Entire sections of Yahoo! Answers (particularly science & math) are populated with "answer this question: (a) (b) (c)(d)" homework-type questions. This is clearly homework cheating as they are fishing for answers and not explanations usually, but how can teachers effectively deal with this problem? We have ways to prevent cheating on exams and papers, but how do we maintain any illusion of self-work on homework aside from only allowing students to do homework problems that "count" for credit in-class?
2006-12-12 05:47:52 · 8 answers · asked by Tomteboda 4 in Education & Reference ➔ Teaching
I'm not asking this out of a punative spirit at all. I assign homework because I want each and every one of my students to have the tools necessary to understand and succeed at my area (chemistry). I know they're short-changing them, but as long as cheating is in the self-interest of many students they'll continue doing it, and I wont' be able to improve class outcomes unless I can anticipate the most common routes of failure, including cheating, and somehow help more people overcome them. So, I'm asking out of genuine desire for methods to help with this problem, if anyone else has tried.
2006-12-12 06:02:20 · update #1
I don't think the problem is with yahoo answers per se, but rather 1) whether the answer is correct, 2) whether the complete solution methodology was given as part of the answer, and 3) whether the student learned anything about the problem-solving methodology in the process of getting their answer from yahoo.
To immediately reinforce their homework, I would start class every day by taking one problem from the previous night's homework, generalizing it very slightly, and then give them a closely-timed one-question (say 4-minute) pop quiz.....turning in the homework is worth 3 points, answering the pop question correctly is worth 2 points. You could immediately (and quickly) work through the answer on the board, so they get immediate feedback on how they did, before moving on to the day's material.
Even if they get their answers from yahoo, they'll be motivated to make sure they understand well enough to answer the question reasonably quickly. Your reinforcement, by giving them the solution immediately, will keep their interest as well.
2006-12-12 06:26:19 · answer #1 · answered by Jess Wundring 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I have theories on this that I plan to use in my classroom.
First, I plan to try and give my students homework that requires them to think rather than pick an answer. I know that this will require more effort on my end, but it will also be better for my students. By thought provoking, I mean instead of a, b, c questions, I will ask explain this or use this term in a sentence.
Second, if you really want or need to use a, b, c type questions, you can ask the student to record the page number from the book next to the question where they found the answer. This way they have to actually interact with the text. You could do the same thing with notes by having the student identify the many topic of the outline or something similar. In math, you can have the students actually work the problems out.
Bottom line, students are always going to hate homework - not really see the value in it. Knowing this, I understand (but don't agree with) them 'cheating' to get the answers. So, I plan to keep it to a minimum.
If it weren't Yahoo! Answers, it would just be something else.
2006-12-12 06:04:53 · answer #2 · answered by jrstina624 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Since yahoo answer ask what category and homework help is a selection I don't believe that it is cheating because they are asking for help; what if the answer that the helper gives is incorrect. The students still have to check the answer to verify it for authenticity, it maybe something that is thrown there to teach a lesson. I have seen a few response myself that said do your homework. Don't offer help and then call it cheating. Moreover, when work is given for homework sometime within the course of two weeks, yahoo can not take the test for that student. Besides this will tell the teachers if the students did the homework by the grade on the exam.
2016-05-23 00:07:16 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I agree that students are using, or I should say abusing this site. There is really no way to know or to control this other than refusing to answer some questions. Students will always find a way to get answers online.
2006-12-12 06:01:29 · answer #4 · answered by cutencurley_05 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I don't know where you grew up, but I spent hours on the phone doing homework with my best friend- she was smarter than me and I filled in the answers. I'm not saying it is right but I have learned by seeing a right answer.
I also have parents doing their kid's homework for them . I can't always "bust" them as I can't always prove it although I suspect it. It will catch up with them..you may not necessarily be the one who cures them, may take a boss or a loved one who teaches them the lesson.
2006-12-12 14:01:50 · answer #5 · answered by atheleticman_fan 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
really there is no way to prevent cheating on homework in any fashion. the only controlled setting is in the classroom. i didn't have yahoo answers when i was in school but there were always other methods of getting the answers without doing the work. but rest assured that whenever i did this, i always flunked the test. as you get older, you realize that doing homwework is really for your benefit. let the kids be kids!
2006-12-12 05:54:16 · answer #6 · answered by morequestions 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋
To be honest i dont think you should even care if they cheat or not because think about it you "the teacher" try your best to teach your student things that hopefully will come in handy one day in the future but what can you do if they dont want too? All you can do is tell them the consquences about cheating and how them not knowing how to solve problems one day is gona get them in the *** and they just hurting themselves by pretending to know this stuff now......plus what u want really? you think yahoo is going to make changes just because a teacher is complaining about dumb students who are to lazy to pay attention in class and want a quick way out of homework? lol Miss im sorry but you stuck there.But u can try to make teaching more "fun" and interesting and maybe then they would actually put a lil more effort into it.
2006-12-12 06:05:00 · answer #7 · answered by eL: 1 · 2⤊ 4⤋
LOL. I have noticed the same trend but I agree with the above poster, if you really dont know how to do it then you will fail in the long run.
2006-12-12 05:55:41 · answer #8 · answered by supa_wmn 2 · 3⤊ 1⤋