The transition to remote learning is difficult and overwhelming for both teachers and students. Teachers worldwide are struggling to establish traditional etiquette, structure, and discipline through distant teaching mediums. The task is a formidable challenge, as students are savvier with tech and gadgets.
Naturally, students who are inclined to cheat can discover numerous easy ways to cheat on tests, assignments, and quizzes. The absence of close monitoring during exams and tests encourages students to plagiarize and cheat. Students hire qualified professionals to sit for their exams or text them answers to the questions. They now have access to numerous gadgets that allow them to google answers and get excellent grades. Students spread across various time zones have the advantage of obtaining questions and answers and collaborating with classmates. In such an environment, the responsibility of monitoring and preventing cheating is difficult to fulfill.
Keep reading to learn how you can prevent students from cheating during remote lessons and tests.
Understanding Cheating Behavior
As a teacher, it is vital to begin with understanding student cheating behaviors and inclinations. Why do students cheat? Students cheat for various reasons, and these reasons stem from the remote learning environment. The lack of accountability and monitoring allows them to take advantage of the mediums available for cheating.
They feel less inclined to prepare due to the absence of strict examination regulations and monitoring. Often, students feel tempted to cheat to improve their grades and enhance their position in the classroom. Students also feel desperate to cheat because they firmly believe it’s the only way to achieve a good grade.
Understanding these reasons will help a teacher create a wide-ranging strategy to counter cheating behaviors.
Embracing Tech & Gadgets
Teachers have access to numerous tools and gadgets, such as video test proctoring, to improve monitoring during remote classes. Video proctoring allows teachers to promote highly controlled environments with active and real-time recordings. Numerous tools monitor student behavior and facilitate test activities to reduce instances of cheating.
Adopting such tools and live recording can discourage students from indulging in teaching or relying on external help. These tools help create the traditional environment of accountability and monitoring by providing real-time recording and reviewing solutions.
Facilitate Critical Thinking
Another powerful strategy to discourage cheating is by emphasizing critical thinking. When students are encouraged to inquire rather than cram facts critically, they participate more actively. Assignments and tests should focus on encouraging students to get creative and analyze explanation. Students are more comfortable while explaining their thoughts and observations, promoting positive Remote learning outcomes.
Challenging testing modules and assignments encourage cheating, especially when students are unprepared or at a natural disadvantage. Not all students within a class stand on the same level of aptitude and skills. Some students struggle with language proficiency while others with concepts. Often, students who are inclined to cheat have Remote learning difficulties that encourage them to take external help.
Activities that develop critical thinking and encourage inquiries allow students to think and apply their knowledge. They are unlikely to cheat because cheating on such assignments and tasks is virtually impossible. Every student has a unique expression when it comes to critical thinking, making cheating a useless endeavor.
Avoid Objective Testing
Multiple-choice questions and fill in the blanks and even primary questions are easy to Google and cheat through online mediums. Teachers avoid objective and, even to an extent, qualitative tests to prevent cheating. Students have easy access to laptops, cellphones, and tablets, making it easier to answer instantly.
Instead, teachers should focus on cheating-proof tests and assignments to leave little choice but self-reliance. For instance, instead of writing long papers and essays, students can give 10-minute presentations on a chosen topic. A presentation will compel the students to perform in-depth research and familiarize themselves with the topic thoroughly.
On the other hand, a written assignment is easy to plagiarize. Students can even hire writers to do their work. Written assignments and essays are a futile effort, as teachers have no way to verify if it’s the student’s work. However, when a student performs during a presentation, research is a mandatory requirement.
Students can constructively benefit from online tools, external help, and mediums that they would otherwise use for cheating. In the end, they will have to rely on their capabilities to present the topic and speak at great lengths.
Quizzes that POP!
Surprise pop quizzes are the longest-standing element of traditional classroom settings, and there’s no good reason for teachers to let go of this vital evaluative tool. Pop quizzes are an excellent strategy to charge-up the students and evaluate Remote learning outcomes.
A surprise quiz before or after the lesson is a great way to test students and encourage them to revisit their daily tasks. When students think their teachers can hold a quiz in any class, they are more likely to study and revise.
Conclusion
Teachers work towards creating a culture that encourages learning and creativity and discourages cheating. Even in an online learning environment, teachers can help students prevent and avoid dishonesty and cheating.
It requires a teacher to focus more on learning and less on grades. Classes and lessons must focus on delivering education and stimulating the student’s thinking process. It is vital to encourage self-expression and critical thinking to prevent cheating.
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