Plagiarism is a big problem today. Everybody looks things up via a search engine and then proceeds to cut and paste other peoples work.
The small group learning that the Ygen prefers does not help with this Plagiarism/cheating problem. We have to work in lab groups due to the training aids required for our classes. Almost all lab sheets from a group are identical even though they are separately turned in as individual. We have a final test that involves explaining your answers, on your own and this is when we really see who was not really working with the group. I have often been surprised to find a particular student really has no idea what's going on when his/her lab work seemed to indicate otherwise. Failing this test can often mean failing the entire course. Knowing this does not seem to discourage the cheating.
Billie,
to me this sounds like laziness. When your school has covered plagiarism this much, it seems that there is no reason for ignorance on their part.
Dr. Ryan Meers
I know that plagiarism is a serious concern for English instructors with term papers. But we have even had students plagiarize on journal entries that are supposed to be just writing about their own wwekly experiences or on the weekly discussion questions. Is is laziness, lack of interest, or ignorance that causes these situations? Our school has a plagiarism policy posted in every class and a video from the Dean of General Education discussing the topic that is placed in every class online. We also incorporate a book on how to write a term paper as required reading for students in Composition 1 where plagiarism is part of the curriculum. But never has a quarter gone by that we have not had numerous students caught plagiarizing.
i agree! with the use of technology becoming more integral in the class. We are seeing a big rise in plagarism. The students do not see it as such because it is AVAILABLE to every one.... they dont learn how to rephrase and put the content into their own words
I dont think we will ever stop the texting in class problem,and when we involve the use of this technology in the class it will only get worst,they always tend to get board with the task and then off to another sight off target.not caring about the trouble or down grades they will get,the grades just dont seam to mean as much to them as it did in our day.I do have alot of good respectful students but the ones that dont,you could send them home every day and it would not phase them one bit,they say its the instructors fault.they say their social life is more important.so you have to pick your battles very carefully,and is it worth the fight.
Summer,
it would have been nice to be able to cover this topic in depth, however the course really was meant to be an overview of reaching Gen Y learners & space would not allow to cover all of the concerns. The ethical & proper use of technology continues to be a serious issue & one that instructors should be encouraged to discuss in their professional peer groups.
Dr. Ryan Meers
