I’m just massively impressed by the setting and marking 40 student formative and summative assessments (including detailed feedback)
in only 42 hours – that’s pretty super-efficient
From: learning development in higher education network [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Kim Shahabudin
Sent: 17 May 2016 10:30
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Petition against essay mills
NB Clearly I either can't do maths or words, but that should have been 'just over £5 an hour'...
D'oh.
Dr Kim Shahabudin, SFHEA, Study Adviser, Study Advice & Maths Support
1st Floor, University of Reading Library, Whiteknights, PO Box 223, Reading, RG6 6AE
( 0118 378 4242/4614
: www.reading.ac.uk/studyadvice
twitter: @unirdg_study
Please note that I now work part-time and am not usually on campus on Mondays.
From: Kim Shahabudin
Sent: 17 May 2016 10:01
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: RE: Petition against essay mills
I don't think anyone will disagree with the idea that more formative/innovative assessment is the best practice way to go. Here's the reality.
In additional to my LD work, I teach a subject module as a sessional lecturer on a popular 2nd year course which typically recruits 40 students. This involves (all times approx. minimum):
Contact time in lectures = 10 hours.
Producing slides and handouts = 20 hours.
Researching and producing online reading list = 5 hours.
Setting up and populating VLE = 5 hours.
Answering c.30 student emails = 4 hours.
Setting and marking (with detailed feedback) formative assignments = 12 hours.
Setting and marking summative assignments = 30 hours.
Returning assignments and giving oral feedback = 2 hours.
Liaising with admin office, marking moderator, Director of Teaching and Learning over poor academic practice/plagiarism cases, Senior Tutor over absent students, Disability team over special provisions etc = 4 hours.
Approx. total = 97 hours.
The payment for this was £300, plus £200 additional payment for convening the module. That's less than £5 an hour. This year it was decided to cut the additional payment to £100. So next year I will not teach.
With increasing numbers of sessional lecturers employed to enable the recruitment of larger cohorts and permanent staff under increasing admin burdens plus the pressure to feed the REF monster, time for more formative or thinking about more innovative assessment
is not much more than a lovely dream.
Kim
Dr Kim Shahabudin, SFHEA, Study Adviser, Study Advice & Maths Support
1st Floor, University of Reading Library, Whiteknights, PO Box 223, Reading, RG6 6AE
( 0118 378 4242/4614
: www.reading.ac.uk/studyadvice
twitter: @unirdg_study
Please note that I now work part-time and am not usually on campus on Mondays.
From: learning development in higher education
network [[log in to unmask]] on behalf of Katharine.Reedy [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 17 May 2016 09:32
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Petition against essay mills
Hi
I agree – and it would be great to share some of those innovative approaches to assessment on this list.
Katharine
Katharine Reedy
Digital & Information Literacy Specialist
The Open University
01908 659981 |
[log in to unmask] |
www.open.ac.uk/library
| twitter.com/KathR
From: learning development in higher education
network [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Anna Magyar (EDU)
Sent: 17 May 2016 07:35
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Petition against essay mills
Dear all
following from Jennie's point, I am reminded of Jude Carroll's take on preventing plagiarism: rewarding/assessing the process rather than (as well as?) the product. Easier
said than done but I know there are many innovative approaches to assessment out there, many of which have been presented at WDHE and LDHE conferences.
Anna
Dr Anna Magyar
Research Associate
School of Education
From: learning development in higher education
network <[log in to unmask]> on behalf of Jennie Blake <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, May 16, 2016 7:16 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Petition against essay mills
I wonder as well whether some of this is a symptom of the way we mark in HE. If there are only two or three essays marked per module, the stakes are high
(and the cost low if you are outsourcing I suppose). More formative and frequent assessment might change that equation. (And I know this is already being done some places).
Thanks
Jennie Blake
Sent from my iPhone
On 16 May 2016, at 18:46, Liam Greenslade <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
I'm with Alex on this one. The problem, it seems to me, lies less with these organisations, who merely service a need that exists, and more with the slow pace at which universities have adapted their teaching methods and learning support practices to the changed composition of the student population and the economic structure within which universities now operate.
In the old elite system being a good teacher (as opposed to being a good 'publisher' or good at pulling in research cash) rarely resulted in any significant career benefits. In fact, a concentration on students' learning needs could have a detrimental effect on one's career.
This is compounded by a failure to oppose effectively the highly destructive consequences of funding changes which have turned students into customers who require results for the fees they hand over and lecturers into intellectual entrepreneurs.
Whatever one feels about plagiarism, it seems to me to be acting in some kind of bad faith in seeking to legislate against these organisations when they flourish largely as a result of failings inherent in the HE system as it currently operates.
As Alex suggests a more honest (and I would add a more self-reflective) dialogue with students might be a better starting point.
