Is It Cheating or Group Problem Solving presented at MN Teaching and Learning Conference April 2014

Editor's Notes

• #2: Cheating in EMS Education: How it Happens, Recognizing, and Preventing Presented by Greg Friese, MS, NRP [1 hour session 245 am to 245am]To DoAdjust Slides for SlideShare, Save as new fileUpload slides to SlideShare
• #4: [Poll Everywhere] Cheating, such as falsification of attendance records, obtaining exam question banks, and score modification, is common in EMS continuing education:Strongly agreeAgreeNeither agree nor disagree DisagreeStrongly disagree
• #5: Scenario: Recalls – is this cheating? Describe a scenario based on final examination, recalls. Post NREMT-P old written test experience.
• #6: American Board of Radiology recalls on board examhttp://www.cnn.com/2012/01/13/health/prescription-for-cheating/index.html
• #7: Scenario: Con Ed ArticleCopy of JEMS article given to each department member. Each member asked to read article. At training night, officer says, “Do you have any questions?”“Since there are no questions, lets go through the test together”Each user completes a test, submitted in bulk. All users receive one CE course.Is this cheating?
• #9: Scenario: Online CE CompletionParamedic clicks through program as quickly as possible35 minute video “viewed” in 4 minutes (or presses play and walks away)Unlimited attempts at quizPasses quiz on 3rd attemptIs this cheating?
• #10: (Discouraging Academic Dishonesty in Online Courses)Clinical Laboratory Sciences Program at Center for Allied Health Programs, Univ of MNStudents worked together on quizzes. Took online quizzes as a group. Used quiz for first person to determine right, wrong answers. Then all used the results.
• #11: (Discouraging Academic Dishonesty in Online Courses)“Students felt that the “rules” were different for online quizzes compared to paper quizzes”Rules not explicitly statedScope was shocking to professors
• #12: Ask group how they would define cheatingOfficial definitionshttp://dictionary.reference.com/browse/cheat“representing someone else’s work as your own”
• #13: Cheating happens
• #14: Cheating on Tests: How to Do It, Detect It, and Prevent It summarizes the body of research this way."Nearly every research report on cheating -- whether the data were obtained by a carefully designed study, a survey of self-reported behavior, an RRT (randomized response technique) approach, or questionnaire regarding perceptions of cheating on the part of another -- has concluded that cheating is rampant.“From http://www.newfoundations.com/PREVPLAGWEB/CheatingTrends1.html
• #15: Cheating is a pervasive problem in society, ensnaring …. Match these three men with how they cheated. Athletes and performance enhancing drugs – Ryan Braun (http://www.millerparkdrunk.com/baseball/brauns-big-day/) reigning NL MVP, TDF winner Flyond Landis and Alberto Contador, and many othersPoliticians – Jack Abramhoff and Tom De Lay and many others (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/23/jack-abramoff-pizza-shop_n_622635.html)No profession is immune, mentioned MDs already. Cheating also found among Airline Pilots - http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19880805&id=s2saAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1ioEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1806,3582090Relationships – spouses, we all probably know a couple that has cheating in their relationship – Arnie S (http://www.topnews.in/people/arnold-schwarzenegger)
• #16: Image from FEMA Photo LibraryCheating happens at all grade levels … elementary, secondary, and college.May be most rampant at secondary level. In college there is variation by major – most likely among business majors. http://www.newfoundations.com/PREVPLAGWEB/CheatingTrends1.htmlhttp://www.glass-castle.com/clients/www-nocheating-org/adcouncil/research/cheatingbackgrounder.htmlInfo from 1999, cheating background image The results of the 29th Who's Who Among American High School Students Poll (of 3,123 high-achieving 16- to 18-year olds – that is, students with A or B averages who plan to attend college after graduation) were released in November, 1998. Among the findings:80% of the country's best students cheated to get to the top of their class.More than half the students surveyed said that they don't think cheating is a big deal.95% of cheaters say they were not caught.40% cheated on a quiz or a test67% copied someone else's homework
• #17: http://www.glass-castle.com/clients/www-nocheating-org/adcouncil/research/cheatingbackgrounder.htmlReasonsOthers are doingNo honor codeLow risk of being caught and or punishedHigher incidence at less selective institutionsRequired coursesHeavy workload – academic and employmentNo clear rules or consequences
• #18: Cheating on the job…http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/us-air-force-fires-nine-officers-following-nuclear-test-cheating-probe/2014/03/27/9e5eaffa-b5e0-11e3-b899-20667de76985_story.htmlU.S. Air Force fires nine officers following nuclear test cheating probe
