Turnitoff: identifying and fixing a hole in current plagiarism detection software

In recent times, plagiarism detection software has become popular in universities and colleges, in an attempt to stem the tide of plagiarised student coursework. Such software attempts to detect any copied material and identify its source. The most popular such software is Turnitin, a commercial system used by thousands of institutions in more than 100 countries. Here, we show how to fix a loophole in Turnitin's current plagiarism detection process. We demonstrate that, in its current incarnation, one can easily create a document that passes the plagiarism check regardless of how much copied material it contains; we then show how to improve the system to avoid such attacks.     

Impacts of university education reform on faculty perceptions of workload

Since the corporatization of national universities, the environment surrounding Japanese universities has dramatically changed in various respects. A series of government-led attempts have intended to support the domestic colleges and universities in gaining a competitive edge by improving the quality of teaching and research as well as guaranteeing the international validity of the country's higher education system. Impacts of all the challenges that have been tackled with internal efforts in the last few years could be enormous on the personnel workload. However, little is known about the impacts of Japan's recent university education reform, particularly on the changing workload of the faculty who engage at the forefront in student teaching and advising, administrative roles as well as research activities. Using results from individual faculty interviews, this paper attempts to link the changing workload of Japanese professors with specific reasons that are rooted in the country's recent university education reform. Reviewing the effects of the reform on faculty workload provides us with important insights for the long term and guides us to prevent the derailment from the endeavour to which a significant amount of resources have been dedicated by the country.     

Challenges in making an academic career in education sciences

The competitive university has brought about changes in structural conditions and created contradictions which are embedded in institutions. The present study is based on interviews with 42 early career researchers in the field of education sciences in Sweden. We analyse how members of this group handle career possibilities and limitations in relation to gender and to the structural ambivalence embedded in the higher education system. Our results illustrate that the structure of education sciences contains power relations and processes of differentiation, which give researchers different access to resources that can be used to handle structural ambivalence. This is illustrated in how, for example, women researchers, more than men, lack resources to solve the experienced tensions surrounding them, and therefore often work in areas where they are able to cope. Men researchers can often solve their career ambivalence by avoiding traps and gaining recognition, and are therefore able to advance.     

Quality criteria of research perceived by academics in social sciences at higher education

The purpose of this study is to examine the problem of research quality in social sciences at higher education. Quality of research produced at higher education started to be questioned more often as research became the major factor determining academics＇ promotion and fund allocation to universities. In the study, we aimed to reveal how academics perceive research quality and what they identify as the main problems that make it difficult to achieve quality in research. Data were collected through interviews with 25 academics from 7 disciplines （educational sciences, sociology, communicational sciences, law, history, management and political science） in 7 universities. Six of the academics interviewed were professors, 7 were associate professors, 10 were assistant professors and 2 were doctors. Interviews were carried out in 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 academic years, and each lasted about one hour on average. Data collected were analyzed through content analysis. Study findings revealed that academics referred most often to methodological issues as the most important quality criterion of research, followed by issues of theoretical background and originality. Academics definitions of sub-criteria related to these were tackled in more detail in the study. As the most important hindrances that make it difficult to achieve quality in research academics mentioned lack of a long-established research culture, problems of research resources and the pressure caused by academic promotion criteria. Some recommendations related to the problems were made to develop research quality in the light of the study findings.     

Evaluation of adjunct faculty in higher education institutions

The role that part‐time faculty play in higher education is changing. No longer are part‐time faculty used on an occasional basis at a few institutions. These individuals now play a critical part in the delivery of higher education to students. This study was developed to answer questions regarding how the performance of adjunct faculty is evaluated. The researcher gathered data on what sources of information were used to evaluate adjunct faculty, and how this information was used by various administrators during evaluation and reappointment decisions. The underlying goal was to develop a better understanding of current evaluation practices so that higher education administrators can ensure that quality learning opportunities are available in the classroom.     

