Cheating and plagiarism in academia has increased dramatically as students struggle to meet the demands of their parents, schools, or scholarship providers, while balancing these with work schedules or other activities. Moreover, modern technologies have also made it easier for students to cheat. To spot dishonest academic activity, you must pay attention to classroom conditions, student interactions, and other strategies.
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Method 1 of 8: Preparing for Examination Supervision
Step 1. Always be in control of your class
Staying alert is the best way to catch students cheating and even prevent students from cheating. State your expectations at the start of class and before the exam begins.
Make sure students know the punishment for being dishonest
Step 2. Set up the exam environment
Arrange the benches in the classroom in such a way that the students are as spread out as possible. In addition, you can also determine the seat of each student so that they do not sit in their usual place. That way, they can't sit near the friends they've planned to cheat or cheat with.
Ask students to put their backpacks, books, or notes under their chairs
Step 3. Use more than one supervisor
If your exam room is very large, such as an auditorium, you can use several assistants to help you keep an eye on the students during the exam. These additional assistants can patrol around the room and supervise more students than when there is only one supervisor.
Step 4. Greet students when they enter the classroom
Look at each student as they enter and say hello. Pay attention to students who look restless.
- Look at their arms, hands, and hats to make sure there are no notes written on these parts.
- Keep in mind that many students will feel nervous or afraid when they are about to take an exam. Don't immediately assume that a student will cheat just because they seem nervous or scared.
Method 2 of 8: Watch Out for Students Cheating During Exams
Step 1. Always be alert in the exam room which is an auditorium
If your exam venue is an auditorium, it will be very easy for students to see the exam papers of those around them. If there is enough space, you can ask your students to sit alternately so that there is an empty seat between them.
- Supervise students by walking around the classroom during exams.
- Use at least two versions of the exam so students sitting next to each other don't work on the same version.
Step 2. Watch the students carefully
Don't take your eyes off them during the exam. Watch for signs of cheating. Students who cheat may look up at the ceiling and pretend they are thinking about an answer, but they are actually trying to look at their friends' exam papers. Other students may always be staring down at their laps, perhaps trying to read their cheat sheet or cell phone.
Step 3. Don't let one student distract you
A student may come up to you in front of the class and ask you something, and this can distract you for some time. This can provide opportunities for other students to pass the cheat sheet, look at their cell phones, or other cheating activities.
Step 4. Watch out for students texting each other
If you notice a student constantly coughing, tapping their table or feet, or whispering, they may be cheating.
Students may have different codes for different answers; for example, in a multiple-choice test, if the answer is A, they may tap their pencil. If the answer is B, they play their test paper, and so on
Step 5. Do not allow students to whisper during the exam
Whispering to other students is a clear sign that they are cheating or trying to cheat. Tell students that they are not allowed to talk while the exam is in progress.
Step 6. Watch out for students who write in big letters
In multiple-choice exams, some students may write the letter A (or whatever the answer is) in big letters, so that their answers are easily seen by other students.
Step 7. Pay attention to the writing on the student's body
One classic way of cheating is to write your answers on your hands, forearms, between your fingers, or other parts of your body.
- Many students are already quite adept at using this trick. They may carry an alcohol solution to remove pen ink from their skin before collecting their test results.
- Students, especially female students, might try to write notes on their feet. They can wear a skirt of a certain length so that it can cover the writing but can still be pulled up so that the writing can be read. Examiners must have the courage to rebuke students who have notes on their feet, although female students may accuse the proctor of harassing them if the proctor keeps staring at their feet.
- Pay attention to the writing on the shirt. Many students wear hats to the exam room and write notes on the brim of the hat. Ask students to take off their hats or turn them over so they can't read any cheats they might have written on them. Other types of clothing that may be used for writing are scarves, sweaters, coats, sunglasses, and so on.
Step 8. Be aware of notes placed on certain items
Some students may use an eraser to put their cheats on. They could stretch out an eraser and write notes on them so they are barely visible. When the eraser isn't stretched, the notes will just look like black lines. As the test progresses, the student can stretch the eraser back out to read the notes they have made on it.
