[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Cheating on a mid-term (Page 1 of 4)
Posted: 4/26/2012 7:45:40 PM EDT
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I had a chemistry mid-term yesterday. We were specifically told not to use smart-phones or any sort of computer for the test, although notes and textbooks were allowed. The reason being that there are many tools online that will do the work for you, but the textbook will only tell you how to do it, but you've still got to do it yourself. Calculators were allowed.
I was sitting in the back row and the guy next to me pulls out his smartphone and starts looking stuff up on the sly. He had a calculator on the desk, so I know he wasn't just using the calculator function. I looked at the part of the test he was working on, and he was definitely cheating because it required knowing chemical elements and their isotopes. He knew he wasn't supposed to be doing it because he hid his phone when the prof came around. Should I say anything to the prof? My inclination is to not be a rat, as the class is not graded on a curve, so this guy isn't affecting anyone else's grades and is only hurting his own education, and this is a low level class so it's not like he's going to injure somebody by having incomplete knowledge. It just bugged me because it was such a punk-ass move and everyone else in the class is working really hard for every point they get. My inclination is to drop the prof an email and not rat the guy out, but just let the prof know that he might want to be a little more vigilant about phones on future tests, without pointing any specific fingers. Or should I just leave it alone, since I'm not the Classroom Police? |
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Had a similar dilemma a few weeks ago.
A guy from a class I was in last semester emailed me and like 20 other people. He was asking if any of us had taken this one class online, and if so he wanted us to send him all the work for the class. Obviously so he wouldn't have to do shit. I was tempted to tell him to fuck off then forward the email to the dean  But just deleted it as I don't need the drama. Dude always was a fuck nugget when we had to do group work.
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Quoted:
I had a chemistry mid-term yesterday. We were specifically told not to use smart-phones or any sort of computer for the test, although notes and textbooks were allowed. The reason being that there are many tools online that will do the work for you, but the textbook will only tell you how to do it, but you've still got to do it yourself. Calculators were allowed. I was sitting in the back row and the guy next to me pulls out his smartphone and starts looking stuff up on the sly. He had a calculator on the desk, so I know he wasn't just using the calculator function. I looked at the part of the test he was working on, and he was definitely cheating because it required knowing chemical elements and their isotopes. He knew he wasn't supposed to be doing it because he hid his phone when the prof came around. Should I say anything to the prof? My inclination is to not be a rat, as the class is not graded on a curve, so this guy isn't affecting anyone else's grades and is only hurting his own education, and this is a low level class so it's not like he's going to injure somebody by having incomplete knowledge. It just bugged me because it was such a punk-ass move and everyone else in the class is working really hard for every point they get. My inclination is to drop the prof an email and not rat the guy out, but just let the prof know that he might want to be a little more vigilant about phones on future tests, without pointing any specific fingers. Or should I just leave it alone, since I'm not the Classroom Police? Don't be a homo and tell. |
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<snip> just let the prof know that he might want to be a little more vigilant about phones on future tests, without pointing any specific fingers. <snip> That's what I'd do (above) It's too late to turn him in so that will get nowhere (he'd have to be busted with the phone in hand for it to matter, realistically). But even if that class isn't graded on a curve, the value of your diploma depends on the quality of the folks who obtain that diploma. So, that student's cheating does hurt you even if only a little bit. |
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Interesting.
There was a cheating incident during one of my recent exams. The instructor gave everyone in the class a 0 for that test and added the points to the next 2 tests which were over more difficult materials. Without question, if you get caught with a phone ON during a test, you lose your test right there on the spot. |
| Even if you did, the situation would most likely result in a you-said vs. he-said as the only evidence that wouldn't go anywhere. The professor may also not like how you glanced over at his exam. He may have cheated on that exam, but I'm sure there will be other exams where the same opportunity will not allow. Just take pride that you did the work honestly. |
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Had a similar dilemma a few weeks ago. A guy from a class I was in last semester emailed me and like 20 other people. He was asking if any of us had taken this one class online, and if so he wanted us to send him all the work for the class. Obviously so he wouldn't have to do shit. I was tempted to tell him to fuck off then forward the email to the dean But just deleted it as I don't need the drama. Dude always was a fuck nugget when we had to do group work.Group has to be one of the most awful punishments professors assign to students. I loath group work! |
| I would not MYOB, I'd tell the TA or the professor. If he doesnt experience any reprimand, than he will do it again, maybe next time in a curved class. Realistically, at this point, if the dude denied it there probably wouldnt be a reprimand, but it would set a precedent for him in the future. |
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What will you do if the prof decides to make the tests superhard to catch a cheater?