• #19: Promotional exams cheatinghttp://www.dallasnews.com/news/community-news/garland-mesquite/headlines/20140314-garland-accuses-former-fire-administrators-of-cheating-on-tests.eceTwo former Garland Fire Department administrators accused of cheating on promotional exams from 2009 to 2013 are being sued by the city for more than $1 million.Former Assistant Chief Todd Peele, 43, and former Capt. Michael Cates, 45, are accused of using smartphones and hidden Bluetooth equipment to gain an unfair advantage over others who were testing for departmental promotions.Accusations of cheatinghttp://jacksonville.com/news/crime/2014-03-03/story/jacksonville-fire-rescue-investigates-allegations-cheating-firefighters
• #21: Great reference material, likely applicable to allied health professionalshttp://www.azbn.gov/documents/news/Statewide%20Educators%20Academic%20Dishonesty.10.05.07.pdf
• #22: No specific research on EMS – at least that I could find. Anecdotally we know it is happening as it is regularly in the news. Can we generalize findings from other disciplines. I believe we can.EMT and Paramedic students were once high school students. If cheating exists in nursing, radiology, engineering, business, etc it is present in EMS education.Is it better, worse, same? We need some research
• #23: [Poll Everywhere] Which factor is mostly likely to lead a student to cheat? Content not appropriate to student’s training and knowledgeCost of continuing education courses and required certificationsPressure and encouragement from peers Limited time to complete training requirementsPoor quality of continuing education content
• #24: http://www.fox5vegas.com/story/21198319/las-vegas-probing-cheating-in-fire-academy Most recent … but this has happened elsewhere. Morehttp://www.fireengineering.com/articles/2013/07/las-vegas-nv-firefighter-recruits-suspected-of-cheating-on-academy-exam.html
• #25: http://www.examiner.com/college-prep-in-long-island/li-sat-cheating-may-lead-to-ny-lawPeople paid to take a test, false identification Fraudulent IDs, paid test takes, high stakes exam. Do you think an NREMT candidate has attempted to have a paid test taker? I guarantee that someone has tried or at least researched what it would take.
• #26: http://nypost.com/2013/07/21/what-a-cheater-emt-offers-400-to-post-reporter-to-take-certification-test-for-him/EMT posted ad to Craigslist:“I am looking for a EMT-CC or Paramedic to take the state test for me. Must be a male age 40+ I will take care of the ID.”Story broke July 2013
• #27: Instructor changes answers, falsifies records, provides questions and or answers, looks the other ways, mark students as in attendance even if they are not present
• #28: The patient cheated deathI am going to show you a shortcut for remembering how to calculate this drug dosageUse these mnemonics or acronyms to rememberFocus on test prepMemorization of a sequence of steps
• #29: Student and preceptor discuss a skill they might have or could have performed on a patient such as applying CPAP or needle decompression of chest. After thorough discussion of procedure preceptor signs off student as “completing the skill” Change the scenario … this is the final skill the student needs. Will have to keep doing clinical skills until complete.
• #30: Other potential scenarios … are you having these discussions with students and preceptors?Say they did something they didn’t do – blood pressure, other skillsReceive signature from non-FTO and try to get credit later, or plead ignorance if confrontedNot reporting an error, mistake – intentional or unintentional errorsPrevious scenario … Ask to be “checked off” or “signed off” for skill discussed rather than skill performed
• #31: Broader term for a range of behaviorshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academic_dishonestyPlagiarism: The adoption or reproduction of original creations of another author (person, collective, organization, community or other type of author, including anonymous authors) without due acknowledgment.Fabrication: The falsification of data, information, or citations in any formal academic exercise.Deception: Providing false information to an instructor concerning a formal academic exercise—e.g., giving a false excuse for missing a deadline or falsely claiming to have submitted work.Cheating: Any attempt to give or obtain assistance in a formal academic exercise (like an examination) without due acknowledgment.Bribery: or paid services. Giving certain test answers for money.Sabotage: Acting to prevent others from completing their work. This includes cutting pages out of library books or willfully disrupting the experiments of others.Professorial misconduct: Professorial acts that are academically fraudulent equate to academic fraud and/or grade fraud.Personation: assuming a student's identity with intent to provide an advantage for the student.[1][2][3][4]
• #32: http://www.schools.com/news/most-common-cheating-charge-in-college-is-plagiarism-study-finds.htmlStudy found plagiarism was the most common cheating chargehttp://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/jane-goodall-book-seeds-of-hope-contains-borrowed-passages-without-attribution/2013/03/19/448ad1f6-8bf3-11e2-9f54-f3fdd70acad2_story.html
• #33: (Academic Dishonesty PDF from AZ)Taking, giving or receiving information – sharing test questionsUse of unauthorized materials or resources – browsing internet with SmartphoneCircumventing the process – using a test takerAsk audience for examples, based on types of cheating (Group’s Experience)What have you tried, seen tried, or otherwise definitely know has happened?
• #34: http://www.glass-castle.com/clients/www-nocheating-org/adcouncil/research/cheatingbackgrounder.htmlMaking it tougher to define cheatingPlagiarism of information is easierQuestion and answer sharing
• #36: Promotional examsCertification and licensureexamsHigh Risk BehaviorRemember, radiologists, nurses, airplane pilots, college bound honors students are taking high risks on high stakes testing. EMS students are not significantly differentFor the risks to be high students must know there are consequences and they have a chance of being caught
• #37: Cheating is tough to catch, prove, and actually lead to discipline. Need evidence to suspect/accuse, need a policy that has actually been violated, then need to have a process to enforce policy, with consequences that make it worth the effort.
• #38: Culture encourages and rewards:Group problem solving, group actionCreative and novel problem solvingLimited supervision in a highly decentralized work environment
• #39: Question Format Lend Themselves to Cheating
• #40: Technology makes it easy to find and share techniques, as well as changing how cheating happens and how it is monitored.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGhOYbPgETQYouTube, How to Cheat on a Test
• #42: It might be this easy … Top 2 as rated by large group of nursing students as to what works … Instructor announcing penalties for cheatingAsking students not to cheat
• #43: (Academic Dishonesty PDF from AZ)Starts with institutions and instructors Role model academic honestyDiscussHonor codeValues educationDeveloping relationshipsEmphasis on becoming a paramedic rather than passing certification examTesting – what is necessary to test and how do you test it?
• #44: – not copying 12 leads without attribution, not downloading YouTube videos vs. playing from YouTube, …
• #45: Early in EMT class, paramedic class, or as CE module on “Ethics” have a scenario based discussion about honesty and cheatingIs this behavior cheating? What are the impacts of this behavior?What should the consequences be for that behavior? Create really specific scenarios …
• #46: Foothill College Paramedic ProgramIncidence of cheating is lower in medical schools with an honor code (PA Students Attitudes and Behaviors Towards Cheating and Academic Integrity)Honor code also helps students know what to do should they observe cheating (PA Students Attitudes and Behaviors Towards Cheating and Academic Integrity)
• #47: Imperial Community College District Allied HealthHonor code also helps students know what to do should they observe cheating (PA Students Attitudes and Behaviors Towards Cheating and Academic Integrity)
• #48: Needs to be failure to perform not for harm caused by failure to perform Common notion that cheating is a victimless crime … no one is harmed. Oddly there is also no benefit derived from enabling others to cheat. Planet Money, Episode 531: The Tough, The Sweet And The Nosy, http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2014/04/11/301493984/episode-531-the-tough-the-sweet-and-the-nosyGet toughGo after biggest cheatsPublicize widely to change perception that enforcement is widespread and likely to catch cheaters
• #49: Needs to be in your policy
• #50: http://www.icarevalues.org/Vision Statement:“The founders of the I CARE program envision a world where individuals of all ages understand the importance of ethics and values as they pertain to a person's character and through their actions embody the values of Integrity, Compassion, Accountability, Respect and Empathy in their daily lives.”Re cheating “Integrity” and “Accountability” seem especially relevant
• #51: Admissions process can be used to screen for cheating experience and attitudes towards cheating … especially at paramedic level. Behavior based questions What did you do when a partner cut corners on rig checkDescribe a time you witnessed or suspected cheating, how did you handle it. Also time to inform of honor code (let cheaters self select out of program)
• #52: Are you reinforcing what you think you are reinforcingCutting cornersReinforcement of behaviorsConsequences match severity
• #53: DrillsFunctional exercisesFull scale exercises
• #54: Reward Learning over Completion
• #55: Testing – what is necessary to test and how do you test it?Do you need a test?Completion might be enough
• #56: KnowledgeSkillAbilityConsider testing before training
• #57: Team or Squad Learning
• #58: Educations (and students) should begin with the end in mind. If I know the questions are likely to be trivial knowledge retention I am unlikely to push myself to learn beyond the trivial.These are also very easy questions to recall and share with others. What is a better question?
• #59: In 140 characters or less explain airway managementWide open, general, generic questions with no real expectation that they will be answered with any depth. Guess what Greg is thinking, answer in as few words as possible, and then share that answer
• #60: ApplyingAnalyzingEvaluating
• #61: http://failedmessiah.typepad.com/failed_messiahcom/2013/11/haredi-rabbi-caught-cheating-on-emt-test-state-voids-results-of-25-test-takers-changes-test-123.htmlEMT photographing exam booklet. http://nypost.com/2013/11/10/emt-tests-voided-due-to-cheating/
• #62: (Academic Dishonesty PDF from AZ)Clear test taking instructions – dos and don’ts for test takingRoom set-up, placement of students around the roomProvide any required suppliesMonitorVideo tapeRemove bags, books, coats etcDisable all smart phones (and consequences for using)Turn off wireless hotspot in classroom Confiscate electronicsChange passwords and login verification frequently
• #63: These are 2 great products that made something we already had better. I know one for sure is the handiwork of an EMS professional. Bring the cultural aspects of ingenuity, mash-ups, making it work, group learning, innovation into the EMS training.
• #64: Need to add
• #68: List techniques … Is it a barrier to low tech or high tech cheating techniques?