Week 13 part5

Editor's Notes

• #3: According to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, to "plagiarize" means:to steal and pass (off the ideas or words of another) as one's ownto use (another's production) without crediting the sourceto commit literary theftto present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source.In other words, plagiarism is an act of fraud. It involves both stealing someone else's work and lying about it afterward. Perhaps the greatest resources for would-be plagiarists are the hundreds of online paper-mills, or "cheatsites", that exist solely for the purpose of providing students with quick-fix homework and term-paper solutions. Many of these services contain hundreds of thousands of papers on a wide variety of topics, and some even offer customized papers for an additional fee. The fact that many of these sites have become profitable ventures (complete with paid advertising!) only attests to the unfortunate truth that plagiarism has become a booming industry.
• #4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRgM9-n7K5E
• #5: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NvA4hCOfjUSchools are up against a wide range of online services with names like "Term Paper Relief" and "The Paper Store" that will, for a cost of $10 to $20 a page, provide "research assistance" for students to "use as a guide" in their "own original work." TIPS:Avoid assigning the same or very commonly used essay topics every year to the same classes. Familiarize oneself with the quality and skill levels of the student’s writing before assigning a term paper. Short in-class assignments can accomplish this goal. Do not use open-ended subjects as assignments. Be very specific in the design of the assignment.  Know what’s available online prior to introducing the subject matter of the composition to the class. Let students know that you know about online sources for term papers and the like and put them on notice that you’ll be watching for transgressions such as plagiarism. Schedule progress reports on students’ research and writing projects. Require outlines, bibliographies, and even drafts prior to submission of the final written product. Assign several smaller papers instead of long, heavily weighted end-of-term projects. Require oral presentations based on original student-produced materials. Use peer groups to comment on drafts and final papers. Allow for collaborative projects in written assignments. Change the assessment criteria to accommodate a grading scheme that allows for individual assessment based on contributions within the group. Devise different formats such as scripts, journals, timelines, comparative ideas, interviews, and other creative approaches for assignments. Change the perspective of the narration to first person (e.g., a historical witness or a newspaper reporter). Use web portfolios or other technology-driven formats such as presentations or digital movies. Allow alternative media such as art projects, where students turn in a storyboard or a comic strip instead of a paper. Engage students in online discussions using private or secure systems (to guard students’ privacy), specifying the levels and types of participation required (e.g., at least three original postings of 200 words or more in reply to a teacher’s or peer’s posting within a one-week period). Involve students in the development of assessment rubrics that lay out clear expectations for their work.
• #6: Kids in one class texting kids in later classes particular details. It’s no different than telling them the same information during lunch. I’ve heard of worse — taking photos with the camera so kids can have the actual examThe latest tool for cheating are iPods and Zunes. These devices are so small that they can be hidden easily under clothing. Students can download formulas, vocabulary definitions, and study guide answers. The day of the test, they send the wire up their sleeve, rest their head on their hand to hide the earbud, and cheat. Meridian, Idaho has banned iPods from school for this reason. [Rebecca Boone, Associated Press Writer, Detroit Free Press, April 27, 2007]Read more: http://educationalissues.suite101.com/article.cfm/cheating_in_schools#ixzz0YJMcb6Pe
• #7: NOTE that if these sites exist, sites like Turnitin.com also know about them and it is very easy to scan them in many cases.http://pareonline.net/getvn.asp?v=9&n=9
• #10: What can a teacher do to ensure acceptable use by students:A teacher should explain his or her expectations on using technology. A teacher may also want students and their parents to sign a Code of Ethics for computer use. A teacher should also review the school or district policies on acceptable use with their students.The Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) for Internet use is one of the most important documents a school will produce. Creating a workable AUP requires thoughtful research and planning. Education World offers food-for-thought and a few useful tools for educators faced with developing a workable AUP for their school's students.