Maximizing Academic Integrity While Minimizing Stress in the Virtual Classroom

Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education

Peter A. Novick¹  Jessica R. Santangelo²  Jacqueline Lee³  Timothy M. Sonbuchner⁴  Emily C. Mundorff⁵  Sujun Wei⁶ 

[1] Department of Biological Sciences and Geology, Queensborough Community College, City University of New York, Bayside, New York, USA;Department of Biology, Hofstra University, Hempstead, New York, USA;Department of Biology, Nassau Community College, Garden City, New York, USA;Department of Chemistry, Adelphi University, Garden City, New York, USA;Department of Chemistry, Hofstra University, Hempstead, New York, USA;Department of Chemistry, Queensborough Community College, City University of New York, Bayside, New York, USA;

关键词: academic integrity;    exams;    stress;    virtual classroom;    cheating;    online exams;   

DOI  :  10.1128/jmbe.00292-21

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

ABSTRACT The article documents students’ experiences with the shift online at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and provides informed recommendations to STEM instructors regarding academic integrity and student stress. Over 500 students were surveyed on these topics, including an open-ended question. Students experienced more stress and perceived a greater workload in online courses and therefore preferred in-person courses overall. Personal awareness of cheating during online exams is positively correlated with the proportion of cheating a student perceives. Fear of getting caught is the best cheating deterrent while getting a better grade makes cheating most enticing. Randomization of questions and answer choices is perceived as a highly effective tool to reduce cheating and is reported as the least stress-inducing method. Inability to backtrack and time limits cause students the most stress. Students report that multiple choice questions are the least effective question type to discourage cheating and oral exam questions cause the most stress. Use of camera and lockdown browser or being video- and audio- recorded caused the majority of student stress. Yet, nearly 60% agree that the combination of camera and lockdown browser is an effective deterrent. Recommendations: (i) Be transparent regarding academic dishonesty detection methods and penalties. (ii) Use online invigilating tools. (iii) Synchronize exams and (iv) randomize exam questions. (v) Allow backtracking. (vi) Avoid converting in-person exams to online exams; instead, explore new ways of designing exams for the online environment.

【 授权许可】

Unknown