Updated suite of digital learning materials supporting students’ knowledge and understanding of plagiarism and citing and referencing
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A SATLE Funded Project
Project Title: Academic Integrity: Developing of an updated suite of digital learning materials supporting students’ knowledge and understanding of plagiarism and citing and referencing
Team Member(s): Lisa Callaghan, Ellen Breen
Audience: Library (All students)
Aims/Objectives: LETS is the Library’s online information literacy tutorial which is an important component of the library’s programme of information and digital literacy teaching. Available via Loop (DCU’s VLE), LETS and can be used as a flexible self-directed learning tool or embedded by lecturers into programmes/modules as a compulsory or optional element. In addition to text content and learning activities, there is a suite of video recordings of academics and students discussing the importance of citing and referencing, avoiding plagiarism and how best to evaluate information sources.
The aim of this project was to create a new suite of up to date videos on plagiarism/citing and referencing/evaluating sources which would involve a number of interviews with academics, relevant professional support units (e.g. writing centre) as well as input from the student community. Capturing the student voice is an essential element.
The project resulted in the production of 5 videos on the theme of citing referencing (avoiding plagiarism) and how best to evaluate sources.
We engaged the services of DCU Communications, Marketing and Events Department who filmed and edited the videos. The project team recruited volunteers from academic staff, students and staff from the Writing Centre to participate in the project.
Participants submitted scripts in advance and filming took place over 2 days. The resulting videos were published on YouTube and embedded into relevant sections of the Library LETS Tutorial.
The videos are linked here:
Lecturer Tips on Citing and References
Lecturer Tips on Evaluating Sources
Student Tips on Evaluating and Citing Sources
Library Support for Citing and Referencing
Writing Centre Support for Assignment Writing
The project resulted in the production of 5 videos which have now been embedded into the LETS tutorial. Information and digital literacy are recognised as key transversal skills and LETS facilitates embedding these skills into the curriculum. Avoiding plagiarism by citing & referencing correctly plays an important role in educating students on the importance of and how to uphold academic integrity, this is the main focus of four units of the tutorial. Furthermore, completion of LETS was made compulsory for first year programmes within the School of English. The School of English has reported a marked reduction in plagiarism cases following the introduction of LETS as a compulsory element. Other programmes/modules across all facilities have also followed this model.
These videos play a vital role in supporting the tutorial content by providing a real perspective from DCU lecturers and students and endorsing key concepts in the tutorial.
The LETS tutorial is continuously reviewed and updated so having these videos updated is an important element in keeping the content relevant and up to date. The experience gained by the team on video production has been invaluable and will feed into similar updates in the future. Since completing these we have also worked on the development of videos with another university unit.
A key takeaway was an enhanced understanding of the video production process, especially the principles of effective script writing. Also, the importance of a contingency plan when things don't go to plan is crucial. Due to extenuating circumstances outside our control, the initial recordings did not make it to the production stage and had to be re-shot which resulted in the project deadline being pushed back. We kept our local SATLE representative updated throughout and their support really valuable.