How do you collaborate with other instructors and institutions to combat plagiarism in e-learning?

1 Define plagiarism and academic integrity

The first step to combat plagiarism is to define what it is and why it matters. Plagiarism is the act of using someone else's words, ideas, or data without proper acknowledgment or citation. Academic integrity is the ethical principle of honesty and fairness in academic work. You should communicate these definitions and expectations to your students clearly and consistently. You can also create a plagiarism policy that outlines the consequences and procedures for dealing with plagiarism cases.

2 Use plagiarism detection tools and services

The second step to combat plagiarism is to use plagiarism detection tools and services that can help you identify and verify the originality of your students' work. There are many online tools and services available, such as Turnitin, PlagScan, or Copyscape, that can compare your students' submissions with millions of sources and generate similarity reports. You can also collaborate with other instructors and institutions that use the same or similar tools and services to share best practices and feedback.

3 Design plagiarism-resistant assignments and assessments

The third step to combat plagiarism is to design plagiarism-resistant assignments and assessments that challenge your students to demonstrate their understanding and application of the course content. You can do this by creating assignments and assessments that are specific, relevant, and creative. For example, you can ask your students to analyze a case study, solve a problem, create a portfolio, or produce a video. You can also vary the topics, formats, and deadlines of your assignments and assessments to reduce the chances of copying or recycling.

4 Provide feedback and guidance

The fourth step to combat plagiarism is to provide feedback and guidance to your students throughout the course. Feedback and guidance can help your students improve their writing and research skills, as well as their confidence and motivation. You can also use feedback and guidance to educate your students about the importance of academic integrity and the proper ways of citing and referencing sources. You can collaborate with other instructors and institutions to share resources and strategies for providing effective feedback and guidance.

5 Foster a culture of academic honesty and collaboration

The fifth step to combat plagiarism is to foster a culture of academic honesty and collaboration among your students, instructors, and institutions. Academic honesty and collaboration can promote a positive and respectful learning environment that values originality and diversity. You can foster a culture of academic honesty and collaboration by modeling ethical behavior, encouraging peer review and feedback, recognizing and rewarding academic excellence, and creating opportunities for cross-cultural and cross-institutional exchange.

6 Respond to plagiarism incidents appropriately

The sixth step to combat plagiarism is to respond to plagiarism incidents appropriately and consistently. Responding to plagiarism incidents can be challenging and time-consuming, but it is necessary to maintain the integrity and reputation of your course and institution. You should follow your plagiarism policy and procedures when dealing with plagiarism cases, and document the evidence and actions taken. You should also collaborate with other instructors and institutions to share information and experiences, and to seek support and advice.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?