Are we a nation of cheaters?  Do all students cheat (even if a little bit) on a high stakes exam at some point while getting their education?  With the recent incidents of cheating exposed nationally, media is asking the question, is cheating an epidemic?  Noted in a recent Washington Post article, cheating has been going on since civil service exams in ancient China.  So while it may not be a recent phenomenon, students have gotten creative.  Also in the article, Christine Probett from San Diego State University who has studied the methods student use to cheat, gives her list of the most creative ways to steal answers.

Updated Classic Methods

• Notes inside brim of baseball caps
• Notes inside label of water bottles
• Fake “Coke” bottle labels with notes printed where ingredients, etc. should be printed
• Having another student take exam in their place (easier now with larger class sizes)
• “Clickers” (sometimes used in class for quizzes, attendance, etc.) - students who skip class give their clickers to others so they get credit
• There are many videos on YouTube which provide step-by-step cheating techniques, so that in itself is yet another method

New “High Tech” Methods

• Distracting teacher and pulling out cell phone and taking photo of exam
• Texting someone in/outside class for answers
• Google-ing for answers
• Organized groups of students working together to “memorize” a question or two and collaborating to recreate the exam
• The Internet also enables access to lots of material that can make plagiarism much easier.

Don't try this at home, kids.

A Nation of Cheaters?

Released in May 2011, from the Instructional Technology Council, the 2010 Distance Education Survey Results: Trends in eLearning: Tracking the Impact of eLearning at Community Colleges, offers seven issues of relevant regulatory and legislative activity that are currently impacting the trends in distance learning.

1. State Authorization for Institutions Offering Distance Education to Out-of-State Students
2. Increased Scrutiny of For-Profit higher Education Institutions
3. Broadband Techology Opportunities Program (BTOP)
4. Failure to Enact the American Graduation Initiative
5. Passage of the TAA Community College and Career Training Grants Program
6. The Department of Education's National Education Technology Plan
7. The 2008 Higher Education Opportunites Act (HEOA)

Learn more by reading the full report.

2010 ELearning Trends - Instructional Technology Council

According to a recent study, Cheryl J. Wachenheim, an associate professor of agribusiness and applied economics at North Dakota State University, her economics online students may be cheating for final exams since they aren't proctored and the temptation of cheating seems to high to pass up.  A faculty member teaching both on ground and online classes, Wachenheim fears students in an online environment may be cramming assignments and homework into the final weeks of a self-paced course thus retaining very little if any information in preparation for the final.  With limited time, students may be more likely to cheat since they are able to use external resources such as open books and notes during tests with no consequences. Read the full article published in The Chronicle here.

Testing Integrity is a hot button in the world of online learning environments.  Cutting edge technologies have flooded the market but can be costly, require bulky devices, and in many cases have raised the proverbial "Big Brother Eyebrow".  What happened to a real, live, human being proctoring an exam?  Many schools do require students to have proctored final exams.  However, in some cases they are asked to find the proctor themselves.  Really?  "Sure, I think my "Aunt Sally" can 'proctor' my test"...you get the picture...where's the objectivity?

SmarterProctors is a database of individuals who are available all over the United States to proctor exams.  Graduate students, clergy, teachers, notaries, librarians, unbiased individuals ready to proctor a high stakes exam at a local library, office, or church.  Creating a profile is free.  Proctors set their fees and fees are paid through our secure and user-friendly system.  To learn more go to SmarterProctors.com.

Testing Integrity - Real People Proctors

Last week, we were invited to participate in an online interview by the E-Learning Queen's assistant, Susan Smith Nash.  The E-Learning Queen Blog is jammed packed with great information for those interested in learning more about online education.  Check out our complete interview here.

E-Learning Queen

Thinking Smarter (formerly eToolsAlert) August 2010
Do you want to THINK SMARTER?  Do you want to work SMARTER, NOT HARDER?  Our new monthly newsletter is designed to help you make minutes count. It is our new commitment to you.  Organizing your data and giving it back to you in a format that empowers you to make an informed decision.  Let's start THINKING SMARTER together! What is Your Learning Style? Have you ever taken the learning styles component of SmarterMeasure learning readiness indicator?  Based on the 7-multiple intellegences model, the learning styles section helps you discover how you learn best, what makes you tick, and what the world looks like through your eyes.  Over the past decade SmarterMeasure has evolved from client input and analysis of the data received.  Based on this feedback we are modifying the learning styles section.  The rationale for our enhancements include needing to improve the variability of the existing three-point by using a bipolar, four-point scale, the wording of some questions because two constructs were measured in a single question, along with multiple requests to decrease the length of the assessment. The important dates are listed below.  For more details about the change click here. As of September 1, 2010 - an optional 21-item instrument will be available to all clients.  This abbreviated version still measures each of the seven learning styles.  The questions are measured on a 4-point scale. As of October 15, 2010 - the 35-item instrument will be slightly modified with improved wording of some questions and the scale will be shifting from a 3-point scale to a 4-point scale. As of October 15, 2010 - all new test taker groups created will default to the 21-item instrument in the learning styles section.  However, you may manually choose the 35-item instrument by following the instructions below. SmarterMeasure Survey Says... Recently we sent out a survey to all of our SmarterMeasure administrators to get input on how to improve our support for users.  The survey sought input regarding a virtual user's conference, adding a contact directory, good practices webinar, and shared implementation plans, among others.  A brief synopsis of the results is listed below-take a look!  If you haven't responded yet, there is still time.  Click here and answer the short 8 question survey.  We value your feedback and are committed to providing you with the resources that best meet your needs as SmarterMeasure clients! A majority of responders said they would be interested in an Annual Virtual User's Group Conference. 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