The internet is flooded with pictures and samples of music that provide no information where they came from, unless you already know.  Students borrow from various sources, not know that credit needs to be given to its creator.  Academic honesty is a challenge as many students do not know/comprehend what plagiarism is in the first place.  In some cases, students are encouraged to copy from text without giving an indication of where the information was taken from.  (The fact that everyone is using the same material is no excuse for not giving credit.)

Teaching students about academic honesty doesn’t have to be arduous and full of obscure terminology.  An entertaining YouTube video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgWiUT6XPWk) provides a launching point for a discussion about what academic honesty looks like in my specific courses.  Introducing this topic early in the course, before students are tasked with referencing different documentaries and documents, would (hopefully) avoid a tough conversation later on.

The aspects of academic honesty that are relevant to my specific Technology Integration Activity project are respect (for the original ideas) and fairness (everyone being on the same level).   Fairness becomes more important within a blended model of synchronous and asynchronous participants.  Ensuring that all learners have access to the same resources is the best way to provide equity within the course.  Students will need to be made aware that one group is not getting more than the other and that resources are to be shared openly.

Testimonials and documentaries make up a large portion of the Social Justice and Genocide Studies courses that I have been focusing on.  Information about often a vulnerable time in someone’s life or a sensitive topic need to be shown the respect that they deserve.  Citing the original ideas is more impactful than claiming them as ones own.  Bringing in the social structure of the local groups, especially in regards to sacred knowledge and names, would be a clear way to show students what is expected of them in regards to their work.