Last week we talked about plagiarism and how that is a form of stealing. This week, we are going to dive further into academic integrity and discuss why cheating is a serious academic integrity violation as well. We’ll talk about ways students do it, how likely you are to get caught, and why it’s best to avoid it altogether.
How can you cheat in an online class?
Over the years as technology has developed, cheating methods have also evolved. In the past, students may have looked over at a friend’s quiz answers or passed a note in class. Now, many students turn to the internet. While the internet is a great resource for information, it can also be misused, especially in a virtual school setting. Here are some examples of what cheating might look like in an online school:
- Using websites like Brainly and Quizlet to get answers
- Using outside sources or notes during a test when not allowed
- Sharing your work with others or allowing them to take yours
- Purchasing an essay
- Copying and pasting of any kind
- Trying to trick computer auto-grader by typing in keywords from the question
- Plagiarizing (Click here for more on plagiarism)
Will my teachers know if I’m cheating in my online class?
The temptation for cheating is real, especially in an online school. You may wonder, “how will anyone know?” After all, you are probably working on your classes from the comfort of your own home. If you look up answers on the internet or plagiarize an essay, will anyone really find out? The answer is…maybe. There is a chance you will get away with cheating, but you’re also taking a serious risk of getting caught. While the internet makes it much easier to cheat, it also makes it that much easier for teachers to spot cheating. Because your assignments are already in digital form, teachers are able to check your answers against basic internet search results or run your essays through plagiarism checkers.
Chances are, your cheating will be discovered and you will earn 0’s on the assignments or fail the class entirely. Do you want to have to repeat a class just because you didn’t put the effort in the first time? Before you cheat, you need to recognize the consequences and impact that will have on your future. While it may seem that cheating can get you further ahead by allowing you to finish the class faster, it will actually set you back once you are discovered cheating. A good rule of thumb is to remember that cheating is never the answer.
Will cheating really benefit me?
Have you heard the saying, “cheaters never prosper?” That saying holds true here. You might think you are going to benefit from cheating because you will get the perfect scores, but in the end, you are only cheating yourself.
When you cheat, you discredit the value of learning material that will give you skills to thrive in the real world. Cheating is a shortcut that leads to failure and frustration. Sure, it may seem appealing if you don’t understand the content or procrastinated writing your paper, BUT if you are caught cheating, you will fail a class and have to repeat it. Or potentially worse, get kicked out of school and not have an option to finish your diploma so you can have a better future. Which option do you think will really benefit you in the long run?
If you cheat on all your assignments, come test time,
you aren’t going to have the knowledge needed to pass the test
and then you will be frustrated and want to give up.
The sense of accomplishment that comes when you take the time to learn the material, don’t cheat, and work hard to do your best, outweighs any immediate satisfaction that might come from the temporary relief that cheating offers. Remember, you have to live with yourself and in your own head, so you want to make sure that you feel good about what you have done and who you are as a person.
You are smart and you can do anything you set your mind to. Set aside time to identify what your study strengths are so you can learn your very best and not be tempted to cheat.
You got this!
Anjilee & Sara