Honest communication with students is part of the solution for academic dishonesty: Opinion

“Students are most tempted to act dishonestly when they feel anxiety and pressure,” writes Thomas J Tobin. Normally, students do not act on such temptations, but the current shift to online learning could see students facing increased anxiety and pressure, explains the author. For Tobin, the best thing that faculty can do to mitigate the anxiety and stress that underpin dishonest behaviours is “to offer students options, voices, and choices.” Toward this end, the author suggests that faculty engage in practices that will lower time or due-date pressure, as well as grade anxiety, while increasing student-faculty communication. “Explicitly tell students that you are open to hearing about the challenges they face, and give them multiple avenues for making contact if things don't go as planned,” the author explains. Inside Higher Ed (International)