How does plagiarism compromise education

Arguably, the principles of the theory are largely germane to developed countries. This applies especially to first-year students coming from disadvantaged and rural backgrounds. Jawitz 45 encourages lecturers to develop innovative pedagogies to facilitate effective large class teaching and assessment. This approach should be applauded. Universities have already commenced using online learning management systems such as Moodle and Blackboard, online courses, and 'virtual delivery' to reach large numbers of students without face-to-face contact in the class.

Academics need to be given a voice. What is needed is vigorous participation and engagement with all stakeholders at all levels to deal with large class teaching, and its implications for the curriculum and for pedagogical approaches that matter.

Teaching large classes is undoubtedly a daunting task with academics experiencing high levels of student academic dishonesty. Academics agreed that academic dishonesty in large classes compromised the teaching and learning process and negatively impacted on the quality of graduates produced, and on the reputation of students, academics and institutions.

This situation has influenced the way academics deliberate on their methods of teaching and assessment. Although there is a university policy in place to address plagiarism, academics' felt that this policy is too lenient, and acts of plagiarism reported are not adequately monitored. This research study prompts academics to think beyond taken-for-granted teaching and assessment strategies in large class situations to perpetuate quality education and academic integrity in warranting a relevant and meaningful educational experience.

Within the context of this study, ethics within the teacher education curriculum are fading and should be prioritised, with a focus on the professional ethics perspective and on ethics education, which is to initiate and prepare future professionals to operate in a shared community of practice that clarifies what it means to act in an ethical, principled and responsible manner, both as a student teacher and as a professional teacher. The capacity building of academics with the use of Turnitin and the issues academics face with student plagiarism needs further investigation.

Further studies on assessment, plagiarism and its effect on academic integrity can probe into students' experiences of being taught in large classes and their perspectives of pedagogical approaches in the classroom. This will facilitate the analysis of plagiarism and its drivers in universities by allowing student voices to surface.

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Patton MQ. Qualitative evaluation and research method. Naturalistic inquiry. Jawitz J. Academic work at the college level depends on the give and take of ideas in the classroom, on the discussion and debates we carry on with one another, and on the honest presentation of ideas in written papers, articles, and books. In order for us to do our daily work in college, we need to have confidence in the truthfulness of our colleagues in this work - both professors and students.

Ethical uses of information and honesty in writing matter throughout one's lifetime. The fair use of information and the honest presentation of one's self are important responsibilities for career and citizenship. The habits students develop in college as they write papers prepare them for the kinds of writing and speaking they will do throughout a lifetime.

Honesty and fairness cannot be compartmentalized as character traits to be practiced later, "when it really matters. A paper assignment requires all the members of a class to do a significant amount of work.

When one person plagiarizes, classmates who do honest work are likely to feel betrayed and angry. A primary purpose of higher education is to guide students in becoming independent, original thinkers. Creative and critical thought are subverted when a student plagiarizes, and a basic reason for being in college is undermined. Plagiarism carries severe disciplinary and financial consequences.

When a student is proven to have plagiarized a paper, he or she faces serious penalties, ranging from failure on the assignment to failure in the course. These penalties will be reported to the college's Dean of Students, who will enter the offense in the student's record. Repeated acts of plagiarism will lead to dismissal from the college. Plagiarism in the professional world can also lead to serious consequences, including professional disgrace, loss of position, and lawsuits.

If a professor believes that a student commits plagiarism because he or she is trying to do honest work but doesn't know all of the rules and regulations about how to cite sources, the professor will usually impose some kind of penalty and require the student to redo the work. The penalty might be a lower grade or even failure for the assignment, but usually the student will still be able to pass the course if the other work in the semester is good enough.

When a professor believes a student has intended to lie about the source of ideas and words, and has tried to cheat on an assignment, the penalties are much stiffer. The professor can fail the student for the assignment and can also fail the student for the course. In fact, the usual penalty for this kind of plagiarism is failure for the course.

Any case of plagiarism must be reported by the professor to the Dean of Students. The Dean keeps a record of all cases of plagiarism, and if a student plagiarizes repeatedly, the Dean will take additional actions and impose additional penalties. The maximum penalty is expelling the student from the college. You'd think that authors would want us to use their ideas.

It's not as if we're taking credit for them-we're just harmless college students. When you turn in someone else's work as your own, you are indeed taking credit for ideas that aren't yours, even if you aren't publishing those ideas.

When you plagiarize, you also undermine your own learning experience. And you compromise your personal integrity. Plagiarism is a big deal not only because of the ethical implications, but also because it is on the rise in the United States. With so many students plagiarizing, it becomes increasingly important to think about why we come to college.

Your learning experience should be moving forward from semester to semester. Plagiarism compromises the very ethos of academic integrity, which is why the ramifications can be severe, including failing a course and outright expulsion. The list is non-exhaustive and will undoubtedly expand as learning becomes more integrated with emerging digital technologies. But this is also good news for students, as it means that more sophisticated plagiarism checkers are available for you to cross-check your work with existing materials.

These are several steps that you can take to avoid the plagiarism trap:. Ultimately, the key step in avoiding plagiarism in the first place is to recognise that your learning journey demands honesty.

Once you commit to that principle, it is easier for you to be truthful in your work.