virtual homework pass

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You Need These 30 Fail-proof Virtual Rewards For Students

• Classroom Management

Classroom management can be hard. Virtual classroom management can be even harder. So I’ve compiled 30 virtual rewards for students to use during online learning to make it a wee bit easier.

Keep this list of virtual rewards for students at your fingertips to increase participation and engagement in online lessons and to get students to turn those cameras on (if you know, you know).

Want a list of virtual rewards for students? Grab your freebie!

1. Homework pass

This one is simple. The student gets to exchange a homework pass to get a pass on any single piece of homework that they choose.

2. Choose class read aloud

The student gets to choose the class read aloud for the day.

3. Virtual game with teacher

Meet the student online to play a game together. Some ideas are: Boggle, Scattergories, card games or trivia.

4. Pick the teacher’s background

The student gets to choose the teacher’s background for a class online meeting. There are different backgrounds to select depending on the online meeting platform that you use. Another fun option is to download Snap Camera .

5. Teacher drives by home

For this reward, the teacher would drive by the student’s home at a predetermined time. The teacher can honk, wave, and/or blast music. Have fun with this one!

6. Turn in assignment, late

The student get an extension on an assignment of their choice.

7. Virtual lunch with a friend

The teacher will create a meeting and will supervise an online meeting for two students to meet up for lunch.

8. Virtual game with friend

Similar to number seven, but the teacher will also set up a game. You can give students a choice of games.

9. Show and tell

The student can choose something to share with the class. Some ideas are playing a short video, sharing a family photo or introducing their pet in a class meeting.

10. Read to the class

The student can share a book or a part of a book to read aloud to the class.

11. Lead morning meeting

The student gets to host the morning meeting. To make it even more fun, they can choose the greeting, sharing and group activity.

12. Choose class activity

The student can choose the class activity for the day. If you normally do a fun activity during your meetings, then let students choose which one they would like to do. Click here for fun Google Meet and Zoom activities .

13. Teach part of a lesson

Let students teach a short mini lesson or allow them to teach part of a lesson. This works best for lessons where concepts are being reviewed rather than for new content. You can even meet up with the student ahead of time to help prepare them to teach a lesson.

Alternatively, you can have the student teach an additional lesson of their choice about any subject or have them lead an art lesson.

14. Personal PJ day

The student can come to class in pyjamas that day.

15. Bring stuffy to class

The student can bring a stuffy to the class online meeting.

16. Positive message home

Send a positive message or make a positive phone call about the student to their parent or guardian.

17. Change name for the day

Allow the student to change their name for the day. That is the name that everyone will refer to them as for one day only.

18. Introduce family member

Allow the student to introduce a family member during the class online meeting.

19. Do assignment in pen

A student can choose to complete an assignment in pen or marker.

Don’t forget to download your list of virtual rewards for students!

20. choose a quote to share with class.

During your online meeting, the student can share a positive or uplifting quote with the class.

21. Share work that you’re proud of

Also during an online meeting, the student can share a piece of work that they are proud of.

22. Bring guest to class meeting

A student can bring a guest to the class’s online meeting. This works best for a more casual meeting rather than a formal lesson. Guest ideas are: their mom, sister, or dog.

23. Cut an assignment in half

Students can choose an assignment where they will only complete half of it. For example, when completing a math assignment that has 10 questions, they can choose 5 questions to complete.

24. Dress “fancy” for a class meeting

The student can dress extra fancy for an online meeting.

25. Choose class brain break

Allow the student to select the class’ brain break for the day.

26. Share a joke with the class

The student can choose a joke to tell the class. If you want to ensure the joke is appropriate, you can have the students submit the joke to you ahead of time.

27. Be the class DJ

During an online work block, you can have the student be the class DJ. That means they can choose the music to play for the class. You can also have the class DJ submit a list of songs ahead of time. That way, you can find clean versions. I suggest Kidz Bop for clean versions you can count on.

28. Virtual snack with teacher

Meet the student online at a certain time to snack and chat together.

29. Introduce pet to the class

During an online meeting, the students can introduce their pet to the class.

30. Share video with the class

The student can choose a video to share with the class. If you want to ensure the video is appropriate, you can have the students submit the video to you ahead of time.

I hope this helps you to keep your students motivated and engaged during online learning. These virtual rewards for students should help to keep some pep in their step during these uncertain times.

Want to make it even easier?

Interested in a virtual student reward system that will handle all of these reward choices for you?

The virtual student reward system resource that includes:

• 30 coupons on Google Slides to fill out and share with students
• 6 editable coupons on Google Slides to include your own options & ideas
• Google Form for students to select their reward choice
• Spreadsheet to keep track of student reward choices and when they are used

Amber Evancio

I'm Amber Evancio and I currently teach grade four in Northern Canada. I'm passionate about helping teachers lead their classes with efficiency and love.

I’m Amber Evancio and I currently teach grade four in Northern Canada. I’m passionate about helping teachers lead their classes with efficiency and love.

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Your Complete Digital Hall Pass

Easy to use and fully customizable, you can isolate problem groups and will gain full visibility to student activity via detailed reporting. Administration and staff benefit from the most user-friendly and affordable solution in education.

