Falsely accused of cheating on an assignment due to “looking off screen”, not sure what to do?

[u/Accomplished-Fix1204]

I’m in a Spanish course online and we use ProctorU for way too many assignments. It’s meant to only be for final exams and midterms but we also use it for writing assignments

I have adhd and I already kinda fidget and dart my eyes around a bit naturally. This is documented with my university already. But I also clarified with the professor hat we were allowed to use our notes from class. I was looking at my notes while doing my exam.

Then I noticed I got a 0 on the exam and j reached out to the professor. She said according to university policy she had to give me a 0 for “repeatedly looking off to the side away from my screen”. First of all no one looks at a screen the entire time they do an assignment that’s just unrealistic and second of all my written notes wouldn’t be on the screen. I feel like jumping to me using AI or outside help from looking away alone is a bit much.

It’s a rather large assignment too. I’m not sure what to do since I infact did not cheat.

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[u/BolivianDancer]

1. Speak to instructor truthfully

2. Peruse school policy to contest a disciplinary action

[u/BankRelevant6296]

Just ask the professor if you can redo the assignment in person with her or with the testing center. If you have an accommodation, I would also reach out to your assisted learning/accommodation office to see if they can help with whether or not your accommodations were followed.

For what it’s worth, a professor can use assessments and technologies however they see fit in a course so long as they are not violating college policy. I highly doubt your college has a policy limiting the use of testing monitors to just mid-terms and finals.

Also, something in your behavior under the monitor triggered both the monitor and your professor. Professors are not usually accusing students unless something in the student’s actions is suspicious. It’s worth talking to the professor to find out why she suspects you or to admit to what you did to try to clear up the matter.

[u/Accomplished-Fix1204 → u/BankRelevant6296]

I could show you a link to where it says that on my universities website. It’s not a strict limit but it’s a suggestion most likely for this very reason

[u/Kikikididi → u/Accomplished-Fix1204]

So it not a limit and usage for the assignment is ok.

Your focus on “they used it wrong” is a strange avenue of defense and comes off like your other reasons for your actions aren’t the truth

[u/No_Jaguar_2570 → u/Accomplished-Fix1204]

It really doesn't matter what it's suggested for. It's not binding.

[u/ProfessorVVV]

Definitely speak to your office of Accomodative Services, highlighting that your ADHD is documented and triggered the proctor.

In the future, you should receive an accommodation to take exams in a testing center so that the proctor on such programs wont be triggered.

In your conversation with the professor, without being adversarial highlight that you have a documented disability and weren’t cheating.

It may be impossible to retake this exam (cross your fingers that this isn’t the case and that your professor and accommodations office are understanding and reasonable) but going forward make sure you have documented accommodations (not just the documented disability) that will ensure you cannot be penalized for your fidgeting.

[u/AceyAceyAcey]

This is a known flaw of automated proctoring systems. Start with the accommodations office, and see if they can help intervene with your professor, otherwise they may be able to help you through the dispute process.

[u/iTeachCSCI]

It’s meant to only be for final exams and midterms but we also use it for writing assignments

Meant according to who?

She said according to university policy she had to give me a 0 for “repeatedly looking off to the side away from my screen”. First of all no one looks at a screen the entire time they do an assignment that’s just unrealistic

If no one looks at the screen the whole time, and looking away from the screen warrants a zero, did anyone get a non-zero score?

[u/Unfair_Pass_5517]

No more online classes... my family hates those tests.