I have this nice hour long breather right now. My students are taking their midterm so I get to come on here and rant. Not to worry, they aren't left unattended. I am using a classroom computer.
Yet I still wonder if I should have brought a video-camera to class. I caught two of them looking at each other's papers. Time to start using two versions of the test (or lie about it)! So, I made a general announcement to the class about looking at each others. The guilty party kept looking up at me to see if I was still watching the class. I have this uncanny ability to type and watch them.
And then they started talking to each other. Told them both to come see me after class. For what? he said. For talking to each other.
She made a comment about the other guy finishing early, he said.
You both were looking at each other, I said.
Prove it! He announced to the class.
Live and learn. I will be videotaping the final.
You prove it by writing down their names and paying extra close attention to their respective answers. Any glaring similarities, and they fail. If they have radically different exams, maybe they were doing as they say, though ill-advised.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI bring to all exams a Canon-EOS 300D Digital Rebel DSLR camera with a Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 zoom lens. The big, old lens can zoom in and clearly show students trying to sit in each other's lap; it can also zoom out to get an image of the whole large lecture hall in one shot. Just waving it around at students noticeably reduces attempts at cheating.
ReplyDeletere: the camera - excellent idea! I'll do that next exam.
ReplyDeleteBut as for "proving it" - you're an eye-witness. You're the one whose judgment matters.
The phrase "no talking or looking at other papers" does the job. They talked. It was against the exam policies. They lose. Done.
ReplyDeleteActually, it turned out okay. We have a new Dean of Students and he seems very supportive of the faculty. I called him up, he came by my classroom and took care of Mr. Prove-It and his accomplice right then and there.
ReplyDeleteNo one else will be cheating this semester.
Jeebus. And glad to hear your Dean is not a douche.
ReplyDelete