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No more struggling with incomplete methods that leave too many gaps in your knowledge of all student activity. Let our system remove the unknowns via an easy-to-use, proven approach.

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A standard approach to issuing and approving passes frees you from inconsistent adherence to your school's hall rules. All passes are managed thru our leading planner system and are designed to simplify the process for everyone.

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Always know student building activity at all times. All educators have access to a live dashboard for full visibility and transparency. Now it's straightforward to enforce accountability.

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Demonstrate your compliance with any required social distancing protocols. Contact-free pass management and setting student-specific limits support this critical priority.

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There is no one size fits all approach to effective pass management. Create the right rules and restrictions for every building. Our system adapts to your requirements.

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Pass issuance, limited disruption to teaching.

Our pass issuance feature is built with ease-of-use and effective controls in mind. Our system follows your preferred approval policies and students instantly know how to use the pass system — because we’ve built it directly into our leading student planner apps so there’s never any confusion!

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Continuous tracking supports communication and student responsibility. With our digital hall pass you'll identify potentially problematic student behavior and activity outliers early to effectively minimize disruption. All pass activity history is easily referenced as part of our complete reporting features.

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Free Printable Homework Pass Set for K-12 Teachers

Plus ideas for using them.

The homework pass just might be the most coveted of all school rewards. It’s easy for teachers too, since it doesn’t cost a thing. Make it even easier to hand out homework passes with our free printable set of two options, each in two styles. Just fill out the form on this page to grab them.

Homework can be a surprisingly controversial topic. While many assume it’s just a natural part of a child’s education, others feel that homework isn’t all it’s cracked up to be . As we seek to encourage a better work-life balance for adults, is it possible homework is sending the wrong message to kids ?

That being said, very few schools have banned homework altogether , and it does have its benefits. It’s especially useful in subjects like math and reading, where students profit from lots of skills practice. Sometimes, though, it’s nice to offer kids a break with no penalty, or at least the chance to postpone their assignment to a better night. That’s where the homework pass comes in.

Homework Pass Options

Our free printable homework passes come in two options, with styles for both elementary and middle/high school:

• No Homework: This pass allows kids to skip a homework assignment, with no penalty to their grade.
• One Day Late: This one gives them an extra day to turn in their work, which can be really helpful if they have a busy night of after-school activities or aren’t feeling well.

Most teachers put some limitations on their homework passes, specifying that they’re for certain assignments only. (You don’t want to give a student a free pass on a big project or paper.) Make sure you explain any restrictions when you hand yours out.

Some teachers give every student a certain number of passes to use each semester or year. Others use them as rewards or prizes for in-class competitions or quizzes.

Get Your Free Printable Homework Passes!

However you choose to use them, you can grab your free homework pass printable set by filling out this quick form.

Do you ever reward students with a homework pass? Come share your thoughts and ask for advice in the We Are Teachers HELPLINE group on Facebook .

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Virtual Homework Help for Kids and Teens

Mandel public library of west palm beach, fla., innovation synopsis.

Mandel Public Library's Virtual Homework Center offers learning support five days a week via Google Meet. The program is open to school-aged students and provides resources to meet their learning needs. Our certified teachers promote academic improvement and enhance research skills, while instilling a love of books, reading and libraries!

Challenge/Opportunity

The public library often serves as a lifeline to those most in need. The Mandel Public Library’s in-person Homework Center created improvement in students’ schoolwork, attitude and confidence. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the program shifted to a virtual setting while the library was closed in hopes of continuing to enrich the lives of local students. Expanding the program to a virtual platform has significantly increased the program’s effectiveness and provided this service to at-home learners.

Key Elements of Innovation

As the school district shifted to online learning, the library adapted to meet the after-school educational needs of students. The library’s goals were to aid with the transition to virtual learning and offer tutoring services specific to each student’s needs. These goals were met by employing certified teachers from local schools with experience in the Google platform and with the county curriculums. The Virtual Homework Centers are a vital service, particularly for students who do not have access to costly tutoring.

Achieved Outcomes

Virtual Homework Center can assist thousands of children and parents throughout the year. The teacher is a liaison to local schools to request information on special assignments. Access to online resources is a key component of the Virtual Homework Center to promote digital literacy skills. A student may pass a test, raise their grades or graduate because of the Virtual Homework Center. These become a part of the students’ learning experience, carrying them through their education and into a productive adulthood.

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35 Free Rewards For Your Students

• Christopher Olson
• September 16, 2021
• No Comments

Are you looking for some new class rewards to pair with your classroom management system ?  What if I said, are you looking for FREE class rewards?  Here is the list for you! Some of my personal favorites from this list include #7, 8, 17, 21, and 28!  Some of my students’ favorites are: #1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18. 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, and 35!

It was important for me to make sure that I included a variety of free rewards for you!  This list covers individual free rewards for those moments to positively praise individual students for going above and beyond following your expectations!  There is a section for whole-class free rewards that the entire class can work towards.  Last, but not least is a section that works in a virtual setting!  The virtual section includes both individual as well as whole group rewards.  These rewards can also work in a brick-and-mortar setting, so make sure to check it out even if you are not virtual.

