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Cheating concerns - monitor system unfair

Newcastle Herald (Australia) July 23, 2007 Monday Late Edition Cheating concerns; Monitor system 'unfair' MATTHEW KELLY EDUCATION REPORTER NEWS; Pg.

7 288 words MORE than two students a day have sought assistance after being accused of plagiarism in University of Newcastle mid-year assessment tasks, the institution's peak student body said yesterday.

Newcastle University Students Association education officer Kris Gesling said 12 students had sought help over plagiarism accusations in the past week.

The accusations stem from the use of the controversial anti-plagiarism software package Turnitin.

The software requires students to test the originality of their written work against a global database.

Mr Gesling said the accusations had caused students significant stress and anxiety.

"Some of them have been very upset and don't know what to do; they can't sleep," Mr Gesling said.

"It (Turnitin) is a waste of money and resources.

It punishes students before they have a chance to defend themselves." "The most effective way to prevent plagiarism is to educate students, not punish them." The university is one of 25 in Australia using Turnitin.

The use of the software is a part of wider program designed to promote academic integrity within the institution.

Since its introduction in late 2004, academic misconduct, including plagiarism, has decreased significantly..

The students' association is running a campaign dubbed Turnitoff in opposition to the software, which it claims is unethical and unfair.

Mr Gesling said he had held discussions with several lecturers about Turnitin.

As a result, several no longer required their students to use the software.

NUSA's opposition to Turnitin is part of a wider debate within the university about the increased use of electronic teaching resources.

The university has said there is broad support for the roll-out of electronic teaching resources.

July 23, 2007 ENGLISH Newspaper Copyright 2007 Newcastle Newspapers Pty Ltd All Rights Reserved