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While I don’t have sympathy for the cheaters who were caught, I really dislike this method of trying to catch them. When encountering an impossible problem, an

While I don’t have sympathy for the cheaters who were caught, I really dislike this method of trying to catch them. When encountering an impossible problem, an honest student winds up not only wasting time trying to solve it, but also may get discouraged by the failure to do so. Both of these can result in underperforming for honest students. All that makes me wonder why the teacher didn’t do what most would (and what is common across standardized tests): prevent using the bathroom during the test.

unishark 6y ago
At my school an instructor cannot prevent a student from leaving an exam to go to the bathroom if they insist. Keep in mind these exams can be four hours long. Don't recall for sure if it's a CYA policy or the state law, tend to think it was the latter. They can claim it's not allowed, but more savvy students will know better and you have to allow them. You can however have a TA accompany them and wait outside the stall. You can also make them leave their phone but of course they can keep another phone on them.
_Understated_ 6y ago
> I really dislike this method of trying to catch them Look at it from the teachers' point of view: 1. They know students are cheating by going to the bathroom and looking up answers (not all of them, but enough) 2. They can't prevent them from going to the bathroom I suppose they could insist that everyone wears trousers and tops that have no pockets and they all put their phones in their bags (and demonstrate that this has been done) but I could imagine this being a violation of some sort of rights... The point is that there was a question in the exam that was hard. Impossibly hard by the sound of things. Some students threw their hands up and said "I have no idea" and skipped it. Some went to the bathroom, looked up the (wrong) answer, and cheated... it's black and white for me I'm afraid.
disabled 6y ago
As for banning restroom breaks altogether, there are students who are not on the record, with respect to disability services, that have serious bladder/bowel issues. Also, this can adversely affect these student's grades, as they have to purposely skip eating or dehydrate themselves hours in advance of the exam. Personally, while I am registered at disability services, my issues are particularly severe. I have two rare immune-mediated neurological diseases affecting my peripheral nervous system. If I hold my bladder, I literally experience something life threatening known as autonomic dysreflexia, which is just about the worst feeling in the world: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autonomic_dysreflexia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autonomic_dysreflexia I also look completely normal, and I can walk. So, while I do not appear disabled, I am severely disabled, and I cannot hold it. I also have severe bowel issues too, but it's TMI. I am on a last resort medication for that. My professors limit the amount of bathroom breaks (an arbitrary amount) during the exam, and sometimes it is inadequate, especially for somebody like me who gets extended testing time. So, I had to go to disability services and explain my situation (degrading) to be allowed to use the restroom as needed. I had to have another accommodations meeting over these rules. As for a TA escorting me to the restroom and literally standing outside the stall. Yeah, it's degrading, but go ahead, be my guest.

unishark 6y ago

At my school an instructor cannot prevent a student from leaving an exam to go to the bathroom if they insist. Keep in mind these exams can be four hours long. Don't recall for sure if it's a CYA policy or the state law, tend to think it was the latter. They can claim it's not allowed, but more savvy students will know better and you have to allow them. You can however have a TA accompany them and wait outside the stall. You can also make them leave their phone but of course they can keep another phone on them.

_Understated_ 6y ago

> I really dislike this method of trying to catch them Look at it from the teachers' point of view: 1. They know students are cheating by going to the bathroom and looking up answers (not all of them, but enough) 2. They can't prevent them from going to the bathroom I suppose they could insist that everyone wears trousers and tops that have no pockets and they all put their phones in their bags (and demonstrate that this has been done) but I could imagine this being a violation of some sort of rights... The point is that there was a question in the exam that was hard. Impossibly hard by the sound of things. Some students threw their hands up and said "I have no idea" and skipped it. Some went to the bathroom, looked up the (wrong) answer, and cheated... it's black and white for me I'm afraid.

disabled 6y ago

As for banning restroom breaks altogether, there are students who are not on the record, with respect to disability services, that have serious bladder/bowel issues. Also, this can adversely affect these student's grades, as they have to purposely skip eating or dehydrate themselves hours in advance of the exam. Personally, while I am registered at disability services, my issues are particularly severe. I have two rare immune-mediated neurological diseases affecting my peripheral nervous system. If I hold my bladder, I literally experience something life threatening known as autonomic dysreflexia, which is just about the worst feeling in the world: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autonomic_dysreflexia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autonomic_dysreflexia I also look completely normal, and I can walk. So, while I do not appear disabled, I am severely disabled, and I cannot hold it. I also have severe bowel issues too, but it's TMI. I am on a last resort medication for that. My professors limit the amount of bathroom breaks (an arbitrary amount) during the exam, and sometimes it is inadequate, especially for somebody like me who gets extended testing time. So, I had to go to disability services and explain my situation (degrading) to be allowed to use the restroom as needed. I had to have another accommodations meeting over these rules. As for a TA escorting me to the restroom and literally standing outside the stall. Yeah, it's degrading, but go ahead, be my guest.