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From: trent@cit-vax.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.edu
Subject: Re: Cheating on Programming Assignments
Message-ID: <2377@cit-vax.Caltech.Edu>
Date: Fri, 17-Apr-87 04:48:40 EST
Article-I.D.: cit-vax.2377
Posted: Fri Apr 17 04:48:40 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 18-Apr-87 04:43:03 EST
References: <248@rruxa.UUCP> <274@sdacs.ucsd.EDU> <211@axis.fr> <6487@bu-cs.BU.EDU> <603@plx.UUCP>
Reply-To: trent@cit-vax.UUCP (Ray Trent)
Organization: California Institute of Technology
Lines: 44

Of course, this wouldn't work everywhere, but...

(BTW, I'm a TA, and thus have experience from both ends)

We don't have much of a cheating problem here for at least 3 reasons:

1) Classes are small. It's easy to notice cheating if you only have to
   grade 10 assignments. Also, if profs and TAs encourage the asking
   of questions and prompt for answers from the class, they get a
   pretty good idea how much the students know even if they don't
   assign homework.

2) We have an honor system that really works. Basically, the students
   are trusted and live up to that trust. The benefits of living under
   the honor system are greater than the rewards of cheating. Besides,
   people who are caught cheating and are "convicted" by the Board of
   Control (an entirely student run organization), are usually tossed 
   out. (i.e. expelled) Cheating doesn't happen much.

   There is 1 rule here: Thou shalt not take unfair advantage of any
   other member of the Caltech community. This applies to everything,
   not just academics. (and yes, people have been nailed to the wall
   for non-academic honor code violations.)

3) There are few enough people here so that everyone knows everyone.
   If you are cheating, you'll get caught.

Of course, all this depends on recruiting only students who are
genuinely interested in learning, and trusting in their integrity.
(something which many/most schools seem unwilling to do, for political
and economic reasons) 

A related issue: professors here traditionally specify what amounts of
collaboration and reference using are allowed in their classes.
(because policies differ widely from class to class and prof to prof.)

Another related issue: almost 100% of our mid-terms and finals are
take-home. On the cover of the test is a list of the resources that
are and are not allowed and the time limit for the test. (there is
also good reason to believe that this liberty is not abused)
-- 
<this space for rent>
					../ray\..
 (trent@csvax.caltech.edu, rat@caltech.bitnet, ...seismo!cit-vax!trent)