Creating a culture of integrity in the classroom - The Western Australian International School System

Honesty and integrity are important to having in your academic and professional life. In school, good student-teacher relationships come from mutual respect and trust. Therfore, learn how to make honesty and integrity in the classroom.

For students:

How to Show Integrity

Gain a reputation for being honest by showing integrity in the classroom. Here are ways to put your honesty into action:

Ask your teacher to explain honesty policies specific to his or her classroom.
Prepare thoroughly for assignments and exams so you are not tempted to cheat.
Do not let other students copy from your exams and do not lend any papers or assignments that you have completed to other students.
Report incidents of academic dishonesty to your teacher

For teachers:

4 Ways to Increase Student Integrity

Infuse integrity into the classroom culture.

Teachers make integrity the norm in their classrooms in several important ways. They clearly articulate expectations about academic integrity and the consequences of cheating.

Develop a moral vocabulary.

According to the International Center for Academic Integrity (ICAI), the five fundamental values of academic integrity are:

Responsibility
Respect
Fairness
Trustworthiness
Honesty

Incorporate the teaching of these five values into the curriculum and help students use the vocabulary to discuss a variety of topics and current events.

Respond appropriately when cheating occurs.

While teachers cannot control student behavior, they can respond with consistency when enforcing school and classroom policies. Listen and show respect for their thinking, and then restate your expectations that dishonesty is never acceptable in your classroom.