We are entering another period of online assessments, which you may not have experienced before. Academic integrity is still important when doing assessments, but it doesn’t have to be a worry.
The KnowHow team, based in the Library, have some top tips to keep on track during the assessment period:
1. Give credit- if it isn’t your idea or your data, it needs to be referenced
If you got a piece of information from someone else, it needs to be referenced. This includes diagrams, graphs, tables, photos, music, computer codes, websites and text.
2. Referencing- do you need a reference list in your online assessment?
In traditional exams, you might only be expected to mention the author’s surname and year in your answers. However, in an online assessment you may have several days to complete your work. Check whether your lecturers are expecting full reference lists or a bibliography in your online assessments.
3. Referencing- write your reference list as you go along
Every time you include a reference within your text, put it straight in your reference list or bibliography. Don’t wait until the end. Rushing your reference list could lead to mistakes, such as missing a reference, which might result in you breaking the University’s Academic Integrity policy.
4. Making notes- colour code any text you got from another source
When you make notes from sources you’ve read, always include the name of the source next to the notes. Colour coding information you got from another source means that when you come back to your notes, you won’t forget that the information came from someone else.
5. Time management- rushing your work can lead to mistakes
Not leaving enough time to proof read your work can lead to referencing mistakes, especially if the reference list is put together in one go at the end. Leave yourself enough time to re-read your work and check that all references are included and correct.
6. Don’t panic!
If you are honest and do your best, then you don’t need to over worry about breaking academic integrity rules.
To find out more about academic integrity, watch this short video. If you’ve not done it already, please take the time to complete the KnowHow Academic Integrity online tutorial, which is available on Canvas and VITAL. If your lecturer has asked you to complete this tutorial, you will find the accompanying quiz within one of your subject modules.
Good luck with your online assessments and remember that the KnowHow team is here to support you in your studies. Take a look at upcoming KnowHow webinars and access KnowHow online tutorials on Canvas (KnowHow: Study for Success) and VITAL (KnowHow: Academic Success).