Academic Integrity.
Several other TEU projects fall under the umbrella of assessment and academic integrity - the largest of which is the IUA led project “Enhancing Digital Teaching and Learning (EDTL)” where the main focus for DCU is assessment. This project builds on work of the “Y1Feedback” project led in DCU by the Open Education Unit and “Integrity” project led by the TEU. “Students as Partners in Assessment” is an area of current focus and aligns with national initiatives such as NSTeP. We have also formed a community of practice around the use of Interactive Orals as an approach to improve academic integrity. This selection of case studies illustrate examples of impact of the various projects relating to assessment where they led to change in teaching practices and publications for the staff involved. Another example of impact would be the for the last two years we have, with the support of the Student’s Union, run Academic Integrity week, a suite of activities and events to promote academic integrity with staff and students.
DCU is engaging in a unique University-wide Academic Integrity Awareness Campaign. This project is influenced by the work of NAIN (National Academic Integrity Network), and builds on existing DCU TEU projects and initiatives. It is a year-long (March 2021-February 2022) SATLE National Forum funded research project. This two-phased project will act as a tool for more focused conversations around academic integrity. It is envisaged that this work will build capacity and raise awareness of academic integrity with all DCU stakeholder groups. This, in turn, will we hope, influence both cultural and ethical changes across the university, through a renewed sharing of responsibility for the promotion of academic integrity. Watch out for invitations to surveys, focus groups and dissemination workshops. For any information on this project please contact the principal investigators, Dr Fiona O’Riordan [fiona.m.oriordan@dcu.ie] and Dr Gillian Lake [gillian.lake@dcu.ie].
DCU TEU developed a suite of twelve principles for academics to help them design assessments that promotes academic integrity. These principles are informed by an extensive scoping review.
<< Introductory Video
The TEU is collaborating with Griffith University, Queensland, Australia, to pilot interactive orals as a viable alternative assessment to the traditional end of semester exams. An interactive oral is a natural conversation or exchange which explores a student’s understanding in a simulated authentic learning environment. There is a small group of about 8 DCU academics piloting this approach, led by the TEU in collaboration with Griffith University. Griffith University has extensive experience, and a body of evidence-based research to show that interactive orals are an authentic assessment approach that effectively helps prepare students for employment, and when used as part of strategically designed integrated assessment, promotes academic integrity. Whilst being an effective alternative assessment tool to end of semester exams, it is also proven to be efficient and scalable. A TEU Interactive Oral User Guide is available to support academics wishing to use this approach.
Interactive Oral National Forum Seminar on 24th March 2021 10 - 12 pm. Please click here for Seminar Resources.
DCU promote shared responsibility and a holistic approach to promoting academic integrity. This shared approach is evident in our annual ‘promoting academic integrity week’.
Proposed Programme - 19th to 23rd October 2020
Rise to the Challenge
All week long
Test your knowledge with two exciting challenges and be in with a chance to win a prize!
- Academic Integrity Challenge
- ‘exCITING’ Library Referencing Challenge
Access the challenges from the Loop top menu. Four €50 One4All vouchers up for grabs.
Make a Declaration
All week long
Declare your support for academic integrity by making a pledge or express what academic integrity means and add your contribution to the student declaration bank on Loop. Be in with a chance to win a €50 One4All voucher.
Access the challenges from the Loop top menu.
#IUADigEd Webinar - Consider how technology can promote academic integrity
Mon 19 Oct, 12:30-13:30
Join us for a lunchtime webinar with colleagues from across higher education to discuss how digital technologies can support academic integrity.
Join: bit.ly/iua19oct
Relaunch of Academic Integrity Hub
Tues 20 Oct, 13:00-13:30
Join us for a lunchtime webinar to explore the features of our Academic Integrity Hub on Loop.
Register: bit.ly/dcu20oct
Commitment to Promoting Academic Integrity
All week long
Explore selected resources on the Academic Integrity Hub and reflect on how your assessment design can promote academic integrity. Earn a digital certificate.
Panel Webinar - The Ethics of Academic Integrity
Wed 21 Oct, 17:15-18:00
The aim of this panel discussion is to reframe the discourse around academic integrity from a policy-driven punitive approach to a sense of personal responsibility driven by our own internal moral compass.
Speakers:
Mohammad Hosseini, School of Theology, Philosophy & Music
Caitlin Grant, SU Humanities & Social Sciences Rep
Billy Kelly, DCU Dean of Teaching and Learning
Chaired by Dr Fiona O’Riordan, Academic Developer, Teaching Enhancement Unit
Register: bit.ly/dcu21oct
Part of International Day of Action against Contract Cheating
Visit our student declarations webpage to see an excerpt of declarations and pledges made by DCU students during Promoting Academic Integrity Week 2020.
#ExcelWithIntegrity
Student winners of a €50 one-4-all voucher are:
Academic Integrity Challenge
Eoghan Harkin
First Year Accounting & Finance Student
Declaration Bank
Rachel Mehta
Emma Quinn
DCU Teaching Enhancement Unit (TEU) worked with partner universities on the INTEGRITY project, funded under the KA2 strand, aimed at enhancing the quality of teaching and learning processes that are based on the principles of academic integrity, supported by policies, mechanisms, and tools that help prevent and detect cases of plagiarism in higher education. As part of this collaboration, TEU developed a resource toolkit for academics to support them in designing assessments that actively encourage academic integrity. The suite of resources advanced for the toolkit includes a literature review publication; a set of twelve principles and related explanations; interactive glossary; self and team checklists; animated scenarios; and a collection of case studies. All resources can be accessed under a Creative Commons license at https://teuintegrityproject.wordpress.com/. Work on resources and learnings from this project is being expanded through the IUA EDTL work and other smaller projects.