Academic integrity is non-negotiable. Professors want students to learn how to find credible sources, evaluate evidence, and integrate ideas responsibly. At the same time, formatting headaches and citation minutiae can distract instructors and students from the higher-order work of critical thinking. PERRLA is built to protect and reinforce integrity – not to replace the intellectual labor students must do.
In this post, we'll explore how PERRLA helps instructors teach and enforce proper sourcing, how PERRLA discourages misuse, and some practical ways faculty can integrate PERRLA into assignments to strengthen learning outcomes.
Common faculty concerns – and how we address them
Faculty often raise two understandable worries when tools like PERRLA enter the classroom:
- “Will this let students cheat?”
No. PERRLA handles the formatting and citation mechanics, but it cannot create or substitute for the intellectual steps of researching, evaluating, and writing. The tool requires students to supply the content of their papers and review bibliographic information; our version history feature makes it easy to verify authorship and the timeline of a student’s work.
- “Will students bypass learning citation principles?”
Automation can be a crutch if used thoughtlessly. That’s why PERRLA is designed to reinforce best practices – we make correct citation visible, teach the reason behind citation rules in our help resources, and provide instructors with materials to use in class so students understand why citations matter, not just how to format them.
Concrete ways PERRLA promotes integrity
1. Version history and audit trail
Every PERRLA paper has a visible, printable version history that records timestamps and saved versions for 30 days. This provides an auditable trail showing when text and references were added or changed – a useful tool for demonstrating authorship and submission timelines.
2. Transparent reference management
PERRLA encourages users to enter and/or review full source information when adding a reference. That makes it easier for instructors and graders to check whether a cited source exists and whether the student engaged with the original material, rather than relying on vague or incomplete references.
3. Citation guidance along the way
Our interface helps students insert correctly formatted citations and exposes the underlying information (author, title, date, page) so students understand how the bibliographic pieces create correct formatting. This reinforces the research habit of verifying publication details rather than pasting incomplete or fabricated citations.
4. Focusing on what's most important
Students who rely on academic shortcuts often do so because they feel too stressed or pressed for time when writing. By handling all of the formatting – through the entire writing process – PERRLA gives students the breathing room they need to spend all of their mental energy on the content of their papers.
How instructors can use PERRLA to teach integrity – practical ideas
Use assignments that require source reflection
Ask students to attach a short annotation for each work in their References list explaining why they chose it and how it informs their argument. PERRLA’s Annotation feature allows students to easily add properly formatted annotations to their references while they're writing. We even allow students to create stand-alone Annotated Bibliographies.
Require version checkpoints
Set intermediate due dates for large papers where students must submit a saved PERRLA draft before their final version is due. Version history then documents their development, discouraging last-minute assembly and making it easier to coach revision practices.
Design rubrics that prioritize source quality and integration
Include rubric items that assess whether sources are credible, relevant, and integrated into the argument – not just whether citations are correctly formatted. PERRLA handles the format so you can grade a student paper's substance.
Use PERRLA’s export for audits or conferences
When questions of authorship arise, exports and version records provide objective evidence of timeline and progress – a more constructive and fair approach than punitive assumptions.
Addressing policy alignment
PERRLA is a tool, not a policy. Colleges and departments still need clear guidance about acceptable assistance (including generative AI), collaboration rules, and consequences for misconduct. We support institutional policies by:
- Making it easy to document when and how tools were used
- Offering guidance on citing AI tools and nontraditional sources correctly
- Providing faculty with materials and examples to include in their syllabus and assignment instructions
If your department has specific policy requirements, we’re happy to work with you to adopt PERRLA workflows that align with those rules.
Final thoughts
PERRLA exists to remove technical barriers so instructors can focus on teaching what matters – critical thinking, evidence evaluation, and clear argumentation. By making citation mechanics reliable and transparent, providing an audit trail, and encouraging documentation of research choices, PERRLA supports academic integrity while preserving the essential intellectual work students must do.
If you’d like a sample syllabus blurb, assignment template, or rubric language that integrates PERRLA and reinforces integrity, we can provide ready-to-use materials customized for your course – just reach out to us at schools@perrla.com.