Integrity in the Classrooms Without Policing or

Punishment

Spring 2016

2016 Conference on Higher Education Pedagogy

Tay Keong Tan9.00 am February 11th, 2016,

Cascades RoomDept of Political Science

I shall uphold the values and ideals of Radford University by engaging in responsible behavior and striving always to be accountable for my actions while holding myself and others to the highest moral and ethical standards of academic integrity and good citizenship as defined in the Standards of Student Conduct.

Radford University’s Honor Pledge

The Honor System provides the foundation for a university community in which freedom, trust and respect can prevail. In accepting admission, each student makes a commitment to support and uphold the Honor System without compromise or exception. Individuals have the responsibility to be honorable in their own conduct and to insist other students act honorably.Lying, cheating and stealing are considered to be acts of dishonor, and will, therefore, cause a student to be subject to temporary or permanent suspension from the university community. Students who commit an honor violation or any members of the university community who have knowledge that a student has committed an honor violation are expected to comply with the reporting procedures.

The Honor System…is supposed to “encourage a culture of fairness and integrity, promote individual and collective responsibility, and foster strong bonds of trust between students and faculty.” (Charles Lipson, Doing Honest Work in College, 2008, p.32)

Is that true for your class?

Do Honor Systems Work?

Reference: CBS

Do Honor Systems Work?

Reference: collegemagazine.com

Do Honor Systems Work?

Reference: Slate.com

Reference:

Is Honor Possible Among Sharks?

Integrity in the Classrooms1. What can I, as an instructor, do in my classroom to safeguard the integrity of the honor system? 2. Just as learning analytics and the science of teaching can improve instruction, what evidence-based practices can inform the management of integrity? 3. How can I foster honest learning without resorting to policing and punishment?

Small Group Discussion1. What are the top 5 reasons students say cause their peers to cheat, lie, or steal?

5 mins2. What kind of instructor behavior and course design tend to promote integrity among students and interest in learning?

5 mins3. What course designs or strategies can foster honest learning without resorting to policing and punishment?

5 mins

Honor

System

What is it, really?

Now what?What works?

What my research in RU reveals?1. Last-minute work –

procrastination2. Short cuts to grades – impulsivity3. Pressure to succeed – imposed or

imagined4. High-stakes tests or assignments5. Gamesmanship – rule-benders6. Brinksmanship – free-riders7. Inaccessible instructors8. Unclear instructions/prohibitions9. Lack awareness of risks and

consequences

Honor among Students?

“conveyor belt of teeth”

Predatory BehaviorImpulsivity

“no operculum, must keep moving to breath”

Procrastination Territoriality

“tough skin, prickly dermal denticles”“evolutionary survivors”

What the “Best Practices” Suggest1. Self-regulated learning (Nilson,

2013)2. Expansion of learning strategies,

building relationships and sharing power with students, and use of reflections and meaningful discussions (Doyle, 2011)

3. Growth vs. fixed mindsets (Dweck, 2008)

4. Fear and command vs. receptivity and persuasion (HBR, March 1978)

5. Implementation failures. “There are no bad soldiers, …” (various management sites)

Good Behavior without Policing or Punishment?1. Rider, Elephant, Path – point to

the outcome, manage the sentiments, tweak the environment (Heath & Heath, 2010)

2. Successful Outliers and 10,000 hours of practice – genius is a function of time and not innate talent (Gladwell, 2008)

3. Mr. Wonderful’s #1 Advice: Integrity is a foundation knowledge to be taught (www.entrepreneur.com)

Select References• Doyle, T. (2011). Learner-Centered Teaching: Putting the Research on

Learning into Practice, Sterling, VA: Stylus.• Dweck, C. (2008). Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, New York, NY:

Random House.• Fink, L. (2013). Creating Significant Learning Experiences: An Integrated

Approach to Designing College Courses. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.• Lang, J. (2013). Cheating Lessons: Learning from Academic Dishonesty.

Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.• Lipson, C. (2008). Doing Honest Work in College. Chicago, IL: University of

Chicago Press.• Nilson, L. (2013). Creating Self-Regulated Learners: Strategies to

Strengthen Students’ Self-Awareness and Learning Skills. Sterling, VA: Stylus.

• Oyekan, O. (2007). Academic Integrity: Study and Guide. United States: Xlibris.