A professor familiar with the course, who also asked not to be named, said that it is not unique in this regard, and that other students probably cheat in online introductory courses as well. To them, the courses are just hoops to jump through to get a credential, and the students are happy to pay the tuition, learn little, and add an A.

"This is the gamification of education, and students are winning," the professor told me.

If the students don't learn, then they're not winning. :)

Definitely not #winning. I laughed, and read that part to my dad (a professor).

When I hear "gamification of education," I have other thoughts in mind. :)