How To Reduce Cheating In Online Exams
Online exams provide students with a convenient and flexible method to demonstrate their knowledge; however, they also pose the threat of cheating which may have serious repercussions in certain professions.
There are ways to combat cheating during online exams. This article outlines some effective approaches that will prevent student dishonesty during online tests.
Prohibit Backtracking
Online assessments provide more flexibility than traditional paper-based exams, but that also makes cheating easier for students. Luckily, professors have many tools at their disposal to prevent academic dishonesty during an exam; video proctoring may help ensure no suspicious behaviors take place during an online examination.
One solution to reduce cheating risks during online exams is requiring two or three-factor authentication from students when logging in for online exams. This type of verification may rely on facial recognition technology or combination thereof – such as ID verification through scan or photo, voice detection listening for specific keywords/phrases like “Hey Siri”, as well as one-time password sent directly to their phone – these measures could also be combined with methods such as locking camera/browser combo, as well as signing an honor code before taking an exam.
Teachers can help make online exams less stressful by limiting available test time and prohibiting backtracking, though doing so alone could increase anxiety for some students. Therefore, teachers should combine this strategy with shortening exam duration as well as showing questions one at a time to stop students finishing early and returning to Google search for answers.
Other strategies involve administering diagnostic, formative, and summative assessments to better assess students’ knowledge levels and increase engagement with learning processes. Teachers can utilize various online exams such as objective/open-ended questions; short/long answer questions; multiple choice; or true/false.
Lastly, educators can improve the learning experience for their students by cultivating positive relationships and building trust between themselves and their pupils. Students who feel connected to their professors will likely respect them and strive to meet expectations during a course; furthermore, they’re likely to be honest during online tests; in contrast to this scenario, wherein if students feel disrespected by their professors or feel pressured into succeeding academically they might engage in dishonest behaviors during online exams.
Require Two- or Three-Factor Authentication
Cheating has long been a problem in education, and its presence seems to have worsened with the proliferation of online exams administered from student homes or dorm rooms without proctors present. Research suggests that students cheat at alarming rates in assignments and tests, with higher education making less effort than K-12, certification, licensure, or other industries to address it adequately (especially given K-12’s widespread proctoring solutions for high stakes exams).
While advanced remote invigilation systems are now available, these platforms cannot prevent students from using personal devices during an exam to access resources, take screenshots or share screens – thus necessitating educators to devise more proactive means of combatting digital cheating as they design online exams.
One way to combat cheating during online tests is requiring two- or three-factor authentication, such as ID verification through scan or photo, face recognition that compares test takers on screen with past test takers or one-time password sent directly to their phone prior to starting the exam. Such security measures will help deter impersonation – one form of cheating often seen during online examinations.
One way to combat cheating on online tests is to design questions that force students to engage in more complex thinking and analysis rather than simply recall. Such complex questions could include open-ended ones that allow for multiple answers or those requiring higher order thinking skills such as synthesis or evaluation.
Another effective strategy to prevent cheating is educating students regularly on their institution’s academic integrity policy and any associated consequences, such as video reminders of guidelines or including them as links in syllabus or Learning Management Systems (LMSs). Instructors could even require students to review and sign an academic integrity contract prior to online exams as this could have psychological ramifications on those considering cheating.
Don’t Show All the Questions at Once
Cheating remains a significant problem in education, whether students take online exams at a university, workplace or mobile phone. Students frequently turn to dishonest means in order to improve their chances of academic achievement when feeling pressure from modern society and economic conditions. Unfortunately, poor testing practices provide ample opportunity for cheating – while it’s impossible to eradicate the problem entirely, universities can reduce cheating during exams by employing several measures such as restricting use of phones during tests and using encryption protocols during exam periods.
One effective way to discourage cheating in exams is not displaying all questions at once during an exam, making it harder for students to screen capture all questions, share them among their friends or classmates and use as a cheat sheet. Furthermore, this forces test-takers to concentrate on one question at a time before moving forward or backward.
An effective way to stop cheating during online exams is to create questions that require higher-order thinking. Instead of asking simple factual questions that can be found easily in books or through web searches, develop questions that ask for analysis, synthesis and evaluation.
Setting up exams so they are only accessible for a short amount of time is also highly recommended to prevent students from cheating by sharing answers via screen capture or Google Docs; and to prevent them from peeking over peers’ shoulders during their exams.
Additionally, educators must develop trusting relationships with their students. Teachers should act as mentors who care about the wellbeing of their pupils and can assist in reaching their full potential. When students feel connected with their instructors they are more likely to respect them and follow in their example of academic integrity – plus having friendly instructors makes students more willing to discuss any problems during exams or seek support when needed.
Limit the Duration of the Exam
As more educators embrace online testing to give students access to flexible education, it is crucial that they consider anti-cheating strategies. Cheating is a serious problem in educational circles; it prevents students from acquiring critical knowledge and skills as well as staining professional reputations and hindering future career opportunities. Unfortunately, modern technology enables test takers to use various gadgets to bypass exam integrity rules.
Though some cheating behaviors are inevitable, educators can implement effective measures to decrease it. These include employing online proctoring and shortening exam duration. They may also design user-friendly exams featuring different kinds of closed and open questions as well as limit access to third-party websites that may serve as avenues for students seeking answers.
One of the main factors driving students to cheat during online exams is pressure to succeed. They believe they must attain high grades to enter elite colleges, graduate with honors and increase their job chances. Furthermore, many are disengaged with course material and fail to study adequately for online assessments.
In such instances, the best way to prevent cheating from learners is to provide them with a safe space by offering multiple versions of an exam or quiz online. This way, even if their browser closes or computer crashes during testing they can still continue taking the online test without fearing they’ve lost all answers.
Professors can make online exams more challenging by creating questions requiring higher-order thinking like analysis, synthesis and evaluation (Bloom’s Taxonomy 1956). This will reduce students’ ability to google the answers.
Educators must also pay close attention to their student’s motivations and form trusting relationships with them. A friendly attitude and respectful approach toward students will keep them engaged and help prevent them from taking shortcuts during online assessments. Video communication tools like Skype can be used to remind students about academic integrity policies and consequences listed in their course syllabus, or you could request they sign an academic integrity contract before starting an exam online.