Cheater, Cheater, Pumpkin Eater!

The Evolution of Academic Dishonesty

The academic dishonesty trend has evolved in education to become a common and expected event in education. Plagiarism still includes repeating words without proper quotation and citation, poorly paraphrasing information, paying cites to generate papers, and copying from peers (Bochicchio). However, academic dishonesty now comes in a variety of new forms. It is not limited to content from printed literature but also includes any information from the Internet, videos, journals, blogs, and interviews (Bochicchio). Students are also devising new plans to cheat in order to improve their scores (Pope). Plagiarism is now understood and interpreted as a trivial crime. In addition, parents are defensive of their children when facing plagiarism accusations (Bochicchio). The new changes in academic dishonesty do not make it an acceptable behavior—plagiarism is illegal.

Ten Steps to End Cheating Distress 

There are ten steps educators can take to combat academic dishonesty in their classrooms. 

1. Teachers can hold honest conversations with their students and parents concerning specifics of plagiarism and classroom expectations (Pope). Some schools encourage parents and students to sign contracts vowing their opposition to plagiarism and devotion to academic honesty (Pope). 

2. Teachers should “encourage problem- and project-based learning where students have some choice over the content and can demonstrate their knowledge in multiple ways,” (Pope). This will prevent high-stakes tests and assignments that motivate students to exhibit academically dishonest behavior in pursuit of high grades (Pope). 

3. Teachers can form honest and sincere relationships with their students (Pope). By showing they care for students’ lives, emotions, stress levels, and difficulties, teachers can help students avoid plagiarism (Pope). Students will value their relationship with their teacher producing feelings of guilt and immorality when plagiarizing (Pope). 

4. Teachers can prevent plagiarism from entering their classroom by adjusting their methods of assessment. Instead of exclusively utilizing exams, teachers can try a, “mix of essays, projects, presentations, think-alouds…along with traditional tests and quizzes…to more accurately reflect students’ knowledge…and reduce anxiety,” (Pope). Teachers might also consider altering their classroom policies to eliminate class rankings and harsh consequences (i.e. zeros for late assignments) and offer new opportunities like test corrections (Pope). 

5. Teachers can reduce the amount of work they assign and strategically schedule homework, tests, projects, and quizzes (Pope). By reducing the amount of work students have to complete, student stress and anxiety is minimized thus preventing cheating (Pope). Strategically scheduling assignments helps to avoid overloading students with tasks (Pope). By providing students with proper amounts of time to complete all requirements, there should be no need for cheating or plagiarism (Pope).

6. Teachers can create a classroom environment that is infused with integrity (Price-Mitchell). Students must understand that their attendance and participation in school involves more than earning satisfactory grades. To prove this concept to students, teachers should reward students for "their courage, hard work, determination, and respect for classmates," (Price-Mitchell).

7. Teachers can "develop a moral vocabulary" and incorporate it into everyday classroom functions utilizing every opportunity to help students learn good character as well as the curriculum (Price-Mitchell). These moral vocabularies can include terms such as, "responsibility, respect, fairness, trustworthiness, and honesty," (Price-Mitchell). 

8. Teachers can respond calmly and professionally when catching students cheating (Price-Mitchell). By remaining levelheaded, consistently enforcing school and classroom policies, and using the situation as an educational moment, teachers can use their students' mistakes for the better and help combat academic dishonesty in the classroom (Price-Mitchell). 

9. Teachers can regularly use quotes in the classroom to help show how to appropriately use them and to enrich the classroom environment (Price-Mitchell). The quotations can help deepen the learning process by assisting students in their comfort with external sources in need of citation (Price-Mitchell).  

10. Finally, teachers can "help students believe in themselves," (Price-Mitchell). By exhibiting passion for education, modeling appropriate behavior, showing commitment to their students and personal talents, demonstrating selflessness and acceptance, and overcoming obstacles, teachers can inspire students to believe in themselves (Price-Mitchell). "When young people learn to believe in themselves, dishonesty and disrespect no longer make much sense. Living with integrity becomes a way of life," (Price-Mitchell).

