Academic Dishonesty

When looking at survey results, I found that a number of individuals believe TCU students cheat in there classes. Nearly 60% of respondents stated that that they strongly believe cheating to occur with the other 40% believing some to minimal cheating occurs. The most shocking, however, is that if I were to take the survey, I would have to agree with that 60%. 

So why do the students at TCU have such a strong perception of cheating? Are we all truly cheaters? Or are those sharing successful tales of cheating just the loudest voices? Is AI to blame? 

Personally, I feel the prevalence of cheating within the Neeley School because of the frequency in which my professors discuss academic dishonesty taking place. Whether this is through professors I have a close relationship with asking for advice or through professors warning the class of the consequences of cheating, I feel as if academic dishonesty makes its way into nearly every conversation. 

A great challenge for educators is figuring out how to navigate the academic environment now that students have unchecked access to artificial intelligence. AI can be such a beneficial tool, but it is also creates quite the temptation. This semester I took Introduction to Marketing AI, a class in which we studied the legality and ethical use of AI as well as learned how to use AI as a tool for streamlining repetitive tasks. Throughout the semester, we have wrestled with what AI could mean for students, and our professor has had candid conversations with us about struggles she has faced with AI usage in her other classes. It makes me sad to realize that so many bright students are not utilizing critical thinking and creative writing like they used to because of that unfiltered AI access. I also fear that I could have fallen into that same trap had I started my college journey with AI as it is today.

I do not envy the educators that must now rethink learning. I can image we are going to be seeing a greater uptick in handwritten, in-class work.  

Movie Review: Now You See Me, Now You Don't

For my popular media presentation, my group and I chose to discuss the movie Now You See Me. While I highly recommend the first of the series for its stellar cast and the imaginative cons, the third installment left something to be desired. 

The third film, Now You See Me, Now You Don't, follows the original cast as they reunite 10 years later and team up with a group of novice magicians. Together, they try to expose the corrupt dealing of a South African mogul who heads an international crime syndicate. While I found the movie entertaining because I love the cast, the plot was discombobulated, the writing and the acting was cringe-worthy to say the least, and the magic fell flat. 

However, relating to our class discussions on the evolution of deception, I found it interesting to see just how the writers adapted the Four Horsemen's Robbin Hood ways to a 2025 climate. It was highly apparent that the movie was trying to appear relevant to Gen Z with mentions of Covid-19, AI, social media, and general younger generation slag. The opening scene begins with the young magicians redistributing the wealth from a group of corrupt "crypto bros." While in the first film we see a similar scene dealing with mortgage fraud, the relevant change in con in this third installment reflects the evolving period in time.  

Sadly, that's about where the notable events end. Post first "heist" I can image the writers changed as then the film takes on a plot about exposing descendants of criminals from Nazi Germany, getting revenge for the death of a loved one, and righting a wrongful inheritance. If it sounds confusing and all over the place, that's because it is. However, they've made a fan of me yet and I am anxious to see the continued evolution of the Four Horsemen as the series continues and the younger cast replaces the old.