Cheating Is Easier Than Ever For Online College Students | TODAY

TODAY
23 Mar 202105:07

TLDRThe transcript reveals a concerning trend of academic dishonesty among online college students, facilitated by the ease of access to resources like Chegg and Google. Students are reported to be using these platforms to find answers to their homework and exams, often bypassing the learning process. Chegg, which offers step-by-step solutions, has seen a surge in subscribers and question postings. Instances of cheating have been so prevalent that Texas A&M uncovered over 800 cases of academic misconduct in a single semester. To combat this, schools are reevaluating their academic integrity policies, with some moving away from 'open book' or 'open note' exams to more clearly defined guidelines. Chegg has responded by introducing Honor Shield, which allows professors to upload exams to block answers during testing times. Meanwhile, Google emphasizes its educational features that aim to help students learn concepts rather than just providing answers.

Takeaways

  • 🎓 **Cheating in online education is prevalent**: Many students are resorting to cheating to get passing grades, with a significant number admitting to it openly.
  • 📱 **Easy access to answers**: Students can easily find answers to their homework questions online, often bypassing the learning process.
  • 🔍 **Use of Chegg and Google**: Chegg, a platform intended for learning, is being misused by students to get direct answers, and Google is also a common tool for finding answers.
  • 📈 **Rise in Chegg subscribers and question posts**: There has been a significant increase in Chegg's subscribers and the number of questions posted on the site, indicating a trend of dependency on such services.
  • 🏫 **Academic misconduct on the rise**: Institutions like Texas A&M have noticed a surge in academic misconduct cases, with some students completing complex exams in under a minute.
  • 🤖 **Technological solutions to cheating**: Proctoring services are seeing an increase in test breaches, with students using various methods to cheat, including drones to capture test questions.
  • 🚫 **Social media's role in cheating**: Platforms like TikTok are used by students to share tips on how to bypass online proctoring systems.
  • 🏛️ **Schools adapting to the situation**: Schools are taking measures to curb cheating, such as Texas A&M moving away from 'open book' or 'open note' policies and being more specific about what is allowed.
  • 🛡️ **Chegg's response to misuse**: Chegg has introduced Honor Shield, which allows professors to upload exams so the platform can block answers during testing times.
  • 🧐 **Concerns about learning outcomes**: There are worries about the quality of education and the impact on future learning, as students may not retain information when they cheat.
  • 🗣️ **Honesty about cheating**: Some students are candid about their cheating on TV, highlighting the extent of the issue and the normalization of such behavior among students.

Q & A

  • What is the main issue discussed in the transcript?

    -The main issue discussed is the increasing prevalence of cheating among online college students, facilitated by online resources like Chegg and the use of search engines like Google.

  • What is Chegg and how does it contribute to the cheating problem?

    -Chegg is an online platform that provides step-by-step solutions to homework problems. It contributes to the cheating problem because many students are using it to find answers directly instead of learning the concepts.

  • How did the reporter demonstrate the ease of cheating using Chegg?

    -The reporter pasted a question from a chemistry assignment into Chegg's search bar and found the answer readily available on the website, illustrating how easy it is for students to cheat.

  • What was the increase in Chegg subscribers and the number of questions posted on the site in 2020?

    -Chegg subscribers grew by almost 70% last year, and the number of questions posted to the site skyrocketed by nearly 200% in 2020 compared to the same period in 2019.

  • What did an investigation at Texas A&M reveal about academic misconduct?

    -An investigation at Texas A&M found more than 800 cases of academic misconduct after a faculty member noticed that some students were finishing complex exams online in under a minute, with Chegg being one of the resources used.

  • What are some methods students are using to cheat on online exams?

    -Some students are using search engines like Google to find answers, while others are looking for ways to get around a school's online proctoring system, such as using drones to take pictures of test questions.

  • How has ProctorU responded to the increase in test breaches on its platform?

    -ProctorU has reported a 700% increase in test breaches on its platform and has been catching various cheating attempts, including the use of drones.

  • What measures is Chegg taking to address academic integrity concerns?

    -Chegg has introduced Honor Shield, a feature that asks professors to upload exams so it can block answers to certain questions at specific times when students are taking tests.

  • What does a Google spokesperson say about the company's educational features?

    -A Google spokesperson states that while it is possible for students to cheat by cutting corners on homework, Google has developed educational features to help people learn concepts in math and science.

  • What is the role of faculty in curbing cheating according to the experts?

    -Experts suggest that it is important for faculty to clearly set academic integrity expectations to eliminate any moral ambiguity that students might give themselves.

  • How is Texas A&M addressing the issue of cheating?

    -Texas A&M is moving away from using terminology like 'open book' or 'open note' and advising professors to be specific about what is and isn't allowed during exams.

  • What concerns do students express about learning online?

    -Students express concerns that online learning is not an ideal situation, as information may go 'in one ear and out the other,' leading to a lack of understanding and retention of the material.