Individual Free Rewards

Reward 1 ~ Read a Book to Another Class 

Not only does it provide additional reading practice, getting the opportunity to read to another class is just super exciting!  Students will love the opportunity to read to a younger grade or even to a past teacher’s class.  Their old teacher will love it too!

2 ~ Be Featured on a Photo Recognition Board

You can dedicate an entire bulletin board or part of one in the hallway for a recognition board!   Display students’ work and/or photos of themselves to display!  Keep in mind student comfort as well as confidentiality if families do not want their child’s photo taken or shared.

3 ~ Choice of Line Leader or Caboose

Who doesn’t love to be first or last in line.

4 ~ Borrow the Principal’s (or Teacher’s) Chair for the Day

For an extra special reward, students can sit in your chair or even borrow the Principal’s chair for the day!

5 ~ Lunch Bunch 

Depending on how your school runs lunch this can look a couple of different ways. The student can have a choice of where to sit and sit next to a friend.  Students can also have the choice of inviting you, their teacher, to lunch with them as well!  

6 ~ Free Homework Pass

Who said no homework tonight  this guy…right here  students can earn a free homework pass to get out of homework.  or use it in case of an emergency if they forgot.

Reward 7 ~ Be the Illustrator

Ever dream of being an illustrator of a book?  Here is your opportunity!  Not only do you get to draw on the chalkboard or draw during class!  You get to illustrate the story that the teacher is reading aloud to their classmates.  I like to provide special paper to the student to do this so we can keep the illustrations for future use.  I laminate their illustrations and include them within our classroom library.

8 ~ Get a Drink from the Cold Fountain

Yes, there is always the favorite fountain in the school that is better than the others!   Try to deny it! 🙂 

9 ~ Class Helper for the Day

The class helper can be whatever you want it to be  whether they can help pass out papers, sit near the teacher during read-aloud, erase the boards, collect items or a combination of all.

10 ~ Positive Phone Call Home

Students AND families will enjoy this reward!  Make a phone call home with the child present to provide some positive news.  If appropriate, the child can even get on the phone to talk to their family and receive even more praise.

11 ~ Sit at the Teacher’s Desk 

You can decide on a specific time frame that the student can sit at your desk to work.  This can be a half-hour to the entire day!

12 ~ Write with a Special Pen or Pencil for the Day

If you already have special pencils in your classroom, you know the ones with wiggle eyes, fuzz, characters on top, here is your chance to use them!  If you do not have them…DON’T WORRY!  I am not telling you to go out and buy them, remember this is a FREE REWARD blog!  Did you ever provide a PEN to a student to use?!?   Their mind is blown!

Reward 13 ~ Free Admission to a School Event * 

Often, with school permission, you can get a free ticket to a sports game or admission to an art show or drama presentation.

* A word of caution on this one…   Keep in mind the students’ families when providing this option or reward.  Sometimes due to work schedules, transportation issues, or other events outside of a student’s control will deny them attending these types of events.   Please don’t provide this reward unless you absolutely know that it is feasible for your student.

14 ~ Assist with the Morning Announcements

With principal permission, your student can earn the opportunity to help with announcements.  whether they hop on to join in with saying the school pledge, pledge of allegiance, or a morning message…it is just so exciting.

15 ~ Keep a Stuffed Animal or Small Toy on their Desk 

Students can earn the opportunity to bring in a small toy (figure, lego piece, fidget toy, etc.) or stuffed animal to keep on their desk.  There is an entire classroom management tool called Desk Pets if this reward system appeals to your class this year! 

Group Rewards for the Entire Class

16 ~ Dance Party 

Turn on those favorite tunes from KidsBop or bring in your favorite playlist!  Check out “Clean” 80s music for the classroom on YouTube for some classics!  You’ll be surprised at how many of these your students know!  “Clean” pop music is another option… you’ll never guess that the ‘Macarena’ is making a comeback!

17 ~ Pajama Day

Students and teachers alike will enjoy a pajama day  just to be comfy while working in class goes a long way.

18 ~ Movie Day 

If you have an extra bag of popcorn lying around, start popping for a movie afternoon!   You can pair a movie with a story you are reading for a compare/contrast opportunity.

Reward 19 ~ Extra Computer Time 

If you have a classroom set or access to individual Ipads/computers, students can earn extra computer time!  If you do not, perhaps you can talk with the computer teacher to see if there is a block of time to bring your class to the computer lab instead?

20 ~ Additional Recess or Added Time for Recess

Always a fan-favorite!

21 ~ Have Class Outside 

I personally LOVE this reward for myself.  Grab clipboards and a pencil then head outside to have class.  I love reading with my class outdoors or have my students work in small groups while outdoors.

22 ~ “Free Time” at the End of the Day

The options are truly endless with free time  students can play games, draw, or just relax and chat with a friend..

23 ~ Walking Field Trip to the Community Library 

If you are lucky enough to have a Community Library within walking distance of the school, then here is your chance to use it together!   Take a stroll (with parental permission) on a nice day.  Many community libraries will have a librarian read to your class and sometimes complete an activity with them (with advance notice)!

