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Finkelstein, Joe - CTAE Computing

  • Plagiarism

    Posted by Joe Finkelstein at 8/25/2010 7:00:00 AM
    Moral Issues:  Plagiarism
     
    Many students will admit to having copied sections of a web page and submitting it as homework. This problem isn’t just confined to school classrooms.  Recently there has been a worrying growth in university students to copying from the internet. Many lecturers now have access to software that can recognition copied work. Many students have been caught, some even failing their degrees.
     
    Faced with the near certainty that the cut-and-paste essay will be found out, lazy or dishonest students can now turn to websites that offer to write their essays for them, and, in every case, guarantee that the essays are original.
     
    These websites defend themselves by saying that the essays are only provided as a model answer and should not be submitted by the student as their own work. However, how many people really believe that a student is going to pay hundreds of dollars  for a customized essay and then not take the easy option of using it as it stands?

    KEY

    QUESTIONS

    Do you think plagiarizing information has an impact on learning, or is it just another way to work?

    How do plagiarism detection tools like turnitin work?

    Do you think ‘grades for pay’ are a fair way of working? How could this be stopped?
     
     
    Comments (62)

  • Multimedia Pirating

    Posted by Joe Finkelstein at 8/17/2010 9:00:00 AM

    MORAL ISSUES

    FILE SHARING
     
    Joel

    American student Joel Tenenbaum was taken to court for downloading and sharing songs using the peer-to-peer file sharing program Kazaa. Under US law, recording companies are entitled to $750 to $30,000 per infringement, or more if the jury believes the infringements were wilful.
     
    Joel was found guilty and ordered to pay $675,000 (£404,000). He now must either pay the fine or declare bankruptcy. Tenenbaum said an entire generation has grown up downloading music and his case is not unusual, but in a press release, Recording Industry Association of America President Mitch Bainwol said music fans know right from wrong when it comes to illegal downloading.

    Question:

    Do you think the ruling was fair? Do you think the law upon which the ruling was based is fair?

    If so, explain why. If not, what alternatives could you suggest?

    Do you think this is the best way to deter piracy?
    Comments (47)

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