The contemporary trend in education involves online learning. The dramatic transition to online learning brought on by Covid-19 has undoubtedly caught schools off guard. As a result, online education has experienced a substantial rise. But with that, cheating has also risen to a huge extent. Although some people do cheat, many are charged with false accusations of cheating. The repercussions, as a result, turn out to be quite aggressive and severe. In such cases, students can seek help from firms like josephlento.com for legal support.
Moving forward, although the format of online courses differs from traditional classroom settings, several of their practices have made their way online. Furthermore, not all of these methods are ethical.
In the conventional classroom, there is often cheating that goes on. Consequently, it is not surprising that the practice also exists in online classes. However, just as cheaters are discovered in the classroom, online cheaters can also be exposed.
However, while cheating is simpler while taking classes online, false accusations of cheating are also simpler to make.
How cheating occurs in online classes?
Source: oklahomawatch.org
Students now know how to adapt to changing circumstances. As a result, numerous strategies for cheating on online exams have evolved throughout time.
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Cellular phones
Students can use their smartphones to access websites like Google and Chegg to look up answers online, share their solutions with other test-takers by submitting answers to questions, and storage solutions. Furthermore, the development of the incognito mode functionality also permits the cheater to browse for answers without fear of being discovered.
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Screen-sharing software
When a student is administered an exam from a distance, they can use multiple displays to allow another individual to view the exam questions simultaneously. The questions can then be answered by this additional person.
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Passing off
Supervisors are often not present during online exams. In this way, a student has the option of designating a substitute to take the exam in their place.
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Electronic devices
High-tech tools for cheating on online assessments are now being developed. These gadgets consist of:
- calculators with the ability to save formulas and other data
- miniature earphones
- spy-style eyewear
- Hidden smartwatches
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Auto-Coding Programs
Some college students utilize auto-coding software to clear programming examinations without ever creating a line of code. Besides this, there are a lot more ways that students adopt these days for online exams. While maximum students are innocent, the entire online education concept struggles due to a few children that are involved in online cheating, duplication, and fraud.
Source: ndtv.com
Ways to Cheat Online in a Proctored Exam
After discussing all the methods a student can use to chase on an online exam, students are aware of these methods, and also they have noticed that certain technologies are used to combat online cheating.
Many universities of higher education are using proctored exam technologies to catch the students who are cheating during online exams at home. Proctored exams prevent students from cheating.
But, “where there is a will there is a way”. No precaution is foolproof and there are ways by which a candidate can cheat during the proctored exams too.
There are a few technical and non-technical ways by which a student can cheat in this kind of exam.
Intercepting Video Feeds
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It is a technical way of cheating in proctored exams where software is placed between the webcam and the proctored software.
At the time of the exam, the proctored software depends on the webcam to detect the student’s actions and determine whether they are cheating or not.
When the proctored software tries to pull the feed from the webcam, the cheating software interprets the live video and provides a prerecorded video from a virtual camera.
This method is quite effective, candidates prerecord themselves taking the actual test and fool the proctoring software. Students can prerecord themselves doing the activities that are required for partaking in the exam.
Using External Projector
This process requires multiple systems to mirror your main screen. While cheating the candidate will ensure that the projected screen is not facing the webcam.
The images will only be visible to you and someone else who is helping you with the cheating process. The projected images will help your friend to find the answers and in turn, they will prompt you with the answer.
But the candidate writing the exam should be conscious of their movements and if they are suspected of cheating they will have to face consequences.
Using a Virtual Machine
Source: medium.com
This process refers to using two OS at the same time on the same monitor. The main OS will un the monitor while the other one will be minimized like any other computer program.
Your computer has become two computers now and the person helping you out can sit opposite you and write the test for you. The main OS will be running the webcam whereas the other OS will be involved in writing the test.
To use the virtual machine you will first need to learn its works. These were highly used by students who cheat on lockdown browsers.
Non-technical Approach to Cheat
In this process of cheating one will require a textbook or a smaller laptop. The work of the proctoring software is to monitor eye movement, a small book or laptop should be placed on the main machine and used to search for answers.
This process will bluff the proctoring software as the other machine will be below the views of the webcam’s perspective. One can use sunglasses also to cover their eyes the prevention of some eye allergies.
The aforementioned ways might help you immensely during the exam. But a person cheating during the exam will be losing a chance to learn and prove themselves efficient. Cheating in any situation is not a healthy practice. It showcases a person’s personality traits. Consequently, if a candidate is caught cheating, their career will be marred and their track record will be tarnished.
