Academic Integrity: Importance, Misconduct, and Solutions

This report discusses the concept of academic integrity, its importance in higher education, and the implications of academic misconduct. It explores the core values of academic integrity and the types of misconduct, such as plagiarism and collusion. The report also highlights the consequences of academic misconduct and provides solutions to avoid such practices. It includes a reflection on the steps taken and difficulties encountered in producing a game for Assignment 2. The skills learned throughout the academic year and emphasized in producing the game are also discussed.

Academic Integrity

Table of Contents
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................4
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................4
An Introduction including a description of Academic Integrity ................................................4
A discussion of the importance of academic integrity in higher education................................4
Discuss the implications of academic misconduct......................................................................5
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................6
Reflect on the steps you have taken, and difficulties encountered in producing the game for
Assignment 2...............................................................................................................................6
Reflect on the skills you have learned this academic year and those emphasized in producing
your game....................................................................................................................................8
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
Main objective of this report is to critically analysis the concept of academic integrity. It
means placing all those values into practices by being honest in academic work that a person do
in an university. Academic integrity includes the moral code and ethical policy of academia. This
term is developed by Don McCabe, who is consider as the grandfather of academic integrity. For
this second section of this report Snipping Plagiarism game is taking into consideration. It is a
online fun game which is designed for students for gaining knowledge regarding academic
integrity. This game help them in avoiding plagiarism and any misconduct happening in
academic. This report includes various importance of academic integrity, academic misconducts
and its various types such as plagiarism, collusion, fabrication of data and so on. Other than this
it includes implication for academic misconduct and various solutions for avoiding academic
misconducts.
TASK 1
An Introduction including a description of Academic Integrity
It refers to the values that a person do in a university. The main purpose of all students
and teachers or tutors are not only just to develop and build knowledge and their skills but also
its very important to do all these activities in a way which maximise accuracy and fairness across
the academic community. For achieving higher accuracy and fairness it require to properly
understand and develop various practices and academic skills. Academic integrity describe the
values which are very essential for an university. It includes the five core values which are
Accuracy, honesty, fairness, responsibility, respect. Accuracy means that every work conducted
in university is free from error. Honesty means being truthful about your idea and others idea.
Fairness means not try to gain advantage from unfair means. Responsibility means taking a
active role in their own learning. While in last the most important value is respect which means
always give respect to all fellow students, tutors and work of other students (Abbott and
Nininger, 2021).
A discussion of the importance of academic integrity in higher education
Academic integrity play an essential role in higher education various importance of
academic integrity in higher education is mention below:

 Having policies and promoting academic integrity helps in analysing misconduct and
unlawful activity and remove this misconduct activity.
 Providing proper training to students and staff helps in developing good practices in
maintaining academic integrity.
 Academic integrity allow students and staff to develop the freedom to build new ideas,
knowledge and creative work and also respecting and acknowledging other works.
 Academic integrity helps university in responding all misconducts in a fair, consistent,
transparent and timely manner (Bretag, 2018).
Discuss the implications of academic misconduct
It is said to be unearned benefit which is attained by a student over another by doing a
misconduct. It is considered as inappropriate activity which needs to be monitored on regular
basis.
Types of Misconduct
 Plagiarism: It is an act of using work of other individual in order to draw advantage from
such information without recognition of source of inspiration. It is considered as unlawful
activity which needs to be focused so that such practices can be eliminated from
academic institutes in order to promote integrity. For example, Rephrasing work of
someone else without any proper source is considered as plagiarism (Bretag, 2020).
 Collusion: In reference to academic misconduct, Collusion is considered as cooperation
between two individuals through sharing and working together in order to claim such
work as individual study or data. Such type of practices are majorly found in institutions
where students are using such strategy in order to be relieved from work. For example,
when two students copy same project notes in order to make submission by claiming it as
their own work is considered as collusion.
 Fabrication of information: It is referred to creation, modifications and reporting of
data in unauthorized manner in an academic activity. It includes falsification of
information which is done intentionally in order to draw advantage a specific manner. For
example, Duplication of work which is taken from previous work in current task in order
to complete task so that adequate advantage can be made. It is considered as unlawful
activity which is being taking place in institutes in a large range (Curtis and et. al. 2021).
Implications for Academic Misconduct

