Academic Integrity as a Teaching & Learning Issue: From Theory to Practice

Abstract

In 2008, I argued that a new approach to academic integrity in the 21st century was needed because the dominant approaches had been proven to be relatively ineffective (Bertram Gallant, 2008). This new approach, the teaching and learning approach, challenged educators to situate integrity practices within the goal of improving student learning, in essence shifting the focus from how educators could stop students from cheating to how they could ensure students are learning (Bertram Gallant, 2008, p. 112).

I argued that this shift could be realized through “fostering a learning-oriented environment, improving instruction, enhancing institutional support for teaching and learning, and reducing institutional constraints to teaching and learning” (Bertram Gallant, 2008, p. 89). Although the latter 2 strategies are critical for realizing the teaching and learning approach, I do not address them here. Instead, I focus on applying empirical research to elucidate the practical methods faculty can use in the classroom to foster learning orientations and improve instruction. I will also introduce a 5th strategy of the teaching and learning approach—leveraging the cheating moment as a teachable moment. This 5th strategy is instrumental for faculty members who hope to create a teaching and learning environment in which cheating is the exception and integrity the norm.

Additional Resources

1. The Academic Integrity Standards Project http://aisp.apfei.edu.au/

   This web site hosts research and materials developed as a result of the Academic Integrity Standards Project in Australia, a project that examined how universities educate and inform students about academic integrity. This web site is useful for institutions (located anywhere in the world) that are beginning to examine how they might create institutional supports for a teaching and learning approach to academic integrity.

2. The International Center for Academic Integrity www.academicintegrity.org

   Any institution interested in treating academic integrity as a teaching and learning issue should join the International Center for Academic Integrity (ICAI). ICAI is the leading organization for academic integrity and helps institutions around the world take a teaching and learning approach to academic integrity. Their annual conference is a particularly good opportunity for students, staff and faculty to learn more about the strategies that can help make cheating the exception and integrity the norm.

3. The Team Based Learning Collaborative http://www.teambasedlearning.org/

   This web site offers faculty members the materials needed to transition from leading passive to active learning environments using team-based learning (TBL). It describes TBL, offers research on the effectiveness of TBL, and numerous teaching resources. This is the only site someone needs to get started with team-based learning.