I am a teacher. I have to keep a constant lookout for students cheating using their phones. How am I supposed to prevent them cheating on their watches?
iPod 5th Generation (Late 2006), Windows 8
Th test I was referring to is the final test in functional programming. The students have to write programs, and that is why I want them to have a manual at hand. It is an unnatural situation to have to write programs only with pencil and paper, without being able to test the code.
My personal policy is to reduce a test grade by 10% when the cell phone is visible during the test, and to call the parents to let them know about it. The rule is well publicized well in advance. Giving a student a zero for violating the cell phone rule would be frowned upon, and I should say that taking off 10% is enough to put the fear of God into them, so to speak. I have never had a student break that rule twice.
If texting on the watch is difficult, as you say (and I believe you), then I should be OK if I institute a new rule reducing the grade by 10% if a student is suspected of using the watch to text during a test. I would predict that most students would choose to remove the watch during the test and put it away in a safe place.
Thank you for your comments.
You could also require them to power the phone off as well. That could also restrict things. Just to help you understand the Apple Watch and how it works, here is a link to the User Guide. You will see what they can and cannot do without the phone, and what they can do as far as texting. https://manuals.info.apple.com/MANUALS/1000/MA1708/en_US/apple_watch_user_guide. pdf
Hope this all helps. You might also want to make the administration aware that they need to move into the future when it comes to technology in the classroom, and the ability that kids have when they come to school. Good luck.
By doing everything else a teacher is expected to do.
I am a teacher. I have to keep a constant lookout for students cheating using their phones. How am I supposed to prevent them cheating on their watches?
If you solved the problem with the phones, the Apple Watches are harmless. They are not much of a communication device without a paired iPhone.
I circumvent the cheating problem by allowing my students to bring their manuals and handouts along for the written tests. There is not much use in testing programming skills, if the students are not allowed to use manuals and programming guides. A positive side effect is, that the students really read the manuals and handouts before the test and work with them to prepare them with markers and underline important definitions.
But we collect all phones that are visible during the test, and some students are close to tears because of this, and they claim that it is socially unacceptable to be unable to answer a call for two hours in a row.
sburnaka wrote:
I am a teacher. I have to keep a constant lookout for students cheating using their phones. How am I supposed to prevent them cheating on their watches?
Before starting a test collect all smartphones and watches and hold them until the testing is completed. If you are not allowed to do that then your school board has issues. The inmates should not be running the asylum.
léonie wrote:
I am a teacher. I have to keep a constant lookout for students cheating using their phones. How am I supposed to prevent them cheating on their watches?If you solved the problem with the phones, the Apple Watches are harmless. They are not much of a communication device without a paired iPhone.
I circumvent the cheating problem by allowing my students to bring their manuals and handouts along for the written tests. There is not much use in testing programming skills, if the students are not allowed to use manuals and programming guides. A positive side effect is, that the students really read the manuals and handouts before the test and work with them to prepare them with markers and underline important definitions.
But we collect all phones that are visible during the test, and some students are close to tears because of this, and they claim that it is socially unacceptable to be unable to answer a call for two hours in a row.
Leonie,
I am also a teacher in the local community college. I teach business applications, such as Office and Windows. I also allow open book texts, but put time limits on the test that require the student to also have studied and know much of the material, since they would not have ample time to look up the answer t every question. I also restrict the use of phones in the classroom. I would respond to the student's claim by asking, at what time did it become socially acceptable to answer a phone call in the classroom. Of course, some of us that have been around for a while can remind them about pay telephones in the hallway by the office, and that was the only phone you could use. But, I digress. If the phone call is that important, let them go answer it, but tell them in advance that as soon as they leave the room, their test is over. I wonder how important that call would be then.
sburnaka wrote:
I am a teacher. I have to keep a constant lookout for students cheating using their phones. How am I supposed to prevent them cheating on their watches?
You should have the power to restrict the use of electronic devices during a test, and their discovery will result in an automatic failure. Is your classroom that large that you cannot observe students during the test?
They would use it the same way they would use their phones, by texting each other. I am able to collect cell phones that are visible in class, and I do it whenever visible. This would be difficult with the watch.
Texting on the watch is more difficult, since you cannot really construct a question and/or response directly from the watch. It only allows for canned responses. Questions would have to be created on the phone, as well as any detailed answers.
EDIT: I submit that the first zero you give for cheating while using the watch would send the strong message. I would believe you have a policy in place regarding the use of any electronic device, except maybe a calculator, during any test would be a violation resulting in a failure?
I can observe students during a test. I collect electronic devices during such times and reduce grades for violating the rule to put such devices away, both of which have been effective deterrents. However, this does not preclude students from using the devices at other times when they should be paying attention to the lesson and doing their work. And I don't think my school's administration would be amenable to my collecting watches. They are already skeptical about teachers collecting cell phone, but I do it anyway.
sburnaka wrote:
I can observe students during a test. I collect electronic devices during such times and reduce grades for violating the rule to put such devices away, both of which have been effective deterrents. However, this does not preclude students from using the devices at other times when they should be paying attention to the lesson and doing their work. And I don't think my school's administration would be amenable to my collecting watches. They are already skeptical about teachers collecting cell phone, but I do it anyway.
You are addressing two different things here. It is one thing when taking a test, but something completely different when you say "using the devices at other times when they should be paying attention". I don't know if your policy addresses that. You do not indicate what grade level you are teaching at, but I'm guessing junior high or high school since you address administrative restrictions. We can try to engage students to pay attention, but as the old saying goes, you can lead a horse to water, but cannot make him drink. Paying attention is not something you can force children to do. That is why I teach at the college level, since I'm not evaluated on the number of passing grades in my classes. I'm evaluated on how I present my material, so long as it is in a way that most can understand and have the ability to absorb. It is up to them to absorb it.
And my response about observing the students was not intended to elicit a hostile response, it was a genuine question regarding class size. Many college classrooms have way too many students to try and observe the entire class for the text.
sburnaka wrote:
My personal policy is to reduce a test grade by 10% when the cell phone is visible during the test, and to call the parents to let them know about it.
That is a laughable penalty for unacceptable behavior.
One institution from which I graduated would expel a student for cheating, in or out of the classroom. Teachers were not even present during examinations. They would pass out the test and leave the room.
A well-known condition of acceptance and continued attendance was that if a student was not honorable, he or she was simply not worthy of that institution. Expulsions occurred, but were extremely rare. Cheating was never even a remote concern.
Texting with an Watch is not all that easy to hide in a classroom situation. The Watch cannot initiate a text thread, it can only reply to a received text. So someone has to use a phone to send the first text in a thread. To Reply to a text received on an Watch the user has three choices.
1. They can select from a series of replies provided on the Watch.
2. They can select from various emojis
3. They can dictate a more lengthy message and have it translated in text. I expect that you would hear any such dictation.
They would use it the same way they would use their phones, by texting each other. I am able to collect cell phones that are visible in class, and I do it whenever visible. This would be difficult with the watch.
The preferred way to text with the watch is dictation. It is difficult to dictate silently and clandestinely.
Students cheating using apple watch - how to prevent this
