Turnitin Supporting Info Page

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Turnitin - Supporting Info

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Research - Institutional Turnitin Evaluation 2010/11

During Michaelmas 2010/11, the Learning and Teaching Enhancement Unit (LTEU) led an evaluation of the University’s use of Turnitin as a way of detecting and dealing with plagiarism and supporting student learning.

The aims of the research were to:

report to the University with recommendations for future policy and practice
produce a paper linking to wider research for submission to conferences and journals TBC

This research was approved| by the Faculty of Education Research Committee Trinity 2009/10.

Findings

Following a detailed analysis of the data, a final research report was presented to CCCU Learning & Teaching Committee (LTC) May 18th 2011. A summary of the findings is presented below and are consistent with preliminary findings reported in Lent Term:

Turnitin is widely used (5000+ students in 17+ teaching depts.)
Most students and staff have positive experiences
Rules for using Turnitin are being followed
There is evidence for Turnitin helping students avoid plagiarism
There is an indication students would welcome more guidance in interpreting originality reports

A copy of the full report is attached below:

Turnitin Research 2010/11 - Final Report for Learning and Teaching Committee May 18th 2011|

In part informed by this research, a revised plagiarism policy was proposed to LTC which requires wider, more formative use of Turnitin.

Plagiarism Policy Development

Partly informed by this research, a revised Plagiarism Policy was agreed by Academic Board during Michaelmas 2011/12. The current Policy allows programmes and departments to use Turnitin at their discretion, but where used:

programmes must provide a formative experience of Turnitin before students submit any work for final assessment for the first time.
all students taking the assessment must submit to Turnitin.

The new Policy requires from academic year 2012/13:

all coursework for levels 4-7 (Undergraduate and Masters) will be submitted to Turnitin for originality checking:

where it is in a format acceptable by Turnitin and
unless programmes feel it’s not appropriate because of the nature of the assessment (this will be the exception to the rule).
students will have an opportunity, and be encouraged to, submit at least one draft and view the originality report for each piece of coursework they’re asked to submit to Turnitin.
there must be an educational focus on the use of Turnitin early on in programmes to help students understand the meaning of originality reports and avoid plagiarism.

See the University web site for the Plagiarism Policy and for advice for students on what plagiarism is, how to avoid it and what the University's approach| to it is.

Participants

Many thanks to the 367 students and 62 staff who responded to the survey. Thanks also to the 34 students who responded to a follow-up e-mail interview and the 26 staff who were interviewed, of which 15 were teaching staff and the others in various related academic and professional service roles.

Participant Information Sheet|

We made the Student Survey Prize Draw on 23rd November 2010 and two lucky winners received :

1st Prize: £100 High Street Vouchers (to Foundation Degree in Childhood Studies student)

2nd Prize: Flip Video Camera (to Education Studies student)

If you have any comments or queries about the research, please contact the lead researcher, Simon Starr (below).

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About This Page

If you have any queries about this web page or suggestions for improvement, please contact:

Simon Starr, Learning Technologist
Learning and Teaching Enhancement Unit

Office: 01227 767700 ext 2018
E-mail: simon.starr@canterbury.ac.uk|

Page last edited: 22 November 2011

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