Stigma and student mental health in higher education

Stigma is a powerful force in preventing university students with mental health difficulties from gaining access to appropriate support. This paper reports on an exploratory study of university students with mental health difficulties that found most students did not disclose their mental health problems to staff at university. This was primarily due to fear of discrimination during their studies and in professional employment. Many students went to considerable efforts to hide their mental health condition and in doing so struggled to meet university requirements. Of the minority who did disclose, most received helpful assistance with both their studies and management of their mental health condition. The university was the main source of support services including counselling, disability, student union and housing. A range of measures are required to address the impact of stigma and mental health to empower students so that they can disclose in the confidence that they will be treated fairly.     

The effectiveness of virtual and augmented reality in health sciences and medical anatomy

Although cadavers constitute the gold standard for teaching anatomy to medical and health science students, there are substantial financial, ethical, and supervisory constraints on their use. In addition, although anatomy remains one of the fundamental areas of medical education, universities have decreased the hours allocated to teaching gross anatomy in favor of applied clinical work. The release of virtual (VR) and augmented reality (AR) devices allows learning to occur through hands‐on immersive experiences. The aim of this research was to assess whether learning structural anatomy utilizing VR or AR is as effective as tablet‐based (TB) applications, and whether these modes allowed enhanced student learning, engagement and performance. Participants (n = 59) were randomly allocated to one of the three learning modes: VR, AR, or TB and completed a lesson on skull anatomy, after which they completed an anatomical knowledge assessment. Student perceptions of each learning mode and any adverse effects experienced were recorded. No significant differences were found between mean assessment scores in VR, AR, or TB. During the lessons however, VR participants were more likely to exhibit adverse effects such as headaches (25% in VR P < 0.05), dizziness (40% in VR, P < 0.001), or blurred vision (35% in VR, P < 0.01). Both VR and AR are as valuable for teaching anatomy as tablet devices, but also promote intrinsic benefits such as increased learner immersion and engagement. These outcomes show great promise for the effective use of virtual and augmented reality as means to supplement lesson content in anatomical education. Anat Sci Educ 10: 549–559. © 2017 American Association of Anatomists.     

辅导员工作与学生心理健康教育初探

高职院校学生心理健康问题主要与社会因素影响、生活与就业压力增加、环境适应能力欠缺与有关。辅导员作为学生心理健康教育工作的组织者和实施者,应当时刻关注学生的心理健康问题,通过引入生动的案例宣传,开展职业能力培训指导,营造温暖的生活环境,组织多种社会实践活动,担任学生的心灵导师,从而促进学生的全面健康发展。     

关于高职学生心理健康问题的调查分析及教育对策

文章运用SCL-90临床症状自评量表对五年制和三年制高职的机电、计算机、财会、英语等各专业学生的心理健康状况进行了调查和测试,并在“SCL-90症状自评测量”结果评析的基础上对高职生心理健康教育工作提出了相应的对策与措施。     

National survey on anatomical sciences in medical education

The drivers for curricular change in medical education such as the addition of innovative approaches to teaching, inclusion of technology and adoption of different assessment methods are gaining momentum. In an effort to understand how these changes are impacting and being implemented in gross anatomy, microscopic anatomy, neuroanatomy/neuroscience, and embryology courses, surveys were sent out to course directors/discipline leaders at allopathic Medical Schools in the United States during the 2016‐2017 academic year. Participants in the study were asked to comment on course hours, student experiences in the classroom and laboratory, amount of faculty participation, the use of peers as teachers in both the classroom and laboratory, methods used for student assessment and identification of best practices. Compared to data published from a similar survey in 2014, a number of changes were identified: (1) classroom hours in gross anatomy increased by 24% and by 29% in neuroanatomy/neuroscience; (2) laboratory hours in gross anatomy decreased by 16%, by 33% in microscopic anatomy, and by 38% in neuroanatomy/neuroscience; (3) use of virtual microscopy in microscopic anatomy teaching increased by 129%; and (4) the number of respondents reporting their discipline as part of a partially or fully integrated curriculum increased by greater than 100% for all four disciplines. Anat Sci Educ 11: 7–14. © 2017 American Association of Anatomists.     

