Maintaining academic integrity in online courses Clint Brooks, M.Ed. NorthWest Arkansas Community...

Maintaining academic integrity in online courses

Clint Brooks, M.Ed.

NorthWest Arkansas Community College

Academic Dishonesty and Academic Integrity

“…acts which may subvert or compromise the integrity of the educational process” (NWACC, 2006, 154)

What is Academic Dishonesty?

What is Academic Dishonesty?

Includes: “Copying from another student’s paper

during an examination.” “Plagiarism” “Substituting for another person …to take

an examination” (NWACC, 2006, 154)

Why is Academic Integrity so important?

“…two out of three students admitted to having engaged in at least one of 14 questionable academic behaviors” (McCabe & Trevino, 1996)

Why is Academic Integrity so important?

“70 percent of students at the schools admitted to (test cheating)” (McCabe & Trevino, 1996)

Why is Academic Integrity so important?

Institutional integrity Ethical integrity of students Professional integrity of

disciplines

Academic Integrity and Distance Learning

“…both students and faculty believe it is easier to cheat in a distance learning class, …” (Kennedy, et. al.; 2000)

Academic Integrity and Distance Learning

40% admit to helping other students with online exams.

Only 13.7% admit to helping other students during lecture exams.

(Lanier, 2006, 253)

Approaches to Addressing Academic Dishonesty

CIHE (Commission on Institutions of Higher

Education) DL Best Practices

“When examinations are employed … they take place in circumstances that include firm student identification.” (CIHE, 13)

CIHE (Commission on Institutions of Higher

Education) DL Best Practices

“The institution otherwise seeks to assure the integrity of student work.” (CIHE, 13)

Institutional Approaches to Academic Dishonesty

Faculty Reporting “Grading Sanctions” “Admonition or Probation” “Suspension or Expulsion” (NWACC, 2006, 155)

Do no harm

Fear of harming students’ careers “perceptions of complicated disciplinary

processes,” “confronting and reporting student cheating” “These factors may lead faculty to ignore or

side-step student cheating,” (Bertram Gallant and Drinan, 2006, p. 845)

Control, Identify, Monitor

Proctoring Picture identification Signed confirmation Time limits These tactics are not negative, in

and of themselves

Prevention and Student Ethical Responsibility

Honor Codes Student and Faculty

Responsibilities 10 Principles of Academic

Integrity for Faculty (McCabe & Pavela, 2004, 12-14)

10 Principles of Academic Integrity for Faculty (McCabe &

Pavela) Recognize and affirm academic

integrity as a core institutional value. Foster a lifelong commitment to

learning. Affirm the role of teacher as guide

and mentor.

10 Principles of Academic Integrity for Faculty (McCabe &

Pavela) Help students understand the

potential of the Internet--and how that potential can be lost if online resources are used for fraud, theft, and deception.

10 Principles of Academic Integrity for Faculty (McCabe &

Pavela) Encourage student responsibility

for academic integrity. Clarify expectations for students. Develop fair and creative forms of

assessment.

10 Principles of Academic Integrity for Faculty (McCabe &

Pavela) Reduce opportunities to engage in

academic dishonesty. Respond to academic dishonesty

when it occurs. Help define and support campus-

wide academic-integrity standards.

Practical Approaches to a Prevention-Based Approach

Writing

Identifiable via searches Identifiable via style and

consistency

Writing – The Challenge

“Many websites provide written papers including http://www.schoolsucks.com and http://www.cheathouse.com.” (Lanier, 2006, 247)

“AllFreeEssays.com … Asian Grade … School Sucks …TermPaperGenie…” (Weisbard, 2007)

Writing – Identifying via Searching

most universities will have sizable amounts of plagiarism occurring in their subjects using electronic means to download text from the internet.

(O’Connor, 2003)

Writing – Identifying via Searching

It is suspected that this is the tip of the iceberg in that any copying from textbooks is, at this time, unable to be detected

(O’Connor, 2003)

Writing – Identifying via Searching

Services Turnitin.com

Controversies Presumption of guilt Copyright of student papers

Writing – Identifying via Searching

Other search options: Google Yahoo Ebscohost

Writing – Identifying via Style and Consistency

“Inconsistent writing style” “Use of language” “Datedness” “Repetition” (University of Tasmania, 2006)

Writing – Identifying via Style and Consistency

Use students regular writing as a benchmark for their formal writing

Have students write as often as is practical and fair

Project-based Assessment

Web-based projects Multimedia projects Mailed projects Experiential projects

Project-based Assessment

“With project-based assessment, the dangers … are diminished the more individually the project is tailored to the resources used in the course, the student's individual interests, and the use of intermittent ‘checkpoints’” (Abbott, et. al., 2000)

Collaborative Assessment

“These methods constitute very powerful means of developing generic skills required by employers such as oral and written communication skills, group management and the ability to evaluate written and oral presentations critically.” (Hargreaves, 1997)

Online Testing Conditions

Time Attempts Randomization Proctoring (including off-site proctoring:

NCTA – National College Testing Association - http://www.ncta-testing.org/cctc/)

Other

Vary assessment methods Gear assessments to subject

matter and discipline Individualize assessments

How does Blackboard CE (WebCT) Help Maintain Academic Integrity?