Liam Greenslade
On 16 May 2016 18:05, "Alexander Cuthbert" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
I may be out of step here, but government legislation would not be my preferred route to address the issue (the fact that it may have an additional impact on those who use such services is just one my concerns). I also have reservations about the statement that ‘If you work hard, act with integrity, be creative and solve problems then you should get ahead in life’. It sounds a little too meritocratic for my taste I’m afraid; ‘All of Us First’ is a mantra doing the rounds in certain circles at the moment and I feel that expresses my sentiments about societal progress more accurately.
I think awareness raising and open discussions about what motivates students to use such services would be a more productive place to start.
Alex
Dr Alex Cuthbert MA(Hons), MPhil(Res), PhD, PgCert, FHEA
Study Skills Adviser
Study Skills Service, LT609
6th floor, Livingstone Tower, 26 Richmond Street, Glasgow G1 1XH
0141 548 4062/4064
My usual office days are Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays (until 2pm)
http://classes.myplace.strath.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=19550
The University of Strathclyde is registered as a charitable body in Scotland, number SC015263.
From: learning development in higher education network [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Nonia Williams (LDC)
Sent: 16 May 2016 15:01
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Petition against essay mills
Dear all
Just to respond to an earlier thread. I am guessing many of you have signed this already/this may well have been round on this list and I missed it... Just in case not:
Warm wishes, Nonia
Nonia Williams Korteling
University of East Anglia
On 3 May 2016 at 10:43, Janette Myers <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
Just to let everyone know that the Advertising Standards Authority have said that they can do nothing as providing this service is not illegal. If the ad has not been removed I will contact TfL, and copy in the PM programme, many thanks for the info and link
Regards
Janette
I work at SGUL Tues-Thurs
Dr Janette Myers SFHEA
Senior Lecturer in Student Learning and Support,
Institute of Medical and Biomedical Education,
6th floor Hunter Wing,
St George's, University of London
Cranmer Terrace
London
SW17 0RE
020 8725 0616
From: learning development in higher education network [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Marieke Guy
Sent: 27 April 2016 13:55
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: essay mills officially advertising on the London Underground
A link to the PM programme on Essay Mills for those interested:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0770qv9
Marieke
From: learning development in higher education network [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Tim Burton
Sent: 27 April 2016 12:29
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: essay mills officially advertising on the London Underground
Colleagues
It may be helpful to say that QAA is currently exploring the issue of these web sites, including whether they are subject to any regulation. We’re also talking to UUK and NUS about the implications, especially in terms of how students can be better protected. We are aiming to report next month having looked at a range of sites and talked to stakeholders.
In the case of the one cited – OKEssays – TfL received complaints about this and they informed the BBC that they would be removing the adverts and reviewing their policy. Listen to last Thursday’s PM programme for more on this (item starts at about 40 mins into the programme)
Another angle from the student perspective is if they are undertaking a professionally accredited programme, especially one which leads to or requires fitness to practise certification. The dishonesty element may result in them being deemed unfit to practise.
I hope this is useful
Tim
Dr Tim P Burton
Head of Standards, Quality and Enhancement
Direct line | +44 1452 55 7159
Email | [log in to unmask]
The UK Quality Code for Higher Education is available at:
From: learning development in higher education network [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Kim Shahabudin
Sent: 27 April 2016 12:19
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: essay mills officially advertising on the London Underground
My suspicion is that using the essay would not necessarily count as fraud (universities having their own laws) but any advantage gained by it outside the university might (e.g. getting a place on a graduate training scheme, acquiring professional status etc). Either way, it's the student rather than the essay provider who is at fault.
Like offshore tax schemes, immoral but not illegal...
Kim
Dr Kim Shahabudin, SFHEA, Study Adviser, Study Advice & Maths Support
1st Floor, University of Reading Library, Whiteknights, PO Box 223, Reading, RG6 6AE
( 0118 378 4242/4614 : MailScanner has detected a possible fraud attempt from "www.owamail.reading.ac.uk" claiming to be www.reading.ac.uk/studyadvice twitter: @unirdg_study
Please note that I now work part-time and am not usually on campus on Mondays.
From: learning development in higher education network [[log in to unmask]] on behalf of LENT Neil [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 27 April 2016 12:01
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: essay mills officially advertising on the London UndergroundI guess it actually depends on what he law says and what would happen if a case were carried forward. Having had a quick look at the interweb I wonder if someone commissioned and used an essay from one of these services whether it would count as fraud by misrepresentation (Fraud Act 2006)?
Cheers,
Neil
Dr Neil Lent SFHEA
Lecturer in University Learning and Teaching
Institute for Academic Development University of Edinburgh
1 Morgan Lane
Edinburgh
EH8 8FP
Tel: 0131 651 7199
Email: [log in to unmask]
To join the IAD's learning and teaching mailing list:
Check out the learning and teaching team blog at:
http://iad4learnteach.wordpress.com/
Or follow us on twitter @iad4learnteach
The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body, registered in Scotland, with registration number SC005336.
