Understanding File Metadata Issues: A Personal Experience with Plagiarism Accusations

It’s a common fear among students to be accused of academic dishonesty, especially when you’ve put in the effort to produce original work. I recently faced an alarming situation during an exam that led to such accusations, and I’d like to share my experience in hopes of shedding light on potential tech-related misunderstandings that we might encounter.

During an examination utilizing the latest version of AutoCAD Electrical, I created my submission from scratch, an endeavor I undertook just yesterday. However, my professor alleged that my file indicated a creation date of 2013, raising suspicions of plagiarism. This was concerning, as I was confident in the authenticity of my work.

When I reviewed the metadata of my file, everything pointed to a creation date of December 11, 2023. Strangely, the metadata also revealed that while it was created at 9 PM, it had last been modified at 6 PM on the same day. This discrepancy only added to my confusion. How could my professor’s view of the file and mine differ so significantly?

A few peers speculated that there might be a “bit flip” issue affecting the file’s metadata, leading to this 2013 creation date. As I did some research, I found that files from the 2013 version of AutoCAD Electrical would likely be incompatible with the current software version, further alleviating my concerns about having used an outdated file. Additionally, I had taken the exam on a school computer, which resets its C: drive after shutdown, preventing access to previous versions of my work. My files were safely saved to OneDrive, but the situation still felt precarious.

Fortunately, I can now share that this matter has been resolved. My professor was incredibly understanding and apologized for the error. Upon reopening the file on a different computer, my submission displayed the correct creation date, while another student’s file still showed the 2013 date. Unfortunately, technical glitches do happen, and it seems this was an isolated incident impacting several students.

While I’m relieved to have avoided a zero grade and an academic integrity citation, I believe it’s crucial to note the complexities that can arise from digital files and their metadata. For anyone encountering similar allegations, be sure to check metadata details, verify the software version, and, if needed, back up files in several locations to mitigate risks.

In summary, I’m grateful for the resolution and the support I received from peers