William,
Interceding is just what the student needs. Cheating happens all over the work in all different fields. Interceding early will help guide a student to a more positive outlook.
Shelly Crider
Loriann,
A keystroke away from failing or graduating in some cases! I hope students take the time to complete their own work...that is my hope!
Shelly Crider
James,
I love teaching moments as well all have them.....and learn from them!
Shelly Crider
James,
True! If a student tries to "get by" in school....what exactly will he/she be capable of in the real work place?
Shelly Crider
Betsy,
Thanks for sharing the tools. I have also used Dustball.com, however, I have found that a simple search on Google can also provide the results for blatant plagiarism that a student has submitted. :) As an instructor, we pretty much have an eye when plagiarism is suspected.
~Dianne
I absolutely agree that cheating is cheating whether it is in an online environment or a traditional classroom. I take plagiarism very seriously and it is discussed at the beginning of my courses as well as throughout as a constant reminder of the penalty. It is amazing that students still try to get away with it. I think that they do not believe that instructors actually read all of their content and try to get away with it. Because of the easy access to information through the internet, some students cannot resist the temptation to copy an article and submit it as their own. We must provide students with assignments that involve more critical thinking.
Thanks,
Dianne
Cheating online or on ground is nearly the same. Students may plagiarize materials in their writing in either format though it seems easier to verify that they have plagiarized material in the online environment. Unless a proctor is used, exams can be a different matter as we cannot watch the student take the exam/quiz in the online environment as we can in the ground classroom. Yet overall I have not felt that there was much difference overall in whether students cheat or how we can intercede in the behavior as needed.
I think this is an interesting discussion topic. I do think there is some level of concern regarding cheating in an online environment course. Its not the same as it was many years ago because technology has changed drastically and information is a keystroke away.
If that is the case, then it is a chance to teach. But egregious cheating needs to be dealt with. Fortunately, I have not had too many examples in my work at the university. But I am happy to say the university is strict about this and serious cases go right to a dean for resolution. The final determination, in such cases, is made by way of clear policies at a higher level. This is good, I think, because it leaves me free to teach and not to be bogged down with the legalities of policy on this matter.
I agree with this and think this is a good thing to note. If a student has inadvertently made a mistake, then that should be a teaching moment. But blatant and deliberate cheating is something else. It should not be allowed.
I think we should be concerned. Cheating represents an effort on the part of students to "get by" rather than to learn anything. A good college experience should not be a situation where a student comes to get a "ticket punched." Rather it should be a place for real learning. Cheating short circuits that experience and therefore I would argue that it should never be allowed or tolerated. If the college degree is going to mean anything at all, it must be earned with the utmost in personal integrity. If it became known that students were cheating and still being graduated, it would demean and diminish the importance of the degrees earned by everyone else.
Kristina,
It is good to have software that helps us. We do need to remind students of resources to help them to know what is acceptable as well.
Shelly Crider
Kevin,
It is sad isn't it???? The more we communicate our expectations, the better the students will get as well!!
Shelly Crider
Well, yes students cheat both on-campus and in the virtual campus (VC) but we must be concerned with both. In the past it was much easier for on-campus students to cheat on term papers before programs such as turnitin.com were available to catch plagiarism. Nowadays there is a level playing field with the numerous originality verification (OV) checkers employees by universities. Since it is hard for instructors to read ever article/website/textbook in their field I know I am very thankful for the checker software. However, now the responsibility is more than ever squarely placed on the instructor to do their due diligence in reviewing the OV scores.
I do give students a chance to do assignments over. I also point out how I know they are plagerising.
Shelly,
Yes. I agree. I am surprised and dismayed that even though these expecations are communicated tha tI will still see a student make these types of lack of judgement.
Elizabeth,
Cheating has almost become a game with several students!
Shelly Crider
Kevin,
At the very beginning of class we should set our expectations up including what we are looking for and what will happen if we do not receive the full expectation.
Shelly Crider
Students can cheat whether it is in a face to face class or in an online environment. However, I do think in an online class, it is easier to cheat than in a face to face.
This dependes on the circumstances. Sometimes it can be innoucous but still be considered "passive plagarism." My mantro for students is "To Innovate, not Emulate!".
