Lesson 6: Academic Integrity in Assessments
Academic integrity and D2L/Brightspace
D2L/Brightspace has multiple features to help mitigate academic misconduct. These functions assist instructors in mitigating academic misconduct in assessments and support students in developing ethical assessment taking practices.
D2L strategies to enhance academic integrity
Randomize questions and answer order
What is it: Randomize questions for each student using the question library. For example, 20 questions for each student can be randomly selected from a library of 50 questions, giving each student a different set of questions. When you randomize the answer order, even though the answers options will be the same for all students, the order will be different.
Why use it: Showing one question at a time is a good option to help students focus.
Limitations: Questions and answers can still be shared in a matter of moments using screen shots and shared folders. Randomizing questions does not prevent them from being shared. It takes only a second or two to make a screenshot of a question and drag and drop it into a shared folder.
Time limits
What is it: Limit how much time students have for online quizzes. You can limit the time for each individual question, but it is recommended to limit the time for the overall quiz, so that students can spend more or less time on questions as needed. Remember to show the clock to help keep students on time.
Why use it: When students have a limited time to complete quizzes, it becomes much more challenging for them to search through notes or seek out help during that time.
Limitations: Finding the right timing for quizzes or questions can be tricky. As well, limiting the time can cause anxiety to some learners, so some accommodations may be necessary. Finally, you’ll need to make tests available for a 24-hour time period to accommodate different time zones, student schedules and technical difficulties. For example, a quiz that takes 60 minutes to complete can be open for 24 hours.
Source: (Boitshwarelo, Reedy, & Billany, 2017)
Additional resources
Boitshwarelo, B., Reedy, A. K., & Billany, T. (2017). Envisioning the use of online tests in assessing twenty-first century learning: a literature review. Research and Practice in Technology Enhanced Learning, 12(1), 16–16. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41039-017-0055-7
Graves, R., & Watson, E. (2020, May 21). Academic Integrity in Online Teaching Environments. Retrieved from https://blog.ualberta.ca/academic-integrity-in-online-teaching-environments-88ec0b994bd0
Nicholls, G.M. & Lewis, N. (2017). Using a course learning management system to promote academic honesty. Proceedings from the American Society for Engineering Education, USA, 1-21. https://doi.org/10.18260/1-2-29068
Promoting Academic Integrity in Online Education. (2010). In C. Hill (Ed.). Retrieved from https://teachingcommons.lakeheadu.ca/sites/default/files/inline-files/Promoting%20Academic%20Integrity%20in%20Online%20Education.pdf
University of Calgary, Taylor Institute for Teaching and Learning (n.d.) Academic integrity and D2L . https://taylorinstitute.ucalgary.ca/resources/academic-integrity-and-D2L
University of Michigan: Center for Academic Innovation. (2020). Adjusting your study habits during COVID. Retrieved from https://ai.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/student-disruption.pdf
WCET, UT Telecampus, & Instructional Technology Council. (n.d.). 2009. Best Practice Strategies to Promote Academic Integrity in Online Education. Retrieved from https://teachingcommons.lakeheadu.ca/sites/default/files/inline-files/Academic%20Integrity%20Best%20Practices%202009.pdf
Helpful resources for using D2L and more.
Lesson checklist
- Develop an awareness of academic integrity as it relates to D2L/Brightspace.
- Discover functions within D2L/Brightspace that minimize opportunities for unethical student behaviour.