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TIPS to Promote Academic Integrity in the Classroom
(from the DVC Faculty Senate Academic Integrity Task Force)
Definitions - What is Academic Dishonesty?
CHEATING - unauthorized copying or collaboration on a test or
assignment, or the use or attempted use of unauthorized materials;
TAMPERING - altering or interfering with evaluation instruments or
documents:
FABRICATION - falsifying experimental data or results, inventing
research or laboratory data or results for work not done, or falsely claiming
sources not used;
PLAGIARISM - representing someone else's words, idea, artistry, or
data as ones' own, including copying another person's work (including
published and unpublished material, and material from the Internet) without
appropriate referencing, presenting someone else's opinions and theories as
one's own, or working jointly on a project, then submitting it as one's own
ASSISTING - assisting another student in an act of academic
dishonesty, such as taking a test or doing an assignment for someone else,
changing someone's grades or academic records, or inappropriately distributing
exams to other students.
What's an Instructor to Do?
- Start by informing your students about academic integrity. Stress
the importance of integrity in the learning process. Honest work builds
character, knowledge and skills. There is a sense of pride in an
honestly achieved grade, but little real sense of achievement if the grade is
not earned. Cheaters don't learn. They undermine the quality of
education and they devalue the reputation of DVC and the degrees and
certificates we offer.
- Put your expectations for academic honesty prominently in your syllabus.
- Spell out the penalties you might impose for violations.
- Communicate the mantra of academic integrity clearly both verbally and in
writing. Do it often.
- Set clear standards for assignments and grading.
- Tell students whether they may collaborate and, if so, how much.
What can you do to prevent cheating? Here are a few tips:
- Monitor all exams regardless of the mode of instruction (e.g., lecture,
lab, on-line).
- Confront suspicious conduct promptly.
- Prohibit talking during tests; for questions, have students see you.
- Number exams and include the number on the student's work.
- Know where students are seated during an exam.
- Have students cover their work while taking a test.
- Check photo ID of every student each semester.
- Use multiple versions of exams; change questions every term.
- Put multiple choice and true/false questions at the bottom of the page
where it is harder to copy answers.
- Refuse credit for correct answers unless ALL work is shown.
- Watch for wandering eyes, talking, passing notes or other communication
(e.g., cell phones and other electronic devices that can send wireless
messages).
- Have students put all books, notes, backpacks, etc., out of sight.
- Provide paper for written exams instead of using
blue books.
- Watch for hidden crib notes.
- Check to see that all students turn in their exams.
For example, use
a sign-in sheet for students as tests are turned in to prevent "lost" exams.
- Mark wrong answers or blank spaces with a clear "x" or slash so correct
answers cannot be added after the tests are returned.
- Restate rules for each exam on each page of the exam so no one "forgets"
them.
Academic Dishonesty Report Form & Procedure
- Approved DVC Faculty Senate, ASDVC & DVC Leadership Council
(Spring, 2004)
Other Resources & Links: Academic Dishonesty
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