Hi all
There is much to share on this issue, and I agree yes it is one of significant, and increasing concern. I have run numerous workshops on it and am happy to do more if folks would like one as part of a staff development day (for example). I am part of a few projects aimed at tackling it and in the New Year we will have some new information to share. In the meantime tho I recommend the recent QAA report on the issue (after you have answered our survey!)
http://www.qaa.ac.uk/publications/information-and-guidance/publication?PubID=3107#.WBdk6rPSmn8
Phil
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From: Online forum for SEDA, the Staff & Educational Development Association [[log in to unmask]] on behalf of Jason Davies [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 31 October 2016 11:30
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Essay Mills (and contract cheating in general - BBC news article)
Hello Mark (and everyone)
Thanks for mentioning this. I found this Radio 4 piece on Box of
Broadcasts, if your institution has it
(https://learningonscreen.ac.uk/ondemand/index.php/prog/0C6F0F6B?bcast=121592124).
If the link doesn't work, it's the PM programme on 5th May 2016 and from
just before 45 minutes in.
I'm listening to it right now but I recommend people try to get hold of
the recording: it tells of students getting sucked into this via
legitimate tutoring, parental tutoring and so on. It's very unclear when
a line is actually crossed, as it seems to start with tutoring and
comments on essays. Later down the line, students can't face dropping
from 70% on a 'helped' essay to fails. Another interesting point: in
many cases the interviewee says a lot of submitted work is about 50-50
in terms of who did what (he and the student).
He also said that in some areas he guesses about 50% of students are
doing this which means it's in danger of being a critical mass (ie you
suffer if you don't, like in sports with doping).
It's less than 15 minutes long but very worrying!
On 28 Oct 2016, at 12:35, Mark Goodliff wrote:
> Given the recent SEDA thread where assessment design (e.g. 2 day open
> exams) was mentioned in relation to cheating, and the request below, I
> was reminded of a BBC Radio 4 feature from earlier this year, where
> someone who writes to order was interviewed.
>
> It’s not on IPlayer any more, but a quick search revealed that
> there’s a written article from the same story on the BBC website.
> Worth a read (albeit an uncomfortable one) for anyone curious about
> this issue. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-36276324
>
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