UNYP implements Turnitin into its e-learning systems

David Novák

IT Manager

In an effort to encourage UNYP students to write with originality and integrity, the University of New York in Prague has implemented the Turnitin plagiarism detection software into its e-learning platform Moodle. The web-based form of Turnitin has been used by several UNYP faculty members for years, and the integrated software will be used by professors and students alike.    

In an effort to encourage UNYP students to write with originality and integrity, the University of New York in Prague has implemented the Turnitin plagiarism detection software into its e-learning platform Moodle. The web-based form of Turnitin has been used by several UNYP faculty members for years, and the integrated software will be used by professors and students alike.  

“With 800 students from 64 different countries, there is a very wide range of beliefs about what constitutes plagiarism. Turnitin enables students to see the similarity between the work they have submitted and what already exists in the databank, making it visible and measurable for all of us to recognize what is acceptable scholarly work according to UNYP’s policy on academic integrity,” commented Juwana Jenkins, Faculty Representative.

Turnitin’s most important feature is its Originality Check. This function scans a student’s work and then searches the internet and its own database of papers to determine if the work submitted is original. The software then generates a report, highlighting any textual matches found online or in the database of previous papers submitted, and the information is directly transferred to the Moodle user interface, making the process fast and easy. Plagiarism takes many forms, and students may not be aware of what constitutes ‘literary theft’. According to a 2013 study by the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency of the EU (the Impact of Policies for Plagiarism in Higher Education across Europe project) 40% of students in Europe admitted that they were not clear on what counted as plagiarism. UNYP students are now able to use the integrated Turnitin software to see the results of the Originality Check before submitting their assignments to their teachers.

“I’d recommend that all faculty who assign papers to students have them submitted electronically using the Turnitin activity interface in e-learning. It is very simple to use and has a pronounced deterrent effect, preventing attempts at plagiarism,” added Kevin Capuder, Chair of Business Department.

In addition to the benefit to students, Turnitin also provides strong online grading and reviewing tools for UNYP professors. Quick Marks allows professors to define their own set of frequently used comments and then simply drag and drop them directly into a student’s paper. When students mouse over these brief comments, a longer explanatory text may pop up and deliver richer feedback than notes on paper, and in only a fraction of the time. That’s not all, there are many more features including voice comments, rubrics, analytical tools – with the Peer Review module, students can even evaluate their classmates’ assignments.

This system promises to promote original writing from our students, a skill that is essential to academic success!