Here is a brief history of how this "wondering" occurred and the action research (inquiry)plan I am working on to see if something should be implemented to help:

This wondering occurred as the result of one teacher requesting that the school purchase a specific software program to help her identify and grade for plagiarism. My mentor assigned me the task of identifying possible software programs to address this concern.  When I asked if plagiarism is a big problem, no one had measured it.  Before the school purchases something, a quantifiable problem base is required.  So this project will say definitively:  High School students have submitted a specific number of papers with specific similarity indexes, therefore the need to enhance teaching and learning about plagiarism is evident.  The mastering of this writing skill will affect the student’s success in college and is important to his future educational endeavors.

Do most of the students in high school submit essays reflecting plagiarism?  Can this occurrence be quantified in order to justify the purchase of a software solution that would help teachers identify plagiarism in writing, teach students how to avoid this practice and help students write creatively with original thought? Can the outcome of implementation be measured?

SCHOOL VISION:. Students will possess writing skills appropriate to success in educational endeavors and will embrace the opportunity to express themselves with originality and creativity.

GOAL:  Students will express original thought and ideas in writing assignments.  Teachers will be able to identify plagiarism and implement teaching strategies to develop skills in originality for writing assignments.

The work on this project encompasses all of the NETS-T as laid out by ISTE and the NETS-S 1,3,4, and 5 for students.  The correct software selection will allow for meeting NETS-S 2 and 6.  All five of the NETS-A are met for administrators involved in this project.  The Digital Citizenship aspect of plagiarism is especially important to learn.

OUTCOMES	ACTIVITIES	RESOURCES/ RESEARCH TOOLS NEEDED	RESPONSIBILITY TO ADDRESS ACTIVITIES	TIME LINE	Benchmarks/ ASSESSMENT	Revisions to SIP/PIP based on monitoring and assessments
Two teachers will be identified who want to work in this project	Meet with supervisor to identify potential teachers.  Meet with teachers to explain project and ascertain willingness to work on it.	The proposal must be ready. supervisor will help get appointments. Potential free software program to be selected by director.	Dianne Stelly	Late March 2012
Students participants identified	Each teacher will select the class or students to participate	Student and teacher agreement.  Essay assignment.  Computer for writing.  Program to check writing.	Dianne and Teachers	Early April, 2012
Current level of plagiarism identified	Students will submit electronic essays to a free writing check program for measurement of similarity indexes.	Two high school English teachers. Computers for electronic submission.  Free software program.	Site supervisor to help identify teachers.  Dianne to make appointments to discuss research processes.	Mid May, 2012
Outcomes documented.  Review with teachers.	Develop written and graphic reports.	Data  from submissions, computer, graphing program	Dianne	Mid May, 2012
Identify programs that check for plagiarism, prepare presentation for leadership.	Develop presentation with pros/cons of various programs including costs	Time to research, computer to research, time to report to teachers.	Dianne	Ongoing from March to May. Have ready by April, 2012.	Teachers to decide on acceptable similarity index to define plagiarism.
Report to leadership	Plan presentation with visuals and handouts	Data, reports, presentations.  Professional packets to hand out. Set time for meeting.	Dianne/Supervisor/Teachers	Late May, 2012	How many above or below the benchmark set by teachers.
Purchase and implement software program chosen	Plan staff development time during summer pre-school week to teach the program to teachers.	Time during staff development week.  Computer training room. Software program installed.	Tech staff assisted by Dianne.  Director to choose program with collaboration of teachers.	August 2012
Re-evaluate plagiarism levels after one semester use.	Use the data gathering tools that are included with most software solutions to measure current plagiarism occurrences. Compare with baseline rate.	Software program, run reports, meeting time with teachers	Dianne, Teachers	Dec. 2012	Has level reached desired benchmark?  If not what next?