I hope that some sort of change can come from this!

Clearly, you’ve opened the door to a valuable conversation — and perhaps you’ve just now positioned yourself with your foot bracing the door open so that folks can continue to step through.

Perhaps your prof could be invited to comment — often our personal perceptions evolve as we engage with a wider audience — something which rarely happens, as you say, when “you’re dismissed … for being a mere student.”

Bud- I agree, teachers do need to “walk the walk” and set a good example of how things should be done! I think from now on I will start asking professors about where the information came from if I see a problem with it. Thank you!

Andrew- You raise a good point when it comes to the lyrics of “Oh Canada”. I hadn’t thought of it that way. I guess there are some things you acquire over your life, like you say, that you can’t specifically attribute to a source. I wish students as an audience would be treated as peers are, more on a equal level (this is the case sometimes but not all of the time). I strongly agree that a new model of thinking must be initiated. Sources should be shared so students can look them up if they’d like. I think it also gives more credibility when information from other sources is gathered together (maybe that’s just my opinion). Thanks for the great response!

Richard- Hypocrite was exactly what I was thinking when I realized this initially. I think bringing it up to my professor regarding this guest lecturer will be a good idea. I was skeptical to even write this blog at first, afraid that I could possibly get in trouble or punished for pointing out a flaw like this, but after all these response I don’t think there should be any problems. And I agree, these are good people doing the best they can. I have no problem with this man as an individual. I will address the issue and hopefully some progress can be made and both parties will benefit in the end. Thanks for the insight!

Cathy- Thank you for being that minority, I hope you can set a trend! I hope most teachers follow and that this practice is promoted for teachers-to-be like myself! Thanks!

Alan- I didn’t consider the option that the sources could be provided if I asked for them. That is something I did not consider, largely because I wasn’t aware that could be done. I don’t think too many students are aware of this either. I have also found that my best professors weren’t afraid to cite (in some form or another). I’ll try not to stress it too much, I just had to get my rant out there! Thanks!

Ira- I hate that teachers/profs are “right” because of their status. I had some teachers in the past who, if challenged, simply dismissed you for being wrong or maybe even stupid (that’s how they make you feel). I don’t like being a “mere student”. As a student we’re trying to attain the knowledge that our presenter is sharing, and that is difficult if you’re being talked down to. I wouldn’t care how it was cited, just as long as some acknowledgement of source was provided. Largely why this got to me is summed up with “practicing what you preach”. I will bring this up and demand some sort of answer! Thank you! (I’m also going to read through those links you provided as well!)

After I click the post button on here I am going to send an email to my prof telling him of my frustrations and asking the question “why is this allowed?”. Thanks for all the comments that gave me the confidence to do this!

In the “old way” a professor/teacher was “right” simply because they held the position of professor or teacher. Just as books were “right” if they held the imprint of certain publishers. Students were not “inherently right” so they had to prove all of their sources – as exactly as was conceivable, and in a form precisely familiar to the teacher (the source of APA/MLA/etc citation systems). When roles switched – when professors were talking to more senior professors – in academic articles – then they had to prove sources (a prof of mine once said “the more famous you are the fewer citations are in your article” – and this is almost always true).

In other words, the entire citation system developed as a system of power – and as part of the academic “hazing” system. It was only peripherally about knowledge or plagiarism – why is why your presenter felt sure he could ignore it when speaking to “mere students.”

In today’s world, of course, your rank and your publishing house has far less to do with how people assess your knowledge. In social media your “cognitive authority” is based in the materials you bring to the table right now and your ability to link people to proof of the relevance of your research. So, citation has become essential for everyone. It should look different – I believe in “live links” – hypertext links to the source – and don’t care about citation format (is there anything more antiquated in this moment in time than traditional page numbers for online material?), and if your faculty is not practicing what it is preaching, I’d argue that they don’t consider it important at all.

So bring this up. Demand a conversation. A university is supposed to be a learning community. And in a community the same rules need apply to all.

http://speedchange.blogspot.com/2008/03/cognitive-authority.html
http://speedchange.blogspot.com/2009/05/information-literacy.html

Plagiarism relates to publication. Your professors are bound by the same strictures on their own publications that they are asking you to practice. Teaching notes and materials might be in a grey zone here. That said, I recall my best professors (and my father, a professor) always scribbled a citation somewhere on the handouts they gave students. I think verbal citations during lectures are also essential. Don’t stress it too much.