Akkam’s Razor

Student at Ryerson College in Toronto runs a Facebook study group - professor finds it, changes his grade from B to F, school recommends expulsion!  Someone is ignoring the changing of rules of the online world!  In this case, the University is PUNISHING collaborative problem solving!

First-year student Chris Avenir is fighting charges of academic misconduct for helping run an online chemistry study group via Facebook last term, where 146 classmates swapped tips on homework questions that counted for 10 per cent of their mark.

The computer engineering student has been charged with one count of academic misconduct for helping run the group – called Dungeons/Mastering Chemistry Solutions after the popular Ryerson basement study room engineering students dub The Dungeon – and another 146 counts, one for each classmate who used the site.

[…]

“All these students are scared s—less now about using Facebook to talk about schoolwork, when actually it’s no different than any study group working together on homework in a library,” said Neale.

“That’s the worst part; it’s creating this culture of fear, where if I post a question about physics homework on my friend’s wall (a Facebook bulletin board) and ask if anyone has any ideas how to approach this – and my prof sees this, am I cheating?” said Neale, who has used Facebook study groups herself.

Ryerson officials have declined to comment while the case continues.

Ryerson’s academic misconduct policy, which is being updated, defines it as “any deliberate activity to gain academic advantage, including actions that have a negative effect on the integrity of the learning environment.”

The story is here.I’m sure there’s probably more to the story, but based on the facts reported, WTF!!1, indeed.  Furthermore, their policy is codified to make collaboration (even though I don’t see the “negative effect on the integrity of the learning environment”, unless that environment is individuals sinking or swimming - maybe collaboration is communism?) a matter of misconduct.