High-Tech Cheating

Cheating is a serious problem that strikes at the core of a child's academic success and character development. According to a recent study by our friends at Common Sense Media, kids today are using a new tool to cheat: cell phones.

The study finds that more than a third of teens with cell phones admit to storing information on them to use during a test or texting friends about answers. This is a big deal considering the pervasiveness of cell phones: More than two-thirds of teenagers in this country own a cell phone, according to US Cellular, and most 8- to 12-year-olds will own a cell phone in the next three years, says a report by the Yankee Group.

That kids cheat is not news. The real eye opener is two points made in the Common Sense study:

1. Parents don’t think their kids are cheating. While most parents are well aware of cell phone cheating (76% say that it happens at school), they don't believe their kids are doing it (only 3% say their child has ever cheated with a cell phone).
2. Children don’t think cheating is wrong. Nearly one in four kids thinks accessing notes on a cell phone or texting friends with answers during a test is acceptable.

So not only are parents in la-la land about whether their children are cheating, but also kids are failing to distinguish right from wrong. Yikes.

Is this the latest manifestation of the so-called Napster generation, which assumes that everything should be free and fully accessible? Or is it simply an example of teaching a young pup new tricks?

The answers to these questions matter less than how parents and teachers respond to this disturbing trend. As James Steyer, founder and CEO of Common Sense Media, stated, “The call to action is clear: Parents and educators have to be aware of how kids are using technology to cheat and then help our kids understand that the consequences for online cheating are just as serious as offline cheating.”

We couldn't agree more. Parents play a vital role in showing children right from wrong and teaching them character traits that will last a lifetime.

Buying your child a cell phone provides a teachable moment, an opportunity to stress the wrongness of cheating and the value of learning. We encourage you to look at Common Sense Media's recommendations for parents.

How are you talking to your kids about cheating? We want to know.

Comments

[Angel on June 25, 2009 at 06:34 PM]

I can't begin to count how many times I see people supposedly working, typing away on their cell phones. Certainly security people, teacher's aides, and others should be doing their jobs, and their use of cell phones during working hours is "cheating" as well.

Our entire family opts to not use cell phones, but we always discuss integrity. My son does use a laptop during his college day, and I know he knows the difference between right and wrong.

[E. Smith on July 07, 2009 at 07:28 PM]

Anyone ever heard of a proctor? Walking the room and observing student behavior during a test? Observing the use of any cheating device, eyes, paper, watch, pen or OTHER is easily observable.Again, blaming parents who are not present in the classroom during an exam, quiz or test is nothing but sloth by the "adult" present in the room.

[aion powerleveling on July 09, 2009 at 10:51 PM]

I can't begin to count how many times I see people supposedly working, typing away on their cell phones. Certainly security people, teacher's aides, and others should be doing their jobs, and their use of cell phones during working hours is "cheating" as well.

[Gilmar Paim de Lima on July 21, 2009 at 06:23 AM]

I´m teatcher of Artes in the Brasil,I like to mutch this Blog.

[Bob Johnson on July 21, 2009 at 07:12 PM]

Are guns and knives allowed in the classroom? Why are cellphones allowed during a test? What is wrong with this picture?

[Family Matters on September 08, 2009 at 09:53 PM]

The Theory of Constraints has coined the phrase "Tell me how you'll measure me and I'll tell you how I'll behave". This is as true at school as it is in a workplace.

The problem here is not technology, it's what kids are taught about the definition of success. If it's grades they need to get, they will get grades.

How about measuring them differently? Throw in an honesty award or an improvement award and see what happens. I bet the kids will use technology to actually be better, not just to pretend.