What NOT to learn from Harvard and Yale's "regret clause"
Teammates from the MLK Jr Day Weekend Expedition pitch the first version of their prototype to peers and facilitators for feedback. When students work on problems that matter to them, even when—or perhaps because—their assessments take place in public, “regret clauses” are unnecessary.
What’s the best way to deal with students who cheat?
Harvard and Yale created a “regret clause”:
“If reported to Yale’s Executive Committee, those found guilty of academic dishonesty could face suspension, probation or other reprimands. But thanks to the regret clause, CS50 instructors on both campuses pledge not to bring such cases to the Executive Committee for students who admit to potential academic dishonesty within 72 hours of the submission deadline. Instead of traditional disciplinary measures, the report states, the team may give a zero for the problem set and connect students with mental or academic support structures across campus.”
Weird.
Why not assign students work that they don’t want to cheat on?
So many schools operate as though yesterday’s assessments are equally useful and valid assessments today. In many cases, they never were; in even more cases, they no longer are.
The past 3 days in Expeditionaries, teams of students have been learning to apply design thinking, lean start up, and research skills to a social impact problem they had never seen before. They received no multiple choice quizzes, blue book exams, or 5-paragraph essays.
Instead, this afternoon, they will pitch their problem-solution set to a CEO panel. Yesterday they practiced multiple times with their peers and facilitators, craving feedback at each turn. They can barely wait to get feedback from the CEO panel today. Why?
The students choose their problem.
They choose their solution.
They are publicly presenting to a CEO panel and an audience of school leaders, family, and friends.
They genuinely want to know, How did we do? How much have we learned? What should we do next?
Want to see what that kind of authentic assessment looks like in action? If you’re in New York City today, join our audience. You can RSVP here.
Whether the CEO panel encourages these students to persevere or pivot, there will be no “regrets” from them, because they never had a reason to cheat in the first place.
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