Can we stop participants cheating in an assignment, exam or essay? Technology has made it easier to cheat and at the same time it has created some great software that can detect cheating and plagiarism. I think that the more you try to stop cheating the cleverer participants get at finding ways to cheat and collaborate with other participants. Did we really have control of cheating in the past before the Internet? No we didn’t. It surprises me that trainers and educators do not realise that even a simple assignment task could be written by another person. A competent person. Here is a thought provoking article on cheating and here is a great learning and cheating resource, if you see it that way. If you want to stop cheating don’t assess for facts and information. Use a case study, scenario or project that requires an individual point of view answer and approach, that utilises the information taught during the learning program. Get the participants to present their answer and approach and question the information. Let the other participants ask questions. You may have more success at getting an authentic response and the participant will learn not to recite facts and theory but the practical application of knowledge. In the process they will learn how to present, argue a case, answer questions and think on their feet. I guess it really comes back to what are we trying teach?
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