Cheating Wars in the Classroom

Cheating Wars in the Classroom

Cheating Wars in the ClassroomOften, students think they are smarter than their teacher. Face it, the world has changed when it comes to technology. Hand any child a computer and they can intuitively figure things out faster than an adult. The same rule applies to mobile phones that are so commonplace that it is rare to find an individual without one.

Keeping in touch with our children when they are at school has gained importance in this uncertain world. The trouble arises when children misuse their mobile phones to get a better grade. From a young age, today’s children feel pressure to study hard to get into college to land a lucrative career. With the mounting pressure, many students resort to taking short cuts by taking the easy way out and cheating.

Cheating takes many forms: an innocent glance at the student’s exam in the adjacent row, or writing the answers on your palm. At the end of the day, cheating is wrong and should not be tolerated. Students turn to high-tech cheating with their mobile phones because they think their teachers aren’t savvy enough to catch them.

Students are tempted during exams to do a quick search on Google for the answer that slipped their mind. There also is a temptation to text their buddy across the room and ask for help on a question. You might wonder, “How can they text without getting caught?”

Many students are so proficient at texting that they only need to glance at the keyboard for a second. They hide their mobile phone under their desk, between their legs, or in their pockets, making it all the more challenging to catch. Plus, phones set on vibrate are virtually silent.

However, the vibration might give away their plan, so experienced cheaters resort to unique ring tones a teacher cannot hear. There are numerous ring tones that students download to their phones that will alert them to an incoming text or email. The interesting part is that people who are 20 years and older—like the teachers—cannot hear these “ultrasonic” tones. Reality is, they are not ultrasonic, but are in the hearing range that only younger ears can discern (typically 17 kHz and upwards). Teachers typically are more than 20 years old, and with time, hearing sensitivity degrades and the ability to hear higher frequency diminishes.

To help teachers take back control of the classroom, Berkeley Varitronics Systems has developed an affordable tool called the PocketHound cell phone detector. This device is small enough to fit in a teacher’s pocket so that they can covertly monitor for cheaters as they navigate between rows of desks during exams or while sitting at their desk. PocketHound will vibrate when there is a transmission from a mobile phone in close proximity, alerting the teacher to move in on the culprit. In addition, the bright blue LEDs provide a visual alert to the teacher as they approach the unsuspecting cheater.

PocketHound has an integrated, multiband antenna that is hidden under the label allowing for true stealth approaches. An internal rechargeable Li-ION battery has run-time of up to two hours. The product is simple to use with a single, integrated, jog slider control switch. The receiver continually scans all cell phone bands and uses a sophisticated algorithm that constantly samples the Radio Frequency (RF) noise floor to distinguish real cellular activity versus ambient RF noise.

This article originally appeared in the July 2013 issue of Security Today.

About the Author

Scott Schober is the president and CEO of Berkeley Varitronics Systems.

Featured

  • Mall of America Deploys AI-Powered Analytics to Enhance Parking Intelligence

    Mall of America®, the largest shopping and entertainment complex in North America, announced an expansion of its ongoing partnership with Axis Communications to deploy cutting-edge car-counting video analytics across more than a dozen locations. With this expansion, Mall of America (MOA) has boosted operational efficiency, improved safety and security, and enabled more informed decision-making around employee scheduling and streamlining transportation for large events. Read Now

  • Security Industry Association Launches New “askSIA” AI Tool

    The Security Industry Association (SIA) has unveiled a brand-new SIA member benefit – askSIA, a conversational AI agent designed to help users get the most out of their SIA membership, easily access SIA resources and find the latest information on SIA’s training and courses, reports and publications, events, certification offerings and more. SIA members can easily find askSIA by visiting the SIA homepage or looking for the askSIA icon in the top left of webpages. Read Now

    • Industry Events
  • Industry Embraces Mobile Access, Biometrics and AI

    A combination of evolving workplace dynamics, technology innovation and new user expectations is changing how people enter and interact with physical spaces. Access control is at the heart of these changes. Combined with biometrics and AI, mobile access control has become increasingly crucial for deploying entry solutions that are seamless, secure and adaptive to user needs. Read Now

  • Sustainable Video Solution Delivered for Landmark City of London Office Development

    An advanced, end-to-end video solution from IDIS, with a focus on reducing waste and costs, has helped a major office development in the City of London align its security with sustainability objectives. Read Now

  • DHS to End ‘Shoes-Off’ Travel Policy

    Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced a new policy today which will allow passengers traveling through domestic airports to keep their shoes on while passing through security screening at TSA checkpoints. Read Now

New Products

  • 4K Video Decoder

    3xLOGIC’s VH-DECODER-4K is perfect for use in organizations of all sizes in diverse vertical sectors such as retail, leisure and hospitality, education and commercial premises.

  • Compact IP Video Intercom

    Viking’s X-205 Series of intercoms provide HD IP video and two-way voice communication - all wrapped up in an attractive compact chassis.

  • PE80 Series

    PE80 Series by SARGENT / ED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin

    ASSA ABLOY, a global leader in access solutions, has announced the launch of two next generation exit devices from long-standing leaders in the premium exit device market: the PE80 Series by SARGENT and the PED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin. These new exit devices boast industry-first features that are specifically designed to provide enhanced safety, security and convenience, setting new standards for exit solutions. The SARGENT PE80 and Corbin Russwin PED4000/PED5000 Series exit devices are engineered to meet the ever-evolving needs of modern buildings. Featuring the high strength, security and durability that ASSA ABLOY is known for, the new exit devices deliver several innovative, industry-first features in addition to elegant design finishes for every opening.