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Ask Slashdot: How To Allow Test Takers Internet Access, But Minimize Cheating?

Posted by timothy on from the great-paradox dept.

New submitter linjaaho writes "I work as lecturer in a polytechnic. I think traditional exams are not measuring the problem-solving skills of engineering students, because in normal job you can access the internet and literature when solving problems. And it is frustrating to make equation collections and things like that. It would be much easier and more practical to just let the students use the internet to find information for solving problems. The problem: how can I let the students access the internet and at same time make sure that it is hard enough to cheat, e.g. ask for ready solution for a problem from a site like Openstudy, or help via IRC or similar tool from another student taking the exam? Of course, it is impossible to make it impossible to cheat, but how to make cheating as hard as in traditional exams?"

4 of 330 comments (clear)

  1. Sometime the old ways by h2oliu · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I remember being allowed to bring notes with me to class. Would just making this open book/open notes accomplish the same thing?

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    Ok, I give up, why you?
    1. Re:Sometime the old ways by Mashiki · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Some of the toughest exams I've ever taken have been open book. Mostly because they require you to understand not only the theory, but the application of the theory and law to the problem. This usually shows that both the instructor, and the student understands the course material. And that it was being taught, and understood correctly.

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      Om, nomnomnom...
    2. Re:Sometime the old ways by AliasMarlowe · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Some of the toughest exams I've ever taken have been open book.

      Same here. My observation was that if the test was "open-book", the books would not be much help.

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      Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. - Voltaire
  2. Use Random Variables and have a time limit. by roeguard · · Score: 5, Interesting

    When I was in grad school, in many classes we were allowed to use the internet on tests, as well as our notes, any spreadsheets/programs/scripts we had pre-made, etc. The caveat was that the tests were structured in a way that if you didn't already know what to do, you wouldn't have enough time to look it up and still finish the test. Googling things takes time. And the test really only provided enough time to actually do what you already knew.

    You can also use random variables for each test, or groupings of tests, to prevent direct copying of answers. With a time limit, cheaters would have to wait for someone else taking the test to find the correct answer, send it out, and then modify it to match their own variables. If they can do all of that in a crunch, chances are they understand it pretty well on their own, even if they are lazy.