I have several sections of general psychology that meet on different days. In my large lecture class (nearly 100 students) I number each test booklet and have each student write that number on their scan-tron answer sheet. When the student finishes the exam they turn in both the scan-tron and test booklet. I check off each student as they turn in their work. Yesterday I found that 3 booklets and corresponding scan-trons were unaccounted for. I think I figured out the scam. In this large class I don't know every student. I distribute the tests by standing at the end of the rows and counting the exact number of people in the row.
What I think happens is that some students who aren't really in the class show up, and leave shortly after receiving the tests. They then give these tests to other students in their network. I might add that for each class I have several versions of the tests. They are the same tests, but the order of the questions differs in each version. I believe that the students in the later sections gain access to the tests by using these "confederates". In fact just today, a student left her binder on a desk while she was in the room taking the test with her fellow students. During that exam I looked in the binder and found a test of mine from the previous semester that was similar to the test the class was working on. This student was fairly newly arrived in the US and was not aware (she said) of the gravity of her offense. I haven't yet decided on the appropriate action. I would apprecitate any comments on this type of cheating...and suggestions how to control it. Mark Eastman Diablo Valley College Pleasant Hill, CA --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
