Repurposing a learning activity on academic integrity: the experience of three universities

Karen Fill,Samuel Leung,David Dibiase,Andy Nelson

doi:10.5334/2006-1

Abstract

<div class="abstract_container"> <strong>Abstract:</strong> There is currently great interest in reuse of digital learning resources, from single items to multi-task activities, to whole units or programmes of study. Associated with this interest is the ongoing development of tools to enable such resources to be placed in or recovered from repositories, to facilitate searching for them and their instantiation on different learning platforms. Many of these tools are highly technical, in terms of both technology and terminology, and they are the province of learning technologists and computer scientists, rather than teachers. Concentration on such tools begs the question as to whether teachers and learners will truly benefit from reuse of learning resources. This paper describes the re-purposing of a learning activity created in a university in the US for use in two UK universities. The case study approach facilitates comparison of the technical and content issues that were addressed and resolved. The authors formulate and explore a proposition about the validity of an 'object based' approach to learning resources and conclude with a plea for better tools for teachers. </div> <p class="demo_container"><strong>Interactive demonstrations:</strong> The learning activities are available at <a href="http://www.dialogplus.soton.ac.uk/aig/index.html" target="_blank">www.dialogplus.soton.ac.uk/aig/index.html</a>.

Highlights

Since 2003, the authors of this paper have been involved in the 'Digital Libraries in Support of Innovative Approaches to Learning and Teaching in Geography' (DialogPlus [1]) project under which geography teachers in two UK and two US universities are collaborating in the creation and sharing of reusable online learning activities
This paper describes one such learning activity, originally developed at Pennsylvania State University (PSU) for use by distance learning masters students and subsequently repurposed for campus based students at the Universities of Southampton and Leeds
The particular nugget discussed here is not concerned with subject matter specific to geography, but with the generic topic of academic integrity, how to ensure that students understand the protocols of citation and referencing and avoid plagiarism in the work that they submit for assessment

Summary

Introduction

Since 2003, the authors of this paper have been involved in the 'Digital Libraries in Support of Innovative Approaches to Learning and Teaching in Geography' (DialogPlus [1]) project under which geography teachers in two UK and two US universities are collaborating in the creation and sharing of reusable online learning activities. This paper describes one such learning activity, originally developed at Pennsylvania State University (PSU) for use by distance learning masters students and subsequently repurposed for campus based students at the Universities of Southampton and Leeds. The paper describes the original development of the AIG nugget at PSU, take-up and repurposing firstly at Southampton and at Leeds. Findings from the cases, both similarities and differences, are discussed, the proposition is revisited, and general recommendations are offered with respect to the repurposing of online learning activities and tools for teachers

Background

Findings and Recommendations

Conclusions