Conducting Examinations
Students may use copying and cheating as a result of stress over exams. sometimes students may be guilty of academic dishonesty inadvertently. There are several actions that instructors can take to avoid instances of academic dishonesty in tests and assist students in overcoming anxiety about taking tests.
Set Exam policy
Faculty must include all exam policies in their syllabus for courses or at least clarify them two or three classes prior to the date of the exam. It is essential for the faculty to clarify which materials and other resources students can bring to the exam and the materials that will be supplied by the professor. For instance, if an exam requires simple calculators faculty members can inform students that only basic, stand-alone calculators are allowed, as well as programmable calculators as well as cell phones equipped with calculators are not permitted during the exam.
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Include exam guidelines in the syllabus for the course, and make them clear at least in one or two lessons prior to the date of the exam.
Give students suggestions on how to conduct themselves during an exam.
Students are sometimes unaware of or seem to commit, actions of academic dishonesty because of their inexperience with what they should be doing in an examination. Faculty members should be prepared to explain the situation and assist students in learning to behave in a professional manner when taking the exam. For instance, faculty could instruct students that if they feel exhausted during a test, it is best to be looking at the instructor or upwards towards the ceiling, instead of gazing down which could raise suspicion.
If students have to borrow items from students who are taking the exam, they may be required to inquire with the instructor first. If students are not permitted to leave the room during the exam, the instructor must remind students to use the restroom prior to starting the test. Faculty may also decide on what kind of attire students are permitted to wear to the exam or during oral presentations.
Students sitting for the exam
In small classes which meet in large spaces, students may be asked to be separated from one another during exams. However, in larger classes in rooms that do not have sufficient seats, instructors might not be able to separate students from each in order to avoid cheating or copying. In such instances, students must be asked to empty their desks and drawers of unnecessary items to prevent sharing exam materials. Then, the faculty could give different versions of the exam (as described in the previous part) to students who are sitting close to one another.
Examining students during exams
Moving around the classroom during the test allows teachers to observe what the students are doing. While faculty are at their desks, reading or doing other work students could be enticed to cheat. The best spot to stand or sit for observation is in the back rows of pupils. If the faculty member is standing or sitting behind students, they will not be able to see where the professor is looking at and, as a result, are more susceptible to cheating. However, it is crucial to move around in the classroom so that the faculty are able to see where their pupils are when they take the exam.
In large classes, teachers can invite their TAs or other colleagues to supervise students, this could be a challenging task for teachers.
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Check Your Understanding
What is the best method for teachers to supervise students during exams?
Completed exams are collected.
When students are asked to give in their exams instructors must ensure that the names of students are included on the test and that all exam exams are attached. In the event of a student performing poorly on an exam may be enticed not to turn in their exam and then declare that they failed.
Faculty should solicit the help of graduate assistants or colleagues to collect exams for large classes in which many students can be able to take the test simultaneously.
Be aware of how to use and limit the power of technology
Before distributing online quizzes or tests, or setting an exam on an online examination system, instructors must familiarize themselves with the limitations, capabilities, and issues that could arise from these technologies.
It is crucial to look into the issues of student identification, minimum requirements for hardware and software and the type of internet connection required, the possibility of late or incorrectly submitted answers, non-adherence to the exam’s instructions, limitations on the number of students that are able to take the test at any given time, availability of technical assistance during the exam, etc.
