Trying to keep a college student

off Google during an online test

is about as realistic as keeping a

squirrel out of a bird feeder.

A student often searches for test or

assignment answers using sites such

as Quizlet or Chegg. Regardless,

these programs can still be valuable

tools for studying and should not be

made unavailable to students.

The only way to combat online

cheating is for teachers to regulate

the use of these sites by proctoring

exams, using unique questions or

providing in-person exams.

COVID wasn’t the only pandemic

of 2020. There became a second

pandemic of cheating among

students learning virtually.

Maria Carrasco, a higher education

journalist, conducted a study about

the ease of cheating due to online

schooling. She found that 59% of

students said it’s easier to cheat

online, and 51% of students said the

pandemic made it easier to cheat.

In the face of this unfortunate

scope of dishonesty, it’s easy to

accuse the source of the cheating—

the apps and sites the students

use. However, according to Megan

Krou, an analytics specialist, online

cheating is the fault of lazy teachers.

“Teachers can’t expect students

to put forth the effort to learn when

teachers themselves do not put in

effort,” Krou said. With all answers

online, it is irresistible to search for

the answers.

The good old-fashioned way

to prevent cheating occurs in a

classroom with a paper test and the

teacher watching from their desk.

In-person tests may be less

convenient, but it is the only way to

ensure students cannot use study

programs during exams.

And for online classes, where

at-home testing is necessary,

proctoring software such as

HonorLock helps to deter cheating.

Proctoring exams may not stop all

cheating. Still, professors choosing

not to use any proctor during online

exams are simply giving permission

for their students to cheat.

Students will always find a way to

get around the rules, but there are

steps a teacher can take to keep it to

a minimum. And all professors need

to be taking these extra steps.