Spring Break
GSC Oconee Professors Say They See Both Sides of Students' Dishonesty.
But Only Kind of
Joshua Estes
Issue date: 3/28/08 Section: News
Cheating, by definition, is defined as "to deprive of something valuable by the use of deceit or fraud".
At GSC, plagiarism among students in the past has posed problems. Students have been caught writing work for other students or having parents write work for students. In the past, this form of plagiarism was much easier to handle and detect for professors then it is today, in the information age. The information superhighway, cell phones with internet connectivity, and other wireless internet devices make it possible and easier for students to steal the work of others and pretend it is their own by simply copying and pasting.
Professors at GSC feel that plagiarism is not only a dishonest form of work; some feel "it is humiliating to ones self and self-deprivating," according to Alex Johns. Dr Prestridge said that "cheating breaks the trust between professor and student."
Some professors feel that plagiarism stems from societal problems due to the age of the "get it now" syndrome. If a student wants a new song they hear on the radio they go online and download it instantly. There is an instant contact between individuals with cell phones that have text messaging; instant food with fast food and microwaveable meals, instant information on the internet, there is no need for patience anymore. Without the character trait of patience students have a large probability to steal the work of others so as not to have to exert the time doing it themselves.
Dr. McLeod states her attitude towards students plagiarizing simply: "they shouldn't do it". On average the professors said that they catch around one or two students a year. If this average is applied to all 56 professors at GSC the number of students plagiarizing a year is 112: a significant number of students. With high numbers like this, it makes sense that GSC would spend money on implementing a plagiarism proofing software.
The plagiarism software, according to professors, will help stop plagiarism and therefore better filter out the dishonest students and help keep the honest students truthful. A good parallel is locks on doors; if a thief really wants to break in, a break in will happen; however locks, just like the software, help prevent those with only a small want to cheat.
In the past, Dr McLeod had a significant number of students plagiarizing until she "fixed all assignments so that they had an in-class component. [She has] fewer problems now. Most students don't plagiarize; a few do."
At GSC, plagiarism among students in the past has posed problems. Students have been caught writing work for other students or having parents write work for students. In the past, this form of plagiarism was much easier to handle and detect for professors then it is today, in the information age. The information superhighway, cell phones with internet connectivity, and other wireless internet devices make it possible and easier for students to steal the work of others and pretend it is their own by simply copying and pasting.
Professors at GSC feel that plagiarism is not only a dishonest form of work; some feel "it is humiliating to ones self and self-deprivating," according to Alex Johns. Dr Prestridge said that "cheating breaks the trust between professor and student."
Some professors feel that plagiarism stems from societal problems due to the age of the "get it now" syndrome. If a student wants a new song they hear on the radio they go online and download it instantly. There is an instant contact between individuals with cell phones that have text messaging; instant food with fast food and microwaveable meals, instant information on the internet, there is no need for patience anymore. Without the character trait of patience students have a large probability to steal the work of others so as not to have to exert the time doing it themselves.
Dr. McLeod states her attitude towards students plagiarizing simply: "they shouldn't do it". On average the professors said that they catch around one or two students a year. If this average is applied to all 56 professors at GSC the number of students plagiarizing a year is 112: a significant number of students. With high numbers like this, it makes sense that GSC would spend money on implementing a plagiarism proofing software.
The plagiarism software, according to professors, will help stop plagiarism and therefore better filter out the dishonest students and help keep the honest students truthful. A good parallel is locks on doors; if a thief really wants to break in, a break in will happen; however locks, just like the software, help prevent those with only a small want to cheat.
In the past, Dr McLeod had a significant number of students plagiarizing until she "fixed all assignments so that they had an in-class component. [She has] fewer problems now. Most students don't plagiarize; a few do."
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