By practising such unlawful activities could result in serious penalties and rustication of
such individual or student from respective institution which may result in damage of its image
for future aspects. It is therefore required that institution should implement systematic
procedures in order to avoid such practices from the institution.
Causes
As per Jean Gabriel Guerrero-Dib (2020) academic misconduct is a serious problem
which is mainly faced by academies. Academic integrity is considered as essence for teaching
and learning which needs to be focused on attainment of high standards of learning and integrity.
Through academic misconduct, promotion of practices such as dishonesty, frauds, copying,
plagiarism, etc. are done which is not appropriate for the future of learning institutes. By
adoption of such activities serious actions can be taken over students in term of expel from
institution which may result in bad character of student which might affect its future.
Consequences
UK institutes has introduced various laws and regulations in order to reduce such
activities from their institution. Such regulations includes serious penalties, expel from
respective institute, damage to image, fine penalties and legal suits and so on. Such laws are
being promoted in order to maintain adequate academic integrity for long lasting term (Denham
and et. al. 2020).
Manner to Avoid such Practices
In order to avoid academic misconduct, Students needs to carry their activities in proper
manner in order to eliminate chances to select such options. It is necessary to avoid last minute
submission of projects so that excuse of plagiarism can be eliminated. Sharing of projects needs
to be reduced so that activities such as collusion and fabrication of data are not promoted in any
manner.
TASK 2
Reflect on the steps you have taken, and difficulties encountered in producing the game for
Assignment 2
Reflective cycle is useful in regard of analytical factor and investigating and thinking
regarding the suitable theory and practice with the help of cycle. This framework is useful in

order to self-analyse and assess own skills and also take initiatives to overcome those factors. In
regard of this, Gibbs reflective model is useful and some of its points are discussed as:
Description: Personal development planning is given as the suitable part of subject which
is being assigned to group regarding the creation of game. For this, the game is needed on the
base of University for the Academic misconduct policy and the role of game outline suitable
ways in order to avoid plagiarism and other misbehave. For this tasks are itself was quite easy
and also leads to offer suitable ability in order to choose own partners among 2-3 people and
group. They need to assign straight away the first draft of project at the last minute and does not
have option to leave it quickly. In regard of this, first step was taken in order to meet with
colleagues and discuss regarding the exploring of idea. Discussion took place for the final game
rules and also being agreed with the proper construction of plan for game. Along with this, in
order to start the game, it was classified into the small part considering the positive and negative
impact of card creation, board questions and writing the rules. Furthermore, effective methods of
communication were also being chosen and everything gone in a smooth manner in order to add
things by the group. It was an implication as due to this, one hand the game was already discuss
on the other team and also being already started working on the physical creation (Eaton and
Christensen, 2020).
Feelings: Undertaking the fact that author is quite mature and also felt bit childish in order
to start and moving forward is quite satisfying in order to watch that how authors get engaged in
order to create suitable ideas and providing feedback. For this, the slight disappointment for the
new member of group is all easy task which were left to be done and also being agreed with the
third member as there were no cooperation and also even the simplest thing that were neglected
and also have no choice in order to speak to the tutor regarding the situation. Along with this, the
situation is also demanding and stressful due to they really wanted the members to perform well
and also tends to realise that being an adult need taking responsibilities for the own behaviour.
They also need to appreciate task in terms of making individuals to meet the mark that will be
depend on the understanding of the subject and also not worry regarding the members who did
not wanted to be involved. When looking back to the situation there is a belief that all that could
be done in order to support the person to perform from the group perspective and still feel little
disappointed for the opportunity (Ellis and et. al. 2020).