_________________________________________
From: Louise Livesey [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 27 April 2016 11:28
To: LENT Neil <[log in to unmask]>; [log in to unmask]
Subject: RE: essay mills officially advertising on the London Underground
It all depends on whether you think plagiarism is illegal or not – I would guess there are few plagiarising students who have been accused of a crime leading to arrest, and it is students we are considering here as opposed to academic staff having their work ‘stolen’? If student plagiarism is not a crime, ie Uni policies and procedures are such that students are disciplined or expelled but not arrested, then this company’s services are not illegal either. That doesn’t make it right, but isn’t it up to the student, after being properly informed through induction, tutoring, etc, to decide if they want to take the risk? We expect students to be independent – let’s educate them as to the potential issues with such a company and service, and leave them to it.
Don’t get me wrong – I don’t like it either, but there’s lots of ads and company practices I consider immoral without them being illegal – business is business.
Louise
Louise Livesey
HE Academy Associate Fellow
Steering Group Member ALDinHE
Academic Skills Adviser
Academic Skills Advice
University of Bradford
BD7 1DP
Phone: 01274 233692
Email: [log in to unmask]
Web: www.bradford.ac.uk/academic-skills
From: learning development in higher education network [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of LENT Neil
Sent: 27 April 2016 11:14
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: essay mills officially advertising on the London Underground
I too have just looked at their site. I presume the blatant nature of their advertising indicates that this practice is lawful?
Cheers,
Neil
Dr Neil Lent SFHEA
Lecturer in University Learning and Teaching
Institute for Academic Development University of Edinburgh
1 Morgan Lane
Edinburgh
EH8 8FP
Tel: 0131 651 7199
Email: [log in to unmask]
To join the IAD's learning and teaching mailing list:
Check out the learning and teaching team blog at:
http://iad4learnteach.wordpress.com/
Or follow us on twitter @iad4learnteach
The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body, registered in Scotland, with registration number SC005336.
_________________________________________
From: learning development in higher education network [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Kim Shahabudin
Sent: 27 April 2016 11:09
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: essay mills officially advertising on the London Underground
Wow. Just looked at OKEssay's website. I was going to say that it's quite difficult to get a complaint to stick against these people because they usually claim that they're just providing models for students to learn from and they expressly say that students should not submit other people's work as their own. But OKEssay are quite astonishingly blatant about their purpose.
Scary stuff.
Kim
Dr Kim Shahabudin, SFHEA, Study Adviser, Study Advice & Maths Support
1st Floor, University of Reading Library, Whiteknights, PO Box 223, Reading, RG6 6AE
( 0118 378 4242/4614 : MailScanner has detected a possible fraud attempt from "www.owamail.reading.ac.uk" claiming to be www.reading.ac.uk/studyadvice twitter: @unirdg_study
Please note that I now work part-time and am not usually on campus on Mondays.
From: learning development in higher education network [[log in to unmask]] on behalf of Heather Campbell [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 27 April 2016 10:02
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: essay mills officially advertising on the London UndergroundHi Janette,
There is an advert for OKessay at Stepney Green tube station and I know that there has been talk on twitter among QMUL colleagues about putting in a complaint to ASA. Seems like OKessay are targeting stations near universities.
Best wishes,
Heather
Dr Heather Campbell
Learning Development Assistant
Learning Development, Student Services Directorate
Mile End Library
Queen Mary, University of London
Mile End Road, London
E1 4NS
Tel: 020 7882 3778
Email: [log in to unmask] | [log in to unmask]
www.learningdevelopment.qmul.ac.uk | www.thinkingwriting.qmul.ac.uk
<image001.png>@QMULLD <image002.png> qmul.learning.development
From: learning development in higher education network [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Janette Myers
Sent: 27 April 2016 09:52
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: essay mills officially advertising on the London Underground
Dear All
I’ve been really shocked to see an essay mill, OKessay.co.uk officially advertising on posters on the London Underground. We all know it happens and have seen fly posters, but this seems to say it’s an acceptable thing to do. I got a photo of one today at South Kensington and intend to report it to the Advertising Standards Authority, they are near universities, there’s one at Euston, so if you work at a London HEI have a look at your nearest station. I know they measure the number of complaints, so wondered if anyone else wanted to make a separate one, citing the one at South Kensington, this is the link https://www.asa.org.uk/Consumers/How-to-complain.aspx and whether ALDinHE could complain as an association which would carry more weight?
Regards
Janette
I work at SGUL Tues-Thurs
Dr Janette Myers SFHEA
Senior Lecturer in Student Learning and Support,
Institute of Medical and Biomedical Education,
6th floor Hunter Wing,
St George's, University of London
Cranmer Terrace
London
SW17 0RE
020 8725 0616
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