Understanding File Metadata Confusion: A Personal Experience

As a student, the Academic Integrity Policy is something that weighs heavily on us all. Recently, I found myself in a tense situation that taught me a lot about the nuances of digital file management. Here’s my experience, in hopes that it might help others who may face similar issues.

During a recent exam, I was accused of plagiarism by a professor who claimed that my AutoCAD Electrical file was created in 2013. This accusation was both shocking and frustrating because I was completely confident that my work was original and completed on the day of the exam.

I had utilized a school computer running Windows 11, saving my work directly to OneDrive during the test. The professor’s claim raised immediate concerns for me, especially since I had proof in the form of file metadata showing that my creation date was December 11th, 2023. However, the metadata did present a puzzling discrepancy: it indicated that the file was last modified at 6 PM on the same day, but it was created at 9 PM. This raised a red flag, and I wondered what could have caused such a discrepancy.

In an effort to resolve the matter, I turned to online forums for advice. Some friends suggested that it might have been a “bit flip” error or some other technical glitch. Confident that I had worked in the latest version of AutoCAD, I also looked into compatibility issues that might explain the confusion. After checking the Autodesk website, I noted that files from 2013’s version of AutoCAD Electrical would indeed not work in the latest version.

What was particularly concerning was the computer’s operating system, which automatically wiped its C: drive upon shutdown. This made it virtually impossible to retrieve previous versions of my work. Thankfully, I had saved a backup to OneDrive.

I worried that my academic integrity might be questioned, which could have far-reaching consequences for my future. Fortunately, after a follow-up conversation with my professor, the issue was resolved amicably. It turned out that several other students also faced the same file date issue. When my professor opened my file on a different machine, it displayed the correct creation date.

While I may never know the exact cause of this metadata mix-up, I am relieved to report that the matter was cleared up without further escalation. It’s a reminder of the importance of keeping backups and maintaining open lines of communication with educators.

For anyone who might face a similar situation, here are