You are an academic facilitator for a 1st year module. The students enrolled for the module completed their last assignment and had to submit their final draft to Turnitin. The lecturer informs you that the students struggled quite a lot to complete the assignment seeing that it is the first time that they completed such a comprehensive piece of work at university. Considering this, you access Turnitin and review their submitted work. Use their Turnitin report, inclusive of their similarity score(which is 70%) and the AI score ( which is very high). Explain how you would go about to assist the students with their research and writing skills. By way of a reflective essay, explain to the 1st year student if the content meets the standards of an academic law assignment. Emphasise both the academic approach to writing academically and the ethical considerations when using sources.

You must limit your answer to a maximum of 4 pages. Your reflective essay must include the following: (1 page each)
A description of your initial impressions.
Discuss the feedback that you will provide to the 1st year student.
A reflection on the challenges you faced (if any) in providing ethical and educational feedback without discouraging the student. If you did not experience any challenges, explain why.
How this assignment has influenced your own understanding of the role of feedback in education.

1 answer

Initial Impressions:

Upon reviewing the students' Turnitin report, I was quite concerned about the high similarity score of 70%. This indicates that a significant portion of their work may be unoriginal and potentially plagiarized. Additionally, the AI score was very high, suggesting that the content may be heavily reliant on sources without proper citation or synthesis of information. It was evident that the students had struggled with this assignment, which is understandable given that it is their first comprehensive piece of work at university. However, it is essential to address these issues promptly to help them improve their research and writing skills.

Feedback to the 1st year student:

In providing feedback to the 1st year students, I would first address the high similarity score and AI score. I would explain to them the importance of originality and proper citation in academic writing. I would encourage them to re-evaluate their research process and ensure that they are properly citing all sources used in their assignment. Additionally, I would provide guidance on how to effectively synthesize information from different sources to develop their own arguments and analysis.

I would also address the overall structure and coherence of their assignment, as this is crucial in academic writing. I would suggest that they work on organizing their ideas logically and clearly, providing transitions between paragraphs, and ensuring that their arguments are well-developed and supported by evidence.

Furthermore, I would emphasize the importance of critically engaging with sources and presenting a balanced and nuanced perspective in their writing. I would encourage them to analyze and evaluate the sources they use, rather than simply summarizing or regurgitating information. This would help them develop their critical thinking skills and deepen their understanding of the subject matter.

Challenges in providing ethical and educational feedback:

One challenge I faced in providing feedback to the students was striking a balance between pointing out their mistakes and encouraging them to improve. It is crucial to provide constructive criticism in a supportive manner, without discouraging or demotivating the students. I had to ensure that my feedback was clear, specific, and actionable, so that the students could learn from their mistakes and make meaningful improvements in their work.

Another challenge was addressing the ethical considerations of plagiarism and proper citation. I had to explain the consequences of academic dishonesty and emphasize the importance of integrity in scholarly work. It was important to educate the students on how to ethically use and cite sources, while also encouraging them to develop their own voice and analytical skills in their writing.

Impact on my understanding of feedback in education:

This assignment has reinforced the importance of providing timely and constructive feedback to students in their academic work. Feedback is a valuable tool for promoting learning and growth, as it helps students identify their strengths and weaknesses, set goals for improvement, and develop their skills and knowledge. As an academic facilitator, it is essential to provide feedback that is specific, actionable, and supportive, so that students can learn from their mistakes and progress in their academic journey. It is also crucial to consider the ethical and educational implications of feedback, to ensure that it is fair, honest, and conducive to the students' development as scholars.
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