Promoting a culture of academic awareness
and honesty
:developing an institutional ‘good academic practices’ website and
understanding how student can and do make use of it
Dr Arlëne G. Hunter
Science Faculty Academic Conduct Officer, The Open University
Background to change
• growing levels of concern about plagiarism and
academic misconduct across HE sector in general
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‘blame’ commonly attributed to misuse of the internet
time pressures
internationalisation and globalisation issues
changing social cultures
• concern as to whether ‘average’ UKOU students are
more or less at risk of poor academic practice than
conventional campus-based peers
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UKOU students: distance, online learning
studying part time and balancing study and life/work demands
typically adult learners returning to/entering HE education
open entry system so no prior qualifications (experience) required
at UG level
Reviewing practice at the UKOU
• Open University (UKOU) set out to review plagiarism
policy and procedures in 2006
– main objectives were to:
• enhance detection integrate systematic text-comparison software
and devise clear guidelines on reporting cases
• revise disciplinary penalties and procedures develop equitable
system of disciplinary penalties to apply across geographically
distributed institute
• promote educational support ensure all stakeholders (students,
staff, external partners) understand what constitutes ‘good academic
practice’ versus plagiarism in HE/UKOU
• Holistic approach needed to actively change awareness
and culture of learning, teaching and academic integrity
Poor practice versus skills development
• Skills development most successful when embedded
in learning (i.e. learning in context)
– BUT need to establish awareness of general academic integrity
‘baseline’ (i.e. what is expected at HE/OU)
Key objective: to engender confidence in individuals at all
academic levels, that they can match to exceed the basic academic
integrity standards expected within their UKOU studies
• Potential issues:
– creating something that was relevant at the institutional level
– dealing with diverse student population (experience, expectations)
– addressing needs and expectations of level/ subject area
• Developing good academic practices (DGAP) website
Methodological approach used
• desirable attributes of site
– provides positive reinforcement
– relates to individual learning context
– encourages self reflection and iterative development
• use constructivist approach to learning progression
– self directed learning
– creates a learning scaffolding to build level and discipline specific
understanding and application
– name of site viewed as crucial: reinforces good practice
Developing good academic practices
Freely accessible soon at http://www.open.ac.uk/openlearn
theoretical understanding
practical skills
policy and penalties
Introduction to the site
Promoting positive skills development
Collaboration versus collusion: generic
Referencing and quoting: course specific
Common Knowledge: discipline specific
Common Knowledge: discipline specific
Whole site ‘Academic Integrity’ Quiz
Example: collaboration or collusion
End of quiz formative feedback
Student usage: initial findings
Key questions:
• what type of student typical is using the site
• how and when are they using it
• what are they accessing most commonly
• role of the formative quizzes
– end of topic
– whole site quizzes
– introductory versus advanced level quizzes
Key issues for all institutes
• student engagement
– need to integrate resource into the pre-existing learning culture effectively
– decide whether to target all students or specific cohorts (level 1, new to study)
• staff awareness
– raise awareness and encourage reactive and proactive use by all staff at all levels
• getting the balance right
– identify areas that can be dealt with generically versus discipline, course and/or level
specific skills development needs
– match learning styles and approaches commonly used online in institute
• promoting self-awareness and enhanced confidence
– develop culture of iterative learning through embedded practice and reinforcement
The Developing good academic practices website will
be publically available through OpenLearn from
July 2010 (http://www.open.ac.uk/openlearn/)
Dr Arlëne G. Hunter
Science Faculty Academic Conduct Officer
The Open University in Ireland
110 Victoria Street
Belfast, Northern Ireland
BT1 3GN
email: A.G.Hunter@open.ac.uk