Student identity is a concern on at least two levels. First, is the online student really the individual he or she claims to be? This issue pertains to who is doing the work and receiving course grades and credit. The only way to be reasonably certain that a student is the person that he or she claims to be is by verifying identities in person. Even after doing so, it is possible for students to engage others to do their projects or take their exams online unless a proctor is present. Some strategies that can help to minimize this possibility:

• Your institution's Code of Student Conduct and other such policies should be made very clear to students at the beginning of the course, and these policies should be enforced.
• Online quizzes can be configured to allow only a minimal amount of time for students to respond to individual items, thereby making it difficult for imposters to respond correctly.
• Over time, you will probably note a particular writing pattern or style used by individuals. This may help identify sudden changes.

The second identity issue has to do with the perception of a student's social characteristics by fellow students and the instructor. Student social characteristics (e.g., age, gender, ethnicity) are usually obvious in face-to-face teaching. They may not be as apparent in online courses, where students may not be seen or heard. Be careful about making assumptions.