24 ~  Change the Classroom Layout and Allow Students to Sit Wherever They Want to

As a reward, students can pick their new seats in the classroom!   I like to have the discussion of “choose wisely” when doing this.  We talk about a good seat choice and what that looks like.  “Even though we want to sit next to our best friend, make sure we choose a good seat where we won’t get in trouble for talking!”

Reward 25 ~ Dress Up Days

Your class can take a vote on a themed dress up day  themes can include wearing a specific color, favorite book character, favorite food, or even old halloween costumes, etc., virtual free rewards (for individual or whole group use).

26 ~ Positive Specific Praise 

Positive, specific praise goes so far with students!  I always say positive specific praise is like an exclamation point.  It is yelling “HEY!, Look at this, this is important!”

27 ~ Earn a Pass to the Zoo , Aquarium , or Museum  

Check out some of these Live Zoo Cameras, Aquarium trips, or trips to the Museum.

28 ~ Digital Roller Coaster Ride

YouTube has some amazing Virtual Roller Coaster Rides !  They are as if you are sitting in the front seat of the coaster.  Toss your hands up and prepare for an amazing ride!

29 ~ Class DJ

Choose the songs you listen to throughout the day whether to work to or morning GoNoodle songs .  To make this a little easier to manage, I had my student choose a general genre (Pop, 80s, Kidsbop , etc.).  I found a playlist of that type of music on YouTube to play while students were working.  The “DJ” would then give me a thumbs up to keep listening to the song, or they can provide you with a thumbs down if they would like to skip that song on the playlist.  This worked out well because the work still continued and the students weren’t calling out or talking about each song.  

30 ~ Student Choice of Class Read-Aloud

Allow your student to choose the book you read for read-aloud..

Reward 31 ~ Introduce a Family Pet 

This was one of my students’ favorites while we were virtual!  As a reward, students were able to choose the opportunity for a show and tell.  A show and tell of their PET!

32 ~ Wear a Hat to Class 

Students can wear their favorite or silly hat to virtual class!

33 ~ Choose the Brain Break for the Class

Choice continues to be a powerful tool on this list of free rewards!  Allow your student to choose the brain break for the day.  Perhaps a choice board with a few options like GoNoodle videos , Gross Motor Activity , Breathing Exercise , etc.

34 ~ Access to an Arcade or Arcade Games 

Speaking of choice boards, I had a virtual arcade game choice board for my virtual students.  This choice board was a simple google slide that had links to various arcade games I found on websites such as ABCya , FunBrain , RoomRecess , or PBS Kids to name just a few.

35 ~ Early Lunch

How special a student or the entire class can feel when they are dismissed early for lunch  you can have a specified amount of time to dismiss the student or class, like 10 or 15 minutes early..

You definitely won’t break the bank with these 35 Free Rewards for Your Students!  What were some of your favorites?  Let us know in the comments below!  Do you have any other free rewards that you utilize within your classroom?  We would love to hear them!   Remember, you know your students best and what they will enjoy and want to work towards.  Let this list be more of an inspirational list to pick and choose when you want to use!   Have a wonderful school year!

Written by – Christopher Olson

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22 Engaging Free Prize Ideas for the Classroom

Fun prizes don’t have to be expensive.

My typical issue with your average classroom management system is that kids typically work for prizes. Well, your typical prize basket costs a lot of money to fill up! They aren’t expensive individually, but it adds up over a long period of time. Plus, when it runs out, you have to refill it. It is the never-ending cycle of the prize basket.

Because it is so important to me to reward my students, I did some brainstorming, and here is a list of some of my favorite free prize ideas for the classroom.

Discovering Budget-Friendly Prize Ideas:

One common challenge I faced with traditional classroom management systems was the reliance on prizes to motivate students. While each individual prize may not seem costly, the cumulative expense can become substantial over time. It’s a never-ending cycle of refilling the prize basket. Fortunately, I’ve found a way to break this cycle without compromising on rewarding my students.

• Here are some of my favorite free prize ideas for the classroom:
• No Shoes Pass : A break from wearing shoes in the classroom.
• No Homework Pass : A coveted pass that exempts a student from homework for a day.
• Sit in the Teacher’s Desk for a Day : A chance for a student to experience the teacher’s perspective.
• Use a Teacher Pen for the Day : A simple but exciting privilege for a day.
• Student Choice Morning Activity : Empower students by letting them choose their morning activity.
• Tech Time : 10-20 minutes of supervised tech usage.
• Free Draw Time : A creative outlet for students.
• Choose GoNoodle Activity : Let a student pick the GoNoodle activity for the day.
• Seat Swap : Students can switch seats to sit by a friend either in the classroom or during lunch.
• Line Leader : Lead the class in line for the day.
• Skip the Line : A pass that lets a student avoid waiting in line.
• Bring a Comfort Item : Students can bring a pillow, stuffed animal, or blanket for comfort.
• Teacher Desk Privilege : Experience the teacher’s desk for a day.
• Lunch with the Teacher : A special mealtime with the teacher.
• Hat Day : A day to wear a hat in class.
• Morning Activity Choice (Again!) : Because it’s a favorite!
• Show and Tell Pass : Share something special with the class.
• Read to a Younger Class : An opportunity to read to a younger grade.
• Teacher’s Helper : Assist the teacher for a day.
• Marker Privilege : Write with a marker for the day.
• Special Pen Day : Use a unique pen for the day.
• Choose a Read-Aloud Book : Select a book for a class read-aloud session.

