Should A Cyberethics Class Be Required? Plagiarism And Online Learning

Abstract

While intellectual property is an umbrella legal term, and copyright is a legal term that relates to print and media rights, plagiarism is less of a legal concern and more policy based. Plagiarism often occurs in the traditional or online classroom. According to recent research, the availability of Internet resources has contributed to the growth of plagiarism among learners. Learners may plagiarize because it is the norm, or because they do not know they are plagiarizing, or they do not have the time to read and cite sources. Some researchers have stated that the main form of cheating [among college students] is plagiarism and that as faculty our role is to educate them on the ethics of cheating". Campbell (2001) stated "Teachers' own philosophical orientations, conscious or not, to moral and ethical issues will ultimately determine how they interpret their professional obligations and their role as moral agents". Online learning, social collaboration tools and resources open the classroom to a world of knowledge. Given the recent research, does social responsibility for educators include some aspect of teaching cyberethics in every course? In this paper the authors will explore the overlapping areas of intellectual property, copyright and plagiarism, and suggest some concepts for educators using online learning and collaboration tools.

Ähnliche Arbeiten