Comments on: Plagiarism in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction http://cac.ophony.org/2007/02/26/plagiarism-in-the-age-of-mechanical-reproduction/ Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:00:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Dennis http://cac.ophony.org/2007/02/26/plagiarism-in-the-age-of-mechanical-reproduction/comment-page-1/#comment-11783 Dennis Mon, 12 Mar 2007 21:53:28 +0000 http://cac.ophony.org/2007/02/26/plagiarism-in-the-age-of-mechanical-reproduction/#comment-11783 There's so much to talk about here -- I'd be happy to participate in any session the Institute might like to organize on the subject. But for the moment I just wanted to mention that in addition to the more educationally oriented things you do when you encounter plagiarism, please, please, please send the name to Ron Aaron in the Office of the Dean of Students. The point is not to punish the student: Ron's role is very much educative, not punitive. We ask you to report so that we can keep track: you're entitled to teach the student where s/he has gone wrong and let her/him redo the paper, but we'd rather not enable the student to plead ignorance the next time around. There’s so much to talk about here — I’d be happy to participate in any session the Institute might like to organize on the subject. But for the moment I just wanted to mention that in addition to the more educationally oriented things you do when you encounter plagiarism, please, please, please send the name to Ron Aaron in the Office of the Dean of Students. The point is not to punish the student: Ron’s role is very much educative, not punitive. We ask you to report so that we can keep track: you’re entitled to teach the student where s/he has gone wrong and let her/him redo the paper, but we’d rather not enable the student to plead ignorance the next time around.

]]> By: Jeff Whipple http://cac.ophony.org/2007/02/26/plagiarism-in-the-age-of-mechanical-reproduction/comment-page-1/#comment-11708 Jeff Whipple Sun, 11 Mar 2007 00:41:44 +0000 http://cac.ophony.org/2007/02/26/plagiarism-in-the-age-of-mechanical-reproduction/#comment-11708 These are great suggestions. I have had several experiences over the past couple of years where teachers have looked for support and advice on how to mitigate the proclivity of students to cut and paste. As the very nature of information continues to change we must do a better job of learning with our students. It's not just about the 3 R's anymore. We need to develop learning environments where students learn to locate, assess, harvest, manipulate and communicate knowledge. Changes in our world demand changes in our schools. As teachers we can choose to make a positive approach to dealing with our students (as you have chosen to do with these guidelines) as opposed to a negative mindset where it becomes a constant battle between members of the learning community. These are great suggestions. I have had several experiences over the past couple of years where teachers have looked for support and advice on how to mitigate the proclivity of students to cut and paste.

As the very nature of information continues to change we must do a better job of learning with our students. It’s not just about the 3 R’s anymore. We need to develop learning environments where students learn to locate, assess, harvest, manipulate and communicate knowledge.

Changes in our world demand changes in our schools. As teachers we can choose to make a positive approach to dealing with our students (as you have chosen to do with these guidelines) as opposed to a negative mindset where it becomes a constant battle between members of the learning community.

]]> By: Listerate » Blog Archive » How to Combat Plagiarism http://cac.ophony.org/2007/02/26/plagiarism-in-the-age-of-mechanical-reproduction/comment-page-1/#comment-11707 Listerate » Blog Archive » How to Combat Plagiarism Sat, 10 Mar 2007 23:30:08 +0000 http://cac.ophony.org/2007/02/26/plagiarism-in-the-age-of-mechanical-reproduction/#comment-11707 [...] Plagiarism in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction at cac.ophony lists 5 tips to deal with plagiarism in the classroom. [...] [...] Plagiarism in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction at cac.ophony lists 5 tips to deal with plagiarism in the classroom. [...]

]]> By: Agnieszka http://cac.ophony.org/2007/02/26/plagiarism-in-the-age-of-mechanical-reproduction/comment-page-1/#comment-10923 Agnieszka Wed, 28 Feb 2007 17:21:09 +0000 http://cac.ophony.org/2007/02/26/plagiarism-in-the-age-of-mechanical-reproduction/#comment-10923 My metod of trying to deal with plagiarism is to include a few long paragraphs about it in the syllabus that I hand in to students. Also, in that very first session of the semester, when we are getting to know each other and I introduce my course, I also talk about plagiarism. I try to scare them ( just a tiny little bit) by talking about a few internet sites that detect plagiarism, so the students know I am familiar with more tan just the "on" and "off" switch on the computer. I also talk about stealing ideas, not just words-- this seems to get their attention and suprises a few of them. But ofcourse, I still get papers copied in part from internet sites. My metod of trying to deal with plagiarism is to include a few long paragraphs about it in the syllabus that I hand in to students. Also, in that very first session of the semester, when we are getting to know each other and I introduce my course, I also talk about plagiarism. I try to scare them ( just a tiny little bit) by talking about a few internet sites that detect plagiarism, so the students know I am familiar with more tan just the “on” and “off” switch on the computer. I also talk about stealing ideas, not just words– this seems to get their attention and suprises a few of them. But ofcourse, I still get papers copied in part from internet sites.