Students can also write notes on very small paper, then roll it up and put it in a pen with a transparent tube
Step 9. Watch out for students going backwards during exams
There may be students who ask permission to leave the classroom to go to the toilet. These students may use that time to look at notes on their cell phones or cheat sheets. Before allowing the student to go to the back, ask them to leave their cell phone in class (make sure you've watched them leave their cell phone in the room).
Method 3 of 8: Supervising Students' Use of Technology during Exams
Step 1. Make a ban on using the phone
Mobile phones can store various kinds of information that can be easily accessed by users. Cell phones can also be very difficult to control. Make a ban on using cell phones in the classroom. Strictly enforce this prohibition so that students are not tempted to use this method to cheat.
Step 2. Beware of using calculators
There are many types of calculators, especially sophisticated ones, that can be programmed easily. Students can easily save various formulas and equations that they can cheat during exams. Supervise the use of the calculator carefully. You can also ban the use of calculators altogether.
Another option is to ask your department for a simple calculator to use for the exam. This way, students don't have to bring their own calculators
Step 3. Ban headphones in class
Students can keep recordings of their voices while they are reading notes and listen to the recordings through headphones during exams. Don't use headphones and be aware of mp3 players or other devices that can be used to store and share information.
Step 4. Use a cell phone detection tool
These are usually small enough to fit in your pocket and will vibrate when they detect mobile activity near you.
Some types of cell phone detectors are sensitive enough that they can detect cell phone usage based on the distance when the examiner walks around the exam room
Method 4 of 8: Catching Students Cheating on Written Assignments
Step 1. Know your students' writing style
As a teacher, you are likely to be able to recognize your student's writing style. Be aware of changes in writing ability, tone of writing, and general quality of writing. Trust your instincts when reading your student's work. If something looks unoriginal, it may really be cheating.
Look online for the parts you suspect your student's writing will be. Sometimes, you can find the exact same article on Wikipedia or other sites
Step 2. Use an antiplagiarism checker
There are programs that can detect plagiarism in written work by comparing a paper with other papers in databases and on the internet. Ask students to upload their papers to an online program such as Turnitin.com or SafeAssign.
Step 3. Invite your student to your office to discuss the paper
A very well-written paper may arouse your suspicions if the student's performance is usually not that good. Invite the student to your office to discuss his work. If it is true that the student wrote the paper himself, of course he can discuss the topic of the paper well. If he didn't write it, he wouldn't look so confident when asked to discuss the topics he wrote about. You may not find solid evidence that the student is cheating, but at least the student will know that you are aware of his attempts to cheat.
Some students may buy papers from a “paper factory” or an “essay factory”, which are other sites or services that sell essays for a price. If your student's paper is exceptionally good, he or she may have purchased the essay from one of these providers. However, proving this is not easy, so you have to be careful
Method 5 of 8: Supervising Students Outside the Class
Step 1. Listen to the conversations in the corridor
Students usually discuss exams, and even answers to exam questions, with their friends.
For example, keep an eye on students who leave your class after an exam in the first hour. If they gather with students who will have their exams in the next hour, they may be leaking answers or even giving cheat sheets
Step 2. Try to join the class's social media group under a pseudonym
Some students may create closed groups on Facebook or Google for their classmates and use these groups to exchange notes. If there are enough students in your class, you may be able to enter the class group by pretending to be a student, using a pseudonym.
Some classroom management systems, such as Blackboard, have an option that allows students to email each other without being seen by the class instructor. Change the settings so you can see the emails sent by your students system-wide
Step 3. Watch out for your favorite students
Sometimes, a student may pretend to be interested in your class, visit you in your office and ask questions about the course material. These students may be fawning over you so you won't suspect they're cheating because you think of them as model students.
Step 4. Protect your physical and digital space
Do not allow your students into your classroom or office when you are not there. Lock the cupboards where you keep your lesson-related documents to prevent students from peeking at the exam papers, and be aware of these actions even when you're with them.
Create complex passwords to enter computers and value systems. Remember these passwords well. Do not write this information down on any paper
Method 6 of 8: Catching Students Cheating in Online Classes
Step 1. Publicize a policy on dishonest academic behavior in online classes
For many students, the boundaries of dishonest behavior may not be so obvious in online classroom systems. Make sure you have a policy regarding dishonest academic behavior in online classes as well as provide examples of what constitutes cheating in online classes.
