| Online degrees and distance learning are increasing | | | | is Rowe's first worry. With students not being |
| in popularity. Easier accessibility for a growing | | | | tested simultaneously, Rowe identifies that a |
| range of subjects, as well as recent government | | | | method to prevent this would be for institutions |
| calls for a push in e-learning, highlight the fact that | | | | to write enough random questions to ensure a |
| more and more students will be studying from | | | | suitable ratio between number of questions and |
| home in the future and partaking in this more | | | | number of students, in order to minimize the |
| economical and ecological method of higher | | | | chances that two students will receive the same |
| education. But does being away from the watchful | | | | questions. |
| eye of tutors and teachers mean that there is an | | | | Rowe also highlights the chances that students, if |
| increased risk of cheating among students? And | | | | unhappy with their performance during an online |
| what are the measures to stop it? | | | | test, may be able to start again (after |
| In their article, Probing for Plagiarism in the Virtual | | | | conference with external sources) by claiming that |
| Classroom, Lindsey Hamlin and William Ryan | | | | they are experiencing connection problems and |
| discuss the notion of plagiarism, passing off | | | | have lost their answers. Similarly, he also |
| another persons work as one's own, in the | | | | expresses his biggest worry as relating to whom |
| context of online education. They describe how | | | | exactly is answering the questions during an online |
| e-learning doesn't seem to make plagiarism any | | | | test and the possibility that bright students may |
| more tempting or easier for students to carry | | | | complete the tests of less capable students, or at |
| out in comparison to traditional learning, and | | | | least be called upon for help. |
| suggest that this is an age old problem of | | | | Rowe cites G. J. Cizek for countermeasures |
| education generally that can be stopped by any | | | | against online education cheating. Cizek suggests |
| respective institution implementing the correct | | | | promoting and teaching the value of honesty |
| measures. They also offer details of | | | | above simply employing measures to stop |
| anti-plagiarism software specifically for online | | | | cheating when it happens. One such idea: 'Students |
| education institutions. | | | | could be asked to read and sign a policy |
| Neil Rowe continued this discussion in his article, | | | | statement like an honor code or integrity policy at |
| Cheating in Online Student Assessment, by | | | | the beginning of the course', seems an effective |
| offering his argument that other forms of online | | | | starting point, alongside minimizing the temptation |
| cheating need to be monitored aside from | | | | for students to cheat by giving them overly easy |
| plagiarism. The notion of students being able to | | | | or overly difficult exams. |
| receive answers before completing online exams | | | | |