______________________________________________________________ (After his girlfriend says using the computer in a chess challenge is cheating, "It sure is.", (w,stte), "The Thief Who Came To Dinner") |
| If you are in a college, you should read your honor code and figure out what you want to do. I was an honor court judge in high school, and I can tell you our policy was that not turning in a cheater was in and of itself an honor code violation. My college had the same rule. In fact, in my college, if a person was caught cheating and it could be proven that you (general you) knew of the cheating but did not report it, you would be faced with (lesser) honor code charges. |
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<snip> just let the prof know that he might want to be a little more vigilant about phones on future tests, without pointing any specific fingers. <snip> That's what I'd do (above) It's too late to turn him in so that will get nowhere (he'd have to be busted with the phone in hand for it to matter, realistically). But even if that class isn't graded on a curve, the value of your diploma depends on the quality of the folks who obtain that diploma. So, that student's cheating does hurt you even if only a little bit. On the other hand it helps you a little bit when you actually know the material and he with the same degree does not. Hopefully you'll be able to out perform his kind. 
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<snip> just let the prof know that he might want to be a little more vigilant about phones on future tests, without pointing any specific fingers. <snip> That's what I'd do (above) It's too late to turn him in so that will get nowhere (he'd have to be busted with the phone in hand for it to matter, realistically). But even if that class isn't graded on a curve, the value of your diploma depends on the quality of the folks who obtain that diploma. So, that student's cheating does hurt you even if only a little bit. QFT. Evil flourishing...good men doing nothing ect... /make sure the prof doesn't think *you're* the one the cheated though (and is trolling about it) |
| Why shouldn't you have access to the internet when taking a test? You will when you get into the work force. I never understood this about shool, why make students memorize dumb shit that is so readily available? If school is all about "preapring you for a job" then let students have access to anything they would at a job. |
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<snip> just let the prof know that he might want to be a little more vigilant about phones on future tests, without pointing any specific fingers. <snip> That's what I'd do (above) It's too late to turn him in so that will get nowhere (he'd have to be busted with the phone in hand for it to matter, realistically). I agree. Telling on the specific person will accomplish nothing, since the professor cannot do anything unless he witnesses it. But, letting the instructor know that it is easy for people to cheat in his class will hopefully be useful information, that can be used to improve the class and make it harder for people to cheat in the future. |
| Depending on what they teach some professors don't care. They are there for the research and teaching is a necessary evil. In my major cheating or even the appearance of cheating ws dealt with pretty harshly by the dean. In 4 years of undergraduate 3 different people were caught and basically they had the choice of drop out or never finish. Even those that thought they would transfer and stay in the same degree program were in for a rude shock. Most likely their career in that field was over for good. They could stay in school but would have to transfer to another degree program. One guy was in his last semester and had already done his internship which was required and his summer of field station classes as well. The professors across campus in other programs turned a blind eye and it was rampant. |
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Just because he needed some help taking the test doesn't mean he was cheating. He used the appropriate material to come to the correct answer which helped him to answer the question correctly. It's not like this test will make or break him to do a job inside his field of study some day.
It takes years of experience to be good at whatever career you choose.
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You see a guy shoplift. He gets away. Do you tell the shopkeeper?  Speaking as a professor, I'd want to know. And I'd want to know who. Even though I can't do anything about it, and it it's basically heresay - I'd still want to know so I can be more vigilant next time. And to those who say MYOB - the cheater is stealing credit/grades. He's stealing what others work for. No, he's not being "clever", he's just cheating. If you don't know what that means, then you need to repeat another 12-16 years of schooling. |