In my general psych class, I make the case that cheating is a function of a system that allows it to be a viable option, rather than something done by "bad people." I then say that as a teacher, it is my responsibility to do my best to make cheating a very unattractive option. I allow them to drop one test grade. My exams are more difficult than they should be, and historically, I have "adjusted" scores about 10 points. I then tell the class that if anyone gets caught cheating (without being turned in by another student first) I will dock the entire class their adjustment, fail the cheater(s), and potentially ask them to leave class. When I checked on this plan, students anonymously reported that it was easier to decline a request to cheat by saying it was too risky. Students also reported thinking that it was very likely that if anyone tried to cheat they would probably get caught.
Wendi K. Born, Ph.D. Licensed Clinical Psychologist & Assistant Professor of Psychology Baker University 618 8th Street PO Box 65 Baldwin City, KS 66006-0065 (785) 594-8437 [EMAIL PROTECTED] -----Original Message----- From: Jim Guinee [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, April 03, 2007 11:02 PM To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS) Subject: [tips] Extra credit for being a fink! Yesterday religion, today morality... A friend of mine, and a professor in a completely different field, told me that he offers his students 100 bonus points if they catch another student cheating and turn the student in. True story. To date, no one has cashed in. I am currently running a webCT course, and asked my students about cheating in the classroom. Most claim they have seen it, and done nothing. So I decided to stimulate the discussion further, by asking how many of them WOULD turn a fellow student in for points. So far they're all pointing fingers. Do any of you think this is a wise policy, offering bonus points for spotting cheaters? Have any of you ever implemented such an incentive in your class? I just recently learned about my friend's policy, so I haven't formulated an opinion. Hence I would enjoy someone else's. I feel like I do a lot of wise things to discourage cheating, but I'm not that dumb to think it hasn't happened. Thanks Jim Guinee [No religious individuals were harmed in the making of this question] --- To make changes to your subscription go to: http://acsun.frostburg.edu/cgi-bin/lyris.pl?enter=tips&text_mode=0&lang= english --- To make changes to your subscription go to: http://acsun.frostburg.edu/cgi-bin/lyris.pl?enter=tips&text_mode=0&lang=english
