Deterring Cheating in Online Quizzes

Owned by Natasha Barreto
Last updated: Apr 06, 2021 by skridler
2 min read

See also:

Respondus LockDown Browser step-by-step

Respondus LockDown Browser tutorial

Best Practices:

  • Design questions to focus on specific course content/lectures. Use objective questions (i.e., multiple choice, multiple answer, true/false) for lower stakes or formative assessments. For summatives (i.e. mid-term, finals), use essay and fill-in-the-blank questions types. For example, you may use a case as the main prompt for the exam and follow up with essay type questions where students type short answers. This will add to your grading task, so keep it short.

  • Constrain quiz time and test availability window by adjusting date and times. Avoid password protection or IP restraints.

  • Avoid adding quiz submission views as your exam may be shared via this feature. By default, submissions are set to not display questions to students but check to make sure.

  • Limit exam attempts.

  • Make the questions unique. Avoid publisher testbanks or older exams.

  • Create sections (.i.e. folders) in eLC’s Question Library to manage your questions.

  • Randomize questions and answer options. Avoid “All the above” answer statements.

  • Use large question pools and draw a smaller subset of questions.

  • Create different versions of exams and assign them to student groups/sections.

  • Use Respondus Lockdown Browser for added protection. See the detailed installation document for step-by-step instructions.

  • Tell students you know what they have access to and will check for plagiarism/cheating. Make students aware of your plan to crack down on cheating. You may compare response from students, view collaborations on Course Hero, open wikis, and study soup groups. Let them know the consequences.

  • Set up special permissions for students that require additional support.