11.22.10 - 3:00PM
- by
Jay Hathaway

'Cheating' University of Central Florida Students Defend Themselves

topic:
Blogstorm
Busted!

professor richard quinn didn't write his own exam questions The University of Central Florida cheating scandal we reported on last week, where 200 students apparently confessed to cheating on a exam after Professor Richard Quinn's moving speech about ethics, has taken an interesting turn. Some of the students Quinn says he caught cheating have taken to YouTube under the username "UCFscam" to argue that they weren't cheating at all, and that it's the professor who needs an ethics lesson.

The way the students allegedly cheated was by securing a test bank of questions from the publisher of their textbook, giving them all the answers to the possible test questions. The thing is, the students also have video of Prof. Quinn at the beginning of the semester, talking about creating his own exams, and even saying that he might accidentally include questions he couldn't answer. "Yeah, because you didn't write them!" say the students.

So, assuming the students believed the prof wrote his own exams, were they still cheating? Or were they just studying?

previously:// Professor Catches Students Cheating, 200 Students Confess
link:// TechDirt Asks, "Was It Really Cheating or Studying?"

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11.22.10

By adamjwitz

Lowest Rank

if this is true, those kids didn't cheat at all. hope the university takes punitive measures against this guy.

11.28.10

By August

Highest Rank

The students cheated, and no smoke and mirrors about the professor writing the questions will negate that issue. Also, if one has the ability to listen, the professor clearly states that others had prepared the new exam.

11.28.10

By MaryN

Neutral

Hey Adam,

There is nothing in the videos presented that indicate the professor said students should utilize a test bank. In addition, the test bank publishers have copyrights on those questions. It is doubtful the professor would ever make them available.

Whether the students thought the test bank was just studying or not, they violated laws in their actions. This is a Capstone course so these students are close to graduating. At this point in their career they should know what not to do. Using a purloined test bank ranks up there!

11.22.10

By Randy

Highest Rank

Different issues. They cheated, they got caught, now they are trying to sound innocent.

Didnt 200 kids TURN THEMSELVES IN?

11.22.10

By Lesli

Lowest Rank

Here's the real issue. No one cares.

My son's teachers have routinely told me that it is more important that a student know how and where to find the answers than to have the answers. No one wants to be Cliff from Cheers! Admit it, at work is it more important to tell a client a wrong fact or give them a wrong quote or to say "I need to research this a second, let me just check on that."

Seriously, I like the fact that these kids were THINKING and even doing so Ahead. Rather than just parroting what they were "taught". The fact that this is a college level class tells me that they were most likely essay questions that could have a number of possible answers and not just a memorize, cut and paste format. I feel like this is an example of great preparation and in depth studying. Any kid who puts that amount of effort into their homework, probably doesn't need to cheat. And as for the "Turning themselves in" comment. I doubt that how they experienced it, and more how the media interpreted their actions.

11.23.10

By Anna

Highest Rank

As a college student at a small liberal arts school, I can tell you that the majority of my tests are Scantron (bubble/multiple choice) tests, and we have MUCH smaller class sizes than this college. The professors here say they write the tests, but they also use test bank questions. The argument in the video is weak, and it makes the students look like they're covering their butts rather than that they are innocent.

The test bank that the professor used was meant only for the professor's use. Publishers do provide study guides for students, but they do not give students the copy that professors use. Therefore, using that test bank is cheating, since it is intended for the professor's eyes only.

There ought to be ethics classes at every level of education, not just college.

11.23.10

By Lesli

Lowest Rank

Anna, I think if you are going to a college where you are not being asked to give thought provoking, in depth answers, you might want to look for a new school. Seriously not just knocking your school, trust me, I went to a school that was similar and it is not worth the price you are paying. I don't care if you attend Sarah Lawerence or somewhere else in that "elite" category. That just means that your professors are too lazy to do the jobs that they are there to do or heck even assign some lackey assistant to go over your answers! Teaching should come first! Not as something they do between book deals, "research grants", and guest lecturing. I can get a monkey to fill in bubbles on a card and most likely get at least 25% of them correct. Literally, I knew a guy in high school who filled in AC/DC (legible when turned sideways) on his end of year Math Exam on one of those standardized cards and PASSED! Employers need and want people who can think things through and in detail.

11.28.10

By DR. JERRY

Highest Rank

The phrase "who's kidding who?" comes to mind here. They thought they were just engaged in legitimate studying? Give me a break. Did you listen to Prof. Quinn's lecture? Did you hear the part about complaints from students that other students were bragging that they had "aced" the test because they had all the answers beforehand? They knew damn well what they were doing and that it's called "cheating." The statistical data was overwhelming and cannot be ignored. When the data is so drastically outside the normal curve of test results something is wrong. This was a wake-up call for the conniving little brats who thought they were getting over on the system. In the real world you have to be honest to win----unless of course you happen to be a Wall Street banker or a politician, in which case cheating helps.

