Ethics 11: Ethics and Moral Reasoning in Modern Society E-THICking 2 (Midterm)

Establishing Integrity and Real Excellence among Students

Bon Vincent Ventanilla

 
The transition of physical learning into online modalities brought by COVID-19
pandemic has come a great deal of scrutiny over the issue of academic integrity – and it’s quite
disturbing on whether students are actually learning. Because by the very nature of online
education, students tend to resort to unethical means to escape pressure in their study – and I am
no exception for that.

Based on my experience for almost a year of engaging in online class, maintaining

integrity and real excellence is a difficult challenge for me in the first month of being a college
student. Since I didn’t expect that my college life will be this kind of setup wherein, I have to
face my gadgets while taking quizzes or exams, and left with no choice but to adapt with the
struggles of remote learning. Nevertheless, despite the many distractions and challenges around
my environment, I chose to confront these disturbing circumstances, because I realized that the
greater, I suffer as a student, the greater the learning my college season and journey will give to
me – and I’d never regret this decision.

Meanwhile, I strongly disagree with the culture of teamwork that students exercise in
online class. I believe that when students like me participate in this misconduct to pass a certain
subject or any academic requirements, our moral integrity suffers, and our education is
compromised. Normalizing this practice will result in us carrying this perceived “acceptable”
behavior into every aspect of our life.

(245 Words)
References:

Heberling, M. (n.d.). Maintaining Academic Integrity in Online Education. Retrieved March 11,

2021, from https://www.westga.edu/~distance/ojdla/spring51/heberling51.html

Urmatam, O. G. (2020, November 26). Homework for Sale. Retrieved March 11, 2020 from
https://www.rappler.com/voices/imho/opinion-homework-for-sale