Presented at LILAC 2007

1. 1 © Netskills Quality Internet Training, University of Newcastle
Start 'em young
– the importance of exploring and
deterring plagiarism in schools
Lucy Keating (née McKeever)
© Netskills, Quality Internet Training, University of Newcastle
Partly funded by the
lucy.keating@ncl.ac.uk
http://www.netskills.ac.uk/

2. 2 © Netskills Quality Internet Training, University of Newcastle
Topics
Background to the project
The workshop
Issues emerging
Recommendations

3. 3 © Netskills Quality Internet Training, University of Newcastle
The Project
 Netskills – deliver staff development and
consultancy on Internet-related topics
 Autumn 2006 – awarded funding by the
Eduserv Foundation Information Literacy
Programme
 Four workshops about plagiarism
 Two workshops about information skills for teachers
 Supplemented by online survey
 Why plagiarism as a topic?
 High profile issue in schools
 Concern and action from exam
boards
 Themes emerging from
Netskills' plagiarism workshop

4. 4 © Netskills Quality Internet Training, University of Newcastle
The Workshop
Based on Netskills' 'Detecting and Deterring
Plagiarism' workshop
 Research, consultation and survey of teaching
staff to identify key issues
 Workshop adapted for secondary school context
 Content covered: definitions;
positive and negative impact
of the web on plagiarism;
deterring and dealing with it
 Mix of talks, group discussion,
scenarios and hands-on

5. 5 © Netskills Quality Internet Training, University of Newcastle
Issues Emerging
 Different perceptions and approaches
 Pupils' ability levels a key factor
 Sloppiness or cynicism?
 Where to draw the 'acceptability' line?
 e.g. concerns over 'scaffolding' and writing frames
 How does the problem manifest itself?
 Pupils copying from each other
 Using external sources (e.g. web sites)
without appropriate acknowledgement
 Excessive parental 'help' –
the most sensitive issue to handle!
 Buying coursework online
relatively rare

6. 6 © Netskills Quality Internet Training, University of Newcastle
Recommendations
 More strategic approach needed
 Guidance and policies vary greatly
within and between schools
 More awareness of exam board
guidance
 Regional and national networks
 Links with universities
 Targeted teacher and pupil guidance
 School library staff keen to be more
involved
 Online tutorials and resources need to be adapted for schools
 Detection software
 Interesting but more feasible for exam boards than schools
 Concerns over some QCA and exam board recommendations
 Move back to exams ignores the reasons for moving to
coursework in the first place?

7. 6 © Netskills Quality Internet Training, University of Newcastle
Recommendations
 More strategic approach needed
 Guidance and policies vary greatly
within and between schools
 More awareness of exam board
guidance
 Regional and national networks
 Links with universities
 Targeted teacher and pupil guidance
 School library staff keen to be more
involved
 Online tutorials and resources need to be adapted for schools
 Detection software
 Interesting but more feasible for exam boards than schools
 Concerns over some QCA and exam board recommendations
 Move back to exams ignores the reasons for moving to
coursework in the first place?