11.28.10

By Kel

Highest Rank

......."My son's teachers have routinely told me that it is more important that a student know how and where to find the answers than to have the answers. No one wants to be Cliff from Cheers! Admit it, at work is it more important to tell a client a wrong fact or give them a wrong quote or to say "I need to research this a second, let me just check on that." ............

Actually at work, it is more important to tell a client the RIGHT fact and give them the RIGHT Quote. You are not expected to be Cliff from cheers and know the answer to trivia questions, but you should make it your business to KNOW your business inside and out. A business does not need an employee with an empty head who can look things up, no matter what your son's teachers have told you. It is important to have a solid base of knowledge. If you encounter things you do not know the answer to, of course say that you will look it up, then look into it and learn the answer so you add it to your expertise.

These young people cheated. They should not have had a copy of the professor's test questions. If they are truthful in saying they were just using it to study by, then let them retake the test and see what their new grades are. If they truly "studied" more than their peers without the preprinted first test, I am sure they will ace the second test. RIght? Right?
If not, F for cheating and expelled.

11.28.10

By Jerry

Highest Rank

I strongly suggest that you find a new school for your son.

True learning is not about knowing where to look for the "Right Answer" but developing the skills necessary to "Discover" new and better answers.

11.28.10

By Chris

Highest Rank

The professor did the right thing. The students cheated, so they should pay, and they should also accept responsibility for those who were innocent but still suffered.

You can grandstand all you want about it, you can try to paint it in shades of gray, but know the truth:

No matter how you look at it,

CHEATING is still CHEATING
AND
WRONG IS STILL WRONG!

12.04.10

By cc

Neutral

200 essay questions...get real!!!!

12.05.10

By jen

Highest Rank

Profs at even high-tier universities will use multiple-choice tests to have an objective grade that students cannot appeal.

Another form of cheating and is far more rampant is students' writing mediocre essays and creating all sort of arguments that the grade granted by the nontenured teacher was too harsh.

12.17.10

By Nora

Neutral

I too have had professors tell my peers and I that it is more important that we be able to know where to find the answers. Fortunately, my professors decided to give us case studies to APPLY our knowledge- good luck cramming or memorizing for those exams, you need to know how to apply the facts! But the truth is, that is the real world. The professor isn't wrong in my eyes- these students need to LEARN basic knowledge. He is using a material that is provided for HIM, the professor. And he is not the only one who does so.

I maintain that the test banks aren't authorized material- just as your friend's exams from years past aren't authorized material either. Not all students have access to it, and the professor hasn't approved of it. These students are incredibly lucky. If I were the professor, I would turn this over to the dean and expell the students. I'm sorry, but these are SENIORS. SENIORS. (Mind you, I am as well). They should know better! They are one semester from graduation and becoming professionals. This behavior is far from professional.

11.23.10

By BK

Lowest Rank

This guy is hilarious. He is a good actor. But, I don't get where they are cheating. Using a test bank is a source of studying.

How about those that got the answers correct fairly?

11.25.10

By robopanda

Lowest Rank

Studying the sample questions in a legally-purchased instructor's manual isn't cheating. Back in my day (when we rode dinosaurs to school uphill both ways), this was considered going the extra mile to study, something to be commended not condemned.

Teachers are supposed to write their own test questions. Looks like this teacher got caught being lazy and lashed out at students, intimidating them into confessing to something as serious as cheating. They didn't steal the test out of his office. They read sample questions in a book anyone can buy. That's not cheating.

11.25.10

By Andrew

Lowest Rank

Agreed. I am a current graduate student and I have used/bought instructor's books for the added explanations and questions. On multiple occasions I have received tests that were directly taken from the test banks. Not once have I been attacked for cheating, not once have I considered it cheating. It isn't hard to get your hands on one of the professor's books and it is PUBLISHED information. This means that it is fully available to the public. It is the same thing as using financial statements to make a decision to buy a stock. Most people don't go into it but the people that do benefit. This professor should be put in his place by the school (unfortunately he will win this).

11.28.10

By daisyohdaisy

Lowest Rank

How much does this "Professor" get paid to copy test questions out of a book. You know what? I am sick of tenured professors who walk around with the Napolean complex. There are some great teachers and great"Professors". But when you write your exam based on published stuff, then you created your own mess. And if this is the biggest thing that happened to you in twenty years of teaching, BOO HOO

11.28.10

By Steve

Neutral

I admit this situation is a bit murky; however, it is a shame that the professor's test questions came from a test bank. Did he modify them at all or use them word for word? I am a HS teacher and can say that test bank questions are usually awful. Most of us write all of our own exams.

11.28.10

By Swiftdriver2

Lowest Ranked

I just finished watching a YouTube video entitled "UCFScam". At 3:18 of the video the video producer spelled a simple word incorrectly. Delivered is not DELIEVED . . . Professor Quinn why about an angry crowd who cannot spell?