Ed. Tech. Journal Post 3: The Prevalence of Online Cheating

Because I am a reading teacher and pull 8 small groups each day, I do not utilize technology as much as a regular classroom teacher. For this post, I am commenting on an article I read in OJDLA regarding the prevalence of online cheating--"The New (and Old) News about Cheating for Distance Educators." The topic of online cheating has recently received a lot of attention at professional conferences because there has been a dramatic increase in online distance learning participation. In addition, Congress reauthorized the Higher Education Act with an inserted provision about distance education. Cheating for distance educators represents a "formidable challenge" to ensure the identity of test takers and integrity of exam results since students are physically removed from the classroom.

I am amazed that cheating has become an industry and a lucrative business! The article quoted an ABC news story stating that "an estimated 2/3 of all high school students admit to 'serious' academic cheating." Likewise, the Wall Street Journal reported a business graduate paying $3,000 for a sit-in test taker! In addition, cheating companies gross an estimated 10 million annually. Braindump was a new term for me--active businesses that provide online study "services."

New terminology has even been created to described the act of cheating or the people who participate. Words such as "invigilator" and "organized cheating." Some jargon terms that are used are proxy, impersonator, and "gunmen and hired hands."

Traditional methods of cheating are still used although they have become much more perfected than what I remember being done when I was in junior high or high school. I read about students turning a soda bottle wrapper into a cheat sheet. Technology advances have been discovered as a means for cheating as well--mobile phones, ipods, braindumps, ebay (tests being auctioned for sale!), organized cheating, wireless ear pieces, and cheat sites to name a few.

I know I am naiive about things like this, but I was floored by some of the statistics and information. I am hearing the words of my dad echo in my mind as I type this, "What is this world coming to?"