Submitted by Roberta Hawkins (not verified) on July 13, 2006 - 22:02.
Ron-
I'm currently doing my doctoral dissertation on student cheating. Findings suggest that over 70 % of high school and college students cheat-and rather frequently. There is also research that supports the carry-over effect of cheating habits; in other words, those who cheat in high school tend to cheat in college and the workplace. Unless we are willing to live with the fact that medical school students are cheating (and yes, they are), that airline mechanics do, too, and that part of Boston's big dig tunnel collapsed and killed a woman because a company cheated on the quality of the cement, we'd all better stop closing our eyes to the dishonesty-habit. Cheaters overwhelming believe that "it's no big deal", partially because the habit is reinforced and rewarded at school.
So, as a 27 year veteran teacher myself, I can sympathize with your idea that "whatever makes them learn is good", but I would urge you to reconsider your strategies. Your students aren't stupid. They know YOU aren't stupid and they know YOU know they're cheating. They probably think you don't care. I'm sure you don't really want that.
Ron- I'm currently doing
Submitted by Roberta Hawkins (not verified) on July 13, 2006 - 22:02.
Ron-
I'm currently doing my doctoral dissertation on student cheating. Findings suggest that over 70 % of high school and college students cheat-and rather frequently. There is also research that supports the carry-over effect of cheating habits; in other words, those who cheat in high school tend to cheat in college and the workplace. Unless we are willing to live with the fact that medical school students are cheating (and yes, they are), that airline mechanics do, too, and that part of Boston's big dig tunnel collapsed and killed a woman because a company cheated on the quality of the cement, we'd all better stop closing our eyes to the dishonesty-habit. Cheaters overwhelming believe that "it's no big deal", partially because the habit is reinforced and rewarded at school.
So, as a 27 year veteran teacher myself, I can sympathize with your idea that "whatever makes them learn is good", but I would urge you to reconsider your strategies. Your students aren't stupid. They know YOU aren't stupid and they know YOU know they're cheating. They probably think you don't care. I'm sure you don't really want that.