Detecting and preventing cheating in school

Is cheating on the increase in school? Certainly, modern technology has made plagiarism easier and created new cheating methods. Studies show that anywhere from 40% to 70% of students have cheated at some point during their school years. As many as one in 10 students develops a habit of regular, repeated cheating.

Teachers can't depend on other students to point out cheating. No student wants to be in the position of telling tales on a fellow diploma student. Detecting cheating, and preventing cheating, are unfortunately a big part of a teacher's job. Detecting cheating in the form of plagiarism from online sources is time-consuming for teachers. Special software is used in some schools, or a teacher trying to detect cheating can spot phrases that sound unlike the student's own work and run them through a search engine without using fake documents. Some students may not fully understand that paraphrasing can be cheating, so begin the school year by explaining the proper use of sources.

Steps to detect cheating at classroom

Many other methods of cheating have been around for years. Detecting cheating primarily requires a teacher to keep a sharp on students while they are taking classroom tests. Watch for unusual body movements; this can indicate notes hidden in odd places, or prearranged signals between students. Collect scrap paper as well as finished tests, to make sure "cheat sheets" didn't sneak in to get your diploma. Compare test papers, and homework, for excessively similar wording that may indicate degree copying. Whether or not you take the time and trouble to use special software that checks for plagiarism from online sources, it's a good idea to tell students that you do. This may make them think twice about cheating that way.

Specific other ways of preventing cheating

It's also wise to establish a "zero tolerance" policy for cheating, with clearly stated consequences. Consequences that affect the whole class if anyone cheats can help bring peer pressure against cheating. Customize tests. In these days of word processing, it's not difficult to create several versions of the same test, with the same questions but in different order. This makes it harder for students to copy or signal answers to specific questions. Randomly assign seats for testing; this disrupts any plans students might have made for copying answers. Ban electronic devices. or others will turn towards buying fake transcripts but today's students can program their cell phones, even their calculators, to store information. Stand in the back of the room. When students can't tell what you're looking at, they are less likely to risk cheating behaviors. Assign homework that requires personal opinion and analysis. If students don't find their assignments boring, they are less likely to look for shortcuts that may involve cheating.