Avoid telecollaboration when in doubt.
News broke recently that a college student at Ryerson University in Canada is under fire and could face expulsion for running an online study group for students. The student created a Facebook group where classmates swapped tips and answers for homework assignments. After hearing about this incident, it again reiterates why students and the population in general should avoid collaborating online if they are not sure what they are doing is 100% allowed. Using something such as an online group creates a log of information posted. It is running evidence of whatever you are doing. If that something is not necessarily allowed, then one should rely on good old human to human interaction. I am not advocating doing something illegal, but if you have an online study group where answers are being posted left and right, one has to wonder how many people are simply logging on and copying down the answers without putting any of the work in. Every action has a consequence, as I discussed in a previous post. You must properly balance the risk vs. reward of every decision and think about everything that goes into a situation. This poor college student most likely did not consider the fact that his administrator status made him the leader of a potential cheating scandal, which could have some very tough repercussions.
This lesson does not apply to students only. Every single person should be careful about what they put and do online. The computer is a wonderful tool, but your actions are recorded and able to be uncovered if necessary. Be careful what you attach your name to and know the best and worst possible consequences that go into everything you do.
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