Your Expectation of Integrity

These two scenarios present information in the context of academic integrity. Your reflection on the content and questions and how you would deal with similar situations should introduce you to the idea of how to transmit your expectations to your learners.

• Scenario One

  Activity

  Read through this scenario then reflect on the questions I've posed below.

  

  Here are some questions for you to consider:

  1. Is the student guilty of plagiarizing?
  2. Should you have let the student know you were auditing the class?
  3. Should you tell the instructor of the communications course you recognize the work?
  4. Should you speak with the student?
  5. Does this fall into acadmic misconduct?
  6. What other issues are there?

  You may find it useful to talk to a colleague and see if you arrive at the same conclusions, and if not, why not?

• Scenario Two

  Activity

  Here is another for you to consider.

  

  1. Is the student being unethical?
  2. Were you unethical to loan your institution laptop to your son for personal use?
  3. Were you unethical to read the posts on Facebook?
  4. Do you have an obligation to discuss your experience with the student's instructor?
  5. Does this fall into academic misconduct?
  6. What other issues are there?

Each of these scenarios raises questions about integrity. While this course isn't about deciding what is or isn't ethical, moral, or reflective of integrity, it does give you the opportunity to reflect on your own standards and beliefs. It allows you to determine options for letting learners know your expectations about these important issues and to give you the opportunity to learn what your learners' expectations are. Here are some ideas on how to transmit your expectations about academic integrity to your learners. You might, for example, set forth the expectations such as the following:

• Work submitted for a grade in this course will not have been submitted for a grade in any other course.
• You are expected to read the Code of Student Conduct and abide by it while a student in the School of ____.
• Infractions of the Professional Code of Conduct may result in a failing score for online module.
• Acadmic integrity is the responsibility of each of us. If you are aware of violations of the Research Code of Ethics, it is your responsibility to bring it to the attention of the head of your department.

An Idea for Your Course

Open your course with a discussion about what professional integrity means. Let the learners experience that they may have different ideas and ethical codes from one another. Make certain that they understand what your expectations are for their behaviors. Here are a couple of starter questions for you:

• Is professional integrity always the opposite of professional misconduct?
• What other areas could be involved in professional integrity beyond plagiarism and cheating on a test?

Professional integrity is not something that should be left to the last minute by instructors. Take the time to understand your own point of view and review any of your institution's policies that may be applicable.

Our next topic for consideration is more effective time management as well as clarifying expectations—the FAQ.