13 October 2009, 17:13

Hello Nigel,

Feature request is filed: https://eduforge.org/tracker/index.php?func=detail&aid=3401&group_id=176&atid=742

I'll ask Richard in the WR if we can have the copying / not copying option also for the glossary. I'd take how it works currently. Otherwise, the glossary may take much longer to develop.

Kristina

08 November 2009, 17:59

Hi Kristina

Sorry to come late into the discussion.

Plagiarism isn't about not being able to copy material from someone else - Plagiarism is  not acknowledging the original author of the material (in academic circles a citation is required using a particular citation style).

I think copying should still be allowed  as long as students are aware of the need to cite the source. 

Even having the not copy option on a glossary entry the content could still be copied and pasted from the browser.

Maybe a better way to reduce plagiarism is to have a notice come up when copying someone else's blog or view  saying that the source needs to be acknowledged. This is a bit like the copyright notice that comes up when uploading an image.

09 November 2009, 14:55

Hi Craig,

Of course, you are right that plagiarism is about acknowledging the source. I just shortened it badly. Copying is always possible one way or the other - one way more difficult than the other.

Your notice window sounds like a good idea, but to be honest, I don't think that many students will bother to read it. They don't read the copyright notice for uploading files. I should not generalize here because I can't speak for every student, but a large number of the 430 students I had in my workshops in June, September and October didn't bother. I think a better way is to make them aware of the topic in general and appeal to their academic integrity. That's a lofty goal, but many will listen and the majority does not plagiarize also without telling them not to do so.

Kristina