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10 Percent of Harvard's Popular 'Introduction To Computer Science' Class Accused of Cheating (thecrimson.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the academic-dishonesty dept.

theodp writes: The Harvard Crimson reports that more than 60 of the 636 students enrolled in last fall's CS50: "Introduction to Computer Science I" course appeared before the College's Honor Council in a wave of academic dishonesty cases that has stretched the Council to its limits over the past few months. Former students and course staff, though, said course policy was unclear about what constituted cheating, creating the potential for unintentional violations. Consistently, one of the most popular courses at Harvard, CS50 is known for an unconventional atmosphere, complete with flashy promotional videos and corporate-sponsored events.

4 of 131 comments (clear)

  1. Collaboration by The+Raven · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I don't see how a course that encourages collaboration between peers can then turn them in for cheating when they come up with the same answer. You can't collaborate without often coming to the same result using the same methods.

    While coding, in its purest form, is a creative act the same is not so of most 'coding 101' problems. They are often rote mechanical pieces, intended to highlight a particular software concept, with little room for creativity (especially if, like any sane student, you're trying for the simplest and shortest solution).

    Unless they are monitoring the entire typing history for students, and they only brought students up on charges where their submission was created with a single keystroke (Ctrl+V), I don't see how this is a fair system.

    --
    "I will trust Google to 'do no evil' until the founders no longer run it." Hello Alphabet.
  2. In my day by Hognoxious · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Consistently, one of the most popular courses at Harvard

    In my day you wouldn't get into Harvard if you used commas like that.

    Not even to look around.

    --
    Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
  3. DIY by JBMcB · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I taught myself to program on a Commodore VIC-20 reading magazines. No internet. No BBSes. I slept through my CS101 class and aced it.

    In this day and age, if you need to cheat in Intro to CS, you probably shouldn't be in CS.

    --
    My Other Computer Is A Data General Nova III.
  4. The other 90% didn't have to cheat by 140Mandak262Jamuna · · Score: 1, Insightful

    They are guaranteed an A no matter what they do.

    --
    sed -e 's/Chuck Norris/Rajnikant/g' joke > fact