Alberta Colleges and Institutes Faculties Association

Innovative Teaching for Integrity:

Embedding integrity into course design & teaching practices would focus on how instructors can proactively integrate academic integrity into their daily interactions with students and colleagues. It explores innovative ways to embed integrity into the curriculum, teaching methods, and classroom culture. The goal is to help educators create learning environments where academic honesty is fostered naturally. Topics might include incorporating clear guidelines on plagiarism, fostering a growth mindset around mistakes, and creating collaborative learning experiences that discourage dishonesty.​

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​​AI’s Role in Integrity and Misconduct Prevention:

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a powerful tool in higher education, both as a means to support learning and as a mechanism for preventing academic misconduct. This strand will explore how AI can be used to detect cheating and plagiarism, as well as how it can promote ethical behavior among students. Discussions may include critical evaluation of AI-based plagiarism detection tools, learning analytics that flag risky behaviours, and the ethical considerations of using AI in monitoring academic integrity.

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Integrity-Driven Assessment Design:

Assessment design plays a pivotal role in fostering academic integrity. This strand will explore how assessments can be structured to prioritize evaluating students' true learning and capabilities, rather than simply focusing on deterring dishonest practices. Topics may include creating authentic assessments that encourage critical thinking and problem-solving, using formative assessments to alleviate the pressure of high-stakes exams, and integrating reflective or peer assessments that promote personal accountability and honest self-reflection.

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Cultural Perspectives on Integrity:

Academic integrity is understood and practiced differently across cultures. This strand offers an opportunity to explore how cultural backgrounds shape students' perceptions and behaviors related to integrity. Topics may include how students from diverse cultural contexts approach issues such as plagiarism, collaboration, and citation practices. Instructors will gain strategies to navigate cultural differences, foster open dialogue, and promote a shared understanding of academic integrity in a multicultural classroom.

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Empowering Integrity in Online/Hybrid Learning:

As education increasingly shifts to online and hybrid models, ensuring academic integrity in digital environments becomes more critical. This strand will explore the unique challenges of maintaining honesty in online and hybrid settings, such as the potential for digital cheating, issues with remote proctoring, and the anonymity of online platforms. Topics will include strategies for designing cheating-resistant assessments for remote learning, creating a culture of integrity in virtual classrooms, and leveraging technology to support ethical behavior in online settings.

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Managing Ethical Dilemmas and Conflicts:

Instructors frequently face complex ethical challenges, from addressing suspected academic misconduct to managing classroom and workplace conflicts. This strand will focus on strategies for handling these situations with integrity, ensuring a balance of fairness, transparency, and compassion. Topics may include how to respond to suspected cheating or plagiarism, navigating gray areas in academic policies, and resolving conflicts between instructors and their students, colleagues, and the workplace leadership while upholding the core values of academic integrity.

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Leading by Example​:

Educators play a crucial role in fostering academic integrity by modeling ethical behaviour in their own actions. This section will explore how instructors can demonstrate integrity in their work and interactions with students. Topics will include reflecting on the significance of honesty in areas such as research, grading, and classroom conduct, as well as the influence of instructors' attitudes and behaviours on students' understanding of academic integrity. Key themes will focus on setting clear expectations, building trust, and creating an environment where integrity is deeply embedded in the institutional culture.​​