When schools were forced online due to Covid-19, teachers and students had to quickly adjust to the new normal, but also it forced many tests and other assignments to be taken online. With tests being online and students at home, it created easier ways to cheat by going to Google, or getting answers from others. Administrators and teachers alike have expressed concern about the increase in academic integrity violations.
There should be more enhanced enforcements and rules on cheating, without invading personal space and information. Students should be held accountable for their actions if caught cheating.
The amount of cheating going on so far this school year has been out of control. Students who did nothing over the three month online school period are the ones that have been cheating the most according to research done by the Washington Post. Many teachers during that time did not look over work submitted, and didn’t really pay attention to the amount of cheating on big tests like finals and 2nd semester tests. For example on essays, students would copy off of other students and even the internet, forgoing all of the plagiarism guidelines , and many teachers just skimmed over them and moved on. Although it was a hectic time for teachers, that still doesn’t excuse the fact of the matter.
Of course this is a very difficult time for all teachers around the country, but students have found many ways to search up the answers to questions. An idea that could help prevent mass cheating on exams and tests are the ability to lock the test, like Google Forms can do. There is no way, with the technology we have in this generation, that websites like Canvas and College Board can’t put the technology to lock the screen while testing. Many students can change tabs and look up the answers, even if they are in the class face to face.
During the summer, most students lose a good chunk of their knowledge from the previous year. When the Quarantine hit in the middle of March, summer break, as well as 2 extra weeks in August before the start, almost all students who did no sort of school have lost a lot of knowledge. That would lead many to resort to cheating on tests and assignments because they forgot or simply don’t care. That also brings a point where kids should’ve been in school face to face to start the 2020-2021 school year. The amount of cheating by students has risen in significant numbers, and they should’ve had most kids back to face to face when the school year started. They can’t learn as well online at home in their bed as in person sitting in school chairs.
It has gotten easier and faster for students to cheat on all types of tests and assignments, and the fact that most of the programs don’t have anti-lock test systems and software to suspect cheating, is something that has to change for the future. Students will also continue to cheat on tests when the majority are online learners, mainly the ones that don’t put in any work leading up to the test dates. There has to be a change in student principles and assessments before the amount of cheating over-shadows actual learning.