Evaluation: It represent the idea of what went well and also something which is really
good and also covered all the essential aspects. Group work is quite well planned and went well
as planned things are quite effective to communicate and regular meetings. Moreover, as
discussed that there was an issue with one of group members that they do not had much effect on
the technical part for the creation of game process. Hence all the working factor went well at the
end and also quite happy with the final product at the end (Gottardello and Karabag, 2020).
Analysis: It depict the only problem that occur was mentioned in the group members and it
was really difficult that they are affected for it as the creating thing develop unnecessary stress.
There was not much that could be done in order to avoid things or change the situation as it was
an external factor. For this, the best intention was in the place to support new member for the
work performed was not at the level to complete task all alone. In order to complete the task or
succeed the project which is assigned to students, outstanding team work and effective
communication is required as team was able to finish game before given time (Kassil and Ball,
2021).
Conclusion: It depict the useful experience of the game creators and understanding for the
possible issues that occur while leading the team which is useful in the reflection on skills.
Action plan:
 To become more assertive in order to choose group members.
 Not to develop stress as if there is no possibility to support the person who is not
interested.
 Acknowledge when things are done in correct manner and also celebrate small
achievement (Sheard and et. al. 2018).
Reflect on the skills you have learned this academic year and those emphasized in producing
your game
From the given assignment report writing skills and academic style format is being developed in
me. Moreover, skills which are developed are as: Leadership skills are used in order to lead teams on the personal statement for the
planning subject at the time of creating the game and leading the group report for the
word of work (Sefcik and et. al. 2019). Team work is effective at the workplace at the time of working for any organisation, as it
was working along with the students and feel that something went well.

 Creativity undertaking the well-being of coach that need creative while dealing with
issues and make presentation as the part of group session. Communication is useful for the main tool in game and group project presentation. As
without it is quite doubtful as the projects would be pretty much successful. Time management is useful in order to keep deadlines in game and creating task where
the responsibilities are divided among members. Presentation skills are useful while presenting game and poster.
 Research skills are useful in order to develop and implemented the full course in given
duration as the part of finding suitable things in an effective manner which is useful for
the assignment (Weinthal and et. al. 2019).
CONCLUSION
From above discussion it is concluded that academic integrity play an essential role in
higher educations. It includes five important values such as honesty, fairness, respect,
responsibility and accuracy. Which helps in performing all activities and practices under control
of ethics. In this report various academic integrity misconducts are analysed such as plagiarism,
collusion, fabrication. All these factors influence the environment of university. With the help of
proper monitoring these misconducts or unlawful activities are control.

REFERENCES
Books and journals
Abbott, M.R. and Nininger, J., 2021. Academic integrity in nursing education: Policy
review. Journal of Professional Nursing. 37(2). pp.268-271.
Bretag, T., 2018. Academic integrity. In Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Business and
Management.
Bretag, T., 2020. Introduction to A Research Agenda for Academic Integrity: emerging issues in
academic integrity research. In A Research Agenda for Academic Integrity. Edward
Elgar Publishing.
Curtis, G.J., and et. al. 2021. Developing and evaluating nationwide expert-delivered academic
integrity workshops for the higher education sector in Australia. Higher Education
Research & Development. pp.1-16.
Denham, T., and et. al. 2020. Academic integrity in online exams.
Eaton, S.E. and Christensen Hughes, J., 2020. Academic Integrity in Canada: Edited Book-
Project Launch Meeting.
Ellis, C., and et. al. 2020. Does authentic assessment assure academic integrity? Evidence from
contract cheating data. Higher Education Research & Development. 39(3). pp.454-469.
Gottardello, D. and Karabag, S.F., 2020. Ideal and actual roles of university professors in
academic integrity management: a comparative study. Studies in Higher Education.
pp.1-19.
Kassil, A. and Ball, M., 2021, March. Active Academic Integrity. In Proceedings of the 52nd
ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education (pp. 1284-1284).
Sefcik, L. and et. al. 2019. Mapping the landscape of academic integrity education programs:
what approaches are effective?. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education.
Sheard, J., and et. al. 2018, January. Informing students about academic integrity in
programming. In Proceedings of the 20th Australasian Computing Education
Conference (pp. 113-122).
Weinthal, C.P., and et. al. 2019, October. Academic Integrity Assurance Methods and Tools for
Laboratory Settings. In 2019 IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference (FIE) (pp. 1-6).
IEEE.