What is Turnitin?

Birmingham Newman University

6 Jul 202202:56

Summary

TLDRTurnitin is an online service used by educational institutions like Newman University to check for document similarities. It integrates with learning platforms like Moodle, where submitted assignments are compared against a vast database of documents, web content, and published materials. If your work matches existing content, it's flagged for potential plagiarism. Proper referencing can differentiate between acceptable quotations and plagiarism. Students receive a similarity report indicating the percentage of matched content, with 0% indicating originality and 100% indicating an exact match. For feedback and to understand Turnitin better, students can access resources on Moodle and practice submissions without affecting the Turnitin database.

Takeaways

🔍 Turnitin is an online service designed to check for similarities between documents.
🏫 Newman University utilizes Turnitin, integrating it with Moodle, the virtual learning environment.
📄 When students submit work to Moodle, their files are copied into the Turnitin database for comparison.
🔎 Turnitin compares submissions against other documents, web content, and published materials.
📑 If a student's writing matches content in the database, it's flagged for the tutor's review to determine if it's properly referenced or plagiarized.
📝 Proper referencing prevents an instance of similarity from being considered plagiarism.
📆 Students can revise and resubmit their work before the deadline if they find issues with originality.
📊 Turnitin provides a similarity report indicating the percentage of matched text from other sources.
💯 A similarity score of 0% indicates completely original work, while 100% suggests exact duplication of another source.
❓ There's no definitive 'correct' similarity percentage; some quotations are expected and acceptable when properly cited.
📚 Students can find more information about Turnitin and how to use it effectively on the self-service portal and Moodle.
🔗 Turnitin is also a platform where tutors can provide feedback on student submissions.
🔗️ To access Turnitin reports and feedback, students should look for links within their Moodle assignments.
📚 For practice, there's a practice assignment on Moodle that simulates the Turnitin process without storing data in the database.

Q & A

What is Turnitin?
-Turnitin is an online service that checks for similarities between documents to detect plagiarism.
How is Turnitin integrated with Newman University's systems?
-Newman University subscribes to Turnitin and has integrated it with Moodle, their virtual learning environment.
What happens when you submit an assignment to Moodle for assessment?
-When you submit an assignment, your file is copied into the Turnitin database and compared with other documents, web information, and published materials.
How does Turnitin determine if a submission is plagiarized?
-Turnitin highlights text that matches other sources in its database. If the text is not properly referenced, it is considered plagiarism.
What should you do if your work is found to be plagiarized?
-If plagiarism is detected and there is time before the deadline, you can revise your assignment and resubmit it.
What is a Turnitin similarity report?
-A Turnitin similarity report shows text matches between your work and documents in the Turnitin database, providing an overall percentage match to other sources.
What does a similarity report percentage of 0 mean?
-A similarity report percentage of 0 indicates that your work is completely original and not found in the Turnitin database.
What does a similarity report percentage of 100 mean?
-A similarity report percentage of 100 means your work is exactly the same as something else in the Turnitin database, such as another student's paper or a published source.
Is there a 'correct' similarity percentage for a submission?
-There is no correct percentage; however, some quotations are expected and acceptable if properly referenced.
Where can you find more information about Turnitin at Newman University?
-You can find more information about Turnitin on the self-service portal by searching for 'help with online assignments' and then navigating to the Moodle section on Turnitin.
How can students practice using Turnitin at Newman University?
-Students can practice submitting an assignment and seeing a Turnitin similarity report through a practice assignment on the Moodle site's home page. Submissions to this practice assignment are not stored in the Turnitin database.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Understanding Turnitin

Turnitin is an online service utilized by educational institutions like Newman University to check for similarities between documents and prevent plagiarism. It operates by comparing submitted student work against a vast database of documents, including web content, books, and journals. When students submit assignments through Moodle, their work is analyzed for matches, and any unreferenced similarities are flagged. Proper referencing is crucial as it differentiates between legitimate quotations and plagiarism. Students receive a Turnitin similarity report, which indicates the percentage of their work that matches other sources, with a '0' indicating originality and '100' indicating a direct match with another source. There's no 'correct' percentage; some level of matching is normal due to necessary quotations. Students can access Turnitin feedback and similarity reports through Moodle and are encouraged to use a practice assignment to familiarize themselves with the submission and feedback process without affecting the Turnitin database.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Turnitin

Turnitin is an online plagiarism detection service that checks for similarities between documents. It is integral to the video's theme as it is the main subject discussed. The service is used by educational institutions like Newman University, as mentioned in the script, to ensure academic integrity by comparing students' work against a vast database of existing documents, web content, and published materials.

