2008 Woodie Awards
Ask Annie
Issue date: 3/28/07 Section: Opinion
- Page 1 of 1
Dear Annie,
What do you do if you know that your friends are cheating in an online class?
Signed,
Jimminy Cricket
Dear Jim,
What we have here is a classic dilemma of 'where does my loyalty lie?' Do you tell someone and risk loosing a friendship or do you sit quietly by as your integrity is compromised and you're slowly gnawed away by your guilty conscience?
As in most situations the first course of action should be to talk to the person who is the problem. In this case the cheater or cheaters. It's never easy to approach your piers in an unfavorable situation like this one. But it doesn't hurt to let them know that you are aware of the situation and exactly what you think about their behavior. Be as tactful and kind as possible. School can be very hard and there are a lot of extra stresses, I'm sure that at one time or another we've all been tempted to 'take the easy way out.'
Although it may be easier to "cheat" in an online class than it is in traditional classes there are still plenty of ways that the teacher or advisor can tell that their students are being dishonest.
The Faculty and Staff Handbook of Idaho State University defines CHEATING as "the act of using or attempting to use, in examination(s) or other academic work, material, information, or study aids which are not permitted by the instructor."
If a group of students submits their work simultaneously the teacher could assume that they did their work together… this may be fine with the instructor, unless it was specified as a solo assignment. Or, there are ways that the instructor can tell the student(s) have their books open in front of them while answering questions, when it was intended as a "closed book" assignment. So although students may think they're being sneaky and 'getting away with it.' You'd be surprised how many teachers already know who's not playing by the rules.
Ultimately it is the course instructor's responsibility to take action against these students if they choose. In The Faculty and Staff Handbook, Part 6, Section IX, there is a section on Academic Dishonestly. This section defines different forms of academic dishonesty and lists what penalties may be imposed for such behavior.
Instructors have the authority to issue a warning, require resubmission of work, give a grade reduction, or even give that student a failing grade for the course. Depending on the severity of the offence the University might become involved. The student may be suspended or even expelled from the University.
You might want to tell your friends that there are consequences; even if their not "caught." By cheating, they're really cheating themselves. By not doing the assignments as intended they're not learning the information; information and knowledge that they might need in the future, even if it's for nothing more than passing the final exam.
Do whatever you feel is necessary to clear your conscience and no longer feel responsible for your friend(s) dishonesty. You'll feel better and be a better person as you hold on to one of the most important things that any of us have, our integrity.
-Annie
Please send all questions to isuaskannie@gmail.com
What do you do if you know that your friends are cheating in an online class?
Signed,
Jimminy Cricket
Dear Jim,
What we have here is a classic dilemma of 'where does my loyalty lie?' Do you tell someone and risk loosing a friendship or do you sit quietly by as your integrity is compromised and you're slowly gnawed away by your guilty conscience?
As in most situations the first course of action should be to talk to the person who is the problem. In this case the cheater or cheaters. It's never easy to approach your piers in an unfavorable situation like this one. But it doesn't hurt to let them know that you are aware of the situation and exactly what you think about their behavior. Be as tactful and kind as possible. School can be very hard and there are a lot of extra stresses, I'm sure that at one time or another we've all been tempted to 'take the easy way out.'
Although it may be easier to "cheat" in an online class than it is in traditional classes there are still plenty of ways that the teacher or advisor can tell that their students are being dishonest.
The Faculty and Staff Handbook of Idaho State University defines CHEATING as "the act of using or attempting to use, in examination(s) or other academic work, material, information, or study aids which are not permitted by the instructor."
If a group of students submits their work simultaneously the teacher could assume that they did their work together… this may be fine with the instructor, unless it was specified as a solo assignment. Or, there are ways that the instructor can tell the student(s) have their books open in front of them while answering questions, when it was intended as a "closed book" assignment. So although students may think they're being sneaky and 'getting away with it.' You'd be surprised how many teachers already know who's not playing by the rules.
Ultimately it is the course instructor's responsibility to take action against these students if they choose. In The Faculty and Staff Handbook, Part 6, Section IX, there is a section on Academic Dishonestly. This section defines different forms of academic dishonesty and lists what penalties may be imposed for such behavior.
Instructors have the authority to issue a warning, require resubmission of work, give a grade reduction, or even give that student a failing grade for the course. Depending on the severity of the offence the University might become involved. The student may be suspended or even expelled from the University.
You might want to tell your friends that there are consequences; even if their not "caught." By cheating, they're really cheating themselves. By not doing the assignments as intended they're not learning the information; information and knowledge that they might need in the future, even if it's for nothing more than passing the final exam.
Do whatever you feel is necessary to clear your conscience and no longer feel responsible for your friend(s) dishonesty. You'll feel better and be a better person as you hold on to one of the most important things that any of us have, our integrity.
-Annie
Please send all questions to isuaskannie@gmail.com
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