]]> By: debbie http://cac.ophony.org/2007/02/26/plagiarism-in-the-age-of-mechanical-reproduction/comment-page-1/#comment-10877 debbie Tue, 27 Feb 2007 20:58:15 +0000 http://cac.ophony.org/2007/02/26/plagiarism-in-the-age-of-mechanical-reproduction/#comment-10877 Unfortunately it's the lack of common understanding of what constitutes plagiarism and the inconsistent responses of instructors that are part of the problem. Conversations among instructors at the same institution are essential. Here's a link that points to ways that schools have developed common language and understanding among their faculty: http://www.noodletools.com/debbie/ethical/ - "click on the Template for a Plagiarism Policy. There are also other resources about the ethical use of information. Unfortunately it’s the lack of common understanding of what constitutes plagiarism and the inconsistent responses of instructors that are part of the problem. Conversations among instructors at the same institution are essential. Here’s a link that points to ways that schools have developed common language and understanding among their faculty: http://www.noodletools.com/debbie/ethical/ – “click on the Template for a Plagiarism Policy. There are also other resources about the ethical use of information.

]]> By: Luke http://cac.ophony.org/2007/02/26/plagiarism-in-the-age-of-mechanical-reproduction/comment-page-1/#comment-10872 Luke Tue, 27 Feb 2007 17:42:24 +0000 http://cac.ophony.org/2007/02/26/plagiarism-in-the-age-of-mechanical-reproduction/#comment-10872 Jenny, you're very kind... I bet that Walter Benjamin was as well. I think it's important to discuss these issues in class, in detail, before giving out assignments. Of course, that depends on the class, the subject, and the assignments. When I taught the American history survey at Baruch, I had at least one plagiarist per term, despite devoting significant time to discussing the rules of attribution. They were usually extreme cases of copying and pasting... one was an extra credit book review assignment ripped from the web, and in another, the student handed me half a chapter from Irving Howe's <em>World of Our Fathers</em>... when I gave him a chance to redeem himself, he copied and pasted again... after I called him on it, I never saw him again. The point of my comment, beyond relaying the sheer audacity of some of our students, is that we can head off the minor cases that evolve from confusion by structuring assignments that require pointed analysis related to what's going on in class, and by discussing in detail the ethics of scholarship. There are legitimate gray areas around plagiarism where teaching is important and necessary. That, to me, is less of a problem than the black and white areas represented by the lengthy copy and paste. Responses should be scaled to the severity of the offense, and should usually, as Jenny notes, require more work. Students who copy and paste whole assignments or large chunks of them, though, show contempt for their teacher, their classmates, and the entire educational enterprise, whether they consciously intend to or not. One doesn't need to take such acts personally to return the contempt. Jenny, you’re very kind… I bet that Walter Benjamin was as well.

I think it’s important to discuss these issues in class, in detail, before giving out assignments. Of course, that depends on the class, the subject, and the assignments. When I taught the American history survey at Baruch, I had at least one plagiarist per term, despite devoting significant time to discussing the rules of attribution. They were usually extreme cases of copying and pasting… one was an extra credit book review assignment ripped from the web, and in another, the student handed me half a chapter from Irving Howe’s World of Our Fathers… when I gave him a chance to redeem himself, he copied and pasted again… after I called him on it, I never saw him again.

The point of my comment, beyond relaying the sheer audacity of some of our students, is that we can head off the minor cases that evolve from confusion by structuring assignments that require pointed analysis related to what’s going on in class, and by discussing in detail the ethics of scholarship. There are legitimate gray areas around plagiarism where teaching is important and necessary. That, to me, is less of a problem than the black and white areas represented by the lengthy copy and paste. Responses should be scaled to the severity of the offense, and should usually, as Jenny notes, require more work. Students who copy and paste whole assignments or large chunks of them, though, show contempt for their teacher, their classmates, and the entire educational enterprise, whether they consciously intend to or not. One doesn’t need to take such acts personally to return the contempt.

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