Academic DishonestyAcademic DishonestyIn Online CoursesIn Online Courses

CDWS CDWS Brown Bag Brown Bag LunchLunchMay 18, May 18, 20042004

Presented by Debbie L. KirkleyPresented by Debbie L. Kirkley

Academic misconduct or ‘Academic Academic misconduct or ‘Academic Dishonesty’ includes:Dishonesty’ includes:

• Cheating

• Plagiarism

• Misrepresentation by lying

• Misuse of computer services

• Falsification of records

UCF Golden Rule – Cheating UCF Golden Rule – Cheating DefinedDefined• “Unauthorized assistance: communication to another

through written, visual, or oral means. The presentation of material which has not been studied or learned, but rather was obtained solely through some else’s efforts and used as part of an examination, course assignment or project.”

• “Plagiarism: whereby another’s work is used or appropriated without any indication of the source, thereby attempting to convey the impression that such work is the student’s own.”

• “Any student who knowingly helps another violate academic behavior standards is also in violation of the standards.”

University of Central Florida (2003). Student Rights and Responsibilities – Rules of Conduct. In The Golden Rule. Retrieved May 18, 2004, from

http://www.goldenrule.sdes.ucf.edu/2a_Rules.html

CheatingCheating

Does online learning encourage cheating?

Levy, Y., Gelman, W. & Rauseo, N. (2003). Minimizing Academic Misconduct in the Online Learning Environment. WebCT 2003 Conference, San-Diego, CA. Materials courtesy of Dr. Yair Levy, FIU, 2003

Types of CheatingTypes of Cheating

• The ‘super quizzer’

• The ‘familiar assignment’

• The ‘team approach’ for individual projects

Why Cheat?Why Cheat? • Come to college to get a credential--How they get this credential might be less

important than simply getting it.

• View that any course not directly related to their major as a waste of time.

• To maintain high GPAs

• Overloaded with work, school and family demands.

• Belief that it is no longer "socially unacceptable".

• Belief that anything and everything on the Internet is public domain.

• Unaware of definition of plagiarism

• Belief that 'cut and paste' or wholesale borrowing is not plagiarism.

• Unfair competition

Fain, M. & Bates, P. (2003). Cheating 101: paper mills and you. Presented Teaching Effectiveness SeminarCoastal Carolina University, March 5, 1999, (Revised March 10, 2003). Conway, SC. Retrieved May 18, 2004 from

http://www.coastal.edu/library/pubs/papermil.html

Discouraging Discouraging CheatingCheating• Assessment methods

• Use of technology

• State it and have them sign*

• Syllabus

• Quizzes

• Assignments

• Projects

Plagiarism - PreventionPlagiarism - Prevention

• Plagiarism.org

• Require a minimum number of sources from a variety of mediums. For example, you might require that the essay make reference to 3 books, 3 articles from periodicals, 2 online sources and one primary source

• Be specific with assignments.

• Outline their expectations and requirements for citation

Preventing plagiarism. (2003) Retrieved May 18, 2004 from

http://www.plagiarism.org/research_site/e_preventing_p.html

I Caught One - Now I Caught One - Now What?What?

FACULTY GUIDELINES • Get ‘solid’ evidence• Check other records (other courses,

assignments)• Document everything• Always have a witness• Talk to administration• Talk to other professors

Three- -Prong Three- -Prong StrategyStrategy• PLAN

• COMMUNICATE

• ASSESS

Planning

• Strategic versus tactical

• Proactive versus reactive

• Creativity is FUN and difficult to copy

• Application of real-world scenarios

• VARIETY of assignments/activities !

PlanningPlanning

• Use a strategic planning process for your online course:– Mission statement– Learning objectives– Measurable performance goals– Conduct research– Textbooks and supplemental instructor

materials– Online studies, techniques and findings

PlanningPlanning

• Develop multiple course activities• Weekly discussions• Tests• Article reviews, projects, case studies, or

research papers• Internet research• Identify ways to mitigate cheating risks for

each course activity• Include a Student Code of Conduct

CommunicationsCommunications

• Develop a detailed syllabus• Clearly spell out your expectations• Advise students of plagiarism tactics• Advise students of consequences• Be available for online and/or face-to-face

meetings• Show an interest in student work • Read and respond to individual postings• Reward best practices and communicate them

CommunicationsCommunications

• Get to know your students• Frequency of site visits• Level of involvement & participation• Quality of work• Continuously strive to increase interaction• Require signature of Student Code of

Conduct• Establish procedure for documenting

issues/problems in writing and notify students

CommunicationsCommunications

• Regularly meet with other online instructors– Students in common– Trends & patterns– Involve the administrative team in your planning

phase and notify them of your tactics

AssessmentAssessment

• Multiple methods for assessing and grading performance– Weekly discussions– Tests– Article reviews, projects, case studies, or

research papers– Internet research

• Place more emphasis on ‘difficult-to-imitate’ activities

Tactics & TechniquesTactics & Techniques

• Set firm rules– – do not vary them

• Students prey on perceived weakness

Online TestingOnline Testing

• Increase number of tests/quizzes - avoid cumulative

• Drop set number of tests/quizzes

• Use robust database of questions

• Scramble questions

• Establish time limits – keep time as ‘tight’ as possible

Online TestingOnline Testing

• Avoid revealing questions & answers after the test

• Release grades after test deadline

• Review database regularly and modify questions

• Spot check test times for any completed below ‘realistic’ time frame

Team ProjectsTeam Projects

• Have several, small ones

• Students self-police groups – good apples force rotten ones out

• Use team peer evaluations

• Have team establish operating guidelines

• Have students acknowledge guidelines in writing

ResourcesResources

• Plagiarism.com – detect & deter plagiarism

• Plagiarized.com

• Plagiarism.org

• Turnitin.com – Offers subscription– Provides “originality reports” within hours of

submission

Special Case StudiesSpecial Case Studies

Suzy Slacker • Lazy student• Always looking for extensions• Group members complain• What to do?• Peer evaluations• Keep firm rules – resist repeated requests for

extensions• Use significant late penalties

Pedro Plagiarizer

• Have I seen this paper before?

• What to do?

• Use turnitin.com

• Try Google search on title

• Check for consistently misspelled words

Special Case StudiesSpecial Case Studies

Izzy Incomplete• Never completes work on time• Not willing to accept bad grade• Begs for incompletes about 2/3 into semester

What to do?• Stick to the rules• Refer to expectations and operating guidelines in

syllabus for• acceptable excuses• If you break the rule for one, others will follow…

Special Case StudiesSpecial Case Studies

Queisha Quiz Retaker • It is very sad…

Queisha has buried 10 aunts this semester• Institute “no make up” policy• Allow a fixed number of resets• Anticipation of technical problems and

emergencies

Special Case StudiesSpecial Case Studies

Thomas Technically Challenged• UCF has a terrific online learning support –

http://learn.ucf.edu • The systems works for everyone – except

Thomas• Use mandatory tutorial and quiz• Encourage live orientation, if possible• Communicate technical issues in advance,

when possible

Special Case StudiesSpecial Case Studies

ProceduresProcedures

• Faculty -student agreement (unofficial)

• Informal hearing

• Formal hearing

• Office of the Provost for Academic Affairs

• University Judicial Procedures