walk around the room during the text. Dr. Hobbs had a student one year pay another student to write her papers. The academic dishonesty, however, does not stop here. The student who was paid to write the papers blatantly lifted entire paragraphs from various sources, making the plagiarism glaringly obvious. Solution: All professors should clearly define plagiarism and forms of academic dishonesty, perhaps even handing out a print copy or offering a digital copy of what entails plagiarism and cheating in their class. There was an instance a few years ago at Gardner-Webb during which a student, Jim, deliberately left his entire online test up on a computer for other students to file in and copy his test answers. This caused a great controversy as the entire scandal was a matter of he said she said but eventually the students were caught and punished. Solution: The professor should remain in the classroom the entire time, walking around the room and glancing at students screens. The professor could also set a time limit on the test in order to avoid some students taking extra time to look up answers, confer with a neighbor or copy someone elses test. Heard from students: Elizabeth discussed that cheating has been rampant in her Math 100 class since the beginning of the semester. Students do not have to try very hard to get away with cheating in their class as they simply use their notes on tests either physically or by looking at pictures of the notes they have saved on their phones. Students also look up formulas and equations on their phones or keep them hidden on the inside of their

Marissa Richardson October 25, 2013

calculator sleeves also a popular cheating method used in middle and high schools to avoid having to remember the formulas. Solution: The professor could require students to place all backpacks at the front of the class before the test, leave calculator sleeves in their backpacks and collect phones at the front of the class, all the while patrolling the classroom looking for cheating. A classmate of mine shared how her roommate during freshmen year would use various guys around campus to do her homework all year. In exchange, she would flirt with them and lead them on throughout both semesters. Solution: At the beginning of the year, the professor should explain, in detail, what he/she considers cheating and whether or not that includes using other students to complete homework, sharing homework answers, or using other resources such as the Internet. In my ASL 101 class, my professor (who is deaf) will go outside of the class near the stairwell to video the students signing to her, placing the rest of the students out of her line of sight. During this time, some of the remaining students in the classroom will discuss answers to the test (using both voice and sign), taking advantage of the fact that our professor could neither hear nor see them. Because my professor leaves the students in the class with both the receptive and multiple choice parts of their tests until it is their turn to sign to her in the hallway, it is easy for them to use their phones, books or each other to check or change answers. For the entire duration of the class, my professor never enters the classroom or peeks around the corner to check on the students in the classroom to see if they have questions or are discussing the questions. Solution: My professor could take up all tests as soon as all students are finished with the receptive and multiple choice portions as opposed to leaving us with the tests for the duration of the class. Other common and/or creative ways of cheating: Writing answers on the insides of coats, scarves, hats, etc. Slipping cheat sheets into boots, pockets, girls wristlets (in the place of a drivers license), on the backs of water bottles in place of the nutrition facts or labels or on bracelets. Leaving a text book or binder on the floor or even on the desk with an answer sheet or notes visible during the test. Setting a cheat sheet or notes strategically in an open backpack during a test to glance into. Waiting for one student to finish a paper test for the others to quickly pass around and copy. Writing answers on body parts (arms, legs, hands, fingers, etc.) Stashing a textbook or notes in the bathroom to utilize during a bathroom break

Marissa Richardson October 25, 2013

Students gesturing, making noises, coughing, sneezing, etc. to indicate a multiple choice answer. For example, one knock for a, two for b, a cough for c, etc. Recording audio answers on ipods and listening to music (the answers) during a test.