2nd Asia-Pacific Educational Integrity Conference
Abstract
Educational Integrity and Online Learning
Carol Aeschliman - English Language Centre, Swinburne University of TechnologyThe literature of international education refers to a number of obvious misconceptions about the academic integrity of international students, including cultural stereotyping, assumptions about homogeneity in cultural groups and diversity in learning styles. Introducing international students to the western concept of academic integrity is challenging enough in the classroom where one-on-one teacher support is at least available, but it is even more difficult via the online platform. At Swinburne University of Technology’s English Language Centre online learning takes place largely in the Independent Learning Centre. As our online programs developed, so too have problems with academic integrity. Students reported that they lacked skills to achieve appropriate academic standards without compromising their “academic integrity” und therefore unintentionally “cheated.” They felt uninformed about what was expected of them, and isolated by independent learning. This presentation gives an overview of how we have approached two significant aspects of these problems with the help of new and emerging technologies: appropriate teamwork and responsibility for individual actions are encouraged by such means as self and peer evaluation tools, reflective learning journals and a WebCT Online Community; the concept of plagiarism is addressed within a variety of online academic programs and software applications.
Keywords: academic integrity, international students, online learning
