May 2026 – Present

Project Title: Academic Integrity in Social Work: A Learning Series for Students

Funding: 2026 AtlanticOER Development Grant, Council of Atlantic Academic Libraries (CAAL-CBPA)

About the Project:

Academic integrity is an important part of social work education and professional practice. Beyond understanding academic rules and expectations, students are learning to make ethical decisions, engage responsibly with the work of others, and develop the knowledge and skills that will support them throughout their professional lives. This project involves developing a series of accessible, self-paced learning modules to support social work students in understanding and applying principles of academic integrity. Rather than focusing solely on academic misconduct, the learning series connects academic integrity to social work values, including honesty, accountability, respect, and professional responsibility.

The project recognizes that students enter social work education with different educational experiences, strengths, and learning needs. Our goal is to provide practical, accessible learning opportunities that help students build confidence, navigate expectations, ask questions, and develop their academic and professional skills.

About the Learning Series

Academic Integrity in Social Work: A Learning Series for Students includes nine short, asynchronous modules designed specifically for social work education.

The modules introduce students to key topics, including:

  • Academic integrity and its relationship to social work values and professional ethics.
  • Understanding academic expectations, responsibilities, and institutional policies.
  • Academic misconduct and strategies for navigating common challenges.
  • Ethical collaboration and group work.
  • Responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (AI).
  • Finding, evaluating, and acknowledging sources, including APA referencing.
  • Paraphrasing, integrating sources, and developing academic writing skills.
  • Academic integrity in social work research, documentation, field education, and professional communication.

Each module includes practical examples relevant to social work, short videos, interactive activities, and opportunities for students to check their understanding and apply what they have learned. The learning series is designed to be revisited throughout students’ education, providing support as they encounter new assignments, research activities, and professional responsibilities.

Project Development and Progress

The nine modules were developed during 2026 with contributions from students and collaborators in education, accessibility, and instructional design. Student perspectives have been particularly important in shaping the content, including the development of short videos exploring common questions and scenarios related to academic integrity. The learning series were introduced to social work students at Memorial University through Brightspace (D2L) during Fall 2026. Student feedback will help inform further refinements to the materials.

Following this initial implementation, the learning series is intended to be published as a free, open educational resource through Pressbooks. This will allow educators and social work programs beyond Memorial University to access, use, and adapt the materials for their own learning environments.

Project Team and Contributors:

  • Jess Geddes, BA: Master of Education student in Curriculum, Teaching, and Learning Studies at Memorial University.
  • Mariela Carolina Calderón Muñoz: Undergraduate student in Educational Management and Curriculum Administration at Universidad Tecnológica El Retoño, Aguascalientes, Mexico.
  • Tim Campbell-Smith: Social Work student at Wilfrid Laurier University, with a professional background in digital marketing, adult education, and content creation.
  • Claire O’Brien, MPH
  • Stacey Alexander: Instructional Design Specialist, Centre for Innovation in Teaching and Learning (CITL), Memorial University.

Contact:

For more information about this project, please contact Dr. Ami Goulden, Project Lead and CARES Lab Director (agoulden@mun.ca).

Read our CARES Lab announcement about receiving the 2026 AtlanticOER Development Grant.