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The Choice School IBDP Academic Honesty Policy

INTRODUCTION

The foundation of our community at The Choice School is the principle of honesty. Within our institution, we value and uphold unparalleled honesty and integrity in everything we do. Here,we strive to instill in our students a commitment to leading a life guided by honesty and personal integrity principles. The guidelines and procedures outlined in this document draw inspiration from our school’s mission and vision, as well as the qualities embodied in the International Baccalaureate (IB) learner profile.

Throughout the processes of teaching, learning, and assessment, the concept of academic honesty plays a vital role in fostering personal integrity and respect for both individuals and the integrity of their work. Upholding the standards of academic honesty also ensures that every student at The Choice School has an equitable chance to showcase the knowledge and skills they acquire during their educational journey. In all their studies at The Choice School, students are expected to exhibit academic honesty and refrain from engaging in any type of academic misconduct.

To foster a learning environment that promotes fairness, transparency, and responsibility, this Academic Honesty Policy outlines the expectations and consequences related to academic dishonesty within the IBDP program

 

SCHOOL MISSION

The Choice School, anchored in knowledge, Character, and Health (KCH), provides a safe, inclusive, holistic, happy learning environment in an evolving, diverse world by equipping the students with scientific temperament and social skills to become global citizens in collaboration with a competent, supportive community.

SCHOOL VISION

At Choice School, we envision a passionate learning community that fosters a growth mindset for every student in a happy, caring and stimulating environment, providing them with equal opportunities to discover and develop aptitude and attitude for learning in an equitable environment that inspires and ignites curiosity, creativity and confidence to transform lives and the world.

SCHOOL PHILOSOPHY

At The Choice School, we firmly believe that academic integrity and personal character development are essential pillars of a student’s education. All students enrolled in the IB Diploma Programme expect to produce original work in every aspect of their studies. Proper credit must be accorded to the creators of resources when referencing them, emphasising the school’s commitment to honesty and integrity. This policy is a comprehensive guide, ensuring our academic environment remains free from falsehoods and unethical practices. It effectively communicates our sincere dedication to this principle.

Both students and educators are responsible for adhering to the codes of conduct and accepted practices delineated in this document, ensuring the utmost respect, recognition, and appreciation for individual efforts and the work of others. Our Academic Honesty Policy has been crafted to cultivate an understanding of international and global institutions’ ethical and professional standards, empowering individuals to contribute effectively towards a better and more peaceful world.

The importance of proper citation to acknowledge the originator of work is underscored throughout this policy. This document will delineate the roles and expectations of various stakeholders within the IB community at The Choice School. Furthermore, it elaborates on how the school will handle instances of student academic misconduct and cases of school maladministration, aiming to bolster confidence among students, parents, the school community,and other stakeholders in the value and credibility of IB grades.

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY

At The Choice School, we acknowledge that academic dishonesty frequently arises due to confusion and a need for a clearer understanding of what constitutes dishonest behaviour. Generally, academic dishonesty encompasses pre-prepared student work (including essays, projects, presentations, etc.) and misconduct during examinations.

The IB General Regulations: Diploma Programme defines misconduct as “behaviour that results in, or may result in, the candidate or any other candidate gaining an unfair advantage in one or more assessment components.” (GENERAL REGULATION: DIPLOMA PROGRAMME, 2014) Examples of academic misconduct include, but are not limited to:

Examples of academic misconduct include, but are not limited to:

  1. Plagiarism: This is characterised as the act of presenting, whether intentionally or unintentionally, someone else’s ideas, words, or work without providing proper, clear, and explicit acknowledgement.
  2. Collusion: This involves assisting another candidate in engaging in academic misconduct, such as permitting one’s work to be copied or submitted for assessment by someone else.
  3. Duplication of work: This refers to the act of submitting the same work for different assessment components and/or diploma requirements.
  4. Paraphrasing: This entails rephrasing someone else’s work in a different form, which may be allowed if the source is properly acknowledged.
  5. Fabrication of data: This is the creation of fictitious data for experiments or mathematical exploration/projects.
  6. Disregarding the IB DP Examination Code of Conduct: This encompasses any violation or disregard of the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) guidelines concerning examination conduct.

ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT PROTOCOL

At The Choice School, we foster a culture of ethical academic conduct, instruct students on proper citation and referencing methods, and offer continuous assistance to staff and students to proactively deter academic misconduct. Consequences resulting from academic dishonesty or malpractice will be transparently communicated. Before examination sessions, we will conduct discussions with students and their families regarding examination conduct and regulations, and our examination invigilators will undergo comprehensive training regarding the same. Our teachers have the authority to apply sanctions for incidents of academic misconduct, irrespective of the context, whether it is in-class, at-home, or project-based work, including internal assessments or evaluations that do not pertain to official IB examination submissions.Instances of academic misconduct will be addressed in a manner that guarantees fairness,uniformity, procedural justice, prompt resolution, and opportunities for educational growth. Each case will be evaluated individually, and potential penalties may include assignment or5assessment failure, semester or year failure, and the possibility of internal suspension. In extreme circumstances, a student may face suspension or expulsion from the school.

