strategies to prevent and identify academic dishonesty

Strategies to Prevent and Identify Academic Dishonesty

Mark Bodo

IT Manager for the ETSU College of Nursing

One of the largest Colleges of Nursing in the State of Tennessee

ETSU College of Nursing has been using ExamSoft since 2012

CBT is via BYOD

We support Windows, Mac, and iPaddevices

Objectives

Identify forms of academic dishonesty related to CBT and technologies being used to bypass CBT security measures

Demonstrate means to identify academic dishonesty using ExamSoft tools

Discuss best practices to protect your test bank from being compromised

Identify ways to minimize academic dishonesty pre-exam

Identify means to minimize academic dishonesty in the exam room

Forms of Academic Dishonesty Related to CBT

Academic Misconduct

The violation of college policies by tampering with grades or by obtaining and/or distributing any part of a test or assignment

Obtaining or distributing copy of a test before the test is administered

Encouraging others to obtain a copy of a test before the test is administered

Continuing to work on a test after time is called.

Where is this Evident?

Quizlet Enter the title of a textbook your

program uses into the Quizlet search and you will more than likely find a test bank for it. See below:

How to Identify in ExamSoftPortal?

Assessment Summary Report View Question Performance

Textbook Test Banks sometimes have the incorrect answer marked correct

If all or nearly all of the students selected the wrong answer on an assessment, they more than likely reviewed the question on Quizlet

Cheating

Cheating is more common in math and science based courses

Taking or giving any information or material which will be used to determine academic credit

Copying: the act of or allowing of

Use of prohibited study materials

Accessing an exam prior to exam day

Where is this Evident?

The Classroom Students will find a way to cheat if proctoring

is lax

What have we seen? Use of cheat sheets stored in water bottles,

on backs of labels, or reprinted labels Cheat sheets on or inside hats

Notes on parts of the body Fingernails

Bathroom notes

Rubber Band notes

Band Aid Notes

Copying of questions

Copying of answers when Exam Review is set to immediate


Exam Taker Assessment Snapshot

Compare assessment navigation via Time Stamp


Exam Taker Assessment Log Length of time on a given question

Anything beyond 1.5 minutes could be questionable behavior

Compare assessment navigation to peers Were they on the same questions

simultaneously?

eCheating

42% rise in cheating cases involving gadgets since 2012

Use of RDP ExamSoft is not vulnerable to this hack Used to bypass lock down browser

Use of Smart Watches

Use of Bluetooth Ear Buds Monorean:

https://www.monorean.com/en

Manipulation of device or saving exam on an external drive

Use of Keyloggers

https://www.monorean.com/en

Examples of eCheating

Smart Watches: Exam Takers can take a picture of

the assessment with their Smart Watch

Exam Takers can download an app called Wear Notes on their Smart Watch and set their watch to dark mode to prevent detection

Bluetooth Earbuds: Exam Takers record their notes on their

smartphone and then playback their notes through the bluetooth earbudsduring the exam.


Use the Exam Taker Assessment Log

Use of ear buds might be noticeable in the navigation behavior of the student

A pattern of quickly navigating from question to question without answering may be indicative of eCheating

Collusion

The act of two or more students working together on an individual assignment or assessment

Sharing of Questions & Answers In Person Social Media Message Board

Texting

Remote Desktop Access

Examples of Collusion

Texting:

Student texts assessment password to friend off-campus who takes the assessment for the student in the classroom

Student in classroom launches exam, but allows student off campus to upload assessment first before exiting exam.

Remote Desktop Access:

Student uses LogMeIn or other Remote Desktop program to access another device

Can be used by others to access the device taking the exam

ExamSoft is not susceptible to this hack


Review Exam Download History and the Registered Device for the Exam Taker

If there are downloads of the exam to different devices and the device used in the classroom/exam room is not the device used to submit the exam, there is a high probability of collusion

Exam Taker Assessment Snapshot

Compare assessment navigation with peers


Exam Taker Assessment Log

Compare Assessment Navigation

Verify Device Model and Serial Number/ MAC Address

Best Practices to Protect Your Test Bank

Considerations

Access

Policies

Textbook Test Banks

Access

Limit faculty/staff accessibility to Question and Assessment Folders via User Access controls

Deactivate faculty/staff when no longer with the College

Policies

Limit on number of times a question can be used in a given academic year

Limit how long a question can be used before being revised or thrown out

Different exams for multiple sections of a course

Policies

Minimize Exam Taker access to technology that can capture screenshots of assessment questions during an exam or review of an exam.

Textbook Test Banks

Use as only as a guide or for inspiration

The answers are in the public domain

Best Practices Pre-Exam to Prevent Academic Dishonesty

Pre-Exam Strategies

Time Constraints on Exam Rule of Thumb: 1 min 30sec per question

max

Use the Avg. Answer Time column for questions added to an assessment to validate the duration of an assessment

Pre-Exam Strategies

Question and Answer Randomization

Disallow Backwards Navigation

Different exams for multiple sections

Pre-Exam Strategies

Secure Exams

Require all exams to be secure

Use secure passwords

Do not give out exam password until all technology is stowed away by Exam Takers

Pre-Exam Strategies

Use Delayed Exam Review

Immediate Review can create an opportunity for students to cheat

Pre-Exam Strategies

Use Remote Assessment Deletion

Protect exam from unwanted access post-exam.

Pre-Exam Strategies

Scared Straight Tactics

Let Exam Takers know that ExamSoft allows you to track their every move during an exam and will allow you to see if they have been colluding with a peer or possibly cheating.

Preventing Academic Dishonesty in the

Classroom/Examroom

Classroom/ExamroomStrategies

Multiple Proctors to monitor Exam Taker activity

Space Exam Takers out if possible

Require students to turn off and remove all technology from their person and stow away

Do not disseminate the assessment password until all technology is stowed away

Classroom/ExamroomStrategies

Check students for tech, ear buds, or contraband prior to an exam

Assigned seats or numbering system to identify exam takers in close proximity

Verify device used in the classroom for the exam

Verify exam upload prior to Exam Taker leaving the room

Utilize a separate area for exam review if allowing immediate review prior to upload

Questions?

strategies to prevent and identify academic dishonesty

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