Review Policy Documents with Your Class
Jessica Kalra
Ensuring students are familiar with the institutional and department policies related to academic integrity requires more than simply putting the links on your course outline. Some students may never click the link, others who do may struggle to understand what the policy says.
Consider using discussion and/or self-reflection questions to help students find and internalize information provided by your institution. Some examples of questions include:
- Describe what you know about academic integrity, the policies around academic misconduct in this class, and the consequences for failing to meet academic expectations.
- Describe some examples of what would be considered examples of academic misconduct that are specific to this class.
- What are some long-term personal consequences to someone if they cheat or plagiarize on College assessments?
- List the resources available at your institution that will help you to understand academic integrity. Are there additional resources that are not currently available that might be helpful to you?
- If you are unsure how to demonstrate academic integrity on a specific assignment or exam, what should/could you do?
You may also consider using a learning activity that will give your students opportunities to meaningfully engage with the content in the policy documents so they can better understand and remember it. An example of such an activity follows:
In the learning management system, give your students a short, ungraded quiz on the content in the policy document. You can make the quiz required and a release condition for course material in order to ensure that students complete the task. The quiz can include definitions, questions related to key vocabulary, true/false questions related to the general policies and sanctions, and scenarios like the ones in the document. Below is a sample quiz.
Academic Integrity Quiz
Good academic work is founded on honesty, trust, fairness, respect and responsibility. Academic integrity includes these values along with the commitment not to engage in acts of falsification, misrepresentation or deception. Acts of dishonesty violate the fundamental ethical principles of the institution and compromise your worth and the worth of work completed by others.
As a student at <insert institution name here>, you are responsible for familiarizing yourself and complying with the following policies on student conduct and academic integrity:
- <insert links to appropriate webpages here>
- <insert links to appropriate policy documents here>
Please be sure to read the policies above carefully and then complete the reflection exercise.
Note that you will not receive a grade for any assessments until these two items have been completed.
Quiz Questions:
- What are 2 things you learned from reading the websites that you did not previously know about academic integrity?
- In 2-3 sentences explain why it is important for you to maintain academic integrity in this course
- Please explain 2 strategies you are going to used this semester to help yourself maintain academic integrity.