University of Calgary | Learning, Teaching and Leadership

University of Calgary activities planned for 2019 International Day of Action Against Contract Cheating

October 16, 2019

This year, the Univeristy of Calgary has activities planned for students, faculty, staff, teaching assistants and other members of the university community. We have activities being led by students all over campus including:

Student’s Union, Mac Hall – Lunch time awareness event and game.
Taylor Family Digital Library – Interactive prize wheel game.

Health Research Innovation Centre (HRIC) Atrium – Foothills Campus – Interactive prize wheel game.
Roaming Whiteboards – Social media campaign – Students Union representatives.

I will document the student-focused initiatives in another post after the Day of Action.

We have also launched the University of Calgary’s own social media campaign called #UHaveIntegrity. Here’s a photo of our shiny new laptop stickers that we’ll be giving out starting tomorrow:

#Uhaveintegrity sticker on Mac small

In this post, I highlight two workshops, designed specifically to help academic staff and teaching assistants better understand what contract cheating is and how to address it.

Workshop #1: Contract Cheating: What professors and teaching assistants need to know

Wednesday, October 16, 2019 – 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

How do you know if your students are buying their academic work from the Internet? How prevalent is this practice, anyway? How do you talk to your students about the issue of contract cheating? Get answers to these questions and more in this interactive workshop. Find out the latest research about academic outsourcing and get resources to help.

Participants will:

Gain insights into how the contract cheating industry really works

Learn what the latest research says

Learn practical ways to detect contract cheating and how to talk to students about it.

Facilitator: Sarah Elaine Eaton, PhD. is the Educational Leader in Residence, Academic Integrity, at the University of Calgary. Her research focuses on academic integrity, misconduct and contract cheating.

Workshop #2: Pay-to-Pass: Knowledge as a commodity

Wednesday, October 16, 2019 – 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

With the aid of social media, companies offering study ‘help’ and better grades have proliferated the post-secondary sector at an alarming rate. Students are deliberately or inadvertently breaching academic integrity regulations in the search of an easier solution to improve academic performance. This interactive workshop examines how some of these companies have created the ease and (sometimes) anonymity of online uploads and downloads.

Participants will:

Learn the scope of the pay-to-pass phenomenon

Share and discuss their experiences with pay-to-pass companies

Brainstorm solutions to this rising crisis.

Facilitators: Ebba Kurz, PhD., Associate Dean, Undergraduate Health and Science Education and Director, O’Brien Centre for the Bachelor of Health Sciences Program, Cumming School of Medicine

Nancy Chibry, Associate Dean, Undergraduate Programs and Student Affairs, Faculty of Science

These workshops are free of charge and open to all members of the campus community.

______________________________________________________

Share or Tweet this: University of Calgary activities planned for 2019 International Day of Action Against Contract Cheating #defeatthecheat #excelwithintegrity #uhaveintegrity

This blog has had over 2 million views thanks to readers like you. If you enjoyed this post, please “like” it or share it on social media. Thanks!

Sarah Elaine Eaton is a faculty member in the Werklund School of Education, and the Educational Leader in Residence, Academic Integrity, University of Calgary, Canada. Opinions are my own and do not represent those of the University of Calgary.

Comments Off on University of Calgary activities planned for 2019 International Day of Action Against Contract Cheating | academic integrity, contract cheating, education | Tagged: academic integrity, contract cheating, International Day of Action Against Contract Cheating, University of Calgary | Permalink
Posted by Sarah Elaine Eaton, Ph.D.

MEd Certificate in Academic Integrity

October 2, 2019

MEd Cert - Academic Integrity This program is situated as one component of a course-based Master of Education (MEd) Interdisciplinary. Students will undertake a 4-course topic in Academic Integrity to earn a Master’s level certificate qualification.

Program Overview: The Academic Integrity four-course topic fosters an understanding of theories of knowledge, knowledge sharing, attribution, as situated within an educational leadership context. Students will engage in research-intensive courses to understand how academic integrity is understood from the perspectives of theory and professional practice. Students will apply their knowledge in the exploration, critique and design of institutional, teaching, learning and assessment practices as they relate to academic integrity. This 4-course topic serves to develop professional autonomy and capacity at both K-12 and post-secondary contexts.

Program Goals:

Develop research-informed understanding of academic integrity, situated within current problems, as well as emerging trends in the field.
Develop and extend concepts relating to ethical decision-making, policy, academic misconduct case management.
Develop and extend methodological and theoretical competence in the field of academic integrity.

Format: Fully online

Program dates: July 2020 to April 2021

Applications open: November 1, 2019 Applications close: March 15, 2020

For more information about the Master of Education (MEd) Interdisciplinary: http://werklund.ucalgary.ca/gpe/

______________________________________________________

Share or Tweet this: MEd Certificate in Academic Integrity

This blog has had over 2 million views thanks to readers like you. If you enjoyed this post, please “like” it or share it on social media. Thanks!

