Strategies to Reduce Cheating on Online Exams

Assessment of learners, due to its nature and complexity, is one of the most widespread and controversial educational topics. One of the threats in this process is cheating; cheating is a major concern for professors and institutions, especially when universities conduct exams online due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It means to consider the academic work of others in its place. Cheating can have a devastating effect on the performance, reputation, and longevity of an institution. When academic institutions do not have control over cheating, the result will be employers’ dissatisfaction with the graduates’ job performance. The first line of defense to prevent cheating is the adoption of ethical codes. In this regard, it is necessary to hold empowerment courses for teachers to train them to design appropriate questions. Other factors include setting a time limit for each question, designing questions with different arrangements, random distribution of questions, holding several midterm exams and reducing the volume of end-of-semester test resources, changing the scoring system to qualitative, matching the taught content with the exams, facilitate vague and complex lessons, project assessments, and reduce exams. The use of web-based cameras (webcams) as a technology-based solution to prevent cheating has also been suggested. Artificial intelligence and image processing, including special software, can also be used to monitor the student's body and face movements, and report suspicious behavior to the teacher. The use of Lockdown Browser also restricts the student's ability to search for resources during the test.