How Is Academic Honesty and Originality Monitored?

How Is Academic Honesty and Originality Monitored?

The Classical Liberal Arts Academy (CLAA) is committed to preserving the integrity of its classical academic program. Because students work independently at home or in private schools, CLAA uses a combination of technological safeguards, layered assessments, and live verification to ensure that all student work is honest and original.

1. Multiple Assessments Per Lesson
- Unlike modern schools that rely on a few high-stakes exams, CLAA courses contain multiple assessments for each lesson.
- Students complete quizzes, written assignments, and mastery checks throughout the course.
- This structure makes it extremely difficult to cheat consistently or rely on outside help without being detected.

2. Timed Quizzes and Tests
- All quizzes and exams are timed to limit the use of outside sources, including AI tools.
- Students who have not mastered the lesson content will struggle to complete assessments accurately within the time limits.
- Timed testing encourages genuine preparation and internalization of material.

3. AI Detection for Written Assignments
- All written submissions are scanned by an AI detection tool at the time of grading.
- If a submission is flagged, it is reviewed manually by the instructor or grading team.
- Points may be deducted for dishonesty, or the assignment may be returned for resubmission.

4. Copy and Paste Restrictions
- Copying and pasting content into Moodle quiz fields is disabled.
- This prevents students from inserting text generated by AI or other external sources.
- Students must provide their own written responses.

5. Honesty and Originality in Rubric Grading
- Written assignments are graded according to a fixed 100-point rubric.
- Criterion 10 specifically evaluates whether the work is “honestly written.”
- Any work found to contain AI-generated or plagiarized content will lose points or be disqualified.

6. Live Examinations for Certificates and Diplomas
- Students pursuing certificates or diplomas must pass live examinations with an instructor.
- These examinations verify that the student—not AI—has mastered the content.
- This is the final safeguard ensuring academic honesty before credentials are awarded.

7. Parental and Teacher Supervision
- In homeschool and private school settings, parents and teachers are expected to provide appropriate supervision during assessments.
- This includes monitoring test conditions and ensuring students are working independently.
- The partnership between CLAA and supervising adults plays an important role in maintaining academic integrity.

8. Continuous Monitoring Through Activity Patterns
- CLAA tracks task completion, instructional time, and activity history through Moodle reports.
- Unusual activity patterns—such as rapid completion of difficult assessments or inconsistent performance—may prompt review.
- Regular engagement with lessons and assessments builds a clear, verifiable record of student work.

Summary
- Academic honesty is maintained through multiple assessments, timed testing, and technical restrictions.
- Written assignments are scanned by AI detection tools and graded for originality.
- Live examinations verify that students have personally mastered the material.
- Parental and teacher supervision adds an additional layer of accountability.
- CLAA’s monitoring system ensures that all student work reflects real learning and authentic effort.