💡Plagiarism

Plagiarism refers to the act of using someone else's words or ideas and presenting them as one's own without proper attribution. This is a key concept in the video as it highlights the importance of original work in academic settings. The script emphasizes that Turnitin helps identify instances of plagiarism by comparing submissions against its database, thus upholding academic standards.

💡Moodle

Moodle is a virtual learning environment (VLE) that educational institutions use to manage and deliver online courses. In the context of the video, Newman University integrates Turnitin with Moodle, allowing students to submit assignments that are then checked for originality. This integration is a practical example of how educational technology supports academic integrity.

💡Similarity Report

A Turnitin similarity report is a document that shows the percentage of text matches between a student's work and other documents in the Turnitin database. The video explains that this report is crucial for students to understand the extent to which their work aligns with existing sources, and it is used by tutors to provide feedback and assess the originality of submissions.

💡Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is the concept of conducting oneself honestly and responsibly in academic pursuits. The video underscores the importance of academic integrity by discussing how Turnitin helps detect plagiarism and ensure that students are submitting original work, which is a fundamental aspect of ethical academic conduct.

💡Reference

Referencing is the practice of acknowledging the source of information or ideas used in one's work. The video script explains that if students reference their sources properly, even if their work contains quotations that match the Turnitin database, it is not considered plagiarism. This highlights the necessity of proper citation in academic writing.

💡Database

In the context of Turnitin, a database refers to the extensive collection of documents, web content, and published materials against which student submissions are compared. The script mentions that Turnitin's database includes information from the web, books, and journals, emphasizing the comprehensiveness of the service in detecting similarities.

💡Assignment

An assignment, as used in the video, is a task given by an instructor that students must complete as part of their coursework. The script describes how students submit their assignments through Moodle, which are then checked by Turnitin for originality, showcasing the role of assignments in the educational process and the use of technology to ensure their integrity.

💡Feedback

Feedback in an academic setting is the provision of comments and suggestions by tutors to help students improve their work. The video mentions that tutors use Turnitin not only for detecting plagiarism but also for providing feedback on students' essays, indicating the multifaceted use of the service in the educational process.

💡Practice Assignment

A practice assignment, as mentioned in the video, is a non-graded task designed to help students familiarize themselves with the submission process and understand how Turnitin works. The script notes that submissions to the practice assignment are not stored in the Turnitin database, which allows students to experiment without affecting their academic record.

💡Self-Service Portal

The self-service portal is an online resource where students can find information and assistance regarding their academic tasks. The video script directs students to search for help with online assignments on the self-service portal, indicating that it is a valuable resource for understanding how to use Turnitin and Moodle effectively.

Highlights

Turnitin is an online service that checks for similarities between documents.

Newman University subscribes to Turnitin and integrates it with Moodle.

Submitted files are copied into the Turnitin database for comparison.

Turnitin compares documents with other documents, web information, and published materials.

Similarities in writing are highlighted for tutors to review.

Proper referencing prevents issues with highlighted similarities.

Plagiarism is identified when copied words are not properly referenced.

Students can resubmit assignments before deadlines to improve their work.

Turnitin similarity report shows text matches with other sources.

A similarity report percentage indicates the extent of matching content.

A zero percentage indicates completely original work.

A hundred percent match means the work is identical to another source.

There is no 'correct' percentage; some quotations are expected if referenced properly.

Turnitin information is available on the self-service portal and Moodle.

Tutors use Turnitin to provide feedback on student essays.

Links to Turnitin reports and feedback can be found within Moodle assignments.

A practice assignment on Moodle allows students to simulate submission and view reports without database storage.