How to Confront Students About Cheating

Student cheating can include looking off one another's work.

Cheating amongst students takes many different forms. Some forms of cheating are obvious, while other forms of cheating can only be detected by observant and diligent teachers. Types of student cheating include copying one another's work, plagiarism, use of electronic devices including texting and Internet use, and hiding notes and answers during a test. Students cheat for a variety of reasons. Some students may not want to the time and effort into studying and passing. Meanwhile, other students may cheat because they are insecure and uncomfortable with the material. Regardless, student cheating must be addressed and confronted to stop the behavior.

Instructions

1. Rearrange seating assignments immediately, if you suspect students are looking at one another's tests, or exchanging answers. See if their accuracy changes after the seating move. This should be done during the test time.

2. Confiscate any cheating materials that students may be using, including electronic devices. Electronic cheating may include messages sent via iPods or cell phones. Additional cheating materials may include paper notes or cheat sheets hidden in pockets or sleeves.

3. 

   Students may write answers or notes on their arms or hands.

   Note any other cheating resources that are cannot be confiscated. This includes answers written on desks or on the students' body parts. Immediately relocate the student if answers or notes are written on the desk. If they are written on the students' body confiscate the test and do not allow the student to take it.

4. Highlight passages or papers that may be plagiarized. If possible, attempt to find the student's source online and note the original source. Plagiarism is a serious academic offense and should not be tolerated in the classroom. Teachers should re-do the work or receive a non-passing grade for the assignment.

5. Address the students privately and individually after testing time or after the assignment is completed. Depending upon the severity of the cheating, the teacher may give the students a zero on the test or have them re-take it.

6. Reiterate the testing, cheating and plagiarism rules the next day in class. Be sure that every student understands the policy. Teachers may want to post these rules in the classroom and have every student sign a contract stating that they have read and are familiar with the policy.

7. Contact other teachers and school administrators. Other teachers that have the cheating student in class need to be aware of the cheating offense because the student may be cheating in other classes. Also, school administrators should be notified because many schools have school-wide policies regarding cheating and plagiarism.

8. Call home if you suspect cheating. Parents should be aware that their child may be cheating or plagiarizing material. Often times, parents are able to reach children in a way that teachers cannot. Make sure that the parents are also familiar with the cheating and plagiarism policies in the classroom.

References

• The Gwinnet Citizen: Types of Cheating and Why Students Cheat

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish