Welcome to the summer blog. I am glad you chose to get started this week! We will start with a releatively easy topic that I am hoping will generate a good amount of interesting discussion.
Contrary to popular belief, Economics is not just study of dollars and cents, inflation rates, and interest rates. As you will all learn, Economics is a study of decisions. Decisions that will sometimes seem irrational to some, while appearing rational to others. To start our bloggin experience I am asking you to consider a topic that you may be familiar with in more ways than one: Cheating
Cheating - Act dishonestly or unfairly in order to gain an advantage, esp. in a game or examination: "she cheats at cards".
While we all realize that cheating is dishonest and can result in some pretty serious consequences, it is more than likely that each one of you has had to make a decison at sometime or other about cheating on a test, homework assignments or possibly something even more serious. We know the right thing to do is to make the choice to do our own work and resist any temptations that might exist to cheat.
You may have not realized it but you were making an economic choice as you struggled with what to do. All choices have cost and benefits. In Economics considering both sides is called marginal analysis. To some, the benefits of cheating are worth the risks and costs, while to others they realize the the risks and costs can have a much great impact than the percieved benefits. To you personally, one or the other may seem like an obvious choice but economics is all about personal value and choice.
Your task is to consider the links below (feel free to consider additional links) and discuss the following:
Why would students take the huge risk of cheating on High Stakes test? Is there any time that the benefits would make the cost worth it?
What is the root problem of cheating? Lack of morals? Too much pressure? Too easy to Cheat?
What types of measures can be taken to prevent what seems to be a wide-spread problem of cheating?
Overall shouldn't the fact that cheating is wrong (against the rules and illegal in many cases) be enough to prevent students from having this type of behavior?
BE SURE THE REFERENCE ONE - TWO OF THE LINKS BELOW:
http://schoolsofthought.blogs.cnn.com/2012/05/24/my-view-can-tests-motivate-students-it-depends-on-the-test-and-the-student/
CBS 60 minutes - video link
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7393498n
Cheating crisis in America
http://abcnews.go.com/Primetime/story?id=132376&page=2
The main part of test taking often does not depend on how well one knows the material. In SAT or ACT tests, it's more about good test-taking strategies than anything else. By the time a student approaches an AP exam, last minute studying will only affect one's score infinitesimally. However, nerves and certain mindsets can ruin the best student's score on any test.
ReplyDeleteThis is true in more than one way. If a student goes through school crashing into every obstacle that gets in their way, then by the time the student enters highschool he or she will believe that it's impossible for them to reach the passing mark on a highstakes test. They will likely give up without even trying or- as members of Sam Eshaghoff's highschool did- turn to cheating.
Motivation, as expressed by Usher and Kober, is immensely important. It's the reason why some students fight their way through AP and honors classes while others of similar intelligence float along an easier course. The wrong sort of motivation, on the other hand, simply leads to stress. Too much pressure causes students to toss and turn the night before a final or even spend the entire night studying, thus reaching it so exhausted and worn out that their grades plummet. When a student learns that they will fail if they don't pass this test, or even that they'll end up with a C, it often causes them to take drastic measures.
In summary- for that was a long and rambling explanation- the root problem of cheating is each student's mindset and thus changes for every individual. Whether or not one is willing to cheat depends on the assignment, the effect of that assignment on one's grade or life, the way one is raised, and the subject and class. As is discussed in the ABC article, there is no simple way to prevent cheating. The best thing to do is to help students and their families realize that the benefits of working hard go beyond simply obtaining a good grade.
I agree with your last statement about the benefits of working hard. If a student cheats his way to college, he will not at all be prepared for the rigorous classes he is delving into. Similarly, if one cheats through college (which I imagine would be an even more difficult undertaking) he will not be prepared for a demanding and high-paying job when he enters the workplace. Ultimately, the highest benefits are earned honorably.
DeleteI agree with your remark about how cheating is affected by the way someone is raised. If a child is taught at a young age that cheating is okay, then later in life they will believe the same thing and thus justify their actions of cheating.
Delete-Kaila M Hammon
Bonni, I agree that getting your grades honorably is the best route, but what about those kids that simply aren't as bright by test standards? It may not have anything to do with how they're raised or how hard they're trying- they may be driven to cheat because they see no other way.
DeleteI totally agree with your conclusion. The causes of cheating is different for everyone else. There are too many different variables to pinpoint that exact root.
DeleteI see what you mean, Sam, but I tend to believe that unless someone has a true medical disability of some sort, anyone can become at least average with the proper work ethics. Most non-AP classes tend to be geared towards helping the students pass. They don't need to be super-intelligent in order to do well, just minimally motivated.
DeleteTrue... with non honors I see your point. However, isn't it possible that an anxiety issue of some sort could cause the whole freezing-up-during-a-test symptom? Perhaps a panic attack of some sort?
DeleteThat is one example of why my original claim was that cheating is caused by a variety of problems and thus is nearly impossible to stop.
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DeleteIn classrooms today, tests are probably the most important things to students as they have the greatest ability to affect grades. With teacher-assigned tests counting for twenty percent of the class grade or more, it seems that every test is "high stakes." Thus it is not silly to assume that some students build up a resentment towards the tests that can dramatically bring down their grades, no matter how hard they work on everything else. Resentment for fairly often-occuring parts of class can replace respect for the integrity of the tests in extreme cases, and desire for a good grade can influence a student to risk cheating.
ReplyDeleteThough I agree with Usher and Kober in that "high stakes" tests can motivate students to study more and "increase their efforts in class," they also cause high anxiety in teens that not only isn't healthy, but can corrupt the morals they've established. For many students, grades are the most important thing; how one gets the grade is not necessarily as important as the final result, ABC news cites an actual high-achieving student as saying.
In conclusion, if students weren't so pressured to do well on all of their tests, there would certainly be far fewer instances of cheating.
I understand part of what you are saying, but I believe you're missing an important part of tests. Pressure often induces cheating, true, but a lack of pressure can be just as detrimental. Most high-achieving students either get where they are because of outside or personal pressure. Those who spend their life just barely getting through school often aren't unintelligent but simply unmotivated. They were never pressured to work as others were.
DeleteOf course I agree that pressure is a great motivator. I just mean that it also leads to cheating, and that perhaps too much pressure is being applyed to already highly motivated students at present.
DeleteBut in my experience highly motivated students pressure themselves. They choose to take more rigorous classes and they worry over their grades no matter what others say. However, less motivated students will give up on school or settle for barely passing if outside pressure is not exerted.
DeleteI agree with your statement about how "...anxiety in teens that not only isn't healthy, but can corrupt the morals they've established." Too much stress and pressure can make a student look for other alternatives in succeeding on a test and alleviating the anxiety put on them.
Delete-Kaila M Hammon
I agree that every test seems to be high stakes, and I really do think testing puts too much pressure on students. Luckily, I am naturally a good test taker, but many aren't even if they know the material inside and out. There has to be some sort of reform to test their effort and abilities as well.
DeleteYes,every test is high stakes, and highly motivated students who exhert pressure on themselves often have test anxiety that lowers their scores. This is another reason someone might cheat.
DeleteAs time has moved forward, cheating has only increased. I believe the main reason for cheating is the pressure put on students to succeed, especially on important tests like the SAT and ACT tests mentioned in the 60 Minutes video. Students already put an immaculate amount of pressure on themselves to do well on a test. Parents and teachers also put pressure on their student. The amount of pressure can easily make a normally exceptional student make irrational decisions, such as cheating. Students know that it is wrong to cheat but they often see that the long term benefits of cheating outweigh the temporary risks. Many students believe tests that affect their entrance to colleges can ultimately affect their life and often think that cheating their way into a better school is the answer. Technology also makes cheating much easier. Students now can look up information on their tests using technology. Sometimes it can be difficult to trace cheating. The only way to prevent cheating on tests is to be more aware of suspicious activity related to cheating, limit or eliminate the use of technology on tests and instill better integrity into students to help students understand the seriousness of cheating that they may not recognize. Hopefully as time progresses, cheating will decline and students will become more honest and take pride in succeeding through their own work.
ReplyDelete-Kaila M Hammon
I agree with your point that cheating has become easier as technology advances. On many occasions I have seen students on test day with their internet-capable phones on their laps frantically searching for answers to the questions right in front of them. I don't know how this can be remedied, however, since rules are already in place that prohibit electronics. Teachers can't be looking at every student at once either. Like you said, hopefully future students are being taught that cheating is not to be taken lightly!
DeleteI like how you mentioned that students put enough pressure on themselves; I find this to be true of many students, and it seems to be a quality that is overlooked in young people.
DeleteI agree with your comment that students put too much pressure on them own self! i know that I am not the only one that is feeling the same way. Sometimes we are our own worst enemy.
DeleteThis perfectly describes the large amount of pressure that honor students feel from all sides, which is a huge contributor to cheating in that same group of students. However, there are also quite a few students who could benefit from more pressure. There are those, as is mentioned in the ABC article, who believe that some classes are not worth their time or who would rather have fun than study.
DeleteThat is probably a by-product of a home environment where education is not stressed (as I believe you mentioned in your original post). However, knowing those kids don't really respond to the pressure because they face no circumstances at home, wouldn't it be best to gear assessments to them to make them interested in what they're learning, and therefore do well on assessments? Pure studying is very tough for some people.
DeleteI see what you mean, but I wasn't just talking about studying. That was just an example of what some often ignore. The problem with gearing assignments for the student is that classes have many individuals. It isn't fair for a teacher to focus on one student at the expense of more hard-working ones.
DeleteHigh school students bear witness to cheating almost on a daily basis. The problem is that when a student is exposed to cheating, they begin to realize how truly simple and easily accomplishable it is! All too often, stories float around among students about how another student cheated on an “impossible” test and succeeded. Seldom heard are stories of students being caught cheating and suffering the repercussions. The boy who was caught helping other students cheat on their SAT tests describes the process of cheating (in his case) with phrases such as, “simple as that” and “easy way to make money”.
ReplyDeleteCheating is exceptionally common among the “gifted” students who take honors or AP classes. It is no coincidence that these are also the students who face larger workloads, and in turn, face more stress and higher expectations. Unfortunately, these are also the students that are very capable of devising successful ways in which to cheat (i.e. – Sam Eshaghoff). With so much work during the year with an advanced class, the measure of success usually all comes down to the AP exam at the end of the year (or whichever type of final is administered for a specific class), or a standardized test that encompasses a specific subject. As it is, and with tests having such a hefty weight on our grades, many will not take the chance of doing poorly on an important test and thereby sacrificing the mass amounts of work leading up to it. Instead, many students will bypass the warnings of test proctors or teachers and secure the grade they feel they deserve by means of cheating. The idea that cheating is wrong is not going to deter a student who is resentful of the grading process, and one who is forced to find a way to do well on a single test that will define a whole class’ worth of work and study.
A response to this is very tricky; as making a “cheat-proof” test would be nearly impossible (high school students are clever and innovative). A more practical response would be to reduce the motives to cheat on an important test such as the SAT/ACT, AP Exam, ect. Students should be given more than a handful of shots to do well on a test that is going to make or break their college/scholarship applications. What do educators have to fear? Is taking the SAT five times going to be render such drastically different results than taking it twice? Maybe, maybe not. The whole idea of standardized tests (SAT/ACT) is to figure out a student’s level of intelligence and knowledge. Giving students 1-2 shots to show colleges their true potential is not fair to the students, especially to those who are exceptionally knowledgeable, but suffer test anxiety and stress. That being said, cheating doesn’t sound quite as wrong anymore.
I love your suggestion on taking tests multiple times. If students don't feel their whole future is based on one specific event, one that they might not even be prepared for, stress would be greatly reduced. It would also offer colleges a much clearer picture of each student.
DeleteThank you! I am mainly just talking about the SAT/ACT of course. Most students will take it twice. I have taken it one time already, and I must say, it is EXTREMELY nerve racking. The pressure it puts on you absolutely affects your test scores, and I could definitely see how the intensity could drive someone to take drastic measures in order to ace it. This is very unfortunate. I understand that college requires you to be able to handle pressure, but you won't even enter the college you seek without a decent SAT score.
DeleteYou've give some good insight about the high pressure situations. Do or die tests like the SAT or ACT are really stressful for even the most confident student, because of the implications of doing poorly. You make a good point that if we could let people retake other tests more than once like you can with the SAT, people would be less motivated to take the easy way out and cheat, because they have a second (or third, etc.) chance.
DeleteYeah, I just feel that being in any type of "do-or-die" situation in life will lead you to do certain things that you wouldn't normally do. When those situations are school related, I feel that that is especially true.
DeleteIf you think about it cheating has been around since the emergence of humankind. While not always directed towards the academic setting, every single person has cheated on something to get ahead. I believe students take the risk of cheating on a high stakes exam because they have to put in much less effort than studying the material. Today, society is infatuated with the mindset (minimum effort, maximum effect). The past generations of mankind had to do so much more work just to get by, and as a result past generations had the mindset, lets get this done so that we can prosper. Since everything is so easy to the current generation, the sense of importance and the strong work ethic that existed in the past has melted away.
ReplyDeleteAs Alexander Usher and Nancy Kober have pointed out the underlying problem that allows cheating to persist is a lack in motivation. Teachers need to understand the students perspective, wake up early, get homework in each class, and then its expected of you to complete all the work from each class to the best of your abilities. Where is the daily dose of motivation? As it stands a letter on a computer screen isn't a very big motivator to me. In terms of consequences there aren't too many, yea you get caught and get a zero, but honestly getting caught the first time isn't going to have severe consequences, as McCabe said, half the faculty of all schools surveyed ignored cheating.
In order to minimize cheating teachers need to enforce stricter consequences, but there is no way to do away with cheating altogether. The truth is just because something is wrong or illegal doesn't mean people won't try it.
I'm not so sure that enforcing stricter rules will bring about a sufficient amount of change, just because I know kids resent teachers who are very strict. Also, that puts extra responsibility on the teacher to monitor the kids' every move. However, I do agree that cheating will never completely go away.
Deletemaybe the motivation could be the competition among other students for the "best" grade or to be in the top ten? But then again, to get there it could go either way... to cheat or not to cheat?
DeleteYou have a good point Samantha. Stricter rules would probably have the opposite affect, but you can't just let it continue or stand behind cheating because then society begins to dumb down, it seems like we're headed there already.
DeleteI agree with nearly everything you said. I suppose the main problem is how to find a way to change the belief that everyone should try to give less and get more. In a capitalist society and a world based on technology with the knowledge of the universe literally at everyone's fingertips, every step taken would be just as likely to help or hurt.
DeleteAvery, just to be clear, I don't support cheating at all! And I agree that some change must occur as well :) Society indeed is lacking in its education; America places more shamefully every year in the global education ranking. It's a combination of kids not seeing the value and/or getting stressed over school, and the want for instant gratification. The way in which to twist education positively in a society with less and less positive pressure from home is the trick.
DeleteWhere is the evidence that every person has cheated. Don't say anything like that on the AP test if you don't have a reason to say it. That makes it clear that you don't know what you are talking about.
DeleteIn my experience, I've found that the majority of students cheat. The primary appeal seems to be a combination of too much pressure and the ease with which you can make yourself look better; I don't believe most people chose to cheat simply out of lack of morals. In the video clip about the boy Sam who cheated for 16 people on the SATs, he paints himself as a guy just giving some unfortunate students a little required assistance to make their future better. Though this is obviously an excuse to shield his wrongdoings, he has a point. No one is going to take the kid who scored 1100 on the SATs versus a kid who scored 2000. That's just the way the world works.
ReplyDeleteTests are valued even more than actual intellect. I used to go to a school in upstate New York where several students (and we're talking AP style, very intellectual students) hacked into the computers to change their A's into A+'s simply to have a shot at getting into Ivy League universities.The kind of pressure students get from both parents and other students is ridiculous. I've seen kids cheat on their phones, write on their stomachs and wrists, stuff empty pens with notes, carve notes into erasers or desks, etc. just to get a good grade. Standardized tests pressure teachers to perform so much that actual learning is sacrificed for endless test prep instead of exploration and application- the way kids should learn in school. While there will always be some lazy kids who cheat, this widespread cheating epidemic comes from a failure to evaluate all types of intellect, which pushes even the best of kids to take a glance at the boy or girl sitting next to them.
I liked how you mentioned teachers and the way the prepare for the tests. In my experience, one school year in BARELY enough time to learn the material that is going to be on the big tests. In APUSH specifically, we were reading a chapter a week (sometimes two), and testing accordingly. That kind of pace is enough to make anyone go crazy, however, the AP Exam encompassed ALL the material we learned, as well as the SAT subject test in the area of U.S. History (which I just took this past weekend). I understand this is a college level class and we are to expect this sort of pace and style of teaching, but in general, I find that when a teacher is teaching based off of the guidelines for the AP exams or the standardized tests, it doesn't prove to be very effective. I see more cheating than I ever have in my whole life.
DeleteI'm glad someone else sees it the same way! There is something to be said for a vast amount of knowledge, but I just don't know if the current method is really the best way to educate students.
DeleteI like how you pointed out that it isnt always a lack of morals that makes students cheat. I think thats how most teachers see it. Like both you and Joey pointed out the fast pace teaching style, and pressure from outside source is enough to make anyone crack and cheat.
DeleteWhat you said about tests being valued more than actual intellect is interesting. It sometimes seems as though through the standardized tests that have no room for error, the educational system is trying to make a million cookie-cutter citizens. Tests will never truly be worth something unless they allow for individuality and the different ways people can contribute to society.
Delete"cookie-cutter citizens" ... very well put. I couldn't have said it better myself :)
DeleteI agree with you that students don't cheat just out of a lack of morality. In fact, most of them cheat because they are motivated to be successful in life, which, to me, is of great purpose and morale. Most of us are willing to sacrifice our sense of fairness and righteousness when we are told that our future is depended on it. Also I love how you pointed out how teachers are forced to spend most of the class time drilling students with practice tests that we don't have as much time to really discuss and explore the information. I wish there is a method to fully prepare us for the AP tests without having to surrender the correct way of learning. :)
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ReplyDeleteSorry i saw an error. Thats what you get for doing this at 1:38 in the morning.....
Delete"High stakes tests", the ones that greatly affect your grade, and your acceptance into a college (of your dreams). Now a days, cheating is trending more and more because of the pressure the outside world has on them. According to Spike, a high school student, "Grades can determine your future, and if you fail this then you're not going on to college, you're going to work at McDonald's and live out of a car" ("A Cheating Crisis in America's Schools"). Although this comment may seem irrational, many students especially AP students are in a similar mind set when they see theire grades dropping--even the slightest. They overreact because of the pressure thrust upon them from the fixed future that society has for them: get a college degree then get a well paying job. Its the survival of the fittest; its in our nature as humans to want safety and comfort. But how can you feel safe if you don't have enough money to pay for food and/or a house? Its sad how true this is when you step into the real world--where your parents can't take care of you anymore. Parents and school educators always says that "good grades" are the way to go, putting them upon a pedestal with expectations that seem out of bounds for some. Thus, the students (the ones that want to try) don't want to disappoint anyone. This could be seen as a motivation for them to work harder or just to take the easy way out and cheat. It all depends on the student.
To prevent cheating, the obvious answers would be to teachers be more strict on the things students are allowed to have during a test, possibly going as far as taking their phones away. And for standardized tests like the SAT and ACT, maybe the security procedures of taking such tests should be revamped. According to Sam (from the video), who has taken the SAT 16 times for other people, the security is lacking when its comes to prevention of cheating. All you really need is a school ID which can easily be forged. Maybe it should be changed to the requirement of a passport or social security card instead, something that is not as easy to fake. On another note,b we should look at the root of the problem (too much pressure) and not be so quick to punish the students.
Overall, in a perfect world, the fact the cheating is bad should be enough to prevent many from cheating. But unfortunately its not. People, not only students, will do what they have to do to get where they want to be in life whether it be cheating or working hard.
Tammy, I believe now they do require another form of ID (at the SATs at least)because I'm fairly sure I had to show a driver's license. You would think they would have taken better precautions originally, but I guess not unfortunately.
DeleteYeah I saw the different types of identification you can use on my admission ticket but what I meant was that social security cards or passports should be the sole identification required. So school ID cards can't be used at all... Thanks for pointing that out though, I should I have been more clear.
DeleteOh! Well yes, in that case I agree :)
DeleteIt is indeed true that people will do whatever they can to get to where they want to be in life, so do you think greater prevention would be enough to stop cheating? it seems like more strict security would just be countered with more creative ways to cheat.
DeleteSure, it is possible that people would find more create ways to cheat the system. Which is a shame on their part because the effort they are putting out could be used for something better like investing in their future-- by actually studying. i acknowledge that cheating is also an investment-- a low cost one at that compared to the long nights that accompany studying-- but cheating will not give you an advantage in the long run when you are expected to perform and do well at your job (whether it be a doctor, engineer, lawyer,..etc). And to answer your question, no i don't think greater prevention would be enough to stop cheating because there will always be people that will still try. However, i do believe that it will prevent more people from cheating than it is now.
DeleteI think, at its core, cheating stems from a poor educational philosophy. Academia is designed to make students care more about a letter grade from a particular class than the knowledge attained during the semester, because the grade is the only thing we have to show for what we've learned; it's the standard by which our aptitude is judged. As a result of this, we're prone to forgo ethics to achieve our desired mark, because this is the only way, in the present system, we can show off our strengths. Consequently, cheating is seen by many as a viable method to improve a grade, particularly because it's so hard to enforce. Almost every time one successfully cheats, the costs outweigh the benefits; any cognitive dissonance is quickly forgotten when he/she gets an A.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Joey and others that it's almost impossible to successfully formulate cheating restrictions in this academic climate. Determined, habitual cheaters are clever, like the kid that helped others cheat on the SAT. Perhaps the most effective way for administration to limit cheating is to focus less on grades, like Avery implied, and instead focus on a more discussion-oriented class. Get rid of the "grunt-work" (Apush anyone?), and concentrate on debates, videos, and real-life application. Here, teachers can assess a student's strengths/weaknesses, without having to worry about certain kids getting an unfair advantage, due to a lack of standardized tests. Obviously, cheating, in some form, will always be around in school, but I think we can limit it by changing the grading system.
I really like your philosophy, change the system, do away with the problem. I just don't think there are very many districts, that are, for one: willing, and two, have the desire to go out on a limb, and try a revolutionary system to educate the knowledge hungry masses. As the famous adage goes, imitation, is indeed the sincerest form of flattery.
DeleteI like how you pointed out that letters on a report card have become more important than the knowledge obtained during the course. In some cases the letter doesnt reflect what was learned. Students are willing to put aside learning the material and turn to cheating to recieve the desired grade. We sacrifice our education for grades, the sole purpose of going to school for 12 years.
DeleteI disagree Marcus because the only reason majority of kids try, and to be fair cheat, is because grades are so important. The letters may be meaningless but without them every student would be the same on paper and then you would have went from a situation where a minority cheated and inflated their grades and removed a little of the system's accuracy to a bunch of names where colleges and businesses choose by chance removing all accuracy.
DeleteSpencer, I see your point in your accuracy argument. Some sort of grading system is necessary. However, if the entire education experience is less test weighted, I believe accuracy and insight into a student's true abilities would increase.
DeleteI guess I should've been a little more specific; I think grades still do play a role, but could be assigned using different techniques. Instead of constant homework/quizzes/tests, we could be graded by different methods, which I mentioned.
DeleteI think the ambition will always be there for a portion of the student body, regardless of change.
I feel the same way students care about the letter more than the information but I believe that the teachers also feel that the letter is the only way to judge the student. I think that focusing on discussions and debates instead of tests could help the cheating problem we face.
DeleteListening attentively in class, turning in every single homework assignment...no matter how hard you've worked all year, your grade still depends massively on how you do on the final exam. This amount of weigh on a mere one hour test is enough to drive everyone crazy. Truthfully, your score doesn’t represent intelligence, nor does it represent the amount of time you've studied. You can know 99% of the material and end up facing a test based on the 1% that you've overlooked. In addition, there is the anxiety and stress, mentioned by Usher and Kober, that can affect your performance. In the end, it seems like the only way to guarantee a good grade is, by cheating.
ReplyDeleteLooking from an economic perspective, cheating does seem like an appealing investment. It is low cost (no sleepless nights of cramming or anything), socially common, relatively low risk (as many of those around us have successfully cheated), and the results are rewarding. But what we don’t realize is the psychological damage that cheating has on students. Even if you don’t get caught, there are still negative consequences. Like gambling, once you've successfully cheated, you're essentially hooked. You realize no matter how hard you try, you can rarely get the perfect score that cheating can give you, or how easily it is to get pass the system, with formulas hidden on your graphing calculator, friends telling you everything on the test beforehand, etc. ("A Cheating Crisis in America's Schools") Most people that cheated before will continue cheating, more or less, throughout their academic career , and when they can't, their scores dramatically drop. More importantly, cheating destroys the feeling of success and self confidence we feel when we accomplish a difficult task. You are not motivated to work hard because you know that the A on your test doesn’t correlate with your personal achievement. This directly alters our cognitive development thus the way we approach obstacles later in life.
