University cheating might be up but don't just blame students

As universities and colleges shift classesonline during the COVID-19 pandemic, some expertsare warninginstructors to change their teaching approach in order to curb a perceived rise in cases of suspected cheating.

"Iam hearing from colleagues not only across the country but across the world that academic misconduct has surged during the winter 2020 term, due in part to the remote pivot to online learning during the pandemic," said Sarah Elaine Eaton, an assistant professor at the University of Calgary who specializes inacademic integrity.

She said she's not surprised by reports of students using Google during online exams and sharing answers in group chats with fellow students.

But the blameshouldn't rest entirely on students' shoulders, Eaton said.

"Expecting students not to do that is quite unrealistic because we know that students are also under pressure to perform," she said.

"And in some cases,if the kind of assessment you're giving them tempts them into unethical behaviour, then they may make poor decisions."

Different testing needed for online courses

Eaton is part of a movement of academics who've been calling onuniversity and college instructors to change their approach to grading and testing during the pandemic.

"For way too long, educators have absolved themselves of any responsibility," said Eaton. "This whole pandemic has shown major cracks in our society in a variety of ways, including in our educational system."

When the shutdown forced campuses to close, James Skidmoreused his 15 years of experience teaching online to start coaching fellow professors at the University of Waterloo.

His biggest suggestion to instructors is to do away with proctoredor supervised exams,the basis for most assessments at universities.

"There's so many things [instructors] have to adapt toandthey're not sure how to do that. They tend to rely on the solutions that worked in the classroom setting," said Skidmore."You have to develop assessment strategies that are better suited to an online environment."

Webcams create privacy, equity concerns

Turning to technology to supervise students is not the way to go, said Skidmore, citing a May attempt atWilfrid Laurier University wheremath students were requiredto install awebcam to film them during their online exam.

Julia Pereira, a vice-president with Laurier's students' union, saidthe school eventually dropped the requirement following an outcry by students.

"They're upset about the potential additional costs, and also the privacy concerns of having someone monitor you and watch over your shoulderwhile you're writing your exam," she said.

Skidmoresaidusing cameras and special software sends the wrongmessage to students and creates an adversarial atmosphere.

"I don't want them to think of me as the police officer at the front of the classroom always watching them, always trying to catch them doing something," he said. "I justdon't like that kind of environment."

In an effort to help faculty adjust to teaching online, Skidmore said he'll continue to offerfree webinarsthat propose replacing proctored exams with short quizzes, oral exams and group projects during the term, in the hopes of cutting down on cheating.

"You can't rule it out completely. It will happen. But you can certainly lessen the chances of it."