The Cheatability Factor

 

After studying the research, Utah Valley University’s Instructional Designers have developed a tool that surveys an online course’s practices to render a score called a “Cheatability Factor.”   Accompanying the score is a recommendation including ideas to decrease the likelihood that students will be able to cheat while taking the course.   Happily, the tool is free for us to use, and colleges are invited to integrate it into course development and review processes.  

A wonderful way to learn about cheatability and to hear about this work can be found in a talk-show-style video.   Entitled "Late Night Learnng with John Krutsch," it runs for about half an hour.  It's a very funny spoof of a talk show addressing the issues surrounding cheating.   Don't miss this!

http://dotsub.com/view/dbbfa993-11ed-4a64-908e-31a627403427

The Cheatability Factor is based upon research that drew conclusions about "load," specifically "McClusky’s Theory of Power-Load-Margin".  An interesting article that links to a PowerPoint presentation discussing this is available at:

http://flexknowlogy.learningfield.org/pres/cheatability/   The PowerPoint presentation, while clearly designed for live presentation, is directly accessible at:  http://flexknowlogy.learningfield.org/resources/stein/pres/cheatability_factor.ppt

The scoring rubric to use when creating or reviewing an online course is found at:   http://learningfield.org/cheat/ .