As a general guideline, students are subject to the following sanctions for academic misconduct:

A. First Infraction: If a student is discovered to have engaged in academic dishonesty for the first time, potential consequences may encompass, among other actions:

  1. Informing a parent or guardian.
  2. Engaging in a discussion with the student to underscore the significance of academic integrity and the repercussions of dishonesty.
  3. Mandating the student to resubmit the assignment or complete an alternative task without any additional scoring benefits.

B. Second Infraction: If a student is discovered to have committed another instance of academic dishonesty, potential consequences may encompass, but are not confined to:

  1. Notifying a parent or guardian.
  2. Convening a meeting involving the student, parents, and pertinent school personnel to discuss the recurrence of the offence.
  3. Issuing a formal warning or implementing disciplinary measures contingent upon the seriousness of the misconduct.
  4. Potential forfeiture of credits for the assessment or assignment.
  5. Mandatory participation in an educational program addressing academic integrity.

C. Multiple Infractions: In instances where a student persistently participates in academic dishonesty, potential consequences may involve, though are not restricted to:

  1. Notifying a parent or guardian.
  2. Convening a meeting involving the student, parents, and pertinent school personnel to address the recurrent misconduct.
  3. Disciplinary measures may encompass suspension or expulsion from the IBDP program.

REPORTING ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT

Teachers and staff members have the duty to promptly inform the relevant school authorities of any suspected or verified occurrences of academic dishonesty. Reporting should be conducted with care, confidentiality, and consideration for the accused student’s due process rights.

ENSURING ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

ROLE OF STUDENTS:

  1. Students are responsible for attending all workshops and implementing the guidelines and regulations concerning referencing and academic integrity.
  2. It is incumbent upon students to ensure that all work they submit for assessment is genuinely their own. Consequently, they should avoid seeking assistance in creating or editing assignments from friends, family members, peers, private tutors, essay writing or copy-editing services, pre-written essay repositories, or file-sharing platforms
  3. Students are to appropriately and comprehensively acknowledge the contributions and concepts of others in their work. They are also expected to proactively review their assignments before submission, identifying any portions, data, images, or other materials requiring acknowledgement.
  4. Students are expected to comply with all internal school deadlines, as it allows time for revisions, including proper source citations.
  5. Once a student has affirmed the authenticity of their internally assessed work on the official IB cover sheet, there is no opportunity for resubmission.
  6. It is important to note that a teacher cannot endorse the cover sheet if there are suspicions of academic misconduct or if ownership of the work has not been satisfactorily demonstrated to their or the DP Coordinator’s satisfaction. In such cases, the IB will accept the teacher’s judgment.
  7. In the event of suspected academic dishonesty, students are responsible for substantiating the originality of their work and confirming that it has not been plagiarised.
  8. Students must utilise the school’s anti-plagiarism software for all submissions. Failure to comply may lead to allegations of plagiarism or the rejection of work for IB submission.

ROLE OF TEACHERS:

  1. Teachers ought to engage in discussions with students regarding plagiarism and the proper procedures for conducting research papers or preparing oral presentations.
  2. Teachers must establish explicit assignment requirements and offer candidates guidance on the appropriate citation of sources.
  3. Teachers must remain watchful for evident shifts in a candidate’s writing style, such as work that appears overly sophisticated, remarkably error-free, or more characteristic of a seasoned academic rather than a secondary school student.
  4. Teachers are responsible for thoroughly reviewing and verifying the authenticity of candidates’ work before its submission, encompassing internal and external DP assessments.
  5. It is highly recommended that teachers utilise the school’s anti-plagiarism software for substantial assignments. This software is mandatory for the final versions of the Extended Essay, the TOK essay, and, whenever feasible, all concluding Internal Assessments (IAs).
  6. Any concerns regarding plagiarism and/or collusion preceding the submission of work for assessment should be addressed within the school. The subject teacher should initially handle this, followed by a discussion with the DP Coordinator.
  7. Teachers are expected to set a model of academic integrity for their students.

ROLE OF IB COORDINATOR:

  1. Be familiar with the regulations and guidelines established by the IBO that oversee the administration of each examination session.
  2. Utilise various communication channels to educate staff and students about the definition of malpractice and prevention methods.
  3. Wholeheartedly cooperate with the IBO in preventing, identifying, and investigating malpractice incidents.
  4. Assume any supplementary duties as mandated by the IBO if a candidate or staff member becomes the subject of a malpractice investigation.

ROLE OF PARENTS:

  1. Read and acquaint themselves with the Academic Honesty Policy and all relevant IBO documents concerning the rules and regulations of the IB Diploma program.
  2. Assist teachers and school administrators in engaging in discussions with their children regarding the significance of academic integrity.
  3. Cooperate with the school in case their child is found to have committed malpractice, whether through intentional actions or improper source documentation.

POLICY REVIEW

The IBDP Academic Honesty Policy will undergo regular evaluations to verify its efficacy. There view panel will comprise the school head, the IBDP coordinator, the IB librarian, and the DP staff. The next policy review will be conducted in the next academic year. Copies of this policy will be distributed to students, parents, and staff, and they must acknowledge their comprehension and acceptance of its provisions. By nurturing an environment grounded in academic integrity, the IBDP program endeavours to cultivate conscientious, responsible students equipped to tackle future academic endeavours and ethical challenges.

The Choice School is an Authorised World School for DP and a candidate school for PYP and MYP.

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