Blackboard CE (4.1)

Assignments

Blackboard CE (4.1)

Assignments

Clarifies expectations Opportunity for written or project based

assessment Opportunity for experiential assessment

Blackboard CE (4.1)

Discussions

Blackboard CE (4.1)

Discussions Opportunity for regular student

writing Teacher as guide and mentor Collaborative environment

Blackboard CE (4.1)

E-Mail

Blackboard CE (4.1)

E-Mail Opportunity for regular student

writing Teacher as guide and mentor Individualized interaction

Blackboard CE (4.1)

Quiz Tool

Blackboard CE (4.1)

Quiz Tool Time Limits Selective Release Multiple Attempts Randomization Security

Blackboard CE (4.1)

Presentations/Web pages

Blackboard CE (4.1)

Presentations/Web pages Opportunity for creative assessment Opportunity for collaborative assessment Opportunity for experiential assessment Opportunity for project based assessment

Conclusion and Questions

References

Abbott, Lynda, Siskovic, Holly, Nogues, Val, and Williams, Joanne G. “Learner Assessment in Multimedia Instruction: Considerations for the Instructional Designer.” 2000. < http://teachnet.edb.utexas.edu/~lynda_abbott/SITEentry3223.html>.

Betram Gallant, Tricia, and Drinan, Patrick. “Organizational Theory and Student Cheating: Explanation, Responses, and Strategies.” Journal of Higher Education. Vol. 77 Issue 5 (Sep/Oct 2006): 839-860

References

CIHE (Commission on Institutions of Higher Education). Best Practices for Electronically Offered Degree and Certificate Programs. 13

Grijalva, Therese C., Nowell, Clifford, and Kerkvliet, Joe. “Academic Honesty and Online Courses.” College Student Journal. Vol. 40 Issue 1 (Mar 2006): 180-185

Hargreaves, D.J. “Student learning and assessment are inextricably linked.” European Journal of Engineering Education; Vol. 22 Issue 4 (Dec 1997): p401, 9p

References

Kennedy, Kristen, Nowak, Sheri, Raghuraman, Renuka, Thomas, Jennifer, and Davis, Stephen F. “ACADEMIC DISHONESTY AND DISTANCE LEARNING: STUDENT AND FACULTY VIEWS.” College Student Journal. Vol. 34 Issue 2 (June 2000): 309, 6p

Lanier, Mark M. “Academic Integrity and Distance Learning*.” Journal of Criminal Justice Education; Vol. 17 Issue 2, (Sep 2006): 244-261

References

McCabe, Donald L., Trevino Linda Klebe. “What we know about cheating in college.” Change; Vol. 28 Issue 1 (Jan/Feb 1996): 28.

McCabe, Donald L., Trevino Linda Klebe. “Ten [Updated] Principles of Academic Integrity: How Faculty Can Foster Student Honesty.” Change; Vol. 36 Issue 3 (May/June 2004): 12-14.

NorthWest Arkansas Community College. “Academic Dishonesty.” NorthWest Arkansas Community College Catalog; 2006. 154-155

References

O’Connor, Steve. “Cheating and electronic plagiarism – scope, consequences and detection.” CAVAL Staff Publications. 2003. CAVAL. May 2003. <http://www.caval.edu.au/about/staffpub/docs/Cheating%20and%20electronic%20plagiarism%20-%20scope,%20consequences%20and%20detection%20EDUCASUE%20May%202003.doc>.

References

University of Tasmania. “How to identify academic dishonesty.” University of Tasmania Teaching and Learning Website. 2006. University of Tasmania. May, 10, 2006.

Weisbard, Phyllis Holman. “STUDENT CHEATING, PLAGIARISM (AND OTHER QUESTIONABLE PRACTICES), THE INTERNET, AND OTHER ELECTRONIC RESOURCES.” Women's Studies Librarian's Website - University of Wisconsin System. 2007. UW System Women's Studies Librarian. <http://www.library.wisc.edu/libraries/WomensStudies/plag.htm>.

Contact Information

Clint BrooksDirector of Distance LearningNorthWest Arkansas Community CollegeOne College DriveBentonville, AR 72704

cbrooks@nwacc.edu

(479)619-4382