Rewarding students is essential, but it doesn’t have to break the bank. These free prize ideas offer creative ways to provide positive reinforcement in the classroom without spending a dime. Hopefully, these free prize ideas can help you to provide some awesome positive reinforcement in the classroom. Let me know what some of your favorite free prize ideas are!

Cheat Codes: Students Search For Shortcuts as Virtual Schooling Expands

An eighth grader looks up answers on a cell phone while he is taking an online quiz at home. The pandemic has forced many Oklahoma school districts to shift to part-time or full-time online learning this year. (Whitney Bryen/Oklahoma Watch)

Computer programmer Gradyn Wursten still updates a project he created to hack his high school homework.

As a sophomore, he used an old MacBook with a cracked screen and bulging battery to write the code that adds shortcuts to Edgenuity — an online education platform used by more than   3 million students .

Once installed, his program can skip videos and automatically fill practice questions with answers — progressing straight to quizzes and tests.

Instead of watching a 30-minute history lesson on the Iroquois, students can cut right to the quiz. And those answers are often easily found on the web.

The hacks make it possible to complete a course much faster, students say.

Wursten is more computer savvy than most, but his quest for shortcuts is typical. His program, developed from his home in Heber City, Utah, has been downloaded 40,000 times by students across the country. In the past month, he gained 2,000 new users, including more than 100 in Oklahoma.

And his tool is just one of many available to savvy students.

Entire test keys and quiz answers are posted to homework help websites. Smartphone apps take a photo of a question and produce the answer. Students connect on social media or text groups to share answers. There are even tricks to fake attendance in a Zoom class — demonstrated by a teen’s viral Tik Tok video.

Schools’ large-scale shift to virtual education amid COVID-19 is challenging the system of determining what students actually know and limiting educators’ ability to ensure academic integrity.

Cheating has always been an issue in schools, but there is little getting in the way for students today. Shared answers have become even more accessible as districts have adopted or expanded their use of popular online learning programs like Edgenuity, which delivers the same content to students across the country.

Many schools adopted such virtual programs in a matter of months to adapt to the ongoing public health crisis. Seventy percent of Oklahoma districts had a virtual option at the start of this school year, and 7.5% were exclusively online, according to a state Department of Education   survey .

But when students are not inside classrooms, it becomes more difficult to ensure they are actually learning, teachers say.

“Everything my kids are doing at home is a cheatable assignment, which makes that in-class time so incredibly valuable,” said Elanna Dobbs, who teaches English at Edmond Memorial High School.

Edmond is using a blended schedule, where students attend class some days and are virtual from home the rest of the week.

Dobbs, who has been teaching 19 years, said on virtual days, she relies on class discussions or assignments that task students with providing individual thoughts on what they’ve learned. In other words, the type of assignments they can’t just Google.

Many students aren’t getting any in-person class time, though.

Virtual charter schools are experiencing a surge of enrollment, a trend underway before the pandemic. These schools don’t have classrooms and the students learn mostly from home. Epic Charter Schools says it has 61,000 students enrolled — representing about 1 in 10 Oklahoma students. Other statewide virtual charter schools are experiencing increases.

In virtual charter schools, teachers provide less direct instruction than in a traditional school, with the curriculum program delivering most of the lessons. Parents are expected to fill in the gaps and oversee the learning process.

Research shows it doesn’t work very well. Students enrolled full-time in virtual charter schools learned an equivalent of 72 days fewer in reading and 180 days fewer in math than students in brick-and-mortar schools over one academic year, according to a   2015 study   by the Center for Research on Education Outcomes, a non-partisan research center at Stanford University.

Now, those same methods are being adopted by traditional school districts with the tens of thousands of Oklahoma students attending school from home.

And yet, critics — from parents to the president — have deemed online education inadequate. “Now that we have witnessed it on a large scale basis, and firsthand, Virtual Learning has proven to be TERRIBLE compared to In School, or On Campus, Learning,” President Donald Trump   tweeted July 10.

That month, in Norman, parents railed against a plan to use Edgenuity teachers for all students enrolling in the district’s virtual program. They spoke out at board meetings, and wrote a   letter to the district,   calling it “troubling” that Edgenuity was their only virtual option within the district.

“Our children deserve to have personal interactions with local teachers and classmates as part of their virtual school experience during this pandemic,” they wrote. They urged the district to, among other requests, provide an option for students to learn from Norman teachers, not from “an out-of-state, for-profit venture.”

The district relented and quickly developed an in-house virtual program, in addition to offering Edgenuity.

Relying on Teachers to Spot Discrepancies from Afar

Technology provides some cheating protections. Edgenuity features a locking browser, which restricts students from opening other tabs and programs while the learning platform is open. Epic and Oklahoma Virtual Charter Academy say their teachers can require exams to be proctored, where the student is monitored remotely through a webcam.

Watch videos related to this reporting on Oklahoma Watch’s website.