Comments Off on MEd Certificate in Academic Integrity | education, University of Calgary | Tagged: academic integrity, Master of Education, MEd, University of Calgary, Werklund School of Education | Permalink
Posted by Sarah Elaine Eaton, Ph.D.

Academic Integrity: Resource for Teaching Assistants

September 16, 2019

Academic Integrity resource for teaching assistants

As a Teaching Assistant (TA) it can be tricky to know what your responsibilities are if you suspect or observe academic misconduct. This resource is intended to help both TAs and course instructors about the roles and responsibilities teaching assistants play in upholding academic integrity at the University of Calgary.

Teaching assistants are responsible for acting with integrity, maintaining the privacy of all parties involved and reporting any suspected or actual cases of academic misconduct to the course instructor. TAs are not responsible for confronting student(s) who may be allegedly responsible for academic misconduct and nor are they responsible for imposing sanctions (discipline). It is the responsibility of the course instructor to follow the guidelines established by their faculty for responding to allegations of academic misconduct.

Open communication between course instructors and teaching assistants is key. Establishing expectations early in the term, before issues might arise can be very helpful for teaching assistants.

It is important for teaching assistants to know they are not alone when it comes to upholding academic integrity.

This one-page tip sheet is intended as a suggested guideline to help teaching assistants figure out what to do if they encounter or suspect a breach of academic integrity. This handout is not exhaustive and it may not cover all situations. This resource was developed specifically for teaching assistants at the University of Calgary and may not apply to TAs at other institutions.

Here is a link to this free and downloadable .pdf resource: U Have Integrity: Resource for Teaching Assistants.

Here is the text of the .pdf for anyone wanting a quick read:

As a teaching assistant it can be tricky to know what your responsibilities are if you suspect or observe academic misconduct. This resource is intended as a suggested guideline about what to do in such situations in your role as a teaching assistant (TA). This resource may not cover all situations, but in can serve as a starting point.

What to do

Familiarize yourself with the University of Calgary Student Academic Misconduct Policy and Procedure.
Familiarize yourself with the resources and services offered by the Student Success Centre about academic integrity.
Start a conversation with your course instructor at the beginning of the term about what they expect from you in terms of upholding integrity in your role. It is a good idea to do this before you undertake your work so both parties have clear expectations.
Act as a role model for academic integrity.
Discuss any alleged or actual breaches of integrity with the course instructor.
Gather evidence related to the alleged misconduct. Keep detailed notes of the incident, including dates and times, who was involved, etc. Provide this information to the course instructor.
Remember that learning how to address academic misconduct is part of your training as a teaching assistant, but you are not alone!

What to avoid

Do not keep the incident a secret (even if the student asks you to). Talk to the course instructor.
Do not discuss the matter with any other teaching assistants, students, etc.
Do not confront a student. It is the role of the course instructor to address alleged or actual academic misconduct with the student(s) involved.
Do not impose any sanctions (punishments) on your own. The course instructor (not the TA) is responsible for following the guidelines established within the faculty about how to address actual or suspected cases of academic misconduct.
Do not share details (even if they are de-identified) on social media, even in closed or private groups.

Related posts:

______________________________________________________

Share or Tweet this: Academic Integrity: Resource for Teaching Assistants https://wp.me/pNAh3-2oQ

This blog has had over 2 million views thanks to readers like you. If you enjoyed this post, please “like” it or share it on social media. Thanks!

Comments Off on Academic Integrity: Resource for Teaching Assistants | academic integrity, contract cheating, education, plagiarisim, University of Calgary | Tagged: academic dishonesty, academic integrity, academic misconduct, Canada, teaching, teaching assistant, University of Calgary | Permalink
Posted by Sarah Elaine Eaton, Ph.D.

Language Learning and Technology (EDER 669.73): Summer 2019 course

July 2, 2019

I am excited to be teaching one of my favourite courses this summer: Language Learning and Technology (EDER 669.73). This is a fully online course for students registered in the Master of Education (MEd) program at the Werklund School of Education.

Course Description:

This course has been designed for students who want to learn how to effectively incorporate technology in their present and future careers as language teachers. The course will cover both theoretical and practical issues in teaching second language and the use of new technology to support and enhance the learning process.

A special emphasis will be on combining both face-to-face and the use of technologies in and beyond the classroom walls to enhance the second language learning process. Although the course may address the different types technologies such as Web 2.0 technologies (e.g., blogs, wikis; audio and video podcasting; online videos; mobile tools); mobile technology (e.g., mobile phones; MP3 players; digital cameras; camcorders), and other type of interactive technologies, the focus of the course is on the pedagogical and practical aspects of integrating new technology to face-to-face language teaching.

The course is open to second language present and future teachers at the elementary, secondary, and post-secondary level. The course also invites language teachers with limited knowledge of the target language to learn how to enhance their language teaching by integrating blended teaching into their practice.

Learner Outcomes:

The intent of this course is to explore the integration of technology to enhance language learning, particularly in in blended or distance environments.