Digital Citizenship 

Digital citizenship and academic integrity have direct connections. When teaching students to possess and exhibit digital citizenship, teachers discuss academic integrity! Digital citizenship involves online interaction etiquette, proper research techniques, identifying credible sources, appropriately citing sources, and positively contributing to the online community. In order to accomplish all of the previously listed expectations, students must possess academic integrity. In order to exhibit academic integrity, students must prove their mastery of digital citizenship. Both concepts involve students displaying their honesty and respect for others, teachers, and their assignment. The two concepts also involve proper citation of sources and rewarding credit where it is due. Finally, the notions of digital citizenship and academic integrity are both skill sets that will accompany students into their lives following school. These abilities will ensure success in college, the work place, and in personal relationships students will encounter.

God Isn't a Fan of the Cheating Business

In all types of institutions—private, public, physical, and digital—it is important to address integrity in the classroom. As a Christian educator, it is equally important to discuss the Bible’s opinion on cheating, plagiarism, and academic integrity in the classroom. Obviously, this is much easier to accomplish in a digital public institution. In a private institution, teachers should remind students of their belief system and what that entails. Teachers should not simply remind students of what the Bible instructs though. Students do not respond well to rules and typically prefer explanations for commands. To accommodate their students, teachers in private institutions should explain why they follow Biblical commands. They should explain the consequences of being disobedient and the rewards of following the commands. While preaching to students about the importance of integrity according to Scripture, teachers should always provide concrete examples from the Bible such as Proverbs 11:3, Proverbs 12:22, 2 Corinthians 8:21, Hebrews 18:13, and Philippians 4:8

In digital public institutions, it is more difficult to share Christian values. In a physical public school, students may spontaneously share about their church experiences and family’s belief system. This provides teachers the opportunity to continue the religious conversation and share some Biblical concepts. Unfortunately, there are few spontaneous class wide conversations concerning principles of Christianity on digital public institutions. However, this does not necessarily mean teachers cannot share scriptural concepts to direct students away from dishonest behavior and towards redemptive practices. Teachers can share the exact same concepts listed in the scripture passages above without quoting the Bible, announcing the verse reference, or publicly proclaiming the source of the information. If a student asks for an appropriate reference as they have learned a great deal about the importance of integrity in the classroom, an opportunity has risen for the teacher to share Biblical concepts. Teachers may share how Biblical concepts and good morals will help students earn trust, respect them, help them make friends, exhibit responsibility, and increase chances of success. I personally plan on educating in a public setting. I would like to teach students the fruits of the spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) without directly quoting scripture or mentioning the verse reference. I would simply teach the different fruits of the spirit as traits I would like my students to possess especially in the classroom. I would make connections between academic integrity and the different fruits of the spirit.

Building My Classroom with Integrity: Cheating In Learning Management Systems

Managing and being aware of cheating and plagiarism may look different on different learning management systems. Some systems may automatically check for plagiarism. Regardless of the learning management system utilized for an online academy, it is important to address cheating and plagiarism. It is easier to commit both crimes while completing online schoolwork due to the constant interaction with the Internet. Teachers must educate students on the consequences for inappropriate behavior and encourage them to have integrity and academic honesty. If high expectations are set and maintained throughout the school year, students will understand, respect, and achieve the requirements set before them.

References

Bible Gateway. (2011). Galatians 5:22-23. Retrieved from https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+5%3A22-23&version=NIV

Bible Study Tools Staff. (2015). Bible verses about integrity. Retrieved from https://www.biblestudytools.com/topical-verses/bible-verses-about-integrity/

Bochicchio, K. (2008). Beat the cheat: Teaching students (and parents) it's not OK to copy. Retrieved from https://www.edutopia.org/student-plagiarism-teacher-strategy

Pope, D. (2014). Academic integrity: Cheat or be cheated? Retrieved from https://www.edutopia.org/blog/academic-integrity-cheat-or-be-cheated-denise-pope

Price-Mitchell, M. (2015). Creating a culture of integrity in the classroom. Retrieved from    https://www.edutopia.org/blog/8-pathways-creating-culture-integrity-marilyn-price-mitchell