Students can bypass these protections. Often, it’s no more difficult than pulling up answers on a smartphone. A   2018 study by Pew Research Center   found 95% of teens have a smartphone, or at least access to one. Even kindergarten students know how to ask a smart speaker their homework questions.

Yet the companies providing the lessons say it’s up to users to provide the accountability and prevent cheating.

“Edgenuity trusts the integrity of teachers, administrations, and even students themselves, to ensure that students learn and succeed fairly,” wrote Deborah Rayow, Edgenuity’s Vice President of Instructional Design & Learning Science, in response to Oklahoma Watch’s questions.

Edgenuity, an Arizona-based online curriculum company, is being used by at least some virtual students in Norman, Union, Stillwater and other school districts.

Another program, Exact Path, is being used in more than 400 Oklahoma districts. The state Education Department used CARES Act funds to enter into a $2.6 million contract with parent company, Edmentum, to offer   Exact Path free to districts . Exact Path is an online learning tool that can be used for assessment and instruction in kindergarten through 12th grade.

Districts are, in some cases, using Exact Path even when school is in-person, to make it easier to pivot to distance learning because of an outbreak or need to quarantine.

Edmentum says because Exact Path adapts to individual students, it is difficult to use online social networks to find answers. And the company works with popular homework help sites like Quizlet and Brainly to “ensure our content is not posted on their sites,” a spokesperson said.

Exact Path also alerts teachers to unusual behavior — such as answering too quickly.

LIke Edgenuity, Edmentum emphasizes teachers’ responsibility to prevent cheating.

One of the most effective things teachers can do to prevent cheating is to design their own online curriculum, or at least supplement the platform’s assignments with their own, said Derald Glover, assistant executive director of the Oklahoma Association of School Administrators.

The bare minimum schools should be doing this year is placing a student on a virtual school platform and letting them go, he said.  Additional safeguards teachers can add are class discussions via Zoom, or having students submit videos of themselves explaining their answers.

Glover said he’s encouraging educators to treat online tools as a digital textbook, and design virtual courses themselves.

But that takes time.

“We think it’s going to take most of this year to realistically build really rich teacher-developed (virtual) courses,” Glover said.

At-Home Learning Assumes Parents Can Supervise

Parents are showing little patience to wait. The fervor over inadequate education at home is growing, and the lack of teacher interaction is one of the main reasons.

Norman schools bent to parental pressure and transitioned to in-person school in late September, despite no change in the Cleveland County’s color-coded coronavirus risk designation.

A group of Stillwater parents filed a lawsuit against the district to force a return to classrooms. The district of 6,300 students uses Edgenuity for students who chose full-time virtual learning.

Parent Nicole Wisel wishes her children’s school district, Cimarron Public Schools, would return to paper, pencils and textbooks instead of using Edgenuity.

“We hate it,” said Wisel, who has children in seventh, eighth and 11th grades. “Our teachers are being paid to be proctors, and that’s it. They don’t even know what these kids are doing.”

The prerecorded video lessons are too long, she says, and one of her children, who is autistic, says the instructors in the videos are “creepy.”

Chuck Anglin, Cimarron Public Schools’ superintendent, said he likes to use Edgenuity to offer extra classes in a normal year. Choosing it for virtual learning this year was making “the best of a bad situation,” he said.

He agrees that when kids are learning from home, the onus to prevent cheating is mostly on parents.

“We are not programmed for distance learning,” said Anglin, whose school district is located 12 miles west of Enid. “We are programmed to have the kids there, where we can see their faces, we can read their eyes, we can tell if they are still engaged. We can see if they’re looking around to see if anybody’s watching while they’ve got their phone in their lap.”

Researchers at the National Education Policy Center, a research center at the University of Colorado Boulder, found that relying on a computer program to teach and assess is one of the most detrimental aspects of online education.

The researchers found these programs actually impede and marginalize the teacher’s role. “Teachers may be unable to see how their students earned the designation of mastery of a goal because in some applications, the software, not the teacher, determines questions asked and the grades assigned,” they wrote in a   2019 report .

They also found that students would just look up answers on their computers — in a separate browser or on a smartphone — while taking assessments. The students quickly realize a computer is easy to trick compared to a human teacher.

This is at the heart of the cheating issue. Are students spending school days engaged in live lessons with a local teacher who is crafting curriculum to meet their needs? Or are they watching videos that explain content and clicking through multiple choice questions?

Katie Harris teaches senior English at Oklahoma Virtual Charter Academy, a statewide virtual school run by the national company K12, Inc. In her first year, students turned in a lot of plagiarized essays, she said. Now, she knows she has to rewrite her lessons, assignments, quizzes and tests every year.

“I say, ‘look, if I Google this exact writing prompt, I can find whole essays online. Don’t do that,’” she said.

K12 schools use their own virtual curriculum, not Edgenuity or Exact Path. A plagiarism detection service, Turnitin, automatically scans students’ work.

At Epic Charter Schools, the state’s largest virtual school, teachers can be responsible for students in all grades and subjects — and outside what they are certified to teach. Families can choose from more than a dozen learning platforms (Edgenuity and Exact Path among them), making it particularly difficult to supplement or build their own course.

