I found this meeting's article very interesting and informative. Like many educators, I also struggle with how to combat high-tech cheating. I was surprised that the research strongly points to active teacher proctoring as a solution...even if cell phones were banned. It makes sense, of course, but it's just not something that I would have thought would have made that much of a difference.
I'll also admit that having sites with printer-ready water bottle templates for cheating is pretty genius. As a teacher, I probably wouldn't have thought twice about a student with a water bottle on his or her desk. Again, active proctoring would make all the difference in that situation too.
I like that the article had a strong focus on information literacy skills. As a librarian, I feel like this is an area where I can definitely be of use to my students.
In reading, From Texting to Plagiarism...I am taken aback. Although I have dealt with scenarios of cheating for the last 20 years as an educator never in my wildest thought did I think that it had become a "trend" and at "epidemic" proportions as the article states.
I was quite surprised to learn about the various strategies that have come about due to mobile devices and instant access to the internet. I admit I was intrigued by the water bottle scenario, but at the same time I am troubled by it. As I read further I had to question is this conduct a result of over testing? Competition to be the best? Evaluations? and if so its not just enough to acknowledge the cheating but to find the root source(s).
Another surprise for me was the Mr. Chu of Turnitin states that "there really is no true plagiarism-detection service out there,...that with full confidence identify plagiarism." For some reason all a long I just knew term papers could not only be matched word for word but also by intent.
I used to joke with students that I can see everything they do but today as an educator we certainly have to have eyes behind our heads today.There are certainly new rules for the 21st century digital natives.
As educators in today’s technology dominated era, we are faced with new challenge. To conquer these challenges we have to come up with working strategies. As the article says, developing rules and consistently enforcing them is a one way. Students are used to rules and routines. If they clearly know what is expected from them, what is allowed and what isn’t, and the rules are enforced, they tend to follow and respect them more. We also have to understand that students now may not necessarily see plagiarism and cheating the same way as we do, simply because they were never taught. This is why schools should implement Digital Citizenship mandatory courses to help them navigate in social and academic virtual space. Although there are cheating preventing software available, students will always find creative ways to cheat. The simple solution to prevent students from cheating during the test is active proctoring. Students themselves admit that the seating behind the desk teacher is an automatic invitation to cheat.
I always keep saying to my students that they need to "watch" their sources of information. It is remarkable that a new MLA format doesn't require url when website is cited. It is optional. It is more important to recognize "who" published information online, what was the goal, and how reputable this company or a specialist in a particular field. When my colleagues, subject teachers are willing to collaborate with me, and proper bibliography is required I have an opportunity to teach copyright and intellectual property. While students practice citing sources, they develop a habit of identifying and acknowledging responsible for content party. As Dorothhy Mikushka, a founder of ePen&Inc. said, "You have all this user-generated content out there, but students don't differentiate."
I found this meeting's article very interesting and informative. Like many educators, I also struggle with how to combat high-tech cheating. I was surprised that the research strongly points to active teacher proctoring as a solution...even if cell phones were banned. It makes sense, of course, but it's just not something that I would have thought would have made that much of a difference.
ReplyDeleteI'll also admit that having sites with printer-ready water bottle templates for cheating is pretty genius. As a teacher, I probably wouldn't have thought twice about a student with a water bottle on his or her desk. Again, active proctoring would make all the difference in that situation too.
I like that the article had a strong focus on information literacy skills. As a librarian, I feel like this is an area where I can definitely be of use to my students.
Kelly Jeffcoat
In reading, From Texting to Plagiarism...I am taken aback. Although I have dealt with scenarios of cheating for the last 20 years as an educator never in my wildest thought did I think that it had become a "trend" and at "epidemic" proportions as the article states.
ReplyDeleteI was quite surprised to learn about the various strategies that have come about due to mobile devices and instant access to the internet. I admit I was intrigued by the water bottle scenario, but at the same time I am troubled by it. As I read further I had to question is this conduct a result of over testing? Competition to be the best? Evaluations? and if so its not just enough to acknowledge the cheating but to find the root source(s).
Another surprise for me was the Mr. Chu of Turnitin states that "there really is no true plagiarism-detection service out there,...that with full confidence identify plagiarism." For some reason all a long I just knew term papers could not only be matched word for word but also by intent.
I used to joke with students that I can see everything they do but today as an educator we certainly have to have eyes
behind our heads today.There are certainly new rules for the 21st century digital natives.
Julia Loving
As educators in today’s technology dominated era, we are faced with new challenge. To conquer these challenges we have to come up with working strategies. As the article says, developing rules and consistently enforcing them is a one way. Students are used to rules and routines. If they clearly know what is expected from them, what is allowed and what isn’t, and the rules are enforced, they tend to follow and respect them more.
ReplyDeleteWe also have to understand that students now may not necessarily see plagiarism and cheating the same way as we do, simply because they were never taught. This is why schools should implement Digital Citizenship mandatory courses to help them navigate in social and academic virtual space.
Although there are cheating preventing software available, students will always find creative ways to cheat. The simple solution to prevent students from cheating during the test is active proctoring. Students themselves admit that the seating behind the desk teacher is an automatic invitation to cheat.
I always keep saying to my students that they need to "watch" their sources of information. It is remarkable that a new MLA format doesn't require url when website is cited. It is optional. It is more important to recognize "who" published information online, what was the goal, and how reputable this company or a specialist in a particular field. When my colleagues, subject teachers are willing to collaborate with me, and proper bibliography is required I have an opportunity to teach copyright and intellectual property. While students practice citing sources, they develop a habit of identifying and acknowledging responsible for content party. As Dorothhy Mikushka, a founder of ePen&Inc. said, "You have all this user-generated content out there, but students don't differentiate."
ReplyDelete