TURNITIN learning platform

TURNITIN – PLAGIARISM PREVENTION SOFTWARE
www.turnitin.com


The Turnitin team is a group of dedicated professionals that includes award-winning teachers, graphic designers, computer scientists, and business professionals working together to stop the spread of internet plagiarism and promote new technologies in education. Offices are located in the San Francisco Bay area.



History of the platform

iParadigms, the company behind Turnitin, got its start in 1996, when a group of researchers at UC Berkeley created a series of computer programs to monitor the recycling of research papers in their large undergraduate classes. Encouraged by a high level of interest from their peers, the researchers teamed with a group of teachers, mathematicians, and computer scientists to form Plagiarism.org,the world's first internet-based plagiarism detection service. By late 1998, Plagiarism.org had become the center of international media attention, it continued to grow and evolve, and is now recognized around the world as Turnitin and iThenticate, the internet's most widely used and trusted resources for preventing the spread of internet plagiarism.


Intended audience

Intended audience of Turnitin is librarians, educators, students, and researchers



Key features (synchronous and asynchronous)

It is an asynchronous platform, web-based solution for managing writing assignments, via multiple phases of feedback and revisions. Its services greatly accelerate the learning process, involving students in their own development, freeing instructors from the burden of tracking papers, and promoting critical thinking, while maintaining academic integrity. It is a great solution for research resources, plagiarism prevention, peer review, and grading.



Strengths of the platform or application.

The platform is available for Windows, and Mac users;
Firefox 2.0+ or Internet Explorer 7.0+ browsers are recommended;
Broadband Internet connection is recommended



Areas of improvement, from your recommendations

In my opinion, the Helpdesk services should be available 24/7.



Usability – i.e., ease of use and navigation

Turnitin is very easy to learn, use, and navigate. It allows engaging everyone:
"Turnitin allows me to deliver the considerable cognitive benefits of the peer review experience to my introductory class of 1,000 students. Only this brilliant tool allows me to do so without being swamped by administrative overhead."
- Prof. John Mitterer, Brock University (Recipient of the 2003 Brock Distinguished Teaching Award)



Technical support available

Helpdesk is designed to provide respond to the users questions in the most timely manner.
For that the user needs to fill out the form provided online at http://www.turnitin.com/help/helpdesk.asp?



At least two recommendations for use to support a professional development initiative and/or integration into a K-12 environment

Turnitin has integrated with the following learning platforms that are used in K-12 and professional development environments: Moodle, Blackboard, Angel.



Any additional useful information about the platform for your classmates.

I would highly recommend to take a look at the following video links below to help assist educators in using Turnitin's features and functions.
• Log-in and basic set-up for classes and assignments (10min 46sec)
• Turnitin Originality Reporting (5min 34sec)
• GradeMark and Gradebook (7min 23sec)
• Course Management Tools and wrap-up (2min 1sec)
• Spanish Training Video