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I took my final last Wednesday (it’s Monday) and on Friday I received an email from my professor asking to meet to discuss my performance on the final. I got a little stressed but was more worried about if I failed the exam and have to retake the course. There was one other person I knew that got this email and he had the meeting today. The professor basically just said that there is proof of him cheating and said that he was on Moodle looking at the other tests while taking the final exam. This person said he did not and the professor just said he will have to fill out a form saying he did or did not and has to attend a hearing about it.

I have my meeting with the professor tomorrow and am EXTREMELY worried now. Being upfront, I did not cheat, I had Moodle open on my laptop in a minimized window but was not actively looking at it. I also have a full ride that would definitely disappear if I had something like this. What do I do?

PS: the professor already said to my friend that even if Moodle was open on a minimized window, the site wouldn’t give the report of accessing materials during the final exam.

Edit: grammar in PS section.

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    it wouldn’t give that report --- What does the second "it" refer to? professor? friend? Moodle? None of these make sense. Also, "give that report" seems misworded -- if your professor isn't giving the report, then what is the concern? Nov 23, 2020 at 16:29
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    What is the full ride?
    – user111388
    Nov 23, 2020 at 16:30
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    Would access to an open Moodle give you an advantage in the exam? Nov 23, 2020 at 17:44
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    "What should I do" is not a question. Also a duplicate of many other "accused by AI of cheating during online exam" questions.
    – Louic
    Nov 23, 2020 at 18:03
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    Were there instructions to have certain software or all software except XYZ closed during the exam? If so, there might not be much defense to having software open against the instructions, even if this is a relatively poor way of detecting cheating. Much like for athletes who test positive for diuretics.
    – Bryan Krause
    Nov 23, 2020 at 18:23

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First, don't assume that the concerns about one person are necessarily the same as concerns about another. It may just be coincidence.

Second, the history is what it is. If there is some "evidence" that you did something wrong you will just have to explain it as best you can and live with the consequences.

It may well be that the monitoring system gets a report of open windows/apps but can't distinguish what is visible to the user from what is not.

Explain your actions. I suggest honestly. If you didn't cheat, then insist on that and don't agree to "lesser penalties" if you admit to something you didn't do.


Also note that statements about what automated systems do or don't do can be checked experimentally and/or by contacting the vendor.

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    'note that statements about what automated systems do or don't do can be checked experimentally' Caution: at least one automated system in this field of endeavour (Turnitin) has a "no reverse engineering" clause in its terms of use. Nov 23, 2020 at 17:49
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    This is a good answer. And next time don't leave your moodle window open during an exam (even minimized). It is like having a cheat sheet on your desk during the exam and saying: "but I did not look at it, honestly!"
    – Louic
    Nov 23, 2020 at 17:51
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    @DanielHatton, clauses like that can be overcome in a court of law should OP choose to carry it that far. The software is effectively a witness against them which could be made to show how it came to focus on them. This would be an expensive endeavor.
    – Bill Barth
    Nov 23, 2020 at 19:07
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    @DanielHatton. software used for grading and, especially sanctioning students, needs to be transparent in its operation. If it isn't then it shouldn't be used. But testing the validity of a system doesn't necessarily imply reverse engineering.
    – Buffy
    Nov 23, 2020 at 19:23
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    @DanielHatton and Buffy, many times you can find Washington Post in electronic form through your library (public or academic). As this is academia.SE, probably your institution has access through ProQuest or EBSCO or Gale.
    – shoover
    Nov 24, 2020 at 1:10

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