Step 2. Try webcam surveillance
Some online classes require students to use webcams when they are taking exams. This ensures that the person taking the exam is the right person, and that they are not cooperating with anyone else. It can also reduce opportunities for cheating.
Step 3. Use a signature tracker
Signature trackers are another way to monitor participation in online classes. The signature tracker requires students to verify their identity with a photo and a special typing pattern.
Step 4. Run the test in the test center
Some online classes require students to take exams in test centers so that they are well supervised and cannot cheat easily.
Step 5. Use an antiplagiarism checker
There are several programs that can detect plagiarism in written work by comparing a paper with other papers in databases and on the internet. Ask students to upload their papers to an online program such as Turnitin.com or SafeAssign.
Method 7 of 8: Confronting Students
Step 1. You must have proof that the student has cheated
Providing concrete evidence may not be easy, but it is very important that you provide evidence before you make any accusations.
- If you find plagiarism in your student papers, try to find the original by searching the internet.
- Make copies of important exam papers or assignments before returning them to students. Sometimes, students cheat by modifying the answers on the exam papers that have been graded, to then be handed back to the teacher concerned and ask for reconsideration, especially if the student is familiar with the teacher and wants to get a slightly better score.
Step 2. Seize notes or other materials
If you find a student using a notepad to cheat on an exam, take it as soon as you find it. Do it quietly so as not to disturb other students.
Step 3. Ask students to repeat their answers in your office
When you suspect a student is cheating, you should confront him or her as soon as the exam is over. If he doesn't confess, ask him to rewrite his answers. If he can't do that, it's probably true that he's been cheating.
Step 4. Know your school's policy on academic dishonesty
Double-check your school's rules before you penalize cheating. Giving punishment without following standard procedures could result in reprimand or prosecution in the future.
Method 8 of 8: Changing Your Exam Model
Step 1. Create two or more versions of the exam
To prevent students from glancing at each other's paper, use two versions of the exam. Distribute in such a way that the first student gets Test A, the next student gets Test B, the third student gets Test A, and so on.
Alternatively, you can use the same version of the exam, but duplicate it using different colored paper, and then tell your students that there are two sets of exam questions
Step 2. Ask for an outline and a rough draft
Students may try to download completed essays or research papers from the internet, or they may have friends who have completed the respective assignments in different semesters. If you ask for an outline and rough draft of their paper, they should show you the process for writing their assignment. This can help reduce plagiarism and cheating.
Step 3. Allow students to bring cheat paper
Prevent cheating by allowing them to cheat, at least by bringing a small cheat sheet into the exam room. This may not completely eradicate cheating, but it will at least reduce it. Keep in mind that if you use this method, you will have to watch your students carefully.
Step 4. Create collaborative tasks
Some students may prefer to work on group projects that require collaboration, rather than working alone. If your assignments emphasize cooperation, students may be less tempted to cheat.
Step 5. Modify your exam model to emphasize subject mastery
Many students admit that they cheat because they are worried about their grades. If you emphasize that mastering the material is important, not the grade, students may not be as compelled to cheat.
Portfolios can be a great way for students to demonstrate their mastery. With a portfolio, they can show the concepts they have mastered and developed over time
Tips
- Give the impression that you care about your students. Get to know each student's name, and if possible, try to find out what each student's interests are. Several studies have shown that if students feel that their teacher cares about them, they will be more motivated to learn and less motivated to cheat.
- Compare students' answers. If students sitting close together make the same wrong answer, they may have cheated. However, this method is not always correct, and should only be taken seriously if it occurs too often and is reinforced by other suspicious actions. For the first time, it might be better if you assume the student is innocent, and wait to see if the same thing will happen again.
- Don't just assume that a student is cheating just because they're looking around the room. Some students may like to do this just for inspiration.
Warning
- Do not immediately accuse students of cheating. Some students get nervous while taking exams, while others may like to look around the room for inspiration.
- Teach your students about dishonesty in academia early in the study period.
