Reinforcing honor codes vs distance misconduct
AT this time when distance learning has become the norm, academic integrity is a matter of great concern. With less student supervision in virtual classrooms, cases of academic misconduct are becoming more common.
To keep a check on distance misconduct, the Department of Education (Deped) declared that public schools will not hold periodical examinations in this academic year. Instead, students’ progress will be assessed through summative exercises and tasks.
While academic dishonesty exists, using an honor code has proven to be effective in promoting ethical behavior. An honor code will help inspire students to prioritize personal integrity and also collaborate effectively with their peers. To support such, various education-technology solutions are evolving to identify and discourage academic impropriety.
Understanding academic dishonesty
DATA gathered through Deped’s National Learner Enrollment and Survey Forms suggested that 8.8 million out of the 22.2 million parents (39.6 percent of total respondents) preferred modular distance learning as an alternative to in-person classes for the current academic year.
In the current situation where educators have limited interaction with students, it is more difficult to discern if a student had intentionally violated academic integrity standards. Students’ intentions can be determined by asking them to explain the process for completing the work, and even using a short, targeted assessment to uncover a skills deficit. However, these approaches may prove timeconsuming and even inconclusive for educators inexperienced in such investigation tactics.
New technology tools in education are being developed to help teachers examine student work more objectively, so they can make informed decisions, address issues, and take necessary action.
Using honor codes
HONOR codes help students understand the importance of integrity and authenticity throughout the writing process, and should be updated to reflect the current learning environment. They should support the work of educators and be reinforced through instruction. For instance, at the beginning of the school year, educators can have students sign an honor statement that is then regularly referenced throughout the year. It is also crucial to educate students about academic integrity principles and build trust through regular feedback and oneon-one virtual catch-up sessions.
Educators should empower students by promoting a safe, interactive and open environment encouraging them to communicate the learning challenges they are experiencing.
If potential plagiarism is suspected, educators must hold students accountable while encouraging them to learn and grow from their mistakes. Educational tools, which support academic integrity by enabling feedback, assessing skill gaps and promoting fairness, empower teachers to be more productive and efficient.
These tools also help educators and teachers check the quality of student’s work and identify underlying learning challenges to work on with the student individually. Students can also use such tools to check their own work before submitting it, thus reinforcing a culture of academic integrity.
Developing citizens of integrity
IT is crucial for educators to uphold academic integrity among their students to prevent dishonest habits or misconduct, which will allow students to develop critical-thinking skills essential to their academic performance and future careers.
Educating students on the consequences of academic dishonesty and the importance of academic integrity can significantly reduce plagiarism cases. When they graduate from university, students bring this core value with them into their professional work and social lives, helping them become better citizens eventually.
Amid changing times, students are devising newer forms of plagiarism and academic misconduct, making honor codes and policies even more vital to uphold. Educators should reinforce this principle through explicit instruction around academic integrity facilitated by technology to provide formative student-learning opportunities.
The Philippines has a significant number of students poised to join the work force in the future. Educators have an important role to play in instilling academic integrity not only to avoid misconduct, but help students grow as citizens with integrity.