A semester ago, I was taking an Abnormal Psych class,&we were having our final. Half the class had finished; however, I was still taking my exam,&so was the woman that sits next to me. Usually, this lady sits next to her friend, who she takes the class with. Well, the friend finished well first, &left class. A few minutes after this, I see the lady with her cell phone in her lap, punching keys,&then writing on her test. She was cheating of course, with the friend that finished the test first. It was so obvious. I thought she was going to get caught, but I forgot about it, and finished my test. Afterwards, I met one of my friends that took the class with me, & told her about it. She was pissed because she thought I should have told the Professor. I didn't feel like it was my business. After all, she paid for the class with her $. First, would you have reported it? Also, how often do you think college students cheat in class? Considering the expense...does it make sense?
2006-09-01 04:59:09 · 22 answers · asked by LibraT 4 in Education & Reference ➔ Higher Education (University +)
Many (if not most) colleges and universities have honor systems and/or policies on academic honesty that EXPECT students to BOTH refrain from, and report cheating.
I am troubled that you did not tell your professor. An education is not a commodity to be bought. An education is earned knowledge, which can often lead to acquired wisdom. And in that instance, both you and the cheater cheapened your education by regarding it as a commodity.
2006-09-01 18:53:19 · answer #1 · answered by X 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I would have reported it immediatly. Actaully I would have just shouted out in class to put the phone away so the teacher would have heard it.
If the entire class can't cheat, one person shouldn't get privilages. I think a lot of cheating does go on in a lot of gen-ed classes because most students don't see the point in learning about the War of 1812 when they are a nursing student. Just think about all the people who are in a better position that in you live because they cheated on exams in college
2006-09-01 05:31:34 · answer #2 · answered by Icon 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Interesting dilemma. When I was in graduate school, a girl next to me was very visibly cheating off of me on a finance exam. As we got deeper into the test, I got further and further hunched over the exam so as to prevent her from seeing my answers. I did not report her, but regret that inaction today. (Of note, I didn't report her because I found it amusing that she would choose to copy off me ... She should have chosen someone who did well on the exam!!)
Anyway (and ironically) .... It's now many years later, and I'm a professor (not in finance!). I would want to know if a student was cheating -- and I would go to great lengths to protect the identity of the informant. In the short term, frankly, there's little I could do with the information; I couldn't pursue academic sanctions based on hearsay -- and might not be able to prove the cheating on the basis of shared answers with someone else. In the longer term, however, assuming there were more exams in the class, I would have the awareness to know to watch out for the problem (with both the named offenders and with other students). Armed with that knowledge, I would be better positioned to catch the cheaters -- and penalize them appropriately.
I would hope that my students would tell me about a problem. If you worry about how a professor might react, you can always take it slow. Instead of blurting out, "I saw Jane cheat," you could instead say, "I'm concerned that I saw a student cheating in class. I don't want to be involved, but I'm very upset by it." Then ... See what the professor says and decide your next move from there. If nothing else, the professor should immediately invoke an exam-room rule wherein students put all of their books, bags, and cell phones at the side of the room (away from their desks) when the test starts.
2006-09-01 11:58:48 · answer #3 · answered by Doc 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋
You know, I was in the same position a few months ago in college. I studied my butt off and got straight A's and there were people in my class who didnt study at all and got high grades.
It made me angry because I didnt think they deserved to get those marks. And it made me feel that my work was being...how do I say it...degraded in a way..if that makes sense.
It didn't seem fair.
But I just figured, hey...these people are the people that I have to see every day of the week and I'm not going to give them a reason to hate me and try to start harassing me or whatnot. Even though they are doing wrong, it's not my place to point that out. They will eventually either get caught, or they will know in the back of their minds that their dishonesty got them through school, not their hard work and intelligence.
If you really feel very strongly about it, write an anonymous letter to the professor.
It sucks and Im sorry for you about it.
Some people just arent honest people.
2006-09-01 05:09:04 · answer #4 · answered by Beetlehead 2 · 3⤊ 1⤋
I would report her for cheating. That's wrong. Tell the Professor and the Dean of the college. As for how often, every once in awhile. It doesn't make sense if she paid for the class and is cheating. I hope she gets expelled from the class. So report her!
2006-09-01 05:05:09 · answer #5 · answered by Kristen H 6 · 5⤊ 2⤋
That is a profound ethical dilemma. One which may or may not destroy that person's ability to continue attending courses there, so you are perhaps right to weigh the $ element into the conflict. As a person with no money, the thought of getting booted for cheating mortifies me, as it seems more important to me that we all 'attempt' education, as opposed to having that door shut to us entirely. We poor one's do not always have much flexibility or second chances.
Of course, you might have seen her playing with her cell phone, but unless you can confirm that she WAS in fact, texting and cheating with her friend, you really can't do much for your ethical integrity, nor can you do much for her dishonesty. Now, was she looking at her friend's test or texting throughout the exam? Is it at least possible that the text was saying "meet you in the student center after exam ; )."
If it is impossible for you to live in a world of cheaters, and this world makes your hard wrought struggles seem an impossible and ironic waste of time, then I would 'suggest'-NOT ACCUSE-that this person was cheating to the professor. Express your doubt anc concern, and allow the professor to determine whether or not this suggestion holds any water. One hopes he would at least sit her down, and scare the crap out of her with the thought of failure and expulsion, offer his assistance in developing her understanding and execution of course materials, and then perhaps, have all students surrender their phones to his desk prior to each test period. Being the coward I am, I would probably do nothing. Not very ethical is it?
2006-09-01 05:12:51 · answer #6 · answered by mranswerguy 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋
The person cheating is doing themself a disservice, because they haven't learned the material. However, especially in classes where they prof will grade on a curve, they are also hurting other students by cheating. Its also just wrong. Yes, you should have told the prof. You could still tell them. They won't change her grade - they can't without catching her- but they'll know to watch out for this and if they have this student again can watch her specifically. Yes, I turned people in for cheating.
2006-09-01 05:06:16 · answer #7 · answered by pag2809 5 · 4⤊ 2⤋
I think you should talk to the professor in private, and ask that your name not be mentioned in confronting the student. It's not fair if other students work hard to get the grade and this student gets a better grade just because she cheated.
2006-09-01 05:06:21 · answer #8 · answered by Caroline 2 · 5⤊ 1⤋
I would report her. You could email the professor anonymously if you're worried about that. Yes, she paid her own money, but she was cheating, which I'm sure is against the school's rules.
2006-09-01 06:11:37 · answer #9 · answered by meg 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I would have said something. I paid a lot of money and worked extremely hard for my education, and people who cheat or bribe or sleep their way through school just infuriate me.
The professor definitely needs to know...
2006-09-01 05:02:14 · answer #10 · answered by Lanani 6 · 8⤊ 1⤋