Academic integrity and the role of learning development

Abstract

Learning Development (LD) is a supportive function within an educational environment. Learning Developers walk alongside students to develop academic skills and practice, and guide individuals throughout their academic journey through a variety of empowering approaches. One such function is raising awareness of academic integrity within academia and the role individuals can play to uphold it. Academic integrity is concerned with six key principles: honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility, and courage (ICAI, 2021). Across the UK, many institutions and LD practitioners have designed and delivered courses, quizzes, tutorials, and events to promote academic integrity. These range from whole institution activities through piecemeal touchpoints. Academic integrity sessions are designed to encourage individual and original work, building on the shoulder of others, giving credit where due and avoiding plagiarism and unfair practice. Emerging from a global pandemic and experiencing a technological revolution, such as ChatGPT3, in this brave new rapidly expanding digital world, several questions arise: What is the role of Learning Developers in assessment design? What is the role of Learning Developers in academic offences panels? What training do Learning Developers need? How can Learning Development take leadership in promoting academic integrity? What forms of collaborative cross institutional research on academic integrity would be advantageous? This workshop provided participants with an opportunity to discuss the role of LD within the ever-developing world of academic integrity. Following a quick-fire quiz, participants had the opportunity to work in small groups. Each group was assigned one of the above questions in order to contribute to a 5-point action plan for how LD can be at the forefront of the academic integrity agenda. Participants took away ideas with them that they could apply within their own role and teams.