高职院校心理健康教育的不足及对策

教育部多次下发文件,要求加强高等院校学生心理健康教育工作。高职院校作为普通高校的重要组成部分,积极响应文件精神,经过多年的探索与实践,在心理健康教育领域取得了不小的成绩。但到目前为止,为高职大学生“量身定做”的高职高专特色的心理健康教育模式仍存在很多不足。总结经验,探讨如何进一步完善高职院校心理健康教育体系,是本文的思想主旨。     

加强高职生心理健康教育工作的对策

目前高职生中出现的心理健康问题越来越突出,主要表现为心理适应障碍、人际交往困难及自我认识障碍。产生原因主要有家庭原因、社会原因、学校教育原因及就业压力等,应采取多种有效方法解决。     

略谈高职院校师资建设导向

当前高职院校师资建设的一个重要内容，就是培养“双师型”教师；但从长期看来这只能是一种过渡，其最终导向应是造就不同层次的职业技能培训师。教育主管部门和相关行管职能部门应联手合作，共同建设多类型、多层次的高职师资培养、培训基地，以完成对不同层次高职师资培养、培训的需求。     

基于学生满意度调查的高职教育质量评价

借鉴企业管理中利益相关者、顾客满意度以及产品质量就是产品适用性等理念,研究如何将学生对于高职教育的满意度作为高职教育质量评价的关键要素,引导高职教育工作者转变传统教育教学观念、创新教学方法和手段、完善教育管理与服务体系。通过开展面向学生的满意度问卷调查,发现高职教育在人才培养、专业建设、管理服务等方面存在的问题并提出发展建议,以推动高职教育优化资源配置、提升发展水平、增强服务实效,从而实现高质量发展。     

论思想政治教育在卫校教育中的应用

1984年,国家教育部正式批准思想政治教育学科成立,从此思想政治教育学科的发展建设走上了规范化的道路。思想政治教育研究主要经历了理论探索与经验积累、理论的开拓形成、创新与发展三个发展阶段,期间也取得了相应的成果。但是,随着时代和教学的改革发展,思想政治教育学科的建设随之也出现了一些值得我们注意的问题,这对学科以后的发展有一定的影响,所以需要我们对其思考,不仅要找到问题所在,还要分析原因,提出解决的办法,目的在于不断完善和提升思想政治教育学科更快更好的发展,更有助于社会的进步。     

新时期加强高校教师人力资源开发的思考

高校间的竞争，其实就是教师人才的竞争。高校要提高自身的整体竞争力，就必须加大教师人力资源开发力度。要从战略高度出发，统一思想认识，做好高校教师人力资源开发规划；要根据高校实际情况，制定一整套包括选人、用人、育人和留人等政策和措施；要突出重点，围绕学校学科建设的需要，增强人才引进的针对性和有效性；要与时俱进建立与教师人力资源开发配套的机制。     

高职院校心理健康教育课程建设的思考

目前高职院校特别是地方高职院校的心理健康教育课程建设水平尚待提高,存在着一些不令人满意的现状,笔者简单分析了目前的现状并针对这些现状提出了一些对策:准确定位课程、明确课程管理机制、改革课程教学模式、改变课程教学方法方式、改革课程考核形式等。     

心理健康教育在高校思想政治教育中的运用

良好的心理素质是大学生的全面素质中的重要组成部分,因此,开展心理健康教育就成为了高校实行素质教育的重要内容之一.本文从心理健康教育与高校思想政治教育的关系出发,深入探究将心理健康教育融入高校思想政治教育的运用途径     

高职院校学生心理问题分析及教育目标体系建构

高职学生心理健康问题有其自身特点,在分析高职学生心理状况的基础上,提出了合理的高职院校心理健康教育工作目标体系,以期对目前高职院校心理健康教育工作有所启示。     

Reason before passion: faculty views on internationalization in higher education

In this era of globalization, internationalization—both as an idea and an agenda—is receiving widespread attention at academic institutions across North America. Although faculty are necessarily key participants in initiatives to internationalize academia, surprisingly little work has been published that addresses the roles, responsibilities, and problems faced by the faculty on an operational level. This article has been written to provide administrators with some insight into faculty perspectives on the goals, strategies, and processes of internationalization. The authors present a case study of internationalization processes currently underway in the School of Architecture and Allied Arts at the University of Oregon. They discuss a faculty-driven approach that focused on mapping internationalization, addressing barriers to internationalization, and improving structures and systems to enhance internationalization. An in-depth critical analysis of the case leads to recommendations and a framework for navigating diverse tensions and responsibilities implicit in an internationalization imperative.