The Library and the Writing Centre Build a Workshop: Exploring the Impact of an Asynchronous Online Academic Integrity Course

Abstract

This research investigated the impact of implementing an asynchronous online academic integrity workshop at the University of South Alabama. The workshop featured interactive modules designed to teach students about ethical conduct, impart study skills correlated with academic integrity, and provide instruction on integrating and citing sources. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected through a pretest and posttest and an open-ended survey. Quantitative analysis indicated statistically significant improvements in scores among the 1,312 participants. Qualitative feedback revealed that students became more aware of the expectations of higher education, including the fact that scholarship is a conversation. These positive results correlate with prior research concerning academic integrity workshops. While previous studies explore particular acts of academic misconduct, especially plagiarism, this study demonstrates how collaboration between a university’s library and writing centre can familiarise students with both the practical aspects of academic integrity and the expectations of college coursework and academic culture.