Static & Dynamic Technologies

Engaging Learners with New Strategies and Tools (Module 4)

References

Durrington, V. A., Berryhill, A., & Swafford, J. (2006). Strategies for enhancing student    interactivity in an online environment. College Teaching, 54(1), 190−193. Use the       Academic Search Premier database, and search using the article's Accession Number: 19754742

Technological Tools & Strategies in an Online Environment

Anti-Plagiarism

Check out my Video Presentation for a Professional Distance Education Conference!

The link is at http://youtu.be/ncaCwSyi3TE

Below is a transcript and references for my youtube video...

 

Anti-Plagiarism

Plagiarism is a topic that affects high schools and colleges throughout the world. All students should be aware of what plagiarism is. Students should also be given a curriculum that discourages plagiarism. Plagiarism ultimately diminishes the value of the originator’s work.

According to Robert Stowers and Julie Hummel (2011), some experts suggest that the idea of intellectual ownership is somewhat exclusive to Western societies. Stowers and Hummel state “intellectual ownership of text may be a predominately Western concept. In Eastern cultures, it is an honor and an expectation that work will be copied” (p.165). Stowers and Hummel go on to state that students in Asia “memorize texts as a sign of respect for authors” (p. 165).

However, plagiarism is not limited to foreign countries. In the article Plagiarism Detection – how we do that (2012), it is stated that the lack of proper education about plagiarism exists in both developing countries and developed countries as well. In our country and in others, the consequences for plagiarism have become a serious matter.

In a recent survey conducted by the Serbian Military Medical Academy (2012), 88 percent of university staff were aware of self-plagiarism and 63 percent of students were aware of self plagiarism. In addition, 73 percent of university staff claimed to have never plagiarized before and 82 percent of students claimed to never have plagiarized before.

One of the more recent major incidents of plagiarism include German Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg.  According to Helen Pidd of The Guardian (2011), Gutenberg, who was previously voted Germany’s most popular politician, resigned after being accused of plagiarism when he completed his doctorate.

Another plagiarism perpetrator is the Time Editor and CNN Host, Fareed Zakaria. According to Jack Mirkinson and Rebecca Shapiro of the Huffington Post (2012), Zakaria lifted parts of a story from Jill Lepore’s story in The New Yorker.

Many colleges offer ways for their students to check their work before it is submitted to help avoid plagiarism. For example, the University of Phoenix offers its own Plagiarism Checker. Walden University offers Turnitin. Teachers also use these tools to verify that the work students submit is original.

According to Jay Christensen (2011), the best way to reduce plagiarism is for teachers to give assignments that avoid the possibility of cheating. Christensen (2011) states that she has lived her “professional teaching life with the philosophy that if students are given a chance to cheat, they may accept that opportunity” (p. 201). Christensen (2011) states that assignments should require two things:

1.  “Original thinking on the part of the students rather than relying on canned textbook problems or cases”

2. “Writing in own words rather than copying information from textbook cases or assignments with all the facts.

Hansen, Stith, and Tesdell (2011) make the point that plagiarism will occur less often if there is no reason to plagiarize. In addition to using turnitin.com, Hansen, Stith, and Tesdell (2011) advise that teachers assign work that is unique and/or portfolio-based. An example of work that is unique is asking students to imagine that they work for Apple and having them write a proposal regarding issues that may hinder Apple’s future. An example of work that is portfolio-based is having a final paper in a class that is a primarily an accumulation of multiple unique assignments that the student prepared throughout the course.

I believe this topic is appropriate because it affects all high school and college students. According to Hansen, Stith, and Tesdell (2011), “…plagiarism is considered to be a form of cheating and therefore unethical” (para. 3). In a prior class, (EDUC 7001-2: Foundations: Ed.S Educational Technology), I stated in a Blackboard discussion:

 “I believe that a writer’s work is similar to that of an inventor’s discovery. Most inventors immediately seek to patent their work so that they can protect themselves from others who may attempt to profit from their idea in the future. When a writer publishes their own idea, it is criminal for another to steal it and profit from it as if it were their own work” (Purdy, 2012).

References

Ayoub, C. (2012). Are you well prepared for your college campus? Charles Ayoub World            Web Portal. Image retrieved from http://news.charlesayoub.com

Hansen, B., Stith, D., & Tesdell, L. S. (2011). Plagiarism: What’s The Big Deal?.   Business Communication Quarterly, 74(2), 188-191.            doi:10.1177/1080569911404695

Ivy Wise. (2012). Staying up late to study hurts students more than it helps. Image           retrieved from http://blog.ivywise.com.

Mirkinson, J. & Shapiro, R. (2012). Fareed Zakaria suspended for plagiarism: Time           editor, CNN host apologizes for ‘terrible mistake’. Huffington Post. Retrieved            from http://www.huffingtonpost.cm

Janković, S., Dobrić, S., Marković, M., Krivokuća, S., & Gogić, A. (2012). Plagiarism       detection - how we do that. Vojnosanitetski Pregled: Military Medical &       Pharmaceutical Journal Of Serbia & Montenegro, 69(9), 743-746.

Pidd, H. (2011). German defence minister resigns in PhD plagiarism row. The Guardian.   Retrieved from www.guardian.co.uk

Purdy, J. (2012, July 10). Module three discussion [Msg. 14]. Message posted to Walden            University class discussion forum, EDUC/7001-2 – Foundations: Ed.S.      Educational Technology course website.

Steffen Law (2012). Criminal law: Misdemeanors, traffic, & felonies. Image retrieved         from http://www.steffenlaw.net