As a teacher, you are probably well aware of the dangers of plagiarism. Unfortunately, some students don’t realize the seriousness of this academic dishonesty until it’s too late. That’s why it’s important for teachers to identify stolen and copied student work quickly and efficiently.
The purpose of detecting different kinds of plagiarism is not to punish the students, but to teach them to respect other people’s work and become more creative and original themselves. In the following, we’re discussing ways that can help teachers prevent plagiarism in their classrooms.
Using Plagiarism Checker Tools
Sometimes students don’t have enough time or the ability to research a topic thoroughly. This makes Google the number one place where students look to copy their homework. A verified plagiarism checker tool can easily prove that a text is plagiarized. This software can even provide links to websites that contain the original content, as well as grammatical errors.
It’s a good idea to inform your students that you use a plagiarism checker to encourage them to create something new and unique. Sometimes, students rephrase sentences from online sources but the plagiarism checker will also be able to detect this, as rephrasing takes years to master and it can be extremely hard.
Sometimes, the student doesn’t know that the document has been plagiarized. Teachers should make time to explain the basics of plagiarism and its consequences.
Talk to Your Students About Intellectual Property
The topic of intellectual property should be introduced early in the semester. Give students clear guidelines and policies regarding plagiarism. Teachers can help students appreciate other people’s work by instilling a healthy fear of copying another person’s work.
Show students real examples of plagiarism to help them understand the concept. Students can practice paraphrasing, copying, and citing with comments before they turn in their final works.
Students should be aware that there are many resources available at universities, including the writing center and reference librarians. You can avoid plagiarism accusations by using tutorials or plagiarism tests.
Give Your Students Efficient Projects
Another tactic to stop plagiarism is to create tasks that are deliberately difficult or impossible for others to copy. This goal can be achieved by scaffolding students’ writing and research in a variety of ways.
Ask them to create a proposal that details their topic, research question, sources, and timeline. Another option is to have students create annotated bibliographies before creating a rough copy. This will eventually lead to the final paper. Students benefit from scaffolding by receiving constructive criticism and being able to correct their mistakes.
It is more difficult to plagiarize or outsource creative assignments that are specific to current circumstances. You might want to encourage your students to make connections between the lessons they are learning and other factors such as news stories, recent events, and their personal lives.
Always Be Available to Help Your Students
Encouragement of confidence in children is a key step to preventing plagiarism. Students are less likely to copy from others if they feel confident about their abilities. Students can be empowered by using scaffolding, as well as creating clear expectations through rubrics, and encouraging students to develop a learning attitude.
Make Your Classroom Acceptable for All Students
The teacher is both the friend and master of the student. Students who feel this way are more likely not only to behave better but also to do better in school. Students who feel they cannot speak up to professors may be less inclined to express their opinions and thoughts in class. They don’t know if they will be heard and if their ideas will be taken into consideration. Copying is less common among students if they don’t feel it’s acceptable.
Teach Your Students Responsibility
Students need to be aware that plagiarism can have a negative impact on their grades as well as their career prospects. Students should learn about the consequences and ways to prevent copying in the future. Copying someone else’s work without credit is unethical and dishonest, and can also result in a lower or even failing grade.
Students who are aware of plagiarism should admit that they did it and take responsibility. The teacher should remind the students of the importance to create original work and if necessary, take disciplinary action against them.
Bottom Line
Plagiarism is a serious issue and teachers must be proactive in order to prevent it. By providing clear guidance, using technology tools, and creating opportunities for discussion, teachers can help their students understand what plagiarism is and how to avoid it. Hopefully, by following the tips provided, you’ll bring plagiarism in your classroom down to the bare minimum.