Academic integrity can be enhanced by following some of the suggested techniques when designing and delivering an online course.
Use question sets to randomly generate quizzes or exams for each student.
Using questions sets to randomize quizzes and exams has several advantages. Each student is presented with a unique test which makes it very difficult to collaborate with other students during the exam. It also deters students from copying their question set and passing it along to their peers who may not have started the exam yet.
Randomize multiple-choice quiz or exam answers for each student.
This feature makes it more difficult for students to share answers if they are presented with the same question. Combining question sets and randomization of answers is a very effective technique.
Limit the duration, number of attempts, and how the questions are delivered.
When you limit the duration of a quiz, it diminishes the time that a student can spend looking up answers. Delivering one question at a time can prevent copying or printing of the exam. Limiting the number of attempts can help prevent collaboration and ensures that students don't have multiple attempts to answer the same question sets.
Limit the availability period of an exam.
If an exam has a long availability period, it's possible for a few students to take the test early on and share the questions/answers with other students who have not yet taken the exam.
Wait until the exam availability period ends before providing exam feedback.
Prevent students from seeing which questions they missed until all students have taken and submitted the exam.
Use "calculated questions" when constructing quizzes or exams that involve mathematical expressions.
Calculated questions are designed using variables. Random values, based on a user-specified range, are automatically generated for each variable in the question.
Adjust the weight of exams relative to the overall grade in the course, while increasing the weight of project and assignment activities.
Assigning higher point values or percentages to assignments and projects helps offset the grading weight generally associated with exams.
Increase the number of open-ended or essay-style exam questions.
Open-ended questions generally require students to have a greater understanding of the material and make cheating more difficult.
Increase the frequency of short notice (pop) quizzes.
By providing short notice (pop) quizzes during the semester, students have less time to coordinate the sharing of answers during the quiz.
Require students to agree to an honor statement, and make them aware of the academic integrity policy and procedures.
Question 1 of a quiz or exam could be set up as a yes/no answer to "I have read and understand the Academic Integrity Policy and Procedures of Indiana University of Pennsylvania as defined in the Undergraduate Catalog." Another way to reinforce academic integrity is to have students sign a contract emphasizing the university's academic integrity policy and outlining consequences for violations.
Make students aware tracking and logging abilities.
If students understand that their actions are recorded in log files, they will be less likely to attempt to circumvent the technology.