Using TurnitinUK to promote ethical use of electronic sources Gill Rowell, Manager, Internet Plagiarism Advisory Service

Todays session Background to TurnitinUK, and usage. Opportunity for you to plagiarise an essay! Submit to TurnitinUK and consider how Originality Report can help with information literacy development.

Background: what is TurnitinUK? US-developed text matching tool. Used extensively in UK Universities and colleges as a plagiarism detection system. Endorsed by JISC as preferred national detection solution since 2002.

How does it work? Student/tutor uploads work. Originality Report returned indicating any matching text from: –The internet –Other students work –Selected subscription services Academic judgement as to whether plagiarism has occurred, OR… A learning opportunity.

Opportunities for information skills development Allows for reflection and self-diagnosis. –Need for appropriate attribution of electronic sources. –Catalyst for analytical skills development. –Demonstrates ubiquitous information on the web. Widely used in study skills modules at induction.

Process Students submit work themselves. Students receive feedback on their work: –Revision assignment allows students to submit a number of drafts as determined by the tutor. –Students can overwrite their assignment unlimited times until due date is reached. Need for pedagogical support as part of a formative approach.

Some experiences of formative use of TurnitinUK most of the staff who are using Turnitin on a regular basis seem to see it as a useful tool for teaching students about plagiarism, rather than a method of "catching them at it"… The practice is for the students to submit a formative assignment and the tutor to discuss the implications of a high scoring match with the student concerned should this occur. (Beckton, 2007) Some staff are concerned about the use by students - "some students use it to make the colour go away" - but generally even that is seen as having an educative dimension. "To make the colour go away" requires them to think about the content of their answers and their form of expression. (Raeburn, 2006) Beckton, J. (2007) Student access to Turnitin, Plagiarism discussion list, 1 February [Online]. Available Raeburn, S. (2006) Use of Turnitin at UK institutions, Plagiarism discussion list, 2 March [Online]. Available

Now over to you!