I would like to thank JISC for organising the recent conference in Newcastle, UK. For me, the conference was useful in a number of ways but I was very surprised at the emphasis on plagiarism detection software, paticularly it usefulness in catching 'cheats' - BBC news.
I am a great believer in Turnitin or similar things, not to catch cheats (the clever cheats will easily beat the system and the not so clever will find it is more expedient to join the system and do the right thing) but as a means of allowing students, and lecturers, to check and correct their own work prior to submission. As long as there are supports to ensure students can learn what is the correct behaviour, Turnitin acts as a powerful tool for students to assess their own work. It also means that assignments are of a better quality and almost all are in on time. By having draft/revision areas open two weeks prior to submission, students tend to meet the draft dates and so refine their assignments prior to the final submission date. From my experience, what Turnitin detects are those students who are unable for whatever reason to comprehend the referencing system and need special assistance.
PLagiarism software should be just one tool, but an important one, in helping students learn the skills and values inherent in acknowledging sources and developing arguments.
At the University of Newcastle, (Australia) Turnitin is compulsory but the emphasis is on education not detection. Llecturers must ensure that students have at least one opportunity to view and correct their own work before submission. Our students and staff view the software as an efficient and effective means of assisting teaching and learning while ensuring students rights.
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Suzanne Ryan
Teaching, Learning and Quality Coordinator
Newcastle Graduate School of Business
University of Newcastle
Callaghan NSW 2308
Australia
Phone +61 2 49 216015
Fax +61 2 49 217398
www.gsb.newcastle.edu.au
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