Specific objectives include:

understand different learning theories informing pedagogical practices, and in particular the TPACK and SAMR models, as they apply to language learning;
review current research on the learning of additional languages enhanced by digital technologies;
explore digital mediated communication methods that can be used effectively in distance and blended language learning programs;
examine current and emerging trends in educational technology as they apply to language learning; and
design and evaluate language-learning modules integrating digital technology for online or blended environments.

______________________________________________________

Share or Tweet this: Language Learning and Technology (EDER 669.73): Summer 2019 course https://wp.me/pNAh3-2nz

This blog has had over 2 million views thanks to readers like you. If you enjoyed this post, please “like” it or share it on social media. Thanks!

Sarah Elaine Eaton is a faculty member in the Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary, Canada. Opinions are my own and do not represent those of the Werklund School of Education or the University of Calgary.

Comments Off on Language Learning and Technology (EDER 669.73): Summer 2019 course | education, University of Calgary | Tagged: Master of Education, technology, University of Calgary, Werklund School of Education | Permalink
Posted by Sarah Elaine Eaton, Ph.D.

Seeking early-stage feedback about proposed MEd Certificate in Academic Integrity

June 21, 2019

Note: This is an early-stage concept draft intended for sharing for developmental feedback.

Direct questions about this proposal to Dr. Sarah Elaine Eaton – seaton (at) ucalgary.ca.

Background

The MEd certificate in Academic Integrity is an opportunity for those interested in this topic to develop as scholars of the profession in a learning community of like-minded students. Situated within the Leadership specialization, students will explore academic integrity through a leadership, policy and governance lens, while also developing an evidence-informed approach to the pragmatic aspects of academic integrity such as case management. Students will examine their personal and professional notions of academic integrity, as situated concepts within institutional and systemic contexts, deepening their understanding of how professional practice related to academic integrity is nested within institutional policies and procedures and how these are related to quality assurance from a systemic perspective, such as ministries of education and/or higher education.

MEd Certificate

The MEd (Master of Education) is a course-based pathway which provides students with a systematic understanding of knowledge, and a critical awareness of current problems and/or new insights, much of which is at, or informed by, the forefront of their academic discipline, field of study or area of professional practice in two topic areas, plus additional research methods courses.

Each certificate is based on a topic area comprised for four (4) courses. The MEd Certificate is a pathway to a Master of Education (MEd), Interdisciplinary route, but a graduate level certificate is awarded upon the successful completion of a 4-course certificate, so even if participants choose only to undertake the 4-course topic, they can still be awarded a graduate-level certificate.

Learning Goals and Expected Outcomes

There are three overarching learning goals of this proposed certificate:

This certificate will increase awareness of the role of academic integrity in educational contexts.
It will assist those who have academic integrity as a component of their professional portfolio in furthering discussion and learning about integrity, ethical decision-making, case management and policy.
It will assist current and future educational leaders to envision and develop a personal theory of integrity that enhances the learning experiences of students, while remaining cognizant of institutional policies and procedures, as well as larger systemic realities.

The four (4) courses for this certificate will be developed in consultation with internal and external stakeholders.

Possible formats

Option 1: Completely online format – All four (4) courses offered online using asynchronous (D2L) and synchronous (Zoom) learning technologies. Students could be physically located anywhere in the world and would not be required to come to the University of Calgary for any component of the certificate.

Option 2: Blended – Two (2) courses offered on-campus during an intensive two-week residency in July. This would require students to physically be in Calgary during the mandatory two-week residency. The residency would be followed by two (2) additional courses offered online in the subsequent fall and winter terms.

Anticipated timeline

We do not have an exact timeline for the launch of this program yet, as it would need to receive approval at a number of levels. However, given the amount of interest and support we have at this early stage, it is reasonable to anticipate that it may be available by September 2020.

Feedback Questions

At this point, we are seeking feedback from various stakeholders on these particular points:

Which of the two possible formats (online or blended) is most appealing? Why?
What are some key topics or courses you would like to see included in this program? Why?
What resources (books, articles, etc.) do you see as being foundational for courses offered in this certificate?

For questions about this proposal or to add your name to the mailing list contact:

Dr. Sarah Elaine Eaton, Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary, seaton (at) ucalgary.ca

Further information about the Master of Education: https://werklund.ucalgary.ca/gpe/med-interdisciplinary

______________________________________________________

Share or Tweet this: Seeking early-stage feedback about proposed MEd Certificate in Academic Integrity https://wp.me/pNAh3-2nv

This blog has had over 2 million views thanks to readers like you. If you enjoyed this post, please “like” it or share it on social media. Thanks!

Comments Off on Seeking early-stage feedback about proposed MEd Certificate in Academic Integrity | academic integrity, contract cheating, education, plagiarisim, University of Calgary | Tagged: academic integrity, Master of Education, University of Calgary, Werklund School of Education | Permalink
Posted by Sarah Elaine Eaton, Ph.D.

Learning, Teaching and Leadership

University of Calgary activities planned for 2019 International Day of Action Against Contract Cheating

MEd Certificate in Academic Integrity