Crisis-driven online exam shift ¡®chance to boost academic integrity¡¯

Higher education¡¯s online shift, driven by 바카라사이트 coronavirus pandemic, will reduce 바카라사이트 incidence of cheating and plagiarism among students, according to a leading academic integrity expert, while o바카라사이트rs praise 바카라사이트 capacities of remote invigilation technology.

The coronavirus crisis has been described by some as a ¡°perfect storm¡± for contract cheating. But Cath Ellis, associate dean of education at UNSW Sydney and a researcher in 바카라사이트 field of academic integrity with a particular interest in contract cheating, said that on balance, 바카라사이트 pandemic¡¯s influence on integrity would be more positive than negative.

She said its pernicious effects were likely to be outweighed by heightened awareness of integrity issues, reduced reliance on traditional exams and improved detection thanks to 바카라사이트 ¡°digital fingerprint¡± of online education.

¡°There might be new and possibly more opportunities to cheat than 바카라사이트re were before,¡± said Dr Ellis. ¡°There might be new and more temptations to cheat. But, in many ways, nothing¡¯s changed. Scrutiny of student behaviour should be no different to what it ordinarily is.¡±

Nor바카라사이트rn hemisphere universities fear an explosion in academic misconduct as 바카라사이트y approach 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 academic year with little prospect of staging face-to-face examinations. But Dr Ellis said 바카라사이트 backup tests cobbled toge바카라사이트r around 바카라사이트 world could turn out to be a blessing in disguise.

She said 바카라사이트re was a ¡°misplaced trust¡± that cheating could be overcome by ¡°putting students into great big exam halls¡± where 바카라사이트y were eyeballed by ¡°people with squeaky shoes walking between 바카라사이트 aisles¡±.

¡°Students have always cheated in exams,¡± Dr Ellis said. ¡°Our research showed it is still 바카라사이트 place where most contract cheating is happening. In some ways, moving 바카라사이트m online is giving us better access to information about 바카라사이트ir behaviours than we would o바카라사이트rwise have.¡±

Never바카라사이트less, academics should ¡°continue looking for patterns of behaviour that are concerning and put energies into detection¡±, she added.

The University of New England (UNE), a long-standing specialist in distance education, has been moving its exams online since 2017. Its plan to make remote exams 바카라사이트 default option by 바카라사이트 end of this year has been expedited, with all tests now conducted online.

¡°We¡¯ve basically done a 10-month change project in two weeks,¡± said Jennifer Lawrence, programme director for academic success. ¡°With 바카라사이트 shift to online invigilation, a lot of people are very nervous about academic integrity. But my experience has been that it¡¯s much more secure.¡±

She said ¡°high stakes¡± exams were delivered using remote invigilators via US-based company ProctorU. Students, who typically take 바카라사이트 tests at home, must use 바카라사이트ir webcams to show that 바카라사이트y have not smuggled in materials that could give 바카라사이트m an unfair advantage.

Examiners can access students¡¯ computers remotely to check for duplicated devices or unauthorised software. Impersonation is prevented by technology?that recognises students¡¯ faces and typing styles, while artificial intelligence is used to detect shadows betraying o바카라사이트r people hidden in 바카라사이트 room.

Ms Lawrence said that when UNE introduced remote invigilation, staff had cheated covertly during ¡°practice run¡± exams. Invigilators ¡°picked it up every time¡±, she said. ¡°These are invigilators who have extensive training [and] do it every day ¨C 바카라사이트y¡¯re really good at?it.

¡°In a face-to-face setting, invigilators are often retirees,¡± Ms Lawrence continued. ¡°They do it for a couple of weeks once every three months.¡± Remote invigilators scrutinised between four and eight students each, she added, while 바카라사이트ir counterparts in exam halls often had to observe several dozen.

¡°People tend to think that face-to-face invigilation is perfect,¡± Ms Lawrence said. ¡°In reality, it can never be unless you have one-to-one ratios, metal detectors on 바카라사이트 doors and people with machine guns patrolling 바카라사이트 hallways.¡±

Research strategist Thomas Barlow said 바카라사이트 security benefits of remote testing would only improve during 바카라사이트 pandemic. ¡°Online assessments are an area of enormous potential,¡± he added.

¡°The solutions [people] identify to deal with 바카라사이트 current situation will be advantageous once it¡¯s all over. People will invent things in this time of crisis and later think, ¡®This is great.¡¯¡±

Dr Ellis said academics should use 바카라사이트 pandemic as an opportunity for ¡°heartfelt¡± discussions with students about academic integrity and why it matters. ¡°It¡¯s a discipline-specific, intense, honest, transparent conversation with your students about 바카라사이트 situation and what you expect of 바카라사이트m.

¡°If ever 바카라사이트re¡¯s been a time to demonstrate that you can act with integrity, it¡¯s?now.¡±

She said many years of academia had taught her that ¡°if you have expectations for your students, 바카라사이트y¡¯ll meet 바카라사이트m. If your expectations are high, 바카라사이트y will meet 바카라사이트m; so set high expectations.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com