To prevent cheating, Epic teachers proctor students’ benchmarking tests — in person, if possible, or via video conference, said Shelly Hickman, a spokeswoman for Epic. Teachers also can investigate if there are major discrepancies in a student’s scores on daily work compared to the proctored exams.

But Epic teachers are only   required to meet   with students face-to-face once every three weeks. Some teachers will meet more frequently, depending on the families’ needs.

Online Classes Create a ‘Psychological Distance’

Psychologists who study human behavior have found that most people will cheat — not a lot, but a little. Researcher Dan Ariely calls this the   “fudge factor.” 

Ariely, a professor at Duke University and author of the book   “The Honest Truth About Dishonesty,”   explains how and why cheating in online courses is easier than in a physical classroom.

“Gone are the quaint days of minutely lettered cheat sheets, formulas written on the underside of baseball cap bills, sweat-smeared key words on students’ palms. Now it’s just a student sitting alone at home, looking up answers online and simply filling them in,” he wrote in   this article   eight years ago, when virtual schools were still fairly new to Oklahoma.

He says the physical distance provided by online classes — distance from the teacher, the students, and the school building — creates a psychological distance that “allows people to further relax their moral standards.”

It’s also true that cheating exists on a continuum. Wursten, for instance, drew the line at automating quiz and test answers — the graded content.

Wursten, who graduated in 2019 and is now certified to work in IT, still adds features to his program — called Edgentweaks — as a “fun side project,” and because he wants to help other students avoid the drudgery he once faced.

Meanwhile, Edgenuity has patched his hacks in a virtual game of cat and mouse.

“I’ve found ways that I could automatically get the correct answers for things like tests and quizzes, but I did not actually write a tweak for it because I consider that cheating,” Wursten said. “I don’t intend to actually make a cheat tool.”

Even apps and websites created to assist students on their virtual learning path have been co-opted into cheat tools.

Brainly has a smartphone app that lets students scan homework or test questions, and answers pop up immediately. On Quizlet, another homework help website, entire test keys are posted and shared among students. Even pre-written essays are easily found, students say. Photomath, another app, produces not only the answer to a math problem, but all the steps needed for students to show their work.

Brainly and Quizlet have policies against cheating. But that’s unlikely to deter students, whether they are enrolled in a virtual school or are attending class face-to-face.

Mackenzie Snovel, who graduated from Owasso last year, said she found 90% of the answers for her senior English and history classes online — and even used Brainly to complete her final exam.

She said she didn’t see an issue with looking up answers because “they were classes I needed to graduate and none of that information I will need in my career.”

Technology is No Substitute

With students and teachers separated by distance, some of the academic integrity responsibility falls to the IT department.

They block websites known to be used for cheating. They may facilitate online exam proctoring, where students are monitored while taking a test through their webcam.

At Union Public Schools near Tulsa, the district has implemented several of these security measures but only on school-owned devices. Most students can easily access another device, though.

While Union is using Edgenuity for all middle and high school students who chose virtual this year, teachers will be adding in extra assignments to supplement the online tool, said Gart Morris, the district’s executive director of instructional technology.

“The curriculum in Edgenuity is limited,” he said. “Our own teachers are beefing up the curriculum to meet our standards.”

The district has about 2,700 middle and high school students who chose virtual learning this year. He believes the best tool to combat cheating is cementing the student to teacher relationships.

“It’s always a challenge to get one step ahead. There’s thousands of them and there’s not thousands of us,” Morris said. “You can look at technology in a way to try to prevent cheating but nothing works as well as a good solid relationship between students and an adult.”

Oklahoma Watch reporter Whitney Bryen contributed to this report.

This story is part of a collaboration with  Oklahoma Watch  through FRONTLINE’s Local Journalism Initiative, which is funded by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Jennifer Palmer , Oklahoma Watch

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Homework Pass EDITABLE

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These are ready-to-print homework passes ( 8 passes per sheet ) for your students, perfect to use with your classroom management system. There are  three  versions:

• PDF Print & Reuse Version  – This has wording already embedded into the homework pass. This version would be useful if you plan on reusing the homework passes after students redeem them. Just print multiple copies on colored card stock, laminate, and cut.
• PDF Print & Use Version  – This has fill-in-the-blank wording already embedded into the homework pass. This version would be useful if you plan on handing out personalized homework passes for students to redeem. Just print multiple copies on colored paper and cut.
• Editable Version   – This version includes a text box with wording already typed in. Just click in the text box to change the text and font as needed.  Please note that the title “Homework Pass” is not editable .

Quick Tip:   If you want to maximize the margin space when printing (so you have less to cut off around the edges), save the editable PowerPoint version as a PDF. Then depending on your printer, you can set the printing setting to “Actual Size” or “Custom Scale” it to around 95%, give or take. By doing this, the homework passes will print as close to the edge of the paper as possible.

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Mobile ID for License, Permit and Non-Driver ID Holders

About mobile id (mid).

New York Mobile ID (MiD) offers a convenient, contactless, and highly secure way to prove your identity while protecting your personal information and privacy.

New York MiD is free and optional to download for any New York resident who has a compatible smartphone and a valid New York State license, permit, or non-driver ID.

It is currently available as an app on both iOS and Android devices.

