NPHS SCIENCE: ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
In science, homework is a tool that helps you check your understanding of the concepts being taught
as well as to further your understanding of those concepts. Labs and activity questions are used as an
assessment of an individual student’s knowledge, much like an essay in English is an assessment of a
student’s writing ability and understanding of a body of literature.
Homework: Homework will consist of worksheets, bookwork, online (virtual) labs and simulations (ex: phets by the
University of Colorado), pre-labs, and finishing laboratory reports. Students should feel free to discuss problem-solving
strategies with each other. However, anything that is written down to be turned in MUST be representative of your
understanding and in your own words. Turning in and misrepresenting another student’s work as your own is considered
academic dishonesty (see Board policy on academic honesty, Bd. Pol 5131.9).
In Chemistry and Physics (math-based sciences), students are expected to check the answers to worksheets and
bookwork online on the class website in order to clarify misunderstandings and errors in mathematical processing. In the
life-based sciences and Geoscience, an answer key may be posted the day after the work is due. These keys are only to
be used to check your work; there will be time to discuss homework questions at the beginning of each class period or by
appointment with your instructor.
Academic Honesty: Due to the nature of the work in this class, you will be asked to work collaboratively as well as
individually; however, collaborating does not mean providing answers for another student or allowing someone else to do
your work (or thinking). Examples of acceptable collaboration include sharing raw data with lab partners and/or verbally
discussing/explaining concepts. Examples of unacceptable collaboration include sharing the calculations, lab set up
diagrams, and the narrative portions of lab write-ups (including, but not limited to, the abstract, procedure, theory, and
conclusion). In all of these, you are expected to express your findings and individual thinking in your own words. If, at any
time, directions are unclear about the limits of acceptable collaboration, it is your responsibility to ask for clarification. If
you find yourself unable, at any time, to verify what acceptable collaboration on any assignment is, then work individually.
NEVER EMAIL/TEXT/SHOW YOUR LAB REPORT (or portions thereof) TO A LAB PARTNER OR A FRIEND! What
you turn in must be YOUR IDEAS (either written or mathematical) and representative of YOUR understanding.
Specific examples of acceptable problem solving
strategies:
 How do you solve for “x?”
 Why do I need to solve for “x?”
 Online search for a definition/concept (What is
osmosis? How does mass affect gravity?)
Specific examples of unacceptable problem solving
strategies:
 What did you get for question #2?
 Online search for a specific answer/answer keys.
 During any lab, accessing the internet for
answers/concept clarification (unless specifically
directed to look for concept clarification by your
instructor)
Specific examples of acceptable discussion of
concepts:
 “I don’t understand what the question is asking;
can you explain the question to me?”
 What makes something an experimental error?
 “Can you explain DNA replication to me (or other
biological process: protein synthesis, cellular
respiration, how to solve 2 gene crosses)?”
Specific examples of unacceptable discussion of
concepts:
 What experimental errors did you get?
 What data did you graph?
EXAMPLE: Post lab question states: What results would you expect if the experiment started with a glucose and IKI
solution inside the bag and only starch and water outside? Why?
o Acceptable question to ask a peer: “Can you explain why certain substances can move into/out of the
bag while others can’t?” (This is concept clarification.)
o Unacceptable question to ask a peer: Which molecules would move into the bag and which would
move out of the bag? (This is asking for the answer.)
STUDENT SIGNATURE: _________________________ PARENT SIGNATURE: _______________________
NPHS SCIENCE: ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
In science, homework is a tool that helps you check your understanding of the concepts being taught
as well as to further your understanding of those concepts. Labs and activity questions are used as an
assessment of an individual student’s knowledge, much like an essay in English is an assessment of a
student’s writing ability and understanding of a body of literature.
Homework: Homework will consist of worksheets, bookwork, online (virtual) labs and simulations (ex: phets by the
University of Colorado), pre-labs, and finishing laboratory reports. Students should feel free to discuss problem-solving
strategies with each other. However, anything that is written down to be turned in MUST be representative of your
understanding and in your own words. Turning in and misrepresenting another student’s work as your own is considered
academic dishonesty (see Board policy on academic honesty, Bd. Pol 5131.9).
In Chemistry and Physics (math-based sciences), students are expected to check the answers to worksheets and
bookwork online on the class website in order to clarify misunderstandings and errors in mathematical processing. In the
life-based sciences and Geoscience, an answer key may be posted the day after the work is due. These keys are only to
be used to check your work; there will be time to discuss homework questions at the beginning of each class period or by
appointment with your instructor.
Academic Honesty: Due to the nature of the work in this class, you will be asked to work collaboratively as well as
individually; however, collaborating does not mean providing answers for another student or allowing someone else to do
your work (or thinking). Examples of acceptable collaboration include sharing raw data with lab partners and/or verbally
discussing/explaining concepts. Examples of unacceptable collaboration include sharing the calculations, lab set up
diagrams, and the narrative portions of lab write-ups (including, but not limited to, the abstract, procedure, theory, and
conclusion). In all of these, you are expected to express your findings and individual thinking in your own words. If, at any
time, directions are unclear about the limits of acceptable collaboration, it is your responsibility to ask for clarification. If
you find yourself unable, at any time, to verify what acceptable collaboration on any assignment is, then work individually.
NEVER EMAIL/TEXT/SHOW YOUR LAB REPORT (or portions thereof) TO A LAB PARTNER OR A FRIEND! What
you turn in must be YOUR IDEAS (either written or mathematical) and representative of YOUR understanding.
Specific examples of acceptable problem solving
strategies:
 How do you solve for “x?”
 Why do I need to solve for “x?”
 Online search for a definition/concept (What is
osmosis? How does mass affect gravity?)
Specific examples of unacceptable problem solving
strategies:
 What did you get for question #2?
 Online search for a specific answer/answer keys.
 During any lab, accessing the internet for
answers/concept clarification (unless specifically
directed to look for concept clarification by your
instructor)
Specific examples of acceptable discussion of
concepts:
 “I don’t understand what the question is asking;
can you explain the question to me?”
 What makes something an experimental error?
 “Can you explain DNA replication to me (or other
biological process: protein synthesis, cellular
respiration, how to solve 2 gene crosses)?”
Specific examples of unacceptable discussion of
concepts:
 What experimental errors did you get?
 What data did you graph?
EXAMPLE: Post lab question states: What results would you expect if the experiment started with a glucose and IKI
solution inside the bag and only starch and water outside? Why?
o Acceptable question to ask a peer: “Can you explain why certain substances can move into/out of the
bag while others can’t?” (This is concept clarification.)
o Unacceptable question to ask a peer: Which molecules would move into the bag and which would
move out of the bag? (This is asking for the answer.)
STUDENT SIGNATURE: _________________________ PARENT SIGNATURE: _______________________