integrity

RE: Cheating, technology, integrity
Answering the question (sort of):
The bottom line for me:
a) Did the student learn? (the concepts, skills, etc. that I wanted to get across)
b) Does the grade authentically reflect that student's OWN learning?

With respect to a):
I don't really care how the student accomplishes this learning. I am not egotistical enough to insist that this learning comes only from what I'm doing with them in the classroom. If they can learn from working together (in person or in cyberspace), or from looking at websites, or reading a book, or asking a neighbour, or ... then that is great. In this formative (learning) stage, for me there is no such thing as cheating. Any source is fair game. Get the info. however you can. So for example, if my students want to copy homework solutions off their peers then so be it. They are at least getting some value from handwriting it all out (since we're not yet at the stage where math homework is word processed!). However this stuff counts LITTLE or NOT AT ALL in their marks ... it is simply a chance for them to practice, get feedback, see what they need more work on, etc. If they use this opportunity well, it pays off later on when they ARE being assessed.
Seen technology used for this: eg. 1st year calculus at U of Guelph - Maple tutorials, student/TA/prof chat forum, online quizzes (created using a Maple program so each is unique) that can be attempted repeatedly for practice before counting one for a small part of the grade
(oh ya, and I think this was the intent behind the Fundamentals forum)

and b): Now it's different. The vast majority of the grade MUST come from work that is definitely being done by the student alone. This is their chance to demonstrate the stuff they learned in a). How to do this? Best way is to SUPERVISE THEM. Tests and assignments done in class. Otherwise the grades may be meaningless and may not necessarily reflect what that student can do.
And you avoid the complication of suspecting or even knowing that cheating (eg. plagiarism) has occurred and feeling like there's nothing you can really do ...
There needs to be integrity when grades are being considered. Otherwise what is the value of a course credit, or ultimately a diploma or degree?