Cheating Is Easier Than Ever For Online College Students | TODAY
TLDRThe transcript reveals a concerning trend of online college students using platforms like Chegg and Google to cheat on assignments and exams. With the absence of in-person supervision, students are exploiting digital tools to find answers, leading to a significant increase in academic misconduct. Institutions are noticing and taking measures, such as Texas A&M investigating cases and Chegg introducing Honor Shield to block answers during exams. The situation raises questions about the effectiveness of online learning and the potential long-term impact on students' education.
Takeaways
- 😲 Cheating has become more prevalent among online college students due to the ease of access to resources like Chegg and Google.
- 📱 Students are using their phones to search for answers in real-time, even during exams, to achieve higher grades.
- 🎓 The absence of in-person supervision has led to an increase in academic dishonesty, with students admitting to cheating openly.
- 🔍 Chegg, a platform intended for learning, is being misused by students who skip the learning process and go straight to the answers.
- 📈 There has been a significant increase in Chegg's subscribers and the number of questions posted on the site, indicating a rise in its use for cheating.
- 🏫 Schools are noticing the issue, with one investigation at Texas A&M revealing over 800 cases of academic misconduct linked to online resources.
- 🕵️♂️ Proctoring services have reported a dramatic increase in test breaches, with some students going to extreme lengths to cheat.
- 🤖 Cheating methods are evolving, with social media platforms like TikTok offering tips on how to bypass online proctoring systems.
- 🏛️ The pandemic has highlighted a larger issue of students struggling to learn effectively in an online environment, affecting their academic performance.
- 🛡️ Chegg has introduced 'Honor Shield' to work with faculty to prevent misuse of its platform during exams by blocking access to certain answers.
- 📝 Schools are advised to clearly set academic integrity expectations to eliminate any ambiguity that might encourage students to cheat.
Q & A
What is the main issue discussed in the transcript about online college students?
-The main issue discussed is the ease of cheating among online college students, with the use of online resources like Chegg and Google to obtain answers to assignments and exams.
How do students typically cheat using their phones during exams?
-Students often use their phones to quickly Google answers to questions during exams, exploiting the lack of supervision in online testing environments.
What is Chegg, and how does it contribute to the cheating problem?
-Chegg is an online platform that is supposed to help students learn by providing step-by-step solutions. However, the problem is that many students misuse it by only looking at the final answers without understanding the process.
How has the increase in online learning affected the use of Chegg?
-The increase in online learning has led to a significant rise in Chegg subscribers, with a nearly 70% growth last year and a nearly 200% increase in questions posted on the site in 2020 compared to the same period in 2019.
What was the outcome of the investigation at Texas A&M regarding academic misconduct?
-The investigation at Texas A&M found more than 800 cases of academic misconduct after a faculty member noticed students finishing complex exams online in under a minute, with Chegg being one of the resources used.
What are some of the creative ways students have tried to cheat on online exams?
-Some students have tried flying drones behind them to take pictures of test questions, while others have used social media platforms like TikTok to share tips on how to get around a school's online proctoring system.
How has Proctor U responded to the increase in test breaches on their platform?
-Proctor U has reported a 700% increase in test breaches on their platform and has been actively catching students attempting to cheat, despite the various methods they employ.
What measures has Chegg taken to address the misuse of its platform for cheating?
-Chegg has introduced Honor Shield, which asks professors to upload exams so that it can block answers to certain questions at specific times when students are taking tests, in an effort to promote academic integrity.
What is Google's stance on students using its search engine to cheat?
-Google has stated that while it is possible for students to cheat by cutting corners on homework, the company is focused on developing educational features that help people learn concepts in math and science.
What advice do experts give to faculty to prevent academic dishonesty?
-Experts suggest that faculty should clearly set academic integrity expectations, removing any moral ambiguity that students might give themselves, and be specific about what is and isn't allowed during exams.
How has the pandemic affected students' learning and their potential for cheating?
-The pandemic has led to a struggle in learning for many students, as indicated by the transcript, which raises concerns about the impact on future semesters and the potential for increased cheating.
Outlines
🎓 Cheating in Online Education
This paragraph discusses the prevalence of cheating among students in the context of online learning. Students are using various methods to game the system, including using their phones to Google answers in real-time and utilizing online resources like Chegg to look up answers directly. The paragraph highlights the issue of students not learning the material but merely seeking to pass their exams. It also mentions the significant increase in Chegg subscribers and the number of questions posted on the site, indicating a growing trend in academic dishonesty. The impact of these cheating schemes on students' learning and the potential consequences for future semesters are also discussed.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Cheating
💡Online College Students
💡Chegg
💡Academic Misconduct
💡Proctoring Systems
💡Honor Shield
💡Academic Integrity
💡Open Book/Note
💡Educational Features
💡In-Person Classes
Highlights
Students are increasingly using online resources to cheat on assignments and exams.
Cheating is facilitated by the use of search engines and educational platforms like Chegg.
Some students admit to cheating openly, boasting about high grades achieved through dishonest means.
Chegg is intended to provide step-by-step solutions to aid learning, but students often just look for the answers.
The increase in Chegg subscribers and questions posted on the site indicates a growing trend of academic dishonesty.
Texas A&M found over 800 cases of academic misconduct, some involving students completing exams in under a minute.
Cheating methods extend beyond Chegg to include using Google and other online resources.
Students are sharing tips on social media platforms like TikTok for bypassing online proctoring systems.
Proctor U has reported a 700% increase in test breaches, with some students using drones to cheat.
The shift to online learning has raised concerns about the quality of education and the potential long-term impact.
Chegg has introduced Honor Shield to help prevent misuse of its platform during exams.
Google claims its educational features are designed to help people learn, not to facilitate cheating.
Schools are taking measures to clarify academic integrity expectations to reduce moral ambiguity for students.
Texas A&M is moving away from 'open book' or 'open note' policies to specify what constitutes acceptable behavior.
The transcript raises questions about the effectiveness of online learning and the integrity of academic achievements.
Students express concern about the impact of widespread cheating on their future academic success.
The report suggests that in-person classes may be more effective in preventing cheating and ensuring learning.