I just recently had two of my tests in my online college class reduced to zero. This was my instructors reasoning:
“Good morning. As I was reviewing the gradebook, I noticed you completed two quizzes in an unusually short amount of time, less than 10 minutes for a quiz that requires thoughtful consideration.
As a result, a grade of zero has been assigned for the quizzes. There has been much research on the quizzes in this class indicating the time for completing quizzes with a determined amount of accuracy. This course operates under clear expectations: all work submitted must be your own. Academic integrity is not optional; it is foundational to your success and credibility.”
I am in the process of an appeal. I have reviewed the student code of conduct alongside other policies of academic misconduct and it states there must be a preponderance of evidence and instructors must give the student an opportunity to respond and explain before receiving any disciplinary actions.
I have always been a fast test taker, since my middle-school days. The quizzes my instructor referenced were also only 20-25 questions long and I’ve completed quizzes from other classes at this college in a similar time frame and those instructors never had any concerns. Also, the college course that this pertains to is biology. Science comes second-nature to me, especially biology, and I’ve already had a significant amount of education on it, and I am very well-versed in it. I also have ptsd with severe anxiety which I think contributes to my fast test-taking….
Has this happened to anyone before? What did you do?
UPDATE: In my appeal, I questioned the validity of the supposed “research” that was done on this course’s tests. I asked if the research considered variables such as cognitive processing speed, learning differences, and disabilities. I explained that without the consideration of those variables, that research is flawed and would result in things like confirmation bias or incorrect generalizations. I tend to get petty in situations like this, not sure if it will be helpful or hurtful towards my appeal. 🥲
Comments
Ask for a re-take. Make sure you don’t turn in the re-take too fast.
It really shouldn’t take more than a proctored test made up of a variety of questions sampled from this instructors quizzes to prove you are just that good at that material. He should be able to proctor himself using a simple video call.
That professor is a self-aggrandizing jerk. “No one is smart enough to take my quizzes fast!”
Standardised tests sifts out geniuses.
id talk to the dean. thats bs
Ask for a retake in front of him
UPDATE: In my appeal, I questioned the validity of the supposed “research” that was done on this course’s tests. I asked if the research considered variables such as cognitive processing speed, learning differences, and disabilities. I explained that without the consideration of those variables, that research is flawed and would result in things like confirmation bias or incorrect generalizations. I tend to get petty in situations like this, not sure if it will be helpful or hurtful towards my appeal. 🥲
I think you did the right thing, but also loop in the department chair and/or dean if the professor continues to push back. Send them everything.