So how do we fix this? I personally think that cheating is just one symptom of the worldwide mania caused by our own expectation to be the greatest and the society's definition of a great high school student (that is, straight A's and perhaps, a 2380 on the SAT?) Clearly, the problem lies in the school system itself, not its students. Instead of blaming and punishing students for cheating, maybe it’s wise to first understand what pushes them to take such actions.
I don't have anything extrememly valuable to say, but I wanted to let you know that this was beautifully stated.
DeleteThis is a very well thought out and unique response on your part, Katie. I like how you mentioned the psychological aspect of cheating and the lack of true reward you get from a "stolen" grade. For instance, when I do boring fill-in-the-blank type worksheets, I get no satisfaction whatsoever, and cheating is very much the same way. Once your behind, you'll feel like you can never catch back up; it's a detrimental cycle.
DeleteI agree that the main source of cheating is in the school systems. Students shouldn’t be judged based on test scores because like you said they aren’t a well representation of the students work. I feel that because test like finals and SAT have such authority on our average grade and college options these test become too stressful. I feel that students may think that cheating is the only way to achieve they score they want.
DeleteIn my opinion, I think cheating is a double edged sword. I understand that it's totally wrong but on the other hand it is very difficult to be stopped. From what I read on the ABC article, 74% of students openly admitted to cheating on tests without getting caught. That statistic can be scary but it can also be a learning opportunity for all the schools that are dealing with a serious problem of integrity on tests. Overall, I believe there are 2 reasons that people cheat: parents expectations and self-motivation
ReplyDeleteMost students that are taking these AP and honors classes are really only in them because of their parents. Some adults these days expect a lot out of their children which causes a lot of stress. Of course the students doesn't want to bring home the bad grade and have their parents disappointed at them so what do they do-they cheat. Self-motivation becomes an issue for a student that either sets no goals for themself or has a lot of activities. Someone that doesn't make goals for themselves becomes lost and can't dig themself out of the deepening stress hole. To feel better about themselves, they will cheat to show other classmates that they are smarter than the others. Also, people in a lot of activities sometimes come home late and are not motivated to do even the easiest of assignments. Because of this, they will simply copy others and breeze through even the toughest of tests by copying from others. I find it quite unnecessary to cheat in some circumstances, but yet students think it's right. In my opinion, I believe that teachers should start to crack down on cheating a little more and that students should really think twice before cheating on an exam.
You made some very good points in the second paragraph. The part where you mentioned goals and activities sounded like perfect advice for an overstressed honor student. I agree with the implication that students should be responsible enough to think before deciding to cheat.
DeleteI think your right Alec about making the punishment steeper and it would definitely fix the first problem because students with strict parents would not want to get caught cheating. However, the second problem doesn't seem to be fixed by that because if you have no self-motivation then why would you care about getting in trouble?
DeleteAlec, while my parents certainly push for AP, I take the courses I do for my own personal reasons- I genuinely enjoy learning. Obviously, not a lot of people feel that way, so what can happen in the education system to make kids WANT to join these types of classes? Do you feel changes could make a significant impact on the cheating problem?
DeleteSucceeding in High School and going to college to obtain a degree is important now than it has ever been in the past. More people work in specialized white collared jobs than blue collar. The pressure is on students to get an education as more and more jobs required college degrees. Cheating on a test goes much farther than just obtaining a passing grade. Getting good jobs and good grades has become extremely competitive. Students may work all semester to receive an A, but when it comes down to a high stakes test such as a final that can make or break your grade, the pressure may lead to cheating. I agree with Usher and Kober that motivation is key. Some students are simply more motivated than others to put forth the effort to take challenging course, study and obtain good grades honorably. While other students have the same mentality as the business student “Everything is about the grade that you got in the class. Nobody looks at how you got it” Despite the amount of motivation the student has, the pressure is coming from every direction, parents, grandparents, siblings, teachers and fellow classmates. Many students find it difficult to manage time and find extra time to do school work with 6 classes, SAT courses, sports, or jobs. After a long day it might just be easier to get the answers and get some sleep than stay up and study. I believe the only way to stop cheating is through the student body itself. We are the ones that pass answers around and allow our friends to copy. Rules and punishments are already in place, even if they were to be more serve, students would continue to by-pass them. Cheating will continue until students decided to end it themselves.
