Cheating and Logs

[Charles Severance]

I wanted to start a new thread - to keep the other thread nicely focused on ways to best use Sakai’s logs.

I think that it is important not to characterize the logs as indicating “cheating happened” on their own.

In my experience in acting as a technical expert in a number of trials on various topics (none so far having to do with cheating), the key is to (a) have the data and then (b) have two experts (one for each side) interpret the data for each side’s lawyer. In a sense the data (i.e. log data) is not the “witness” - the expert who interprets the log data is the “witness”. An important aspect of this approach is that either expert can be cross-examined.

I have been informally asked from time to time to weigh in on cheating cases as an expert - usually the person doing the asking is the person accused of cheating and they want an a “big name” person to exonerate them. I avoid any entanglement in these things - I would only participate as an expert if I were being contacted by a lawyer as part of a legal proceeding. If you tell the person accused of cheating your opinion - you are opening yourself to being dragged into something that you never bargained for. At least with lawyers - the process eventually moves towards a conclusion.

So, again, the main point is that the logs are information that needs expert interpretation from both perspectives in a legal proceeding - not stand alone truth or knowledge.

/Chuck

[Sam Ottenhoff]

I am often asked to interpret log data for clients and think your points are spot on. A longer version of your argument is part of EFF's excellent article in response to the Dartmouth Canvas case:

  https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2021/06/dartmouth-ends-misguided-investigation-after-students-rights-groups-speak-out

Jumping to quick conclusions based on log data is a mistake, and the Dartmouth Canvas admins clearly made quick conclusions and quick decisions without allowing ample time for mediation. I would also point out that software design has a role in this process. We could obviously open up pure log data to instructors, but would this cause or solve problems? Is it helpful to show an instructor that a student's IP switched from New York to Amsterdam and then back to New York? Maybe but then are you prepared to explain VPNs and gaming to the instructors? What does sharing an IP with another student mean? Interpretation requires good, specific questions and nuanced answers. 

/Sam

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