Stacking the Deck: Is High Tech Helping Students Cheat?

Stacking the Deck: Is High Tech Helping Students Cheat?

This is a well written article from McGill University that addresses academic integrity issues at the University level. According to the article, cheating has increased and methods to combat dishonest behaviour are meeting with outcries from students. Many students do not like the notion that their papers are looked upon as being plagerized until they are proven (by such databases as Turn It In) to be original. Others resent the fact that their papers become part of the database and claim the database companies are essentially making money using students' materials without offering any compensation. Still others cite unfairness because many universities do not permit students to have the option to decline having their paper scanned for plagiarism. With all this student generated controversy, universities can easily become hand-tied.

My thought is that it is a shame that today's students aren't spending more time protesting real world problems that need attention rather than decrying university policies that strive to eliminate dishonest and dishonorable behaviour.