Cheating

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 I had an incident of cheating on a test I gave and it's really bugging me. I always make 2 versions of the test or quiz because I have tables and not desks. My tables are set up so they face each other and form a group of 4 seats. I give the two students that are on the same side of the group different tests and the two across from them the opposite tests. So no one has the same test as the person next to or across from them. It has worked out well for 13 years. Well last test two students who sat next to each other ended up with the same tests. Now while I fully realize I could have made an error, I am positive I didn't because one of the students I know is a cheater. So I know for a fact that I was really careful at that table to make sure that everyone got the right tests. Well the cheater and the guy sitting next to him ended up with the same tests. Not only that, their answers were almost identical. I was pissed. My initial reaction was to blast all three involved (because someone had to trade tests). But I really had no evidence at all of this happening. Because there was a very, very slim possibility that I made a mistake. So I talked to admin and we went through a couple of different scenarios; confronting them, making them retake the test, giving them a zero, etc. I did confront one of the students that I thought would crack and he didn't. So we, admin and I, decided just to let them know that I am aware and that they were no longer allowed to sit together or work together or anything. I did that yesterday and it was strange. One of the them seemed really pissed at me over it but the other two seemed to take it in stride. That alone makes me wonder. So if someone accused me of cheating and I hadn't I would be angry. I would want to defend myself. But none of them did. The one who looked angry didn't look that way all the time, it was almost like when she remember she would look angry. It was strange. 

Cheating has been rampant this year. This is the 3rd incident I've caught this semester I believe. There have been other little incidents that I let slide because it wasn't for a grade. But it is really rampant this year. I think for next year I'm going to have to revamp some things and see if I can make them not so easily to cheat on. 

Okay, I forgot to start my tree but I'm sure time is up. 

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