Have you ever been caught cheating on exams in school? In South Korea, a group of medical students was also caught cheating--in their online exams. And now they're facing severe punishment for their actions.
In the face of the coronavirus pandemic, students are among those who have been most affected, their schoolyears indefinitely halted, their schedules changed, graduations were canceled. What's worse is the sudden change of environment when it comes to studying. Now, everyone's online. And apparently, not everything goes according to plan by using the internet.
BUSTED! Nearly 100 South Korean students face punishment after online cheating scandal
ABC News reported that 91 South Korean students in Medicine school--50 in their first year and 41 in the second year--were recently caught cheating on their online exam in a class since March. It turns out that the answers and questions from the online exam were being shared on messenger and other virtual platforms.
For the professor to not know about the pattern, some students deliberately put wrong answers on the sheet. The students that weren't part of the cheating incident were the ones that pointed out the cheating tactics to professors. In order to know who was part of the scheme, the school decided to cross-check the answers of each student and asked them to come forward before being identifying them in public.
"Some of us did expect this to happen because no one is out here to monitor us when taking tests or attending classes," Mary Cho, a senior at the university, told ABC News. "We doubted the level of transparency of online midterm exams earlier before this incident was officially reported."
Students face disciplinary measures
The Inha University-- wherein the students were studying-- formed a disciplinary committee to address the cheating incident.
"In the case of exams, it is a matter of autonomy in relation to the university," an official with the Korean Council for University Education told ABC News. "If there are recommendations or guidelines related to cheating on online exams announced from the Ministry of Education, we can provide guidance, but it is not an issue that the council can address separately."
Forbes reported that cheating on online exams has become more prevalent than ever. Many apps can be used by students to help them cheat without being caught. That is what the faculties and schools should focus on.
"Faculty and staff should not make the egregious mistake of believing an honor code, signed statement of integrity, verbal acceptance of syllabi expectations, or other tacitly communicated acceptance is alone enough to sway academic dishonesty in online courses," said a study conducted by the National College Testing Association.
