The Role of Cell Phones in Student Cheating: Insights from an English Teacher
As an English teacher, my primary focus is on fostering creativity, critical thinking, and a deep understanding of the material. However, as technology has become more ubiquitous, the issue of cell phone cheating in classrooms has become a significant concern. While I no longer teach subjects like math, where cell phone cheating is more feasible, I understand its prevalence and its impact on student learning and engagement.
The Prevalence of Cell Phone Cheating
Cell phones are not a new issue in academic settings, and they remain a significant concern. A survey conducted among high school students revealed that cell phones are used for cheating 95% of the time. While most teachers and administrators have strict policies against bring in cell phones during exams, they often overlook the use of these devices in regular class activities, where they can still be a temptation for students seeking a shortcut.
In my experience, cell phones are the biggest pain in high school. Most students cannot resist the urge to use them, even for small tasks like texting or checking social media. As a result, it's not often that I catch students cheating with their cellphones, but when it happens, it can significantly impact their understanding of the material.
Understanding Student Cheating Motivations
Cheating often stems from a student's lack of confidence in the material and a desire to get good grades. When students rely on cheating to achieve a good grade, they may experience a brief sense of relief. However, when students earn a good grade through effort and hard work, they gain a sense of pride and increased engagement with the coursework. This highlights the importance of creating a learning environment that encourages independent thinking and creativity.
Given my preference for teaching English, I design assessments that require students to engage in critical thinking, discussion, and writing. These activities promote individualized responses and creativity, reducing the temptation to cheat. Students are encouraged to create their own content, making it more difficult to rely on pre-existing knowledge or copied answers.
An Incidence of Mobile Device Cheating
Notably, cell phone cheating can sometimes become a serious issue. One unforgettable incident involved a student who, despite being clearly unqualified, insisted on taking an advanced class. This student developed a sophisticated set of cheating tactics, including the frequent use of her cell phone. Her methods were so effective that I could only catch her cheating if I watched her every minute of every test session.
Ultimately, I addressed the issue openly. I called her out, stating that I knew she was cheating in various ways and asked her to stop. She remained silent but complied with my request. It was a hard lesson for her, and she failed the class. A surprising realization was that most students do not cheat. This was demonstrated by my experiment of distributing identical-looking tests with distinct questions to different students, and no one attempted to share answers to the wrong versions.
Conclusion
The role of cell phones in student cheating is complex and multifaceted. While it's a significant challenge for teachers, it also offers opportunities to create more engaging and authentic learning experiences. By understanding the motivations behind cheating and designing assessments that foster genuine learning, teachers can help reduce the temptation to cheat and promote academic integrity.
As an English teacher, I believe in fostering a creative and independent learning environment. By minimizing the use of cell phones in the classroom and creating assessments that encourage original thought and expression, we can help students develop a deeper appreciation for the subject matter and their own learning abilities.