Plagiarism a Student Problem or an Institutional Problem?
In online class before students even start - I think there should be a required course that deals with the issue of APA style and plagiarism. At a F to F I teach at there is a course that starting students take on APA style and plagiarism by the time students get to my class they have no problems with APA style and plagiarism. At another College that I teach students have no clue and I am constantly faced with plagiarism. Is this the lack of the student disconnecting from true information literacy or is it the lack of training on the part of the institution?
Kristen, Sometimes forgetting genuinely happens and other times it's driven more by convenience. You might ask students to sign off that they have received plagiarism training and context.
Dr. Melissa Read
Sadly, the refresher on plagiarism is usually in week one of the semester with our first project due in week four. Even with a packet to keep regarding this issue and MLA format, students forget (and yes, I remind them that they have the packet closer to due date).
Great points Kyla. Sometimes we have to fill in educational gaps. It's a shame we have to spend our time in these areas instead of in our subject matter specialties. But it's important when trying to give students the best chance of success.
Based on the scenario you provided, Scott, I'd have to say that the challenges faced at College B are mostly to blame on the lack of training given to the students. By providing a course on APA style and plagarism prior to the start of the term, students are aware of the expectations for the quality of their work before submitting it. If this course is provided to incoming freshman, it can help alleviate all of the problems occurring at College B.
It needs to be remembered that students may have a firm understanding of MLA style from previous schooling and need to be taught APA style correctly before comfortably using it in their own work. If the college isn't willing to provide such a course, then I feel it should be the instructor's responsibility to provide lessons focusing on APA style and proper citing prior to assigning or grading a writing assignment.