ReplyDeleteI admire that you advocate a student- responsible solution; ultimately I suppose it is our fault. However, I find that view a bit idealistic, just because the cheating hasn't stopped so far.
DeleteI completely agree that the only way that cheating will stop is through the student body. Someone may say that they disagree with cheating, but put in the situation most people will give their classmate the answer if asked. The teachers can discipline as much as they want, but the reality is that many parents have stopped caring about a detention or a referral. The old ways of discipline have slowly stopped working. The solution to cheating is like you said ourselves. A person is less likely to ask someone for answers a second time if the first they got denied.
DeleteCompetition plays an integral role in our capitalistic society, especially in the educational system. It is perceived that the smartest, most capable students will rise to the "top" through means of hard work and perseverance; these students are the ones that will receive the best scholarships and tend to get the highest-paying jobs. Without other realistic means to measure aptitude, the current system relies on a grading rubric based largely on letter grades and high-stakes tests. This has lead grades to become the preeminent reflection of a student and their success. In the minds of the student, especially one in AP or honors classes, getting good grades is essential. The article "A Cheating Crisis in America's Schools" highlights this idea, stating that the pressure for good grades in high school is extremely high. This mark of distinction that arises directly from "good grades" is enough to justify cheating in the minds of many high schoolers, even on high-stakes test.
ReplyDeleteIn essence, competition fuels cheating. The pressure that is a product of the natural human tendency of dominance is lethal enough to corrupt a students morals enough to justify cheating. With the opportunity to cheat more readily available than ever, it is easy for a student to opt for a dishonest route of earning a respectable grade. In the distorted world of efficiency in which we live, it is far more reasonable to get the answers to a test from a friend or off a smart phone rather than spending an enormous amount of time studying. Sam Eshaghoff was able, in his eyes, to change the lives of his "clients" through cheating. As long as the current system stands, cheating will exist. It is though that grades are the precursor for a successful life. Why wouldn't some students risk being caught?
There is no quick fix to the problem of cheating. The entire system would have to be flipped on its head. High-stakes tests and grades would need to be eliminated. Emphasis on truly learning for personal benefit would have to be instilled in students. A greed for knowledge, not for a high grade, must be made prominent.
Your points about how it's nearly impossible to stop cheating were very apt. I agree that the only way to even begin would be to completely change the mindset of students.
DeleteWith the amount of pressure students face when taking these tests it is obvious that student would want to find an easier solution. While cheating does display a lack of morals by the participants the main cause is the fact that the score is more important. Students are often told “we are not just a number”. This is hard to believe this statement when colleges use test score as final decision makers. The boy in the video stated that by cheating for these kids he was “saving their lives”. The test was so important that if they received a low score their lives would be over. Certain score could determine the path they would take in life. It is evident that the score displayed too much authority. This may seem dramatic but the stress of getting into certain colleges can affect people this way. The School for thoughts website said that these high stakes tests are “invoking anxiety, frustration, and fear of failure”. The students cheat to avoid these emotions. It is really hard to defend these actions because they are obviously not the best way to handle this type of stress. I do believe however that these actions are a result of the test making companies and teachers who make these tests so significant to the student’s career.
ReplyDeleteI feel that if students weren’t required to take these tests we could avoid the stress and any cheating would stop. However the SAT will probably always be used because colleges can’t find any other ways to judge the thousands that apply. I suggest that they enforce security at testing locations. It would be a good idea to require more forms of I.D. or at least forms that are harder for students to forge. A good proposal would be to remove the ETS policy allowing students to get away with these crimes. If the company doesn’t inform the college that they cheated the student will see no harm in cheating. The consequence of cheating should be greater to discourage people from committing these acts. At schools teachers can possible try to be more observant. It is usually clear when a student is cheating. It would also be better if students know that a kid is cheating they inform someone. People shouldn’t be able to get away with taking the easy way out when other students work hard for the grades they receive.
I agree with reforming the ETS policy. It seems rather dumb that the colleges would not be notified about the cheating because essentially they invested in a lie. Ignoring entrance, what if they had given this student a scholarship? They might have given thousands of dollars to a student who is not as intelligent as they claimed to be.
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