Do not get rid of your physical document

MiD does not replace your physical license, permit, or non-driver ID. Not all businesses accept MiD, so you must continue to bring your physical driver license, permit, or non-driver ID card with you and use it wherever MiD is not accepted.

You must have a physical license, permit or non-driver ID to get MiD

The app enrollment process involves taking a picture of the front and back of your most recently issued physical license, permit or non-driver ID card. If you do not have an ID card or it is not easy to read, you must request and receive a new ID card before you can get MiD. See Driver License or Non-driver ID Cards for more information.

Compatible smartphones

The minimum phone requirement is an Android 7 or newer or an iPhone 6 or newer. You cannot download MiD on a smartphone that is jailbroken or rooted, meaning the software has been changed to remove restrictions or limitations placed there by the manufacturer. You must enable Face ID or Touch ID and set your region to the United States.

You do not need Wi-Fi or cell phone coverage to download or use MiD. The connection between your smartphone and the verifier’s device does not use the internet to transfer data securely between the devices. You will need to connect to Wi-Fi or have cell phone coverage periodically to ensure your MiD stays up to date with your DMV record so that when you wish to use your MiD, it is ready to be used with or without Wi-Fi or cell phone coverage.

Download the MiD app from Google Play or the App Store and read the instructions below or Watch a step-by-step guide on how to enroll .

• Register your phone number to bind your identity to your phone.
• Place your most recently issued physical driver license, non-driver ID, or driver permit on a dark, flat surface and take a picture of the front and back of your ID using your phone’s camera.
• Take a Selfie following the directions in the app.
• The app checks your photo and ID against information on file with the DMV to ensure you are who you say you are. Once your information is verified, your MiD is active and ready to use wherever it is accepted.

If you are experiencing an issue with Mobile ID, please contact IDEMIA's representatives through IDEMIA’s mobile ID support website for support options such as FAQs, Email, Live Chat, and Helpdesk service hours.

DMV representatives may not be able to assist with MiD issues in most cases.

You can only have MiD on one device at a time

You can only activate MiD on one device. If you have multiple compatible devices like a smartphone and a tablet, you can only download the app on one device at a time. You can download the app onto your new device if you get a new smartphone. The app will deactivate on the old device.

Take an Optional User Feedback Survey

We want to know about your experience enrolling in New York MiD. Your feedback is invaluable in helping us improve MiD. This survey is completely optional and will take approximately 5-10 minutes to complete.

Take the User Feedback Survey

How to use MiD

New York MiD can be used the same ways you use your ID today to verify your age or identity. Now, with MiD, you have full control over the information you share with an MiD verifier. MiD is not just a picture of your physical license, permit, or non-driver ID. It cannot be accepted by visually showing the app to a verifier.

When you are asked “Can I see your ID?” you will display a QR code from the app. There is no personal data in the QR code. Scanning the QR by a reader device allows the establishment of a secure, encrypted channel between your smartphone and the verifier’s device without having to have an internet connection. 

Once the secure, encrypted channel is created between the devices, the verifier will send a request to your smartphone for what identity data they wish to verify. Before any data is provided to the verifier, you must give your approval to release the requested identity data to the verifier. When any data is approved and shared by you, included in what is provided to the verifier is an encrypted key signature that allows the verifier to know the mobile ID was issued by the NYS DMV and can be trusted. You do not need to hand over your phone to present your MiD.  

You are always in control of releasing your information and can choose to accept or decline a request .   

You do not need Wi-Fi or cell phone coverage. The connection between your device and the verifier’s device does not use the internet to transfer data securely between the devices.

Where to use MiD

Locations that accept mid.

You can use MiD anywhere it is accepted including in other states and countries. Not all businesses accept MiD. Look for the New York MiD logo on a window or door of a business or ask if they accept it.

Use at airports

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) accepts MiD at select airport terminals around the country. Find more information on which locations accept MiD and how the TSA is moving forward with digital initiatives.

Use with Law Enforcement

Not all law enforcement agencies accept MiD at this time. Please continue to carry your physical driver license, permit or non-driver ID card.

Privacy and Security

Mid is secure.

The MiD app verifies the information on the document you upload to the app and checks your selfie against the photo and information on file with the DMV. Only your Face ID, Touch ID, or 6-digit PIN can unlock the app to gain access to your MiD. If your smartphone is lost or stolen, no one else can access your MiD app.

If you enroll in MiD on a new device, the app will deactivate on your previous device.

Data Collection and Tracking

Your MiD is stored on your smartphone in the MiD app.

Usage information — including where, when, and what personal information you share — is encrypted and stored only on your device. MiD does not use geolocation tagging, and DMV cannot see when or where you present your New York MiD.

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We are committed to making the New York MiD as accessible as possible for all users. DMV’s MiD vendor, IDEMIA Identity & Security USA LLC, strives to make MiD as accessible as possible and to satisfy Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level A and AA Success Criteria. 

If you encounter problems or want to provide feedback about the accessibility of MiD, please send your suggestions to IDEMIA's privacy team .

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3 different passes included- One free assignment, one free NIGHT of no homework and late homework pass. Each page of passes comes in black and white and color.

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