While most of us tend to focus on testing in HR settings, we sometimes forget that the people who probably administer the most tests work in education, both at the K-12 and university level. While likely not a surprise, cheating can be a major concern in these contexts. For example, the University of Central Florida developed a specialized testing center to reduce the incidence of cheating. Amongst the measures used is an array of cameras monitoring student behavior and video monitors recessed into desks so that any efforts to take pictures of the test will become evident. Even gum chewing is prohibited for fear that it could be used to disguise a student’s efforts to speak into a recording device or phone.

While certainly interesting from a test security perspective, one also wonders about the message this sends to student about how they are viewed by the university. This point was made salient to me last week when I was on a college tour with my daughter at a couple of institutions which have honor codes. For example, students at Harvey Mudd College take their exams without supervision in the setting of their choice. As the walking-backwards-while talking student tour guide explained, professors simply distribute exams to students with instructions about how long they have to take the test and what reference materials are permitted. While the setting prevented my asking many probing questions, the faculty is apparently content with this approach  as it has been in place for some time. “Take-home” testing is also the norm at other institutions such as CalTech which uses a similar honor code model.

Reid Klion