Cheating is WRONG, but....

We all do it.  Have you ever not stopped completely at the stop sign?  Ever used someone else's wifi without their permission?  Taken an extra snack or roll in the cafeteria?  Check out this video to get some perspective...Minute 4:20 if you need to fast forward. Also, make sure you get to minute 12:45.

We have all heard that cheating is happening in our classrooms.  We know the consequences.  We may have even caught a student or two and seen the consequences administered.  But what have we done to help prevent cheating?  There are various methods and suggestions out there and I just wanted to remind you about a few of them.  As our students mature, we need to help them make the right decisions and be successful.  If cheating can at all be prevented by the teacher, then we need to do so to help the students.

• Have different exams for the same class and use them in each row.  A, B, A, B.

• Make sure that same classes at different times (or worse, days) have different exams.

• Absent students should have a different make up exam.

• Have an honor code and read it to remind the students during exams.

• Make sure the classroom layout is spread out enough.

• Walk around the room

• No electronic devices...talking about taking pictures to share with friends later.

• Create tests and assignments with more analysis and less regurgitation of facts.

This is just a list to start and if you have any suggestions, please comment and add them.  If you do implement any of these strategies, share them with your students and involve them in the process.  I really hope that we can understand how we can help prevent issues before they happen.  As a final example, for those who are parents, don't you try and prevent your child from mistakes and hurting themselves with different strategies you learned? Plugging electrical outlets, placing medicine and chemicals in hard to reach places, using cribs and playpens, etc.  We need to do the same for our students, they are still growing and learning too.

Links:
http://www.npr.org/2012/04/27/150818706/why-do-we-cheat
http://www.ethicsed.org/programs/integrity-works/pdf/teachingforintegrity.pdf
http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/effective-teaching-strategies/five-ways-to-tackle-cheating-in-college/
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5a/Cheating.JPG

Why are you here?

International teachers apply to overseas schools for many reasons: Get to know the world, paid sabatical leave, running away from something, trying to find meaning, philanthropical efforts and many other decisions. I find that with all of these choices, it can create a different working environment than what you might find stateside. The one common denominator is that we are all teachers to make a difference. It is a vocation. The community that is formed will have so many different views from each educator that is can make the environment a very difficult place to work. But in the same light, all the variety brings the diversity that it is to teach in an international school. What are your thoughts? It the community closer? Easier to have decisions made and followed through? Post your thoughts and if you would like to contribute as a blogger, send me an email to add you. I look forward to making the little blog grow and help those in the USA understand us while helping international teachers share their views as well. Ken davis.ken@gmail.com

Introduction

International education is a great place to be. This week, I am attending the ISTE Leadership Conference in Indianapolis, IN and meeting a lot of great people. Flying all the way up from Bolivia was an expensive, but worthwhile endeavor. The amount of information, expertise and sharing is completely exhausting and overwhelming. In Bolivia, we are presented with limited options for technology such as high cost of equipment and low bandwidth both due to importation costs. In addition to this, you then have the community and other factors to consider. With the help of ISTE, I have been able to get a lot off the ground and continue running with various programs and support from colleagues met at conferences and the JHU/ISTE administration program. Hopefully here in the next few weeks, I will be able to invite other international educators to share their views, problems, solutions and other concerns that can help improve international schooling as well as be a source of information for any educator.