Academic Integrity: Values, Skills, Action (FutureLearn)

Specifically, each week contains videos, articles, activities and quizzes that will help you develop the knowledge and skills needed to be a successful and ethical learner. There will also be opportunities for you to discuss your ideas with other students on the course and learn from their experiences and points of view.

By the end of the course, we hope you’ll come to understand the meaning of academic integrity and how to avoid academic dishonesty, misconduct and plagiarism but more importantly we hope you will also embrace the values associated with academic integrity as your own.

Additionally, and equally importantly, this course will help you develop study skills and academic writing skills needed to act in accordance with those values, and thus achieve with integrity.

What topics will you cover?

WEEK 1: What is academic integrity? Why is it important?

The meaning of academic integrity and the fundamental values associated with it

The importance of academic integrity in academia

Transitioning to university from different environments and adjusting to new norms and values

WEEK 2: What is academic dishonesty and how to avoid it?

Examples of academic dishonesty including plagiarism

Strategies for avoiding plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty

Most common rationalisations used to excuse academic dishonesty

Dealing with unexpected events which may contribute to academic dishonesty

Avoiding academic dishonesty when working on assignments—individually or in groups

WEEK 3: Achieving with integrity : using the work of others

Respecting the work of others

Referencing, summarizing, paraphrasing and quoting

WEEK 4: Achieving with integrity: gearing up for study

Study skills which cultivate academic integrity including: time management, study planning, tips to work in groups, critical reading and note taking, essay writing, studying for exams

What will you achieve?

- Reflect on the meaning and importance of academic integrity as well as the values associated with it

- Identify actions which constitute academic dishonesty and how to avoid it

- Explore how to use the work of others with integrity

- Develop key study skills which foster academic integrity