Moral conundrum

[verycontrary247]

There was a Big exam in my software class today, which took place in a computer lab. The first part is multiple choice and the teacher was in the front grading papers for another class. The really.....abnormal girl who sits in the row in front of me was cheating (by using the Windows help search tool).

(Abnormal how? I can't describe it exactly. I can't decide if she's just incredibly socially awkward or somewhere on the autism spectrum)

I didn't want to rat her out/embarass her in front of everyone, but this is bothering me. Part of me is like "this is kommunity kollege who gives a fuck?" and the other part is super pissed she will unfairly get a good grade when the rest of us had to work for it.

Should I email my professor and let him know what I saw?

[Deleted]

Mar 27, 2013 13:10:31 GMT -5 @tambcat said:

I would just let it go.

Me too

[verycontrary247]

Also, all she does during our regular class is read anime/manga and work on stuff for other classes.

[soozy87]

I would tell the instructor.

[smock]

Oh god. I agree with soozy.

[speckledfrog]

I know I sound like a total square (I am!) but I turned people in for cheating when I was in college. In my case the professor stepped out of the room and people started discussing their answers.

[nomad100]

Mar 27, 2013 13:14:51 GMT -5 smock said:

Oh god. I agree with soozy.

Me too. 

[elleblue]

Mar 27, 2013 13:14:51 GMT -5 smock said:

Oh god. I agree with soozy.

I was just thinking the same thing. Had to glance out the window to check for flying pigs.

[Deleted]

I would let it go. If the teacher didn't see her, there's nothing he/she can do about it. And a lot of teachers don't like people who rat on cheaters.

[elleblue]

Mar 27, 2013 13:21:20 GMT -5 @booby said:

well, it's after the fact and would be your word agaist hers. seems like you missed your chance?

That's a good point. Given this, I'd have to say just let it go.

[soozy87]

Mar 27, 2013 13:19:48 GMT -5 elleblue said:

Mar 27, 2013 13:14:51 GMT -5 smock said:

Oh god. I agree with soozy.

I was just thinking the same thing. Had to glance out the window to check for flying pigs.

Lol, common ground people! We do have a little bit of it, at least when it comes to cheating.

[karmasabiotch]

Unless it's on a curve it doesn't really have anything to do with you and your grade.

[lime]

I would tell the instructor, but I would also be prepared for them to do absolutely nothing about it.

[livinitup]

I did not care if people cheated in class if I was not graded on a curve. Also, my school did not have an honor code nor did I promise to report such activities.

But I did judge cheaters. In my heart.

[Deleted]

I wouldn't do anything unless it was graded on a curve. As cliche as it sounds, that girl is only hurting herself in the long run.

[papie]

I agree with @booby. the prof won't know what to do with this at this point. Give her a 0 based on your word? Confront her and see how she reacts? I don't know, I like to have pretty solid proof before confronting students about teaching and giving them a 0.

[fuckyourcouch]

i think at this point it would be sort of pointless because it's already over and you can't prove it. i would have said something at the time probably.

[shopgirl07]

If it really bothers you I think you should go to the professor and tell him that people are cheating during his exams and its making you discouraged with the class. It's kind of demoralizing and I'd tell him so. Maybe he'll reevaluate the way he proctors exams or maybe not. But at least you've told him how you feel and haven't thrown anyone under the bus in the process.

[missyny]

I wouldn't touch that at all.

[kcr1972]

Someone recently cheated in one of my classes so the teacher has cracked down hard on watching everyone like a hawk and we have to keep our belongings away from the testing area. It sucks being lumped in with losers when I work hard but there isn't much that can be done now.

I know who it was but my teacher isn't approachable at all when there is a concern so there's that.

[pittsmcgee]

I would just stay out of it. It sucks, but I can be a pussy.

[ProfessorArtNerd]

I've had people tell me, after the fact, that someone was cheating. But I can't do anything about it then. I do watch my students, but I can't see everything. Sucks, but it's over now

[RoxMonster]

From a teacher's perspective, I'd like it if you told me that you saw someone cheating.

No, there's nothing I could do about it now (I would not give the girl a zero because it IS just your word against hers), but you can bet your ass I would be watching her like a hawk the next time we had a test. If I had given her special privileges for whatever reason, I would just thank you for letting me know and move on with life.

Honestly I don't think you can expect anything to happen retroactively but telling the prof might make him more aware on future tests instead of sitting at the front not watching what's going on. I walk the aisles during tests, but there has still been a couple instances where I didn't catch a cheater because it was a kid I didn't expect to do it and they were good. Another student told me confidentially, I didn't do anything with that test, but you can bet I watched her like a hawk on our next test and every one thereafter.

[Jalapeñomel]

I have ratted kids out for cheating, both times during an exam and both times these kids were escorted out of the lecture hall. WTF kind of professor doesn't like a student for being honest?

Fuck that. I studied hard for my grades.


EDIT: If it was after the fact, I would still tell the prof that there was someone cheating so that she can keep a better watch next time. 

[speckledfrog]

Mar 27, 2013 17:40:24 GMT -5 Jalapeñomel said:

I have ratted kids out for cheating, both times during an exam and both times these kids were escorted out of the lecture hall. WTF kind of professor doesn't like a student for being honest?

Fuck that. I studied hard for my grades.


EDIT: If it was after the fact, I would still tell the prof that there was someone cheating so that she can keep a better watch next time. 

Lazy ones?  I have no idea.

[ralphlauren]

If it is not graded on a curve, mind your own business.