Is Course Hero a platform for academic integrity or cheating?

Introduction

Course Hero is an online platform that offers course materials, study resources, and homework help to students. It has been around since 2012 and has grown to become one of the most popular educational websites in the world.

While Course Hero has many benefits for students, it has also raised concerns about academic integrity and cheating. In this article, we will explore the issue and examine whether Course Hero is a platform for academic integrity or cheating.

What is Academic Integrity?

Academic integrity refers to a student’s commitment to upholding ethical principles in their academic pursuits. This includes honesty, responsibility, trustworthiness, respect for others, and academic courage. Academic integrity is essential for the success of any student as it lays the foundation for a successful career in the future.

Why is Course Hero a Concern?

Course Hero has been accused of enabling cheating by providing students with access to course materials and study resources that they are not supposed to have. For example, some students have reported using Course Hero’s homework help feature to solve problems instead of doing their own work.

Additionally, Course Hero’s algorithm-based grading system has raised concerns about the fairness and accuracy of grades.

Is Course Hero a Platform for Academic Integrity or Cheating?

The answer is not straightforward as it depends on how students use the platform. While Course Hero can be a valuable tool for learning, it can also be used to cheat. Students who choose to use Course Hero’s resources and homework help feature to cheat are not adhering to academic integrity principles.

However, students who use Course Hero’s resources to supplement their own learning and improve their grades are not necessarily violating any rules.

Case Studies and Personal Experiences

There have been several case studies and personal experiences that illustrate the issue of cheating on Course Hero. In one example, a student used Course Hero’s homework help feature to solve a problem for an assignment.

Another case study involved a group of students who collaborated on an assignment and used Course Hero’s resources to help them complete the work. While the group did not directly cheat, their collaboration was against the rules as it required them to share information and resources that were not meant to be shared.

Research and Experiments

There have been several studies and experiments conducted to determine the impact of Course Hero on academic integrity and cheating. One study found that students who used Course Hero’s resources were less likely to cheat than those who did not use the platform.

Another experiment found that students who took advantage of Course Hero’s homework help feature had lower grades than those who did not use it.

Expert Opinions

Experts in academic integrity and ethics have differing opinions on whether Course Hero is a platform for cheating or academic integrity. Some experts believe that Course Hero can be a valuable tool for learning as long as students adhere to ethical principles.

However, others argue that the platform’s algorithm-based grading system and homework help feature make it easy for students to cheat.

Real-Life Examples

Real-life examples of cheating on Course Hero are not difficult to find. In one case, a student was caught using Course Hero’s resources to complete an assignment that they had turned in as their own work.

In another example, a group of students used Course Hero’s resources to collaborate on an assignment, passing it off as their own work. They all received high grades, but the professor caught them cheating and gave them failing grades for the assignment.

FAQs

Q: Is it ethical to use Course Hero’s homework help feature?

A: It depends on how you use it. Using the feature to supplement your own learning is not necessarily unethical, but using it to cheat is definitely unethical.

Q: What happens if a student is caught cheating on Course Hero?

A: The consequences depend on the severity of the cheating and the policies of the institution or professor. In some cases, a student may receive a failing grade or be suspended from the course.

Q: Can Course Hero be used for academic integrity purposes?

A: Yes, Course Hero can be used for academic integrity purposes if students use it to supplement their own learning and do not cheat.

Summary

In conclusion, whether Course Hero is a platform for academic integrity or cheating depends on how it is used. While the platform has many benefits for students, it also raises concerns about ethical principles in education. It is important for students to understand the implications of using Course Hero and to always adhere to academic integrity principles. By doing so, they can use the platform to enhance their learning experience and achieve success in their academic pursuits.