Plagiarism and Turnitin

Plagiarism is defined as the practice of taking someone else's work or ideas and passing them off as their own. Credit must be given where credit is due. If one were to use another's idea, then credit must be given to the one that originally did the work and cited correctly. It would be literary theft, and it IS against the law. An original idea is considered to be intellectual property, and copyright laws protect them. Most forms of an original idea are protected by copyright if they are recorded. Plagiarism is a known issue in schools. Why? Reports upon reports are written, as well as, essays...lots of essays. Whew! Students must be held accountable for their work. Their OWN work.

This past week my assignment was about plagiarism and the use of a program called Turnitin; which detects plagiarism. This program compares one's work with other works that have been submitted through the web and then scores it. A high score means that the work is not original, whereas a low score means that it is original. For instance, in class I made a report by copying and pasting material that I found on different websites. I then submitted it through Turnitin and received a score of 98%. Later, I made a report based on my findings, but I used my own words. When I submitted my report, I scored 2%. Huge difference.

Turnitin ties into the NETS-T in the fourth standard; to promote and model digital citizenship and responsibility. Teachers have the responsibility to advocate, model, and to teach safe, legal, and ethical uses of digital information and technology. Respect for copyright, intellectual property, and the appropriate documentation of sources should be taught.

I have previously used Turnitin for submitting essays to my professors. It wasn't used for me as a student to use, to see if my work would be dinged or not. It was used so that my professors knew if my work was original or not. I can see this being used both ways, for a student or a teacher. A student could see where they are wrong, whereas a teacher can see that the student is trying to pass off something as their own. Overall this assignment was easy, and the Turnitin program is simple to use.

Concept Mapping and Kidspiration

Concept maps are organized diagrams that show the relationships between concepts. The main topic is chosen and then branched off are various sub-topics. There are different ways to illustrate with colors, fonts, and pictures that will help make it more organized. How can this be used in education? A teacher can make a concept map to help show understanding of the subject of their choosing. A student can also make concept maps, and this can help them to better grasp a topic. A little fun fact: concept mapping was developed in the early 1980's, by Joseph Novack at Cornell University.

Concept mapping can be tied in with the NETS-T with the first three of the five standards: 1) Facilitate student learning and creativity, 2) Design and develop digital-age learning experiences, and 3) Model digital-age work and learning. In the first standard, facilitating and inspiring student learning and creativity, concept mapping can allow the student to be creative and innovative. It allows students to engage in topics, and it allows them to use a web-based tool to reveal and clarify understanding. In the second standard, designing and developing digital-age learning experiences, a student can design or adapt relevant learning experiences that promotes creativity and learning. It enables students to pursue their curiosities by becoming active in managing their own learning and assessing their progress, as well as addressing the student's learning style, work strategy, and ability. In the third standard, modeling digital-age work and learning, concept mapping can be used to collaborate with other students, and can be used to communicate information and ideas effectively.

My assignment this past week was to make a concept map. I chose the scientific method, geared for 6th-grade science, as my main topic, and then branched off with the six steps being my sub-topics. There are many programs that can be used to make concept maps, but Kidspiration was what we were to use. Kidspiration is a web-based program created for students K-5 and is to help young minds develop creativity, thinking, and literacy. The program was fairly easy to navigate, and I had fun dabbling in the colors and pictures. The only issue I had was trying to figure out how to publish my work. It took me awhile to realize that I had to go to the outline view, to be able to publish. The only downfall to this program is that it costs money. Although it is a good program, I am quickly learning that teacher's like the word FREE. To be innovative is the key. I like the concept mapping idea, and I'm thinking that a map could be done through Word. Just a thought.

Below is my concept map, made using Kidspiration.

ISTE Standards for Teachers

ISTE stands for the International Society for Technology in Education. They are a nonprofit organization that focuses on how to improve both teaching and learning through the integration of technology from grades Pre-K to 12th in schools around the world. ISTE sponsors the National Educational Standards (NETS) project. The project's primary goal is to develop national standards for uses of technology in the classrooms that will help improve our schools. There are standards for students (NETS-S), teachers (NETS-T), and for administrators (NETS-A). Before I graduate, I will need to prove that I possess the knowledge and skill to apply technology into the classroom. Shown below are the five National Educational Standards for Teachers, or the (NETS-T).

5 ISTE Standards for Teachers

1. Facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity

Teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face and virtual environments.

a. Promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness 

b. Engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources 

c. Promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify students’ conceptual understanding and thinking, planning, and creative processes 

d. Model collaborative knowledge construction by engaging in learning with students, colleagues, and others in face-to-face and virtual environments

2. Design and develop digital age learning experiences and assessments 

Teachers design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assessments incorporating contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning in context and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes identified in the Standards•S.

a. Design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity 

b. Develop technology-enriched learning environments that enable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and become active participants in setting their own educational goals, managing their own learning, and assessing their own progress

c. Customize and personalize learning activities to address students’ diverse learning styles, working strategies, and abilities using digital tools and resources 

d. Provide students with multiple and varied formative and summative assessments aligned with content and technology standards, and use resulting data to inform learning and teaching

3. Model digital age work and learning 

Teachers exhibit knowledge, skills, and work processes representative of an innovative professional in a global and digital society.

a. Demonstrate fluency in technology systems and the transfer of current knowledge to new technologies and situations 

b. Collaborate with students, peers, parents, and community members using digital tools and resources to support student success and innovation 

c. Communicate relevant information and ideas effectively to students, parents, and peers using  a variety of digital age media and formats 

d. Model and facilitate effective use of current and emerging digital tools to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use information resources to support research and learning

4. Promote and model digital citizenship and responsibility 

Teachers understand local and global societal issues and responsibilities in an evolving digital culture and exhibit legal and ethical behavior in their professional practices. 

a. Advocate, model, and teach safe, legal, and ethical use of digital information and technology, including respect for copyright, intellectual property, and the appropriate documentation of sources 

b. Address the diverse needs of all learners by using learner-centered strategies providing equitable access to appropriate digital tools and resources 

c. Promote and model digital etiquette and responsible social interactions related to the use of technology and information 

d. Develop and model cultural understanding and global awareness by engaging with colleagues and students of other cultures using digital age communication and collaboration tools

iste.org/standards

5. Engage in professional growth and leadership 

Teachers continuously improve their professional practice, model lifelong learning, and exhibit leadership in their school and professional community by promoting and demonstrating the effective use of digital tools and resources. 

a. Participate in local and global learning communities to explore creative applications of technology to improve student learning 

b. Exhibit leadership by demonstrating a vision of technology infusion, participating in shared decision making and community building, and developing the leadership and technology skills of others 

c. Evaluate and reflect on current research and professional practice on a regular basis to make effective use of existing and emerging digital tools and resources in support of student learning 

d. Contribute to the effectiveness, vitality, and self-renewal of the teaching profession and of their school and community

Standards•T © 2008 International Society for Technology in Education. 

ISTE® is a registered trademark of the International Society  for Technology in Education.

        This information was taken from:  http://www.iste.org/standards/ISTE-standards/standards-for-teachers