Yeah what's with that? Doesn't seem like they want to really try and fix the problem.
Essay in class works. Doesn't even have to be done in one sitting. We sometimes give students a sheet with 100 squares and they're allowed to write 100 words to bring in.
Granted it doesn't work for everything. There are some assignments that can't be done in that mode.
But another great technique is interviewing students about their work. 99% of the time, they have no idea what they've written. And you grade accordingly.
No Christmas beetles