Plagiarism Detection and Prevention

Plagiarism Detection and Prevention is the concern of most universities. Universities recognized plagiarism as a form of academic dishonesty and its occurrence is prohibited. According to an online article “What is Plagiarism?” (2011) plagiarism is a function of fraud which entails both stealing another person work and being dishonesty about it later on. Plagiarism is a word that is well-known in the education world. Educators work hard to find ways to instruct students in preventing plagiarism. According to Jocoy & DiBiase (2006) “Kohlberg and Hersh (1977) acknowledge that as a basic tenet of scholarly activity, educators have a responsibility to foster and maintain standards of academic integrity, which requires engaging students in the development of moral reasoning” (p. 1). In the past, the detecting of plagiarism was complex, but today due to online environment and technology preventing plagiarism is much easier. However, we find that “cheating is a little more visible in the classroom because we are online” (Palloff & Pratt, 2010). We are now a part of the age of “cut and paste” online information which makes it easier to plagiarize more that before. However, as Palloff & Pratt point out “many learners do not consider coping and pasting from websites as plagiarism.” Some students are not aware that they are plagiarizing. As Jocoy & DiBiase point out “writers’ uses of the works of others are not always deliberate” (p. 2).

As indicated by Jocoy & DiBiase (2006) “instructors’ ability to detect plagiarism has improved dramatically in the last decade” (p. 5). We find that there are tools that help the instructors better detect plagiarism. Jacoy & DiBiase (2006) identify “free online search engines such as Google allow instructors to track down copied phrases, while commercially available plagiarism detection software and online services (e.g., EVE; Turnitin.com) compare individual student papers to Web documents and/or to essay databases to find and report instances of matching text” (p. 5). I have had experience with Turnitin.com and found it to be great for detecting plagiarism. Other tools that I find of interest are CheckforPlagerism.net and Viper. CheckforPlagerism.net is a site that checks databases, Internet sites, publications, synonym & sentence structure, multiple document comparison and multiple languages (http://www.checkforplagiarism.net/, accessed August 1, 2011). Viper is a free download service that is utilize to help check editing, scans the Internet to check for plagiarism. Another thing acknowledged by Dr. Palloff and Dr. Pratt (2010) is to educate learners about copyright, fair use, plagiarism, and cheating." We find that we use search engines as a means of doing research. Nevertheless, the instructor must inform students that the Internet and its search engines are great tools to use in researching information, yet anything used for information must be cited.

How can the design of assessments help prevent academic dishonesty?

First, I believe that a rubric, if designed appropriately, would be great in preventing academic dishonesty. Rubrics are provided to permit the students the opportunity to know and understand the criteria of an assignment in order to evaluate their performance. Facilitators should reduce possibilities for plagiarism by attempting to design assignments that hearten students to examine, scrutinize, and synthesize information. When the work “test” is spoken to learners, they tend to become nervous and think about cheating. Therefore, we as educators should considered other options such as open book exams, or allowed the opportunity collaborate and work together if preferred. I feel that this will reduce the desire of wanting to cheat as well as boost their success rate. Dr. Palloff & Dr Pratt indicated that facilitators should construct the assignments to facilitate students to prevent plagiarism by collaboration, use of reference material, librarian, real-life anticipations, and authentic.

What facilitation strategies do you propose to use as a current or future online instructor?

As a future online instructor, I will first educate students about academic integrity. According to Jocoy and DiBiase (2006) “because academic integrity involves the development of behavior that reflects moral values, educators’ responsibility for addressing plagiarism may go beyond shielding students from copyright infringement” (p. 3). I will also spend time at the beginning of the course discussing standards of academic scholarship and conduct. Most students do not recognize when they are cheating because cheating means different things to different students.

I will educate students about copyright, fair use, plagiarism, and cheating. I will teach learners what plagiarism is and how to avoid it because we cannot take for granted that students understand the meaning of plagiarism. In order to help build the learning community, I technique will allow the student the opportunity to collaborate and work together in order to eradicate the feeling of needing to cheat. I will most certainly utilize one of the detection software’s mentioned in the lesson to help me in detecting plagiarism. I value Turnitin.com because I have had experience with this software. We find that most students have problems with paraphrasing; therefore, I will help them to improve their ability to paraphrase as well as learn to cite their material appropriate.

What additional considerations for online teaching should be made to help detect or prevent cheating and plagiarism?

I will like to express to students that if it is not their idea or information please cite it. I find that I am guilty of not utilizing the librarian when help is needed. I will like to stress to the students to utilize the librarian. I find that as a facilitator, it is vital to be knowledgeable about the techniques of plagiarism. I feel that it important for students to understand the harm that plagiarism do to their credibility. I find that using software to help detect and prevent plagiarism is essential to students’ assignment. Academic honesty is encouraged if students are aware that their work will be examined.

Synthesis of my thoughts regarding the detection and prevention of cheating and plagiarism in an online learning environment.

The detection and prevention of cheating and plagiarism in an online learning environment is one of the concerns among universities as well as high school. In its most flagrant appearance, plagiarism is considered a means of intentional academic dishonesty anticipated to misinform the audience. Yet, we must bear in mind that according to Chao, Wilhelm, and Neureuther (2009) “plagiarism can be intentional or unintentional” (p. 33). Due to the use of the Internet, I believe that most plagiarism is done by coping and pasting from the websites.

According to Dr. Palloff and Dr. Pratt, they believe that most learners do not consider coping and pasting from websites to be plagiarism. I feel that this may be the case if they have a poor ability to paraphrase and cite credible material. As Dr. Palloff and Dr. Pratt point out that it is important to help learners improve their ability to paraphrase as well as their ability to cite appropriate in order to prevent plagiarism. I definitely believe that students should be taught about plagiarism as well as given evaluation tools in order to scrutinize their assignment. I do believe that most students cheat or plagiarize unintentional but it do happens (Palloff and Pratt, 2010). We must educate them about copyright, fair use, plagiarism, and cheating in order to prevent it.

What did you learn that would help you implement effective online instructional strategies in the future?

I have become aware that there should be a deliberate planned set up in order to educate students about plagiarism in order to implement effective online instructional strategies. As Dr. Palloff and Dr. Pratt indicate students plagiarize inadvertently because they just do not know. Therefore, we must be aware that many students simply do not know what plagiarism is. I feel that it is vital to discuss the benefits of citing sources in order that for students to learn that it is crucial to give proper credit to the originator of the work the utilize. According to Brown, Jordon, Rubin, and Arome (2010) “plagiarism has become a serious problem at institutions of higher learning” (p. 113). I found that there are a variety of detection software available for students in order to prevent plagiarism.




References

Brown, V., Jordan, R., Rubin, N., & Arome, G. (2010). Strengths and weaknesses of plagiarism detection software. Journal of Literacy and Technology, 11(1/2), 110–131.

Chao, C., Wilhelm, W., & Neureuther, B. (2009). A study of electronic detection and pedagogical approaches for reducing plagiarism. Delta Pi Epsilon Journal, 51(1), 31–42.
Jocoy, C., & DiBiase, D. (2006). Plagiarism by adult learners online: A case study in detection and remediation. International Review of Research in Open & Distance Learning, 7(1), 1-15
Palloff, R., and Pratt, K. Plagiarism and Cheating. Laureate Education, Inc. Retrieved August 1, 2011, from http://sylvan.live.ecollege.com/ec/crs/default.learn?CourseID=4894963&Survey=1&47=6260654&ClientNodeID=984650&coursenav=1&bhcp=1

What is Plagiarism? (2010). Retrieved August 1, 2011 from http://www.plagiarism.org/plag_article_what_is_plagiarism.html