The article, Cheating in Online Student Assessment: Beyond Plagiarism, discussed cheating on online assessments. The article explains that some people believe cheating should not be a problem if the class is well designed. Some ways that may eliminate cheating are using group projects and by having continuous paper-pencil tests. The problem comes in when there are online-assessments.
This article gives three main problems that occur with cheating on online tests. The first problem is, “Getting assessment answers in advance.” If students do not all have to take the test at the same time, they are able to discuss the answers with those who have already taken the test. One way to alleviate this problem is by drawing from a large pool of answers so that the questions on the test are random. One down fall of this idea is that this may make the test unfair, where some students may get harder questions than others. Students may also be able to log on as the instructor and see the answers or use spyware to see other students’ answers to the questions. A second problem is, “Unfair retaking of assessments.” It may be possible for students to retake the test as many times as they would like even if it was not intended by the instructor. This can be done by breaking the connection to the server, or setting the clock of the computer back. The third problem is, “Unauthorized help during the assessment.” It is not possible to really know the person is who they say they are while taking an online test. Students could use someone else’s password.
According to this article, it is not advised to use online-testing if at all possible. If however, online-testing is the only option, a short answer test would be the best to give. The article also gives a list of ways to prevent cheating.
Cheating in Online Student Assessment
Question: As a teacher do you feel it would be better to take out online-testing completely, or is it better in some situations to give an online-test rather than paper-pencil?
I think that it would completely depend on the situation. You can put a time limit on tests that would help deter students from cheating and having to know the content before taking the test. Likewise if you had a student with a disability that needed longer times to take an exam, you could then have them take the paper and pencil version with a supervisor.
ReplyDeleteRachel
I don't think that the answer would be to take out online testing completely. I think that there are some situations where online testing is a must, like in all online classes. Like the article says, make the questions short answer or essay so that people cannot cheat and you could run the answers through a plagiarism website to make sure that nobody cheated. If possible, I would give paper and pencil tests.
ReplyDeleteAs a teacher, you should know that if you offer an online test there is the chance that students may take it together, discuss answers beforehand, or have their book right in front of them. If you really want to be strict on your students then give them a paper and pencil test. It should be common knowledge of the possibilities when you offer an online assessment.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that you would have to necessarily take out online testing all together. I think that as future teachers we need to be aware that students are going to find the loopholes to jump through. So we need to be smart about the format in which we set up the test as stated in the article. If you absolutely need to have the test online then I think it's ok.
ReplyDeleteAll those risks make me think that online tests are a bad choice. The only positive point I can think of about online tests is that you do not have to take up class time to take the test. Overall I feel that online tests are an easy way out for a teacher. If you really want to assess your students you should have multiple looking tests all with equally hard questions for each student.
ReplyDeleteI believe you should eliminate online tests altogether. Paper pencil tests in the classroom will prevent even the thought of cheating. It should be common knowledge, but some professors still tell students not to use notes when taking online tests. This might be an integrity issue on the part of students to not cheat, even thought the temptation is there. I say: Eliminate the temptation.
ReplyDeleteI think both systems have their pros and cons.
ReplyDeleteOnline is what our generation is used to and comfortable with, so to remove it might cause issues or lower test scores with students of today.
I thing that if teachers are going to allow online testing, then it should be in a system like we use here on campus. In a closed room, only allowing you to go to certain browsers. We have to be aware that we can still use technology the way WE want it to be used (at least in classrooms) if we keep up to date and know how to use the internet in a productive manner.
I don't think online testing should be eliminated completely. The next generation of kids is going to be more computer literate and rely on technology a lot more.
ReplyDeletePaper-pencil tests are always a better idea in my mind only because it is coming from what the student knows and they are sitting in front of you. On the flip side, if a student is going to cheat they will find a way to do it no matter what.
I heard this a lot during my years in high school from teachers, "If you cheat, you are only cheating yourself." Very true! This is what kept me from cheating.
For now I would try to avoid online testing because of the issues mentioned above. Because of the growing importance of computers and the internet, having secure and fair online tests would be great. But it seems like the cheater has the advantage in this case. Having only one time to take the test could stop people from talking to others who have already taken it, but that would mean less flexibility and convenience.
ReplyDeleteI think if i was giving online tests I would then have a cumulative paper and pencil test at the end with the same questions. If they take the tests the right way and learn the material they are rewarded at the end of the class with gaining the knowledge over time with each online test.
ReplyDeleteI would not use online testing for the big tests, I would use them for quizes to help reinforce the important areas of the content learned. I feel that the more times they have to look at the right answer the better chance they have to remember it.
ReplyDeleteA few online tests would be good practice for students who may be forced to take such tests in upper grades and/or college. It may be best not to put too much weight on these tests, letting the paper and pencil tests be better barometers of students' actual knowledge of the subject being studied.
ReplyDeleteI think that it should depend on the situation. Online testing gives studens a change from paper and pencil tests and I think that most students have the integrity not to cheat. If a student is going to cheat on an online test, then it's pretty likely that they would do so on a paper pencil test as well. I also think that if teachers do more essay questions on online testing, it makes cheating a lot harder and most teachers can tell if it is something that their student would write.
ReplyDelete