Outlines

00:00

😲 Cheating in Online Education

The video script discusses the prevalence of cheating among students in the context of online learning. It highlights that students are using various methods to cheat, including searching for answers on their phones and using websites like Chegg to get step-by-step solutions to homework problems. The reporter demonstrates how easily a chemistry question can be found on the web, emphasizing that students are often skipping the learning process and going straight for the answers. The script also mentions the significant increase in Chegg subscribers and questions posted on the site, indicating a growing trend of academic dishonesty. An investigation at Texas A&M University revealed numerous cases of academic misconduct, with students using online resources to complete complex exams quickly. The video also touches on the broader issue of students struggling to learn effectively online, which could impact their performance in future semesters.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Cheating

Cheating refers to the act of dishonestly using unauthorized means to gain an advantage, particularly in an academic setting. In the context of the video, it highlights how online college students are resorting to cheating to pass their courses, which is a significant issue as it undermines the integrity of the educational process. The script mentions students using various online resources to cheat, such as looking up answers on their phones.

💡Online College Students

This term refers to students who are enrolled in educational courses that are conducted over the internet rather than in a traditional classroom setting. The video discusses the challenges faced by these students, especially the temptation and increased opportunities to cheat due to the lack of direct supervision and the availability of online resources.

💡Academic Misconduct

Academic misconduct encompasses a range of unethical behaviors in an academic context, including plagiarism, cheating, and falsification of data. The video reports an increase in such behaviors, with over 800 cases found at Texas A&M University alone, indicating a serious concern for educational institutions.

💡Chegg

Chegg is an online platform that provides homework help and other educational services. While it is intended to assist students with learning by offering step-by-step solutions, the video points out that many students misuse Chegg by directly looking up answers instead of using the platform to understand the learning process. This misuse is part of the broader cheating problem discussed in the video.

💡Google

Google, a popular search engine, is mentioned in the video as another tool that students are using to cheat. By searching for answers to homework and exam questions, students can bypass the learning process and simply copy and paste the information they find. This behavior is framed as a form of cheating within the video's narrative.

💡Proctoring System

A proctoring system is a method used to supervise students during online exams to prevent cheating. The video discusses how some students attempt to circumvent these systems using various tricks, such as flying drones to take pictures of test questions. Proctor U, a service mentioned in the video, has seen a significant increase in test breaches.

💡Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is the principle of honesty and trustworthiness in academic pursuits. It is a core value that educational institutions strive to uphold. The video discusses how the rise in cheating among online students threatens academic integrity and the potential long-term impact on learning and future semesters.

💡Honor Shield

Honor Shield is a feature introduced by Chegg to combat cheating. Professors can upload their exams to the platform, which then blocks answers to certain questions at specific times when students are taking tests. This initiative is part of Chegg's commitment to working with educational institutions to maintain academic integrity.

💡Open Book/Note

Traditionally, 'open book' or 'open note' exams allow students to refer to their notes or textbooks during the exam. However, the video highlights that in the context of online learning, these terms can be misinterpreted to mean that students can access the entire internet, leading to increased cheating. As a result, Texas A&M is moving away from such terminology to clarify expectations.

💡Online Learning

Online learning refers to the delivery of education through the internet, which has become more prevalent due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The video explores the challenges of online learning, including the difficulty in ensuring that students are learning effectively and the ease with which they can cheat, leading to concerns about the quality of education.

💡In-Person Classes

In-person classes are traditional educational settings where students and teachers are physically present in the same location. The video suggests that a return to in-person classes could potentially reduce cheating, as the physical presence of teachers and the structured environment make it more difficult for students to engage in academic misconduct.

Highlights

Cheating has become easier for online college students with the use of technology.

Many students admit to cheating to obtain passing grades.

Real-time online search capabilities, such as on phones, facilitate cheating.

Students are using platforms like Chegg to find answers to homework questions.

Chegg is intended to aid learning by providing step-by-step solutions, but students often only look at the final answer.

Chegg subscribers increased by almost 70% last year, and the number of questions posted on the site grew by nearly 200% in 2020.

Texas A&M found over 800 cases of academic misconduct after noticing students completing complex exams in under a minute.

Cheating methods include using online resources and social media tips to bypass online proctoring systems.

ProctorU has seen a 700% increase in test breaches on its platform.

Students are getting creative with cheating methods, such as using drones to take pictures of test questions.

The shift to online learning raises concerns about the quality of education and the integrity of testing.

Chegg has introduced Honor Shield to prevent misuse of its platform during exams.

Google has developed educational features to help students learn concepts in math and science.

Schools are taking measures to curb cheating by setting clear academic integrity expectations.

Texas A&M is moving away from 'open book' or 'open note' terminology to prevent ambiguity about what is allowed during exams.

Students' admission of cheating on TV raises ethical questions about the honesty and integrity of online education.

The impact of online cheating on future semesters and the effectiveness of learning is a growing concern.

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