Comments on: If an assignment can be plagiarized…

By: Top 20 for today :) | ReadingPower

Top 20 for today :) | ReadingPower — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 22:19:00 +0000

[...] an assignment can be plagiarized, it’s probably not very exciting or engaging, much less valid. http://blog.cathyjonelson.com/?p=713 5. Another free gadget – Snapshots http://www.snap.com 6. Web 3.0 (still catching up on Web [...]

By: Cathy Nelson’s Professional Thoughts » Blog Archive » Meme: My Best Posts of the Past

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 03:32:55 +0000

[...] If an Assignment Can be Plagiarized…(3-29-2009) [...]

By: IT Ramblings #6 | U No IT

IT Ramblings #6 | U No IT — Mon, 25 May 2009 03:41:37 +0000

[...] link to Cathy Nelson’s post on “If an assignment can be plagerized…” http://blog.cathyjonelson.com/?p=713 don’t forget to follow the comments at the end of the post and see what else doors [...]

By: Daily Spotlight on Education 03/24/2009 « iThinkEducation.net!

Daily Spotlight on Education 03/24/2009 « iThinkEducation.net! — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 20:40:41 +0000

[...] Cathy Nelson’s Professional Thoughts » Blog Archive » If an assignment can be plagiarized… [...]

By: Gail Desler

Gail Desler — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 16:59:46 +0000

Hi Cathy,
This time of year in California, if you visit most any elementary school library, you’re likely to find 4th grade models (for the most part, parent done) of California missions, 5th grade state reports, and 6ith grade country reports on display. Hmmm….same reports, and in the same order, as when I attended elementary school MANY years ago. The only thing that looks different is the presence of a pod of computers. But in reading a few of the reports, it appears the computers may not be getting much use for any type of project-based learning.

Thanks for addressing such an important issue.

Gail Desler

By: minhaaj ur rehman

minhaaj ur rehman — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 03:55:11 +0000

i agree with the statement that ‘if an assignment can be plagiarized its not a good one’ but different reasons. Very notion that can an assignment can be plagiarized is somewhat flawed. You can copy/paste contents of an assignment but unless you get the idea behind the content, you have not completely plagiarized it, if you want to call it that. Cross-questioning about the assignment really gets most plagiarizers but if they know more than what they’ve plagiarized i don’t think its piracy/plagiarism/emulating or benchmarking. Knowledge has imparted what it was supposed to do if students ‘get’ what was expected of them. I don’t suggest that teachers should accept similar assignments from multiple students but i think cross-questioning and tricky standardized and objective questions should be used to evaluate the meat of the matter to ensure learning as opposed to ‘inane’ stress on ‘subtlety’ of words and content in an assignment in a class.

By: Plagiarism « Informania

Plagiarism « Informania — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 03:25:33 +0000

[...] friend Cathy Nelson recently wrote a post entitled “If An Assignment Can Be Plagairized.” We attended the same pre-conference session at the recent South Carolina Association of [...]

By: Jeff Johnson

Jeff Johnson — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 13:04:22 +0000

“Authentic assignments and assessments take longer to teach, take longer for students to complete, and sometimes sacrifice content in pursuit of process or sacrifice process in pursuit of timely completion. These are all things to consider when pushing for better, more active, more authentic learning. The value of engagement cannot be overstated, but one can still be engaged while pursuing straightforward descriptive knowledge on a topic.”

Right on target! We are in an era where there is SO MUCH information and pressure to cover so much material in every content area. To have a really successful project, where many resources are needed, and where students need to demonstrate compentency in several areas (research skills, time management, tech skills, collaboration, etc.), adequate time is of the essesnce. These projects often take weeks and often require “sacrificing” coverage of content. That’s not necessarily bad — my own belief (as a teacher and drawing on my own memories of being a student) is that these type of projects have significantly more impact on student achievement and on how students view their own school experiences than most other school activities.

By: Cathy Nelson

Cathy Nelson — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 22:00:35 +0000

Thanks for the response, and I read your new post. Thanks for pointing other visitors here. I’s sure we do not have the same readership. Overlapping circles can have its perks.

By: Posted: [in a teacher's lounge near you] « Left Lane Ends

Posted: [in a teacher's lounge near you] « Left Lane Ends — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 18:26:05 +0000

[...] Cathy Nelson builds on some thoughts from others (and another) that caused me to take her refined thought about creating assignments that students can not blankly plagerize: Students love assignments that call for creativity, collaboration, choice, authenticity, and excitement. They don’t even realize the assignments are standards-based and that they are learning. Does this resemble any of your classroom assignments or homework? [...]