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UniMelb trials keystroke detection system to stop cheats
The stroke of a keyboard is all it takes for the University of Melbourne to detect ghost-written essays under a new anti-cheating system the institution is trialing.
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I can not be the only one who uses multiple computers to do their work. I have my work laptop, my personal laptop, and my personal PC. Even when I was in undergrad and doing my PhD, it was not uncommon for me to use my personal laptop, my home PC, and work computers on campus to complete my work.
This has “never going to work in reality” written all over it.
The real issue we should be addressing is educating students on academic integrity. As long as students keep finding cheating an acceptable risk, they will find ways around any policing mechanism we may adopt. Make clear why cheating is not right and have good mechanisms to educate rather than punish when cheating occurs. Let them know that cheating in the professional world is not punishable by missing marks or failing units. It could mean jail and life-wrecking fines.
Being honest is an attribute every Australian graduate must be trusted to have